Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Moses Bros. Colonial Boot & Shoe Depot, Gulgong

Moses Bros. Colonial Boot & Shoe Depot, Gulgong

1870-1875
Glass photonegative

Gulgong underwent rapid change in early 1871 and the Gulgong Guardian, 25 February 1871, noted the improvements:

'Moses Brothers, owners of the famed ‘Greatest Wonder of the World’ clothing establishments, which can be found on the leading goldfields of New Zealand, New South Wales and Queensland, have a branch next to the Golden Age Hotel in which they will exhibit their usual stock of clothing etc.'

The Greatest Wonder – Brenda Saunders

Shop-fronts line the street, a theatre set

of painted canvas. Signs on each façade

hide the bark and clapboard shacks

stuck up in time to catch the latest ’rush’

If all the worlds a stage then this one boasts

a fine parade of Latest Imports, leather shoes

Suits in every style for a man to strut

the streets when his diggings ‘strike it rich’

For workers too there are miners boots

fustian trousers, braces, shirts. Hats to keep

the flies away, shield a man from heat

in his feverish search, chasing the dream

The American Emporium has Fancy Goods

Warehouse prices tempt the foreigner

lured by  the news flying faster than fire

Stories of men with gold in their pockets

Buying the world in a single day

-  after The Greatest Wonder of the World,

Moses Bros. Colonial Boot and Shoe Depot, Gulgong - a2822094


 
 

The Greatest Wonder of the World by Carolyne Bruyn