James Gayner and his son Mathew at the family's general store in Tudor Street, Hamilton, circa 1880. Photo from Al Gayner.
James Gayner of Hamilton: coalminer, storekeeper and newsagent
In the photo above, the bearded gent is James Gayner, with his son Mathew, (born in 1875 and then aged about three), outside the family's general store and paper shop in Tudor Street, Hamilton. The family had the store for 83 years and members covered hundreds of thousands of kilometres on foot, delivering papers to their customers. James Gayner and his wife came from England in 1857, chasing work in Newcastle's coalmines. He started work at the Australian Agricultural Company's Borehole pit in Hamilton, later transferring to the Lambton pit where he worked until injury forced…