They have opened Hush Boutique, a women’s clothing store on the old Maitland Mercury corner.

Local historian Peter Bogan takes a look at the colourful history of the shop. 

The butcher shop in Hunter Street, Maitland (corner of Odd Street) dates back to at least early 1868.

From that date there is mention in the Maitland Mercury of Sylvester Byrne being granted a slaughtering licence.

There is also much information on John Walsh  after June 1874. Being next door to the Mercury office would seem that he was a handy contact for any time a filler was required.

As seen below, the last record of the premises being used as a butcher shop is November 2, 1937.

The next known use of the premises is between 1944 and 1946 when they were used by Bob Pryde to start a sweet manufacturing business, later known as Prydes Sweets.

In June 1949, the building was used by a K Carmody as an electrical workshop. 

Approximate depths of flood water in premises: 1955 - 2.5m; 1893 - 2m; 1949 - 1.2m. 

The following appeared on the front page of The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser on Saturday March 6, 1869 and is from research carried out for Maitland and District Historical Society.

“The partnership, hitherto carried on under the name of BYRNE and HARKIN, butchers, Hunter Street, West Maitland, was this day dissolved by mutual consent.

The undersigned return their sincere thanks to the inhabitants of West Maitland and the surrounding districts for the liberal support awarded to them for the last twelve months and desire to inform the public that the business will in future be carried on by Sylvester Byrne, who is empowered to receive all debts owing to and pay all liabilities of the said firm of Byrne and Harkin on and after February 27, 1869.

Dated  26th day of February, 1869. 

SYLVESTER BYRNE. DANIEL HARKIN.

From The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday, June 20, 1874, page one: 

The fate of Sylvester Byrne has not been recorded and there is no record of his burial in Maitland City Council cemetery index, no dates given and no death record in NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Byrne was last mentioned in the Mercury on November 20, 1880, as a supporter of James Brunker for election for the seat of East Maitland.

A few days since John Walsh, butcher, Hunter Street, West Maitland, was the victim of a very unpleasant mishap. It seemed that Mr Walsh was in the act of cutting a piece of meat which was suspended to a swinging hook when the instrument he was using slipped and cut him severely across the left arm. He consulted Dr. R. G. Alcorn, who found it necessary to put in several stitches.

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday, February 15,1890, page four.

A youth, Charles Gale, in the employ of John Walsh, butcher, Hunter Street, West Maitland, experienced a nasty fall on Saturday evening.

He had occasion to deliver some meat and was returning along High Street on horseback when he met an omnibus coming in the same direction. 

In getting out of the way of the bus he had a close shave. He managed, however, to steer clear of it, at the same time encountering another obstacle in the shape of a hansom cab, with which his horse collided.

He was thrown to the ground with some violence and when picked up was somewhat stunned.

This happened opposite the fire brigade station.

Dr Yeates was summoned and found that the lad had been severely shaken and bruised.

- The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser Tuesday, February 18, 1890, page five.

An accident of a painful nature befell one of John Walsh's little daughters – Pearly – on Wednesday afternoon in rather a simple manner.

The little one was running along the footpath near her parents' residence in Bourke Street, when she slipped and fell, breaking her collar bone.

The services of Dr Alcorn were called in and the little patient is doing remarkably well.

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser Saturday, June 3 1893, page four.

The death occurred, in sad circumstances on Saturday of John Walsh, a very old and esteemed resident of Maitland for over half a century. 

For some months he had been in bad health and about four months ago suffered from a particularly severe and painful illness, which left him in such a state that he was subject to mental attacks and it was necessary to have an attendant constantly with him. 

He also suffered from acute insomnia. He was able to trot about and had made such progress that the services of his attendant were dispensed with on Friday. On Saturday morning deceased was at the shop, leaving about midday but later in the afternoon was seized with a sudden illness from which he subsequently died. 

The late Mr Walsh was a native of Swan Reach, near Hinton and was 71 years of age. 

He served his time to the butchering business at Hinton with John Mayo, the well known sportsman and later worked for Henry Hubert at Maitland.

He subsequently managed a business for David Brown at the corner of High and Free Church streets and some time afterwards bought from S. Burns (sic) the business he had since carried on for over 40 years.

His wife predeceased him early in the year and he felt the separation keenly. A family of three sons and ten daughters survives him. 

The Maitland Daily Mercury Monday, October 12, 1914, page four.

The last mention of Walsh's butcher shop was in the Maitland Mercury on Tuesday, November 2, 1937, when John Walsh, third of the name, was fined £2 with 8s cost for selling mince meat adulterated with sulphurous acid.