2017 Hot Dog Stand Leslie Thornton
When Leslie first moved to Castlemaine in the early 1970s he had a hot dog stand at the then nascent Wesley Hill Market. He still loves them and was delighted when this one popped up for a while in Barker Street, outside PJ Tyres.
Bonkers – house built by Les in preparation for the arrival of his son Lok – pre Chewton Bushlands Lok first bushland baby.
Chewton Bushlands part two – arial view of the bushlands – those in the know can pick out their dams
Grandparents Farm was located where the main street of Woodford is now – location of the famous folk festival
When the Inconvenience Store first opened it branded itself as a Convenience Store. The problem for Les was as Manager of the Theatre Royal it was never open when he was on his way home after a late night disco or musical event. Hence he renamed it for being anything but convenient.
Sadly Castlemaine Rock is no more. A lolly made simply of sugar and peppermint and harking back to goldrush days, even it’s small factory in Wesley Hill has been demolished.
Find an article about the demise of the iconic brand here>>
Leslie managed the TR between 1980 and 1999 and then continued on as projectionist and stage lighter for another x years. It was at the end of his time as manager that having kept the place going through many challenges that he self knighted himself for services to the financial sector.
Thompsons Foundry Band (Hall) there was a time when industrial organisations across the world had a band of workers associated and this was the proactice room for the local foundry band for decades. Recently rendered many people are sad no longer used by the band though the band lives on.
Castlemaine Hospital pictures – UPPER one shows the Castlemaine Hospital in Halford Street as it was in 1974 when Leslie drove his Riley to collect his new born son. The site is now used by artists, healing practictioners, artisans and is the home of the best little radio station in the nation Mainfm.
The current hospital painting depicts the very old section of the hospital that predates Halford Street and has been modernised and updated. The addition of the ambulance bay is recent.
In 1973 Les travelled from Castlemaine to attend the Aquarius Festival in Nimbin. There, he illuminated a huge tree with coloured lights as his contribution to the atmosphere.
He also participated in a screen printing workshop where, using rudimentary techniques, he made his one and only screenprint. His intention was to denote the barter economy on site with the cash register symbolising commerce and the fruit and vegetables among the currency used.
The Barter Economy, Leslie Thornton (produced at Nimbin), 1973, Screenprint 1/1 50cm x 37cm
Soldier and Scholar Bookshop at 215 Barker Street, was opened over 20 years ago by Joyce Sanders. She came to Castlemaine after a long time in Canberra and Melbourne, because it reminded her of her native Alabama.
Joyce has sadly packed up and retired in 2022 emptying the building of books. Over the years many locals worried that she would be found crushed to death by a tower of books it was so crammed. Les once visited her and realised that a back room was actually a kitchen. There were books in the oven.
When researching Les’s notebook (which he keeps in his top pocket ands writes his ideas as they come to him, morning, noon or often at night) it was a delight to find a little sketch that might have been the first idea to draw Joyce’s bookshop.
Photos of Joyce and her books by Eliza Tree.
More about the closing down of Joyce’s Bookshop here>>
