Thomas Dimmock was an important figure in Maitland business circles for many years either side of 1900.
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The firm he established in about 1878 still exists: six generations of Dimmocks have operated it. It may be Maitland's longest continuously functioning family firm.
The business was established by Henry Thomas in 1854 in High St, opposite the former Congregational Church now occupied by the Maitland Repertory Theatre. Before long Henry had apprenticed a 12-year-old boy called Thomas Dimmock. Eventually, Dimmock left Thomas's employ to work for the Maitland Mercury, but he returned to buy his first employer out.
Dimmock proved to be a capable, forward-looking entrepreneur, and the business grew profitably under his stewardship.
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In due course it became the largest printing and wholesale stationery house between Newcastle and the Queensland border, developing a reputation for quality printing work at prices below those charged in Sydney.
'Thos' Dimmock prospered. In 1900 he built an expensive, well-appointed house which still stands at the corner of Elgin St and Olive St.
Evidently he had become a member of Maitland's business elite and a leading member of several important institutions including the Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association, the Maitland and District Chamber of Commerce, the Loyal Good Design Lodge of Oddfellows, the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society, the Maitland Mutual Building Society and St Mary's Church.
He was on the board of the Building Society as a director from its inception in 1888, and for a time was its chairman.
The business expanded, more people being employed and new and larger premises becoming necessary.
In 1901 the firm moved into a new two-storey red-brick building just west of the intersection of Charles St and High St and next to the Bank of NSW Arcade.
One measure of Dimmock's situation shortly after the turn of the century was that his business had a telephone: its number was 28.
In 1905 there were only 82 subscribers to the infant telephone service of West Maitland and East Maitland which at that time would have had about 3000 dwellings and business premises.
The population of the area of the current City of Maitland was about 12,000, more than half of it in West Maitland centred on the High St business district.
'Thos' Dimmock prospered. In 1900 he built an expensive, well-appointed house which still stands at the corner of Elgin St and Olive St.
Over time the machinery associated with developing new printing technologies was installed in the printery, lithographic work and colour printing being introduced along with bookbinding, and orders came in from a wide area extending well beyond the Hunter Valley.
Around 1910 extensions were made to the rear of the premises, and in 1923 the floor area of the business was tripled by the construction of an even bigger two-storey building adjoining the first structure on its eastern side.
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Dimmocks was to operate out of this very large facility at 359-63 High St for decades. The retail stationery outlet, needing visibility, fronted High St with the printing operation located at the rear.
Employing at times more than 30 people, it became one of the largest business houses in the CBD.
It was run, after Thomas, by his descendants Sam and Fred (the second generation), Reg and George (the third), Reg's son Russell and Russell's son and grandson Bruce and Darren Dimmock. Today the company is operated by Darren from Beresfield.
