Maldon - Main Street Traders Walk
Discover some of Maldon's rich history as you explore our historic buildings, places and streetscapes. If you explore with the mobile app, each location reveals its story through 'then & now' images and text.
Maldon's wealth of heritage buildings dates from the 1850s gold rush through to the 1920s. The early gold discoveries left the town set amid a harsh industrial landscape created by unfettered mining operations. Maldon has both a Main Street and High Street at its commercial heart; an unusual situation for a small town. Your walk around the intimate Main Street precinct will introduce you to a fascinating assortment of Maldon's commercial buildings and their occupants.
Start this tour at View Point on the 'Y' intersection. You can proceed stop by stop north up Main Street to Templeton Street, cross over and then come back down Main Street to McFarlane's Drapery building. Allow 1 hour.
View Point, Then & Now
1 Main Street, Maldon
View Point, or 'Bank Corner' as the location is known locally, is at the very heart of Maldon. After the initial rush, rise and decline of the Long Gully area south from here, all manner of commercial premises began to develop around this junction. This corner has also been a central meeting place for the townspeople for many years.
Take time to enjoy the ambience and immerse yourself in Maldon's heritage streetscapes. You will notice that the present building on this site is out of character with its surrounds
The Bank of Victoria branch operated from 1859 until 1943 when the company went into voluntary liquidation. It was taken over by the Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney and sadly they did not require the premises. This landmark building stood at the heart of town for almost 100 years.
The bank building was demolished in 1958 and replaced with a new type of building, purpose-built to cater for the increasing number of motor cars now on the road. This service station building and forecourt, is incompatible with the character of Maldon's heritage buildings but it's also part of the town's history.
For the next site:
Follow the stops along the west side of Main Street up to Templeton Street.
Treadwell & Stone's Smithy, demolished c1958
3 Main Street, Maldon
This building was situated where the former service station building is now. The original smithy building was erected in 1858 and demolished along with the old bank building in the late 1950s in the name of progress. If only it could have been adapted for its new use rather than demolished.
McMillan & Padley's Ironmongery, 1858
5 Main Street, Maldon
This simple brick building is one of Maldon's earliest. The site goes through to High Street and was home to McMillan & Padley's wholesale and retail ironmongery (established in 1856) which supplied 'everything necessary' for mining, agriculture, harvest and garden. Engineering works and hardware sales were big business on the gold fields and Maldon had several such businesses in its main streets.
From 1907 the building was a hairdresser/tobacconist shop and this continued until around the 1960s. By the 1970s the building, with its large and inappropriate verandah fascia, and the footpath paving were looking very tired. Now the building looks much as it did 100 years ago. Its simple features sit well within the streetscape. While walking by do check out the beautifully restored slate-paved footpath.
Dabb & Co General Store, from 1859
7-17 Main Street, Maldon
The long north section of this brick and stone building was built c1859 and the extension beyond the carriageway to the south was completed in 1886 to match the earlier building. The intact timber facade retains its large display windows and verandah with pleasant timber detailing. The decorative timber carriageway is of note and often features in images of Maldon's heritage streetscapes.
Eventually Dabb & Co sold up and by the 1970s the building housed the only general merchant left in town. Now the building still houses a general merchant, supermarket in today's terms.
Chisholm's Butcher Shop, c1930
19 Main Street, Maldon
This building was erected in the 1930s and although incompatible with the streetscape it is not overly intrusive. It appears this may also have been the site of an early Maldon Post Office. This building and 8-10 Main Street (take-away food shop) were the only interwar developments in the town centre.
Now the white tiled exterior seems a little out of place amid the heritage paint schemes. Very nice signage though.
Wade's Building, c1880
21 - 31 Main Street, Maldon
Situated in the centre of the retail area these rather plain-styled brick shops with timber facades, large display windows and wide doorways continue to invite the customers in. Mr & Mrs Wade ran at least 2 general stores, one in High Street and the other here from around 1858.
Back in the 1970s this building was occupied by small retail businesses and it looks like this milk bar was selling Peters Ice-cream. Now these shops continue as retail outlets and although none have sold ice-cream for years the Peters Ice cream sign above the verandah has survived all efforts to move it.
Tarrangower Times Office, c1860
33 Main Street, Maldon
Records indicate this small brick building with a timber front may have been built by Thomas Calder at the time he constructed his ironmongery next door. It originally housed a hairdresser, then a music shop c1900 and in the 1930s the Tarrangower Times moved in after their High Street premises was destroyed by fire. The Tarrangower Times is our local newspaper. It was established in 1858 and is still going strong - what a magnificent achievement.
