(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)

In the Northern Territory Times and Gazette of 1876, Joseph Skelton placed a large advertisement intended for “storekeepers, hotelkeepers, and others”. He held a wide range of goods, including food, hardware, shovels, picks and “best blasting powder” for miners, clothing, and chemist sundries.

He also sold homœopathic medicines –

Small cases, 10s. 6d., containing 12 bottles

Homœopathic medicines, prepared for tropical climates

Book of instructions, 2s. 6d. (These cases are valuable when no medical aid is near. Every publican and storekeeper should have them)

Medicines, 7s. 6d. per dozen bottles.

Gold was taken in exchange for goods.

From 1877 to 1884 Joseph Skelton was the Editor of the Northern Territory’s newspaper.

© Barbara Armstrong