Preserving the past with antiques

In an era dominated by digital archives, one local antique store has emerged as an unexpected guardian of physical artifacts.

Central Coast Antiques & Collectables has donated dozens of historical items, including precious postal memorabilia, to local museums and libraries.

Owner Mitchell Gordon said the centrepiece of a recent donation to Alison Homestead was a collection of postal scales and ephemera from the Wyong Post Office.

“This donation holds special meaning, as the museum suffered a catastrophic arson attack in 2011,” he said.

“Local historian Peter Fisher, an expert on the region’s natural and cultural heritage, facilitated this preservation effort.

“His meticulous research has documented the area’s history, including Wyong’s evolution from an Aboriginal place of ‘running water’ to a thriving European settlement in 1823 – a crucial chapter in Australian history that the postal artifacts help tell.”

Central Coast Antiques & Collectables has implemented an innovative approach to historical preservation through its free home clearance service, which has uncovered valuable historical treasures that might have otherwise been lost.

The partnership between the antique store and local cultural institutions recognises that preserving heritage is the responsibility of the entire community.