And a Good Time Was Had By All

Every Year the Bricknell Grocery Store in Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie would hold a picnic for their employees which was a much looked forward to event. It was usually held in September and all the staff would attend. There were games and races and lots of food and drink. The event was usually held outside of town in a local picnic area and several coaches would be used to transport everyone and everything. The following photograph show some of the events from the picnic of 1908. I’m sure we will all be familiar with the ‘Egg and Spoon’ race but the ‘Nail Driving’ competition is not one I have heard of before.

BRICKNELL BROS., Kalgoorlie’s Leading Food and Produce Merchants.

What can be accomplished in a brief period, by energy, perseverance, and new ideas is demonstrated in the continued expansion of Kalgoorlie’s leading provision and catering firm, Bricknell Bros. An aptness for this trade and a thorough knowledge of its requirements have given this firm peculiar advantages, which they have not been slow in developing, with

what effect may be judged by the crowds which daily throng their establishment and the pile of orders received by every mail from districts near and far. The accompanying photograph of a portion of the interior gives but a slight idea of the stock and resources of the premises, which are proving far too small for the continual increase in business. Already the firm’s premises have been extended back to the next street, and still their cry is for more room.

Taking a walk through the premises one is struck with the variety of stocks. Everything is tastefully displayed, and the number of customers met with, no matter at what time of day, inspecting the windows and busily purchasing at the counters, sneaks volumes for the extent of trade done. An adequate description of the stocks on sale, comprising groceries, dairy produce, confectionery, pastry, wines and spirits, and delicacies, etc. would require too much space. Suffice to say the long counters and shelves are loaded to their utmost capacity with all that is necessary to satisfy the hunger of the worker, the taste of the epicure, or the fancy of the invalid. Aesthetic tastes are also catered for, from special table bon-mots to magnificent wedding cakes, for which latter the firm have achieved special renown, having won several first prizes in competitive displays.

For high class banquets, balls, evening parties. picnics, etc., the firm’s catering is always in demand, while it is no figure of speech to say that at least half Kalgoorlie is dependent on Bricknell Bros. for their daily bread.

It needs not the advertising columns of newspapers, or the printed handbill of the street distributor, to attest what position Bricknell Bros. occupy in public estimation. Travel through the back country where one will, the labels on packing cases, bags, and parcels, all bear the familiar name of Bricknell Bros., Kalgoorlie. The miner in his humpy, the solitary prospector on the frontier of civilization, or the exploring party setting out amid wilds affording no sustenance other than that the traveler packs with him on his heavy laden animals, all are indebted to this firm for amelioration of the conditions of life known as “roughing it.” A few tins of choice viands are as accessible to those in the wilderness as to the dweller in the town mansion. The quality of the goods is the first consideration of the firm, their packing the second, and the price that which the firm alone has made a specialty. The sole proprietor of the business is Mr. F. Bricknell. who, during his long residence in Kalgoorlie, has proved himself a worthy citizen, and is deservedly held in the highest esteem.