A 1952 Forbes fold-out postcard has been found by a member of the community at his late grandfather’s house.
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Barry Kemp (77) discovered the historic postcard among his grandfather Arthur Percy Kemp’s belongings.
It was sent to Arthur’s house in Murrurundai in 1952.
The fold out blurb reads:
“Forbes is situated on the Lachlan River and has a never failing water supply. The average rainfall is twenty inches. The rich soil for which the district is renowned, produces fruits of many kinds, whilst wheat growing, cattle and sheep raising, viticulture and horticulture combined with its secondary industries such as a large Meat and Freezing Works, Butter Factory and Cigarette Factory give permanent employment to many of its population of 9,130.
“Forbes has all the conveniences of a modern city, electricity, gas, water filtration, and sewerage system.
“An Olympic Swimming Pool, tennis courts, golf links, gardens and theatres provide facilities for enjoyment.
“There are daily Air and Train services to Sydney, and train links to Melbourne.
“Generously endowed by nature, and developed by civic authorities, Forbes is fast becoming The Future City of the West.”
Fairfax newspaper archives revealed that Forbes contained one theatre in the early days - Olympic Picture Palace - at the rear of the Vandenberg Hotel - which opened on Tuesday 10th April 1917.
Following that there were two theatres, The Strand Theatre, which opened Monday 27 June 1927 and The Studio Picture theatre, which opened Saturday 24 July 1937 in Templar Street.
In 1954 criticism of the condition of the Studio Theatre came from a health inspector in a Forbes Council meeting.
Fairfax archives reports the theatre was deemed a fire hazard and it was closed by 1962.
The Lachlan Street Image shows Knapton’s Pharmacy and John Meagher and Co.’s general store, which sold groceries, hardware, shoes and clothing.
British tobacco importer and cigarette manufacturer W.D & H.O Wills’ Tobacco Factory opened in Rankin Street in 1946 in the times of a national tobacco shortage.
It was rumoured to have closed in 1952.
Forbes Co-operative Dairy Society's Butter Factory was proposed in 1930. It opened on 18 January 1933 on Orange Road and was served by the Stockinbingal Railway Line.
The Daroobalgie Meat Works opened and closed various times throughout the twentieth century.
Re-opening in March 1942, the Forbes Meat and Freezing Works closed in April 1952 due to a scarcity of stock.
