FINCH’S chemist was a well-known store in Coffs Harbour’s early days.
Adopting his father’s profession, Charles Finch completed a two-year pharmacy course in 1886 at the Sydney Technical College, becoming a public analytical chemist for over seven years and lodging a patent for an acetyline gas generator.
He opened a chemist and dentist shop in Sydney in June 1899, specialising in removing teeth using anaesthetic he invented.
He opened his store in Coffs Harbour in August 1909, but three years later a one storey building was built in the main street which included professional rooms and residential apartments at the rear.
Finch’s chemist leased rooms which included dispensing, manufacturing and storerooms, along with a ‘dentist’s parlour’.
The pharmacy remained here, the lease renewed each calendar year until 1921, a year after Charles Finch was sworn in as a JP.
Ernest Pullen had purchased the premises, giving Charles Finch six months’ notice to move out by 24 November 1921, however the chemist refused to leave, preferring his yearly lease arrangement.
Mr Pullen obtained an ejectment order on 13 December 1921 but Mr Finch remained, launching an unsuccessful Supreme Court appeal in December 1922.
Mr Pullen received another notice of appeal dated 20 February 1923 and increased his insurance by £200 as he thought it too low and there were rumours “the place might go up in smoke”.
Charles Finch had doubled his insurance to £2000 on his stock and fittings, also worried he would lose money if a fire occurred, as it recently had elsewhere.
The day before the next appeal, while Mr Finch was in Sydney, fire gutted the building.
Eyewitnesses confirmed his wife, son and locum chemist were at the beach when it occurred and an open verdict was given.
However, in June 1923 Mr Pullen successfully sued Mr Finch for £350 for trespass in his building and settlement was arranged.
The business was relocated to Sawtell in May 1928 then Mr Finch left the area for Melbourne in 1942.
By Karen FILEWOOD
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