By the 1970s the verandah had been removed but the rest was largely intact and original. That was until the shop front was altered for filming the movie 'Break of Day'. Now the little building has had its verandah restored and it continues to have a central role in the affairs of town as the local pharmacy.
Calder's Ironmongery, 1866
35 - 37 Main Street, Maldon
Calder's Ironmongery (business making and selling metalware or in today's terms an engineering works and hardware shop) operated from this building from the late 1850s until the 1930s. Thomas Calder, one of Maldon's prominent long-term business people, owned a large tract of land behind this building where his timber yard and substantial dwelling were situated.
The small street running alongside this building was originally another lot fronting Main Street, but that's a story for another time.
By the 1970s the building was in fair condition, the verandah was long gone and changes had been made to the parapet and front windows. The Myrl Shoe Company started operations here in 1944 as part of the government's post-war recovery process. It was a major local employer until no longer able to compete with cheaper off-shore competition.
McArthur's Bakery, c1895
39 - 51 Main Street, Maldon
The McArthur's Bakery site presents a range of brick and timber buildings with the bake house at the north end estimated to be the oldest. The McArthur family operated a bakery here from 1854 until the 1930s and in 2016 there is still a bakery here. The corner building, c1895, has some interesting verandah brackets and window awnings.
Now beautiful old and very productive fig and pomegranate trees grace the garden surrounds.
Phoenix Building, 1906
53 - 61 Main Street, Maldon
The Phoenix Building was constructed in 1906 and occupied first as a drapery and later as a butcher's shop. This is one of Maldon's most substantial commercial buildings, designed by renowned architect Louis Boldini, and built during town's last great development boom. The long decline started around 1914 and lasted for 50 years. A previous single storey timber structure was occupied by a number of food traders over its long history.
For the next site:
Cross over Templeton Street to Scotch Pie House or view it from this point and then continue to Franklin's Building on the east side of Main St.
Scotch Pie House, c1866
63 Main Street, Maldon
Scotch Pie House was built on this site after a fire destroyed a previous store operated by Warnock Bros. The new brick building, with handsome display windows and an imposing parapet was quite large for its time and of pleasing scale. The side verandah was added after 1895.
For the next site:
To continue the Main Street tour go to Franklin's Building diagonally opposite.
Franklin's Building, c1870
72 Main Street, Maldon
Franklin's building, c1870 is a large simple building comprised of mixed materials and finishes. It was initially the Cookham Boot & Shoe Warehouse operated by H. Franklin. From 1884 the site became part of Dabb & Co's Main Street empire and was used as their Timber Yard and Chaff & Corn Store.
Now the building, now commonly known as the 'Beehive', is used as retail space with accommodation upstairs. The walls have been restored and a verandah added.
For the next site:
Now follow the stops down the east side of Main Street to the point where it joins High Street at the Grand Hotel & Shops.
Wearne's Building, c1895
68 Main Street, Maldon
This narrow two-storey brick shop c1895 was occupied by William Wearne, a chemist. The adjoining timber storage space was constructed after 1920 when both buildings were occupied by Wood's grocery. The timber structures on the neighbouring sites had disappeared from the photographic record by 1936.
Farr's Building, c1860
64 Main Street, Maldon
This simple timber building has been home to a diverse range of occupations and professions, including gold smelting, assayer and jeweller, dentist and doctor. Dr. Farr purchased the building in 1882 and used it as his surgery until 1907. It remained a medical practice until 1939.
By the 1970s this building was being used as a residence and was ready for restoration.
Shakespeare House, 1907
62 Main Street, Maldon
The present Shakespeare House, built in 1907, is described as an ornate Jacobean-style building. Its patterned brickwork parapet with elaborate pediment and its cast iron verandah brackets are worth a closer look. A much simpler timber structure c1860, became the first Shakespeare Hotel in 1864.
Maldon Hotel, 1909
58 - 60 Main Street, Maldon
The original weatherboard structure on this site was built c1860. The Maldon Hotel and Stables as seen today were built in 1909 to the design of renowned architect Louis Boldini (Google him - it's worth it). The balcony with its elaborate cast iron lace balustrade is unique in Maldon. The entire building conveys a sense of wealth and success, however this situation was about to change and this was the last grand building constructed in Maldon before the long decline.
