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Cec Anstey - Cessnock Entrepreneur. Part 3 of 3. Recorded 16 May 1978
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SummaryCec Anstey was originally born in Newcastle but moved to Cessnock at the age of 14 in 1919. His family owned a number of hotels in and around the Cessnock district at the time and opened one of the first wine saloons in 1920.
00:17
Business methods - Customers and running a small business. Being in business in Cessnock. Different methods of business. Different methods of buying. Later they became more choosy. Some customers became a nuisance. They talk about the change in running a business in Cessnock. The presence of the big supermarkets. The death of the corner store.
Cec always worked in the corner store
Cessnock retail sector, changes in
Early Cessnock shops/retailers - In 6 streets there were fruit stalls and people bought carrying their own baskets.
Arthur Kennedy (fruiter)
Roger Kennedy (fruiter)
(Al)Fonse Kennedy (fruiter) - Uncle was Alfonse – Roger’s brother. Alfonse was the first to sell fruit off the back of a 4 wheeled lorry with a horse. He never married.
Brown's Fruit Markets
7:09
Bill Leggett - The changing habits of retailing and customers. The competition from chain stores. Bill (William) Leggett – store owner. He started in opposition to Browns.
Bill Leggett had his markets on an allotment.
Eastern Industries
(Al)Fonse Kennedy
Cessnock Fruit Markets - Nelhamn Bros were called the Cessnock Fruit Market.
Ron Mitchell
10:50
Mt. View Road, Anstey farm - When cec was at Mt View Road they had fruit and vegetables, fowls, pigs, flowers. Carting fruit, vegetables and pigs to the local market by horse and cart.
12:10
Customers used to bring their own cardboard boxes and baskets to the shop when buying. Chain stores undercut the purchasing power of small business owners.
12:52
Flemming's Store - Purchasing changes with the changes in generations. Flemings on Annandale Road. Perc Proctor.
Proctor's Butcher Shop
Percy Proctor
Licencing laws (cigarettes) - Inspectors used to check up on the sale of cigarettes. Owners were fined £5. Shop owners couldn’t sell after 5pm then after 7pm. Owners had to curtain off the sight of the goods to be considered closed. Groceries locked away at 6pm. The difference between curtained off goods and behind glass and locked but on display. Inspectors would check up on this. There was also a vigilant check by health inspectors, wine and liquor licenses. “Playing silly” with inspectors.
Sales/rationing of goods
Rationing laws
Food/Health Inspector anecdote
22:19
Liquor licencing anecdote - Once you did the wrong thing they wouldn’t leave you alone. The licence covered the whole shop not just the wine sales area. Licence renewed every 12 months. Never had a black mark. Inspectors were vigilant checking closures at 6pm.
Bill Booth (policeman) - The policeman Billy Booth, was also vigilant. Another was called Martin.
"6 o'clock closing"
Bill Thompson (policeman)
Martin (policeman)
30:21
End (Tape 5/Side A)
Anstey, Cecil, 1905-2000PersonJack DelaneyDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010PlaceCessnock, NSW[2] East Cessnock Bowling Club
00:17
Business methods - Customers and running a small business. Being in business in Cessnock. Different methods of business. Different methods of buying. Later they became more choosy. Some customers became a nuisance. They talk about the change in running a business in Cessnock. The presence of the big supermarkets. The death of the corner store.
Cec always worked in the corner store
Cessnock retail sector, changes in
Early Cessnock shops/retailers - In 6 streets there were fruit stalls and people bought carrying their own baskets.
Arthur Kennedy (fruiter)
Roger Kennedy (fruiter)
(Al)Fonse Kennedy (fruiter) - Uncle was Alfonse – Roger’s brother. Alfonse was the first to sell fruit off the back of a 4 wheeled lorry with a horse. He never married.
Brown's Fruit Markets
7:09
Bill Leggett - The changing habits of retailing and customers. The competition from chain stores. Bill (William) Leggett – store owner. He started in opposition to Browns.
Bill Leggett had his markets on an allotment.
Eastern Industries
(Al)Fonse Kennedy
Cessnock Fruit Markets - Nelhamn Bros were called the Cessnock Fruit Market.
Ron Mitchell
10:50
Mt. View Road, Anstey farm - When cec was at Mt View Road they had fruit and vegetables, fowls, pigs, flowers. Carting fruit, vegetables and pigs to the local market by horse and cart.
12:10
Customers used to bring their own cardboard boxes and baskets to the shop when buying. Chain stores undercut the purchasing power of small business owners.
12:52
Flemming's Store - Purchasing changes with the changes in generations. Flemings on Annandale Road. Perc Proctor.
Proctor's Butcher Shop
Percy Proctor
Licencing laws (cigarettes) - Inspectors used to check up on the sale of cigarettes. Owners were fined £5. Shop owners couldn’t sell after 5pm then after 7pm. Owners had to curtain off the sight of the goods to be considered closed. Groceries locked away at 6pm. The difference between curtained off goods and behind glass and locked but on display. Inspectors would check up on this. There was also a vigilant check by health inspectors, wine and liquor licenses. “Playing silly” with inspectors.
Sales/rationing of goods
Rationing laws
Food/Health Inspector anecdote
22:19
Liquor licencing anecdote - Once you did the wrong thing they wouldn’t leave you alone. The licence covered the whole shop not just the wine sales area. Licence renewed every 12 months. Never had a black mark. Inspectors were vigilant checking closures at 6pm.
Bill Booth (policeman) - The policeman Billy Booth, was also vigilant. Another was called Martin.
"6 o'clock closing"
Bill Thompson (policeman)
Martin (policeman)
30:21
End (Tape 5/Side A)
Anstey, Cecil, 1905-2000PersonJack DelaneyDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010PlaceCessnock, NSW[2] East Cessnock Bowling Clubloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, Cec Anstey - Cessnock Entrepreneur. Part 3 of 3. Recorded 16 May 1978, [005A]. Living Histories, accessed 29/09/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/65319