Memories of Lenah Valley by Glenyse Russell

The original Newsagents and Post Office was on the site where the Amcal Pharmacy is today. This was run for many years by Gordon & Daisy Lucas. They also sold toys and vegetables as well as papers and magazines. They ran a lay-by system for the toys so that the Zinc workers could pay them off when they received their Christmas bonus.

When a classified advertisement for The Mercury was placed it was delivered by the next Metro Bus to the City. It was handed to the driver and the bus number was noted and then rung through so Mercury staff could meet it at the GPO.

The Lucas' purchased a house at 98 Augusta Road and built a newsagency at the front of the house in approx 1970. The business was later purchased by their daughter and son-in-law Jan & Graeme Trenham.

The Valley Floral Boutique was established in March 1973. Syd & Myrtle Charlton bought the corner block from Dick Baker after moving to the city after being victims of the 1967 bush fires.

The building was the original Campbell's shop before they moved further up Augusta Road. At the time of purchase the corner shop was a barber shop, and the second shop a poodle parlour. The other business was an already-established women's hairdresser.

After Myrtle ran the florist with relatives for many years the business was sold to their two daughters. Syd was still doing the deliveries over the age of 80 before retiring to enjoy his gardening. When asked, he would give the approximate number of deliveries he had done to Calvary Hospital over 25 years or more. The florist still operates by its present owner after 44 years.