Historical information

FROM - West Wimmera Mail Office
FURNIVAL & Co. was a British engineering firm renowned for manufacturing various types of printing machinery during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Established in Manchester, the company later operated out of Reddish, Stockport. The West Wimmera Mail office was originally established by Thomas Waghorn COMYNS and Joseph Henry COMFORT in the 1880s. In 1885 the office began for a short time in Natimuk at 54-56 Main Street before relocating to 75-77 Main Street. In April 1887 COMYN and COMFORT dissolved their partnership and Thomas Waghorn COMYN took over the printing business on his own. In August 1887 the West Wimmera Mail newspaper printing business was sold to Joseph NAYLOR and Samuel GILL. In February 1892 William GILES owned this property along with the West Wimmera Mail printing business. In 1899 Alfred Wright LOCKWOOD bought the business from William GILES for £500. In 1921, due to flood issues, the printing office relocated to 101 Main Street Laneway next to the Mechanics Institute. In 1944 the printing office relocated yet again to 105 Main Street until 1957 when the West Wimmera Mail amalgamated with the Horsham Times to from the Wimmera Mail Times and relocated to Horsham.