Tobin's Building, 1912
50 - 56 Main Street, Maldon
The current row of brick shops here is a late addition to the streetscape, in fact it was the last development before the big decline. Records indicate it was constructed by Tobin's estate. The appropriate scale and continuity of the verandahs helps the building blend with the historic streetscape.
Swann's Buildings, 1866
44 - 48 Main Street, Maldon
This simple verandahed row of brick and timber shops replaced earlier timber buildings which were used by a variety of small businesses. Main Street takes a slight bend at this point which leaves several buildings on the east side with much less floor space than their frontage might indicate.
Upton's Butcher Shop, c1858
38 - 42 Main Street, Maldon
This small brick shop with timber facade, built c1858 by George Upton, was Upton's butcher shop until at least 1900. Around this time the parapet line was raised and styled to match the adjoining shops, which Upton also owned. There are two-storey brick sections at the rear of the shop which were constructed between 1867 and 1875. These are well worth a look if the opportunity arises.
Dabb's Produce Store, c1868
34 - 36 Main Street, Maldon
This building was originally in red face brick work with contrasting brick work trim and quoin work, a style similar to other brick buildings constructed in Maldon around this time. Dabb's business outgrew this premises by the mid-1880s and it moved across the road. This store became part of Ray's Livery & Letting Stables, an essential business when horses ruled the road.
The 'Wheel & Loom' (as it is now commonly known as) building was acquired by the local council for conversion to the town's visitor information centre.
Albion Hotel, 1866
32 Main Street, Maldon
This substantial two-storey building, designed by Thomas Kibble and constructed in 1866, replaced an earlier timber building. Its red brick work and contrasting trim and quoin work are similar to other buildings constructed around this time. It operated as a hotel until 1888 when the London Chartered Bank purchased the building as they increased their gold fields presence.
Berryman's Bootshop, 1895
30 Main Street, Maldon
Early timber buildings on this site had various uses including as a bowling alley and hotel until 1867. The history is a little unclear until 1890 when a boot maker set up shop. This use continued for decades. The present Berryman's at No. 30 is one of a pair of brick shops erected in 1895. The northern one was destroyed by fire in the 1930s and reconstructed in the c2002.
Goldsmith's Building, 1897
14 - 28 Main Street, Maldon
Goldsmith's Building, erected in 1897, is an elegant brick building with an ornamental timber parapet which gave rise to its common name, the 'Heart of Maldon'. The floor plan of the 3 shops remains largely intact and each retains its large display windows and central entrance. The cast iron verandah posts and lace Melbourne City Corporation pattern. The posts also double as downpipes and have a small outlet at gutter level. The previous buildings on this site were destroyed by fire in March 1891.
The elaborate timber parapet was largely reconstructed in 1995, 'hearts and all'.
Miss Hockey's Shop, c1920
12 Main Street, Maldon
The current shop dates from 1920. An earlier timber building on this site had various tenants from 1858 including one Hannah Hockey from 1907. In 1919 Louisa Hockey purchased the site and constructed this pleasant red brick building with its charming parapet and simple decoration. It was the perfect setting for her confectionery and cake shop.
Mathew's Plumbers, demolished 1920
8 - 10 Main Street, Maldon
Around 1895 a substantial and elaborate two-storey brick building plus a smaller single-storey shop occupied the site. This building was demolished in 1920 for undisclosed reasons and replaced with the current one which has been described as one of the 'few totally incompatible incursions in the historic area'.
Mohr's Hairdressers, c1870
6 Main Street, Maldon
This unusual narrow-fronted two-storey weatherboard shop has a long association with hair. It operated as Mohr's hairdressing salon from the 1860s to the late 1890s, and then as a barber's shop until the 1940s. The building is approaching 150 years of age which is something well worth celebrating.
McFarlane's Drapery, c1875
2 - 4 Main Street, Maldon
John McFarlane arrived in Maldon from Scotland in 1858. He worked at Warnock Bros' drapery just across the road and established his own business here in 1862. The family ran this business for the next 84 years before handing over to Ivor Sampson in 1946. This building was made for retailing; it is spacious and has large display windows plus a high full width flush-mounted board parapet for signage.
For the next site:
At this point you could pick up the High Street tour or stop off at a cafe.
Credit: Tours and information by the Maldon Museum
There are three walks in this series:
Photos:
Location
1 Main Street, Maldon 3463 Map
Web Links
→ tours.maldonmuseum.com.au/index.php/mobile/walks/9
