Three decades ago this year, the Mudgee Guardian celebrated its centenary with a special edition, which even included a reprint of the inaugural issue from 1890.
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Here is a look back at the look back, because 1990 was a very different time as well - there aren't currently any dark-room operators on staff.
A message from Mr McGregor
The 1990 Centenary Issue was produced during the era of Doug McGregor, who was notching up two decades at the helm of the paper.
"Our purchase of the Mudgee Guardian business from John Armati's Macquarie Newspaper Group in 1970 has subsequently proved to be an interesting, sometimes exciting and rewarding experience," the chairman and managing director Cudgegong Newspaper Pty Ltd, said in a piece he penned for the special edition.
The move to Mudgee followed 25 years as general manager of Orange's Central Western Daily. So Mr McGregor did indeed experience, "many changes in the industry".
"Probably one of the most revolutionary changes in country journalism was the greater use of pictures, made easier by the arrival in the 1950s of electronic engraving machines to more economically produce photographic printing plates," he wrote.
Although upon his arrival in Mudgee, photos had to be sent to Lithgow or Wellington and there was a wait for plates to be made. "This situation was corrected later in the 1970s when the Guardian pioneered the more versatile nyloprint process," he continued.
The purchase did involve "a degree of austerity", but also established the Guardian's Tuesday and Friday publication days.
"Our moves to eliminate the Monday edition, maintain a reasonable advertising rate and cover price with greater use of pictures saw the circulation growth maintained," Mr Gregor wrote.
And concluded the piece by saying, "to relate the full details of the agony ecstasy of running the Mudgee Guardian for 20 years, would be to relate the full history of Mudgee for that period".
"I believe we have given both readers and advertisers value for money."
READ MORE LOCAL HISTORY HERE:
Well-wishers
Among those congratulating the paper on the milestone, was the then-state member - in the since abolished seat of Castlereagh - Roger Wotton. His comments reflected the growth of the region at the time.
"Mudgee has excelled on the industrial front with projects like the Mudgee Regional Abattoir and the Ulan Coal complex," he wrote.
And went onto say, "local newspapers are a vital means of communication in the bush, and unlike many of their city counterparts are able to retain a degree of warmth and familiarity.
"Important community happenings, family events, local triumphs and natural disasters - the like of which are incomprehensible to city dwellers - are all covered with accuracy, sensitivity and tact."
Prime Minister Bob Hawke, also said "the contribution that country newspapers like the Guardian make to life in rural Australia should not be underestimated".
And noted, "the Guardian is the largest bi-weekly newspaper in NSW..."providing employment to over 20 people".
Premier Nick Greiner wrote, "Mudgee is of course well-known for its production of super-fine wool which obtains record prices worldwide, but is now developing an international name for its production of excellent quality wines".
"Through the development of these and other growing industries, the Mudgee Guardian has been on hand to inform the local community of the achievements of its people and enterprises," he continued.
"It has also offered to the people of the district, a window to the issues of wider impact and in doing so has become somewhat of an institution in NSW being one of the last remaining privately owned newspapers."
CHECK OUT OUR STREET VIEW SERIES HERE:
- Just like Street View only older, part-one
- Old Time Street View part-two, changing industrial locations and more
- Old Time Street View part-three, schools, servos and re-purposed sites
- Old Time Street View part-four, more bygone industry, photos from on high
- Old Time Street View part-five, butchers, bakers, Odd Fellows, and more
- Old Time Street View redux, because some places have had many faces
- Old Time Street View part-seven, a great collection from a Guardian reader
History of the premises
The Centenary Issue contained a piece about the history of the 9 Perry Street site - now the former home of the paper.
Built in 1858, it first housed the Australian Joint Stock Bank, which at the time was one of the leading banking houses of the colony. The original building was double storey, but had only a small balcony in front of the three pairs of french doors.
When the bank moved, the old building was taken over by Woods Store until the Guardian took over in 1890 and soon extended a large lace trimmed balcony, which has since been a feature.
If you've heard about the cellar, it was mentioned. "Deliveries of coal, wood and other bulky commodities were obviously made through a shute leading to a still existing cellar," it said.
During the 1920s and 1950s the building was extended at the rear and redesigned, respectively, to accommodate the printing needs.
And if you've ever wondered about the second storey, the piece said "the rooms upstairs have had a varied career".
"Small machinery such as the addressograph were installed there and it was also used as a store room for papers, proof readers and accountants office," it read.
"During the thirties, some of the rooms were used for a business college. Sometime during WWII, the rooms upstairs were converted to residence and used by various editor/mangers employed by the owners.
"In early 1971 new owners the McGregor family arrived from Orange, by this time the exterior of the building was showing its age. The lace was restored and proper columns obtained from the demolition of a hotel in Wellington were added."
Further work was completed on the three-bedroom flat, where the McGregors resided until 1986. They moved to a house in Cox Street and installed the Guardian advertising manager upstairs, before it was subsequently let to various tenants.
CHECK OUT OUR HOSPITAL HISTORY SERIES HERE:
First edition revisited
The Centenary Issue contained a reprinting of the first Mudgee Guardian, from the evening - that's right, not a 'morning paper' - of Monday, March 31, 1890.
Making news was a court case of a man charged with assault. The victim claimed that the defendant struck him without provocation.
However, the defendant said that the victim had earlier agreed to work for him for a fortnight/three weeks on his property, "looking after cows and otherwise to make himself generally useful". And after coming to work for one day was shown his sleeping apartment.
The next morning the defendant found no trace of the victim and due to this, missed that morning's milk. When the defendant later bumped into the victim he "slapped" him across the face and told him he would "make a man of him".
Even though he told the court the blow "would not have killed a mosquito", the magistrate told him "you had no business to assault the complainant, and should not have taken the law in your own hands". Penalty was 20 shillings plus costs or 21 days jail - he paid the fine.
The national news column reported several deaths in Melbourne, the result of an "influenza epidemic". Furthermore, one "medical gentleman" has had 150 patients, whilst another has 200.
Among the ads was H Smith, "fancy bread and biscuit baker and confectioner". As well as the Old Holyoak Inn, which boasted "good accommodation and paddocks for teamsters and hawkers [with] plenty of grass and water".