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It could be said that pharmacists came to Australia with the First Fleet although they were not called by the name. In the earliest days of the colony it was the surgeon who filled the role of pharmacist, as well as all other medical roles including dentist and midwife... The Apothecaries Hall of London supplied the medical stores for the colony, including drugs, dressings and surgical instruments, and the stores were guarded at night to prevent the theft of medicines containing alcohol.
Despite the temporary use of some native plants, until 1820 the colony was dependent on imported drugs, almost exclusively available from the government store and through the main source of medical care, the government medical officers.
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The current site of the Gulgong Dispensary, at 131 Mayne Street Gulgong, has been continuously dispensing medicine for 142 years and counting. The pharmacists during that time were:
- Mr Charles Bird 1877- 1879
- Mr Charles Zimmler 1879- 1891
- Mr Clem Harris 1891- 1902
- Mrs Sarah Harris 1902-1930
- Mr Donald H Dougan 1930-1970
- Mr Geoff Greening 1970-1985
- Mr Bruce Walker 1985-2003
- Mrs Harriett Wright 2003 to 2022
CHRONOLOGY OF TOWN CHEMISTS
1890 - 1921 - Clem Harris (the business was continued by his wife, also a chemist, after his death)1905 - A E Souter1920-40 - Albert E Souter and Hilda G M Souter1927 - John Souter1930-70 - Donald H Dougan (took over Mr John Bird's premises)1970-1985 - Mr Geoff Greening1985-2003 - Mr Bruce Walker2003 to 2022 - Mrs Harriett Wright
1950s__________________________________
Photos of staff from the 50s and 60s.
Source Julie Gillan
Pharmacy Assistant, Lois Lewis, 1952
1950s Pharmacy assistants:
Back row: Norma Smith; Helen Hughes (Ryan)
Front row: Ruth Croome, Lorna Baldwin, Marie Pass
Front row: Ruth Croome, Lorna Baldwin, Marie Pass
Assistants Janet Bennett and Jenny Reddish with D H Dougan
Assistants Lorna Baldwin and Marie Pass
Assistant Marie Pass, Donald Dougan Jnr and Lorna Baldwin
1960s Pharmacy staff
Ladies from left: Marie Cumberland (Adams), Norma Smith; Jenny Reddish (Scrivener), Marie Pass
Locum Pharmacist (Paul Ellis)
Locum Pharmacist (Paul Ellis)
Marie Pass, Marie Cumberland (Adams) and Jenny Reddish (Scrivener)
Assistant Fiona Mackrill, 1981
Assistant Fiona Mackrill, 1981
_______________________________________These retrospective window displays were done for the Gulgong Henry Lawson Heritage Festival in 2010:
Source Julie Gillan
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Mr Greening, Pharmacist from 1970 to 1984
Bruce Walker B.Pharm AACPA, Pharmacist from 1984 to 2003
Pharmacist Harriet Wright B. Pharm MPS
Pharmacists Harriet Wright and Jo Darke 2012
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A collection of old chemist advertisements:
Source Julie Gillan
