Historical information

Dr Michele Matthews has been a local and social historian for nearly three decades since she first used correspondence held by the then Bendigo City Council for her Honours thesis. She is an ardent advocate for the use of local history records to tell Victorian and Australian history from a grassroots perspective. Michele’s MA thesis, ‘A forgotten “Father” of Federation: Sir John Quick 1852‑1911’ (2003), and her PhD thesis, ‘Survivors, schemes, Samaritans and shareholders: the impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925‑1935’ (2007), both drew heavily on Bendigo and district records.

Benjamin and his two eldest sons, William and Arthur, began a printing business known as Bolton & Sons on March 25 1885.

The location of the original printing business was in High Street, but later moved to Williamson Street where the business underwent a name change to Bolton Bros and expanded into manufacturing paper bags and other stationery lines. In 1902, Bolton Bros moved to 43 Mitchell Street which housed the retail stationery department and the main office, while the printing factory was on the second and third floors. Next door at 47 Mitchell Street the wholesale division and machine service department operated. William and Arthur Bolton and their sons travelled throughout central and northern Victoria selling their own products and representing other companies.

Physical description

Michele Matthews Collection: Photos Used for her PHD - Boltons, Bendigo

This item includes the following documents:

8672.22a An A4 Black and white print of presumably the Boltons Staff outside of their shop in Centre Way Mitchell Street Bendigo possibly in the 1920s, a large group of people and two men with bicycles.

8672.22b Boltons Letterhead A4 Sheet which was attached to a 1920 Letter

8672.22c This document is a business letter from Bolton Bros. Pty. Ltd. to Bush's Stores, dated February 28, 1927. Notification of Shipment: Bolton Bros. confirms they have informed Cuttles Mallee Stores in Robinvale that Bush's Stores will be sending goods, referencing an enclosed letter. The letter serves as formal communication between the companies regarding the arrangement and transfer of goods.

8672.22d Invoice from Albert Bush's Stores, Williamson Street Bendigo to a resident at Manangatang