THIS week's image is a detailed view looking down Church Street. The image was included in the Bathurst Guide which was published in 1893 by the Bathurst Progress Association. The booklet was printed by commercial printer John Sands at 374 George Street, Sydney. By this time, living in the heights of Bathurst was becoming popular.
It is also the only example of an elaborate three-storey verandah hotel surviving in Bathurst and is prominently situated near the south-eastern end of King's Parade. Church Street could be conveniently viewed from the Victorian-era verandahs of the Royal Hotel standing in William Street.
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The vista of Kings Parade and the street to its right often drew large crowds for various processions and band march pasts, watched from the three levels from verandahs featuring outstanding cast iron posts and railings, with the establishment's personalised "R" on the shield in each section.
The Bathurst Progress Association was formed in the very late 1880s and, by March 1890, it was in full working order. Dr Spencer was president and a well-chosen committee included Rev. P. Riordan as a member.
Their first practical move was universally approved: they guaranteed to provide £500 for the improvement of Machattie Park if the council gave an undertaking to guarantee a like sum.
The council consented to do so.
A writer to the Advocate had laid the flattering function thick by declaring that of all the inland towns he had seen, Bathurst toed top mark. With the energetic progress committee, there was, therefore, hope for great things.
As another instance of what a vigorous committee can effect, it was noted that the O'Connell committee had succeeded in getting telephone connection between O'Connell and Bathurst.
The Bathurst Progress Association included Dr Spencer (president), and messrs. W.G. Thompson, H.E. Rouse, W.H. Webb, R.W. Waters, A.G. Thompson, J. Rickard, Beavis, W.H. Hudson and Drs Machattie and Bassett, and Rev. E. Tracey.
In May 1890, Dr Spencer suggested that a Ladies' Committee be formed. His idea was that they could assist with fundraising for the Bathurst Progress Association.
He suggested that their first project could carry out a bazaar and fancy fair in aid of the Progress Association's fund. An afternoon meeting was held in the Town Hall, together with members of the Progress Association. Present were mesdames Machattie (president, in the chair), Spencer, Rotton, Edgley, A.G. Thompson and Monro, and misses Jeffries, Farquhar, Street and Brown.
An earlier meeting elected a ladies' committee with the elected office-bearers being Mrs Machattie (president) and Mrs Monro (secretary and treasurer) and with a committee comprising of Spencer, Roxburgh, Edgley, Marriott, Price, Rotton, Thompson, Walker, Bassett, Whitelaw, Thompson, McKenzie, Barton, White, and the misses Bassett, Tracey, Price and Farquhar, with power to add to their number. A sub-committee was also appointed to wait upon the citizens and others to solicit their interest and assistance in the undertaking.
The ladies also started to add to a list of types of stalls and donations that had been offered for the fair and bazaar.
Messrs Mugridge Bros. offered to lend half of the timber required for the erection of stalls and loan a large horseshoe table. Messrs Hudson Bros. offered to lend the other half of the timber required for erecting stalls.
Mr J.J. Atkins, W. Ennis, J. Wild and W. Boyd would give their assistance in erecting the stalls. Mr F. Archer would do all the signwriting and Mr Evans would do a fair amount of the gas fittings. Mr Whalan in Keppel Street would print any posters and hand bills.
The Bathurst Free Press office would return one-half of the amount expended in advertising and the National Advocate offered the same. All was set.
