MARCH 19, 1990 saw the Lithgow Craft Co-op open a gallery in the Hartley Building in Mort Street.
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It’s aim was to run the group jointly with the Tourism Advisory Committee.
It was proposed the centre would operate seven days a week between 10am and 4pm with extra hours in holiday periods.
The idea was to provide the Greater Lithgow and visitors to the area with on going exhibitions of the various forms created by the local artists.
To add to the exhibition side of things the co-op also had display boards of information on visitor attractions, both natural and man-made displays, as well as information on restaurants, accommodation and recreation facilities.
A few of the earlier members were Jan Fairclough (handmade dolls and teddy bears), Anne Alder (handmade craft), Yvonne Jenkins (paintings), Fay Hasler (handmade crafts), Mary Hailstone (paintings) and Stephen Cunningham (wood craft and oil paintings) along with many more people who contributed to the formation of the co-op such as Dorothy Tressider, Keith Robinson, Fay Quinell and Pam Case just to mention a few.
The co-op then moved to 22 Main Street about 1992, opposite the park where they became more independent and conducted Arts in the Park.
In 1998 the co-op move to its present site, Sweetbriar where it has conducted business over the preceding years, never compromising the quality of the work on display.
Twenty five years is a very long time for a group of crafters and on Saturday the co-op is celebrating this momentous occasion with a special afternoon at the gallery and would love anyone interested in the past years of the co-op to come along and join them and catch up with members from previous years who will be joining them for the afternoon, as well as more recent members for an afternoon of entertainment and special memories and tall stories.
The co-op now has about 22 members who specialise in many different forms of craft, so if you are looking for something in particular check out the co-op first as they are sure to have it or can get it made for you.
For more information phone the co-op on 6352 3541 or email sweetbriarcraft@yahoo.com.au.
