I remember at Christmas time, near the stairs there used to be a little automated Santa Claus hands rhythmically moving back and forth over the organ keyboard as Christmas carols filled the store.

Where did Santa end up?

Fred Hosey from Singleton built the staircase and his grandson, Campbell Ball tells us...

'That staircase was built and installed by my grandfather Fred Hosey in the 1920s.

Fred was a skilled carpenter and joiner working for Gould brothers, a well-established timber yard in Singleton.

Young Fred with tape measure and paper in hand was put on a train and travelled to M C Mackenzies building in Glen Innes which we understand was being extended at that time.

Fred presumably discussed the staircase design with the owners, then put pencil to paper, taking all necessary measurements.

He then returned to Singleton and built the staircase, presumably trial assembled it, then flat packed it and returned to Glen Innes to install it.

It is a true indication of the skills of that generation.

No laser lights to gain accurate measurements, no computer-aided designs to generate accurate drawings and no small electric battery power tools to help with tongue and groove joints.'

The staircase was dismantled by an outside building firm when the Mackenzies store was sold, and the site redeveloped.

But where is that magnificent structure now? Campbell Ball would dearly love to know where it is and if it is still intact.

And then there is a U-shaped table.

Geoff Clarke, whilst a foreman for Jake Davis built a special U-shaped table for Severn Shire Council meetings in the new Church Street building, opened in 1962

His daughter Bronwyn who attended school in Glen Innes here in the 50s and 60s understands that when Councils amalgamated in 2004 the table could not be taken out of the room in one piece, so was broken up and destroyed,

Does someone have a photo of Shire Councilors deep in deliberations round a U -shaped table?

Thanks to keen eyes, yes, that was a photo of Annetta Scott nee Rodolph, but no family for the soldier.

The Land of the Beardies is now back to its full seven-day per week opening schedule.

The doors are now open to visitors from Monday - Friday: 10am - 12 noon, then 1pm - 4pm; and weekends: 1pm - 4pm.