Help with history - photo store in Moss Vale, NSW

[hartacus]

Hi all,

I'd like to ask for some help with information about what happened to a photo store in Moss Vale, NSW, a long long time ago. I'll say up front that this is a really, really long shot. But as they say, if you don't ask, you don't know.

There used to be a photo shop in Moss Vale, NSW, on Argyle St (the main street through town). It closed down in 1999 or 2000 or thereabouts, I'm told.

My dad was into family history, and he had borrowed some old family photos of my grandfather's to scan and archive. He got sick and died in 1999. A couple of years later, my aunt asked my mum for the photos back, but they can't be found anywhere. They were mid century family snapshots, so probably 4x6in or smaller, and contained in an old biscuit tin of around the same size and era.

My mum has wondered whether my dad had taken these photos to the Moss Vale photo shop to get scanned and copied, right before he got sick, and was never able to pick them up again.

So the really, really long shot question is: does anyone know what happened to the photo shop?

Even if my dad did take the photos there, I doubt they would have survived the closure of the store. However, stranger things have happened. So if anyone knows who used to own the shop, or has heard of anything to do with its closure or what happened to its equipment, it'd be great to hear. Even just for the sake of a story about the past.

 

[Molli]

Before you get your hopes up, this might not help at all, it's merely a thought.

Are you anywhere near Moss Vale? I ask because there's a picture framing place listed on Argyle Street who's website says they've been framing for "more than twenty years."
There's a chance that the owners and older staff members interacted with the photo shop or at least know what became of it.

Oh, and they also do photo restorations.... maybe they evolved from your photo place? Further down their website they say 'Established in 1996.'

At any rate, people working in any specialised field all tend to know each other or at least know OF one another.
Dropping in and striking up a conversation with any of the oldtimers may trigger someone's memory or point you toward another long running business or local in the know.

The picture framing place is Arthead at 278 Argyle Street, Moss Vale

ARTHEAD - A one-stop-shop for fine artists, professional photographers, and art lovers.

www.arthead.com.au

(02) 48682000

 

[hartacus]

Thanks for that info @Molli! I've reached out to them, so we'll see. My mum is still in Moss Vale as well so she might drop in and ask. It's a long shot but worth asking.

 

[hartacus]

Well, I have contacted Arthead but they moved from Goulburn to Moss Vale in 2012, so it wasn't them. Back to square one.

 

[Molli]

Well, I have contacted Arthead but they moved from Goulburn to Moss Vale in 2012, so it wasn't them. Back to square one.

That's a shame. I'm sorry it didn't pan out. Having tried to track down the photographer who photographed weddings and births in my family across almost two decades and failing woefully, I understand the frustration.
I do hope you find another lead. Northern Ireland had business listings going back to the 1800s that I found helpful. Given your more recent history with this business, any chance of getting a hold of old Yellow Pages from around that time? The Post Office used to carry all of the local phone books, but that was pre-Internet. So, local or state library? Trove has old newspapers chock full of advertisements, but I know the one I used to research most was the Argus for Victoria's Birth, Marriage and Death Notices and that ends in the late 60s. I've no idea of NSW's equivalent and, at any rate, newer newspapers tend to want paying for access to their archives.
That's all I can think of at the moment. Good luck! I hope something useful pops up or someone here on Photrio has some better ideas to offer.

 

[MattKing]

Do you know the name of the business? The town would probably have records of business licenses.
If you have the business name, post it here and we can add it to the thread title.
In the meantime, I'll add the town name to the thread title.

 

[Romanko]

Moss Vale is just 2 hours' drive from Sydney. I would just go there and talk to anyone I can find. The local post-office, library, Council, shops and property agents would be the places I'd start with. Even if you don't find what you are looking for you will learn a lot about the place your father used to live. If you are a photographer take a camera with you.