Newcastle’s Leonora Glassworks
Newcastle’s sadly missed Leonora glassworks was founded by three Czech immigrants - Joe and Henry Vecera and Joe Tvrdik - who came to Australia before World War II as highly qualified glass-workers. When war broke out they were employed at the ELMA lampworks making light globes, radio valves and parts for bomb-sights. After the war they sensed an opportunity and opened their own factory in a two-storey brick former machinery shop on the grounds of the Old Lambton Colliery.The small factory opened on August 15, 1947 and at first it made mostly tableware, although its first…