THE WAY WE WERE

100 YEARS PROGRESS: These two photos show the same section of the western side of Campbell Street, Oakey, and the difference that 100 years can make. The first is from early 1909 whereas the second was taken in November 2009. From left in the old photo; the blacksmiths shop (Albert Chapple, the smithy), the butcher shop (Percy Collins, the butcher) and the Commercial Hotel (Charles Lee, the licensee). All three of these buildings were owned by Frederick Batzloff. Next is the fruiterer and confectioner (Mrs G Murray), another shop, a residence above the Oakey Cash Boot Shop (built by C. Rowbotham in 1905), the brick Bank of Australasia (also built in 1905), then Michael Fogarty’s store (leased by Pace & Mullin, another store, Western Line Hotel and the Oakey Butter Co. factory to the west of the Railway Station. The mode of transport has somewhat changed in the later photo, as too have the buildings. The double storey Commercial Hotel was built in 1936 and the double storey Western Line Hotel in 1910. Following a fire in the residence above the shop in 1968, the three shops were replaced with the Oakey Arcade. The brick Bank had been demolished in 1964 and replaced by the current ANZ Bank which has recently left the town. The Blacksmiths was moved back from the street in November 1915 so a timber butcher shop could be erected on the site for Walkers which was later bought by Hamlyns. In 1959, they built the brick butcher shop which still bears their name to this day.

Photos: Valerie Weise-Young