Baking the bread
Bakeries were once widespread in Parramatta, with over 30 master bakers established here by the 1930s. One renowned family name was Muston. The Muston’s were originally brickmakers; their bricks, characterised by the heart shaped ‘frog’ stamped in the centre. When brick making became mechanised and competition increased, William Muston’s son Thomas, branched out into baking. From brick kilns to baker’s ovens, it wasn’t long before the Muston family became known as ‘grand’ bakers.
The bakeries were often only blocks apart, some on main streets but mostly located between or behind private houses. Bread was baked fresh and delivered to residents’ doors via horse and cart. Other bakers of renown were J.Granger & Sons, Messers Gambrill and McKay and Pilchers. The only remaining cart, out of 150 carts that travelled the streets of Parramatta, is the original Pilchers Baker’s cart which now belongs to the city of Parramatta.
Natalie Rose Cassaniti, Cultural Collections Officer & Janelle Blucher, Research and Collection Services Coordinator.