Somerset Lane in Eugowra has closed its doors

After 10 years as the proprietor of the local clothing business, Michelle Cheney has made the decision to cease trading in Eugowra.

She will still be operating her Somerset Lane Boutique in Molong from Monday to Saturday and has transferred her stock from the Eugowra shop to Molong.

Helen Perry, who has been a loyal customer of Michelle's, expressed her thanks to Michelle for providing a lovely range of clothing for the community and for being a very helpful person to deal with over the years, and said she will miss her very much.

Michelle has expressed her sincere thanks to her customers for their patronage over the years.

“I would really like to thank my customers and the people of Eugowra for their support over the past 10 years,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful community to be part of and I look forward to continuing my association with them in the future.”

Michelle said that she will be focusing full time on her real estate for Eugowra and surrounding district - her contact number for these enquiries is 0414 815 479.

The building that housed Somerset Lane has had a long retail history in Eugowra.

The local history book: Eugowra – its history and development compiled by William Benham, tells some of its story.

John W Lees purchased it from G Hosie in 1912 and ran it as a general store for many years.

A major renovation in 1926 saw the store extensively expanded.

In a refit described as “innovative and efficient” for the times, it was fitted out with a cashier upstairs and a series of overhead wires to convey the cash from the counters and return receipts and change.

A spring-loaded system propelled the container along the wires.

It continued as a grocery store for many years and was vacant for a number of years before becoming a clothing store.

The book, available at Eugowra Museum, tells more of the story of the Lees family.