Historic Mellick’s Chamber – Corner & former Council Chambers

Published October 17, 2013 | Editor Ken Banks

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Mellick’s Chambers, Milton NSW

‘Mellick’s Chambers’ located on the corner of Princes Highway and Wason Street in Milton extended along Wason Street northward from the Highway through to Thomas Street and was generally associated with the life of Cec Mellick a notable Milton businessman who operated shops and a furniture business from the site from 1954 until the 1990’s and had his residence adjoining, called ‘Mellickville’.

Its present transformation is the new Chambers Shopping Centre 2013 – 2014, however prior to Cec Mellick earlier buildings on the property had served as the former Milton Council Chambers and also Maddens guest house.

It is understood that buildings on the land including the Council Chambers had been erected by a William Wheatley between 1874 and 1877 then on-sold to a Thomas Patterson who served as an alderman on Council during 1895 to 1896. When Thomas Patterson died at Milton on the 1st October 1919, the property which included the Council Chambers was subsequently sold to Herbert James Poole Hall and Esther Hall on the 20th December 1920.

At a Council meeting held on the 8th January 1924 it was moved that the lease with Mr Hall for the building at present in use (in Wason Street) be renewed for a term of two years at a rental not exceeding 10/- per week prior to council building a new council chambers.

Later the property was purchased by Mary Christina Mellick on 16th March 1945 and the old Council Chambers located to the rear of the property became enclosed by Mellick’s Buildings that included a workshop housing precision woodworking equipment for making furniture.

Cecil Joseph Mellick arrived in Milton with his wife Mary Christina on 9th May 1938. He had been born of fairly wealthy Lebanese parents in the North Queensland town of Ayr, Cec left home to find his own way in the world after studying medicine at St John’s College, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane.

Their ‘Mellickville’ residence was built by Cec from recycled building materials at a cost of £250. He then took eight years to complete the Shops and Brick Office block fronting the Princes Highway after demolishing the old boarding house. This building became known as Mellick’s Corner’. Mellick’s Corner’ housed the drapery store and other shops including the Bank of NSW which opened its Milton branch in these premises in 1953.

The drapery store was known as Mellick’s and was run by Mary Mellick and her staff. The store sold manchester sheets, pillowslips, face towels working trousers, working shirts, socks, ladies’ stockings, aprons, fancy goods, needles, pins etc. The extensive shop front window provided an excellent opportunity for creative window dressing and Mary Mellick was renowned for her wonderful window displays.

Other shop space was rented. Mr Faulkner operated The Regal Cafe from Mellick’s Corner for many years. The Bank of NSW opened its Milton branch in the building in 1953. In later years Cec opened a ‘Mosaic Gallery’ where he displayed his coloured glass.

At the rear of the shops was a two storey cement brick office building known as ‘Mellick’s Chambers’ which was built by Cec from bricks he made on the premises. It once boasted surgeries for a doctor and dentist and was the headquarters of an accountant and solicitor.

Downstairs in Mellick’s Chambers’ Cec operated the Milton Furniture Company. Here he manufactured and sold a range of furnishings from outdoor furniture, carpets and linoleum to kitchen sinks.

Mary Christina Mellick passed away on 22nd April 1990. After her death Cec Mellick approached Council With the view to transfer the land and buildings to Council ownership, at no cost to Council.

Shoalhaven City Council purchased the property on 28th February 1992 allowing Mr Mellick free use of the cottage until his death.

He was a generous man and donated large sums of money and goods to various charities. In August 1998 he donated $20,000 to assist the victims of Wollongong’s horrendous floods.

Cec Mellick died on the 12th November 2001 aged 91 years. So ended the career of glassmaker, cabinetmaker, restorer, hoarder, businessman and well known character of Milton. He was cremated at Leura Memorial Gardens Crematorium on 13th November 2001. His ashes were buried in the front garden of his home, next to his wife Mary. His second wife Mary and his daughter Diana survive him.

Destination Mollymook Milton Ulladulla

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