ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collections

HMSS 0403 Canberra Bakeries Ltd Photograph 

Scope and Content Notes 

The Canberra Bakeries building was erected in 1925 at 22 Mort Street, Braddon, one of two factory-style bakeries built in Canberra in that year. They were designed by James W Sproule of Queanbeyan and were very similar in general appearance. The second building was at 36 Mort Street, and subsequently became Coggan’s Bakery.

Canberra Bakeries building was leased to Jim Grant, a Sydney baker who had taken over the lease of the Molonglo Bakery from John Murray in 1924. Murray’s original bakery was in what is now Commonwealth Park, in premises built by Ebenezer Booth in 1874 to serve as a store and, briefly, Canberra’s post office. Murray opened his bakery in 1911 but by 1913 was in more or less continuous conflict with the health officials. In 1922 David Miller, the first Administrator of the Federal Capital Territory, ordered a new bakery to be built in the Molonglo Camp. This was initially run by a cooperative of public servants but Murray, whose original bakery burned down in 1923, successfully contested the decision and won the 3-year lease. Jim Grant came from Sydney to take over the Molonglo Bakery lease in 1925, moving to the new Mort Street building in 1926.

In 1932 Jim Grant bought the lease of the second bakery from Jacob Tantau, and used the premises as storage for flour etc, as well as accommodation for his single male staff. He sold the building in 1941 to Peter and Doreen McIntyre; Leo Coggan moved to Canberra from Queanbeyan to manage and subsequently own the reinstated bakery.

The Canberra Bakeries building was sold in 1958 to A T Shakespeare of the Canberra Times and was used to store their rolls of newsprint. It was later sold to Dunlop Tyre Co who occupied it for a number of years. It was next occupied by The Comedy Factory, then a motorcycle dealer, and by 2004 by Reece Pty Ltd Plumbing.

Pictured left to right are Colin Kirkpatrick, Greg Cusack, Jim Grant (proprietor), Bob Roots, Ben Norris, Roy Smith, unknown, Matt Stewart.

The building in the immediate background was Canberra Garage Ltd, later to become Freebody’s Motors and later again, Hardie Tyre and Rubber. Behind them was the Canberra Times.