Clancy’s furniture store Taree

At 85 High Street, Taree, stands Clancy’s furniture store which was established in 1979 by Martin Clancy.¹ Walking through the store one wonders what was this building’s prior use? An old sign referring to a bakery is not an item for sale but instead a signal to the past.

Since 1913 this building has been owned by bakers.² Albert Jones of the firm ‘Jones and Edwards’ bakers and confectioners, was the first to establish a bakery and home here before leasing the premises in 1917 to pursue his political career.³ In 1935 John Bradley bought the business and created a thriving bakery.⁴

The bakery industry was highly regulated and Bradley (along with many other bakers in Taree) was fined for breaches including baking before 6 am and baking and delivering bread on a public holiday.⁵ Bradley was highly respected in Taree having fought in Gallipoli and France during WWI.⁶ His sudden death in 1947 at the age of 50 was a shock. He suffered a heart attack while watching his beloved Old Bar football team play at Taree Showgrounds.⁷

The bakery was continued by his wife Catherine and daughter Mary before Catherine’s early death in 1953.⁸ In 1959 it was sold to Milligan’s Bakery and then to Gillespie Brothers. Phillip Passau bought it from Clancy in 1982 and still operates it today.⁹ When visiting the store keep an eye out for the old bakery sign.

Author: Janine Roberts