Magazine Article 1902 – Foster Brook

Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 – 1907), Saturday 1 February 1902, page 34

MR FOSTER BROOK’S NEWSAGENCY.

Located in the busiest part of Main street – which is Lithgrow’s principal thoroughfare – is the attractive establishment of Mr. Foster Brook, of which an illustration is given amongst the views published on this page.  As the picture shows, the premises are not very extensive but there is, perhaps, no business place in the town with which Lithgow people are more familiar, and this by reason of the fact that it is there, and there only, that the leading daily and weekly newspapers of the Commonwealth can be procured in Lithgow.  In other words, Mr. Brook is the proprietor of the only newsagency in that centre.  He is conducting a newsagency pure and simple, stocking and selling only such goods as books, stationery, and school requisites, and which come within the definition of the word “newsagent” as set forth by the Early Closing Act.  A splendid circulating library is connected with his business, and by paying a small fee those in need of books may select any of the numerous works of fiction which the shelves contain, read them and then return the books and select others if they choose.  The orders of country and town constituents receive careful attention, the same desire to please being manifested on the part of th [the] proprietor in attending to both small and large orders.  Mr. Brook has not been long in Lithgow, but he has already succeeded in accomplishing that to which he has devoted his energies, viz., the working-up of a first-class newsagency business.  The local agencies for all the principal Sydney newspapers are held by him, whilst he stocks a great number of English and colonial magazines and illustrated papers, as well as an immense variety of other publications of a vastly different character to the ordinary newspaper, but for which, nevertheless, there is a big demand.  So varied, indeed, is the stock of newspapers at this well-appointed newsagency, that no matter what the literary tastes of a person may be, it is possible to gratify them by making a purchase there.  Mr. Foster Brook’s success as a newsagent shows what can be achieved in a short time by untiring zeal and excellent business capacity.