Clarence Gibson Carlton

Clarence was the founder and editor of the “Sunshine Advocate” which he opened in 1924. The first publication of the paper was on the 1st March 1924.

 

He sold the business in 1965 to Cumberland Newspapers. Later the newspaper became to be known by various names including the Brimbank Advocate, Brimbank Weekly and finally when it was brought out by Metro Media Publishing Holdings who were the publisher of the Star Weekly. They merged the two papers together and the paper became to be known as Brimbank & North West Star Weekly.

 

He was born Clarence Gibson Carlton on the 22nd March 1893 in Yarraville. His parents were Anthony Carlton & Helen Carlton Nee Gibson. Clarence had four siblings, James Martin (b1887 d1887), Annie Marion (b1888 d1963), Margaret Way (b26/7/1889 d27/8/1979) & Andrew Lindsay (b1891 d1960), all births registered in Footscray, Victoria.

 

Clarence married Amelia Bridget "Dolly" McDonald on the 27th December 1919 in Yarraville, Victoria.

 

The pair had five children, Laurel Jean (b1/10/1920 d12/10/2009), Raymond "Ray" Gibson (b28/2/1922 d22/11/2016), Norman "Norm" Harrison (b9/5/1923 d12/1/2008), Edna Clarice (b Abt 1926 d19/7/1929) & Valda Joy.

 

Clarence’s first publishing house was in Devonshire Rd, near Dawson St. In 1928 he moved to 13 Sun Cres, a former billiard saloon and finally in 1939 to his newly built Art Deco Style building at 10 – 14 Dickson St.

 

His residential homes were always located nearby his work.

 

Clarence’s sons, Raymond “Ray” & Norman ‘Norm”, both served with the R.A.A.F. during WW2. They also both worked for the newspaper.

 

Clarence was active in the community, he was the secretary of the Sunshine Patriotic Fund, founding member and first secretary of the Sunshine Businessmen’s Club, the first president of the Sunshine Cricket Club, vice president of Sunshine (Sub-District) Football Club and secretary of the Footscray Football Club. Clarence was also a Justice of Peace and he would sometime adjudicate on a case in the Petty Sessions Court and at the same time as reporting the case for the newspaper.

 

Clarence’s interests also extended to operating the Caltex Service Station in Hampshire Rd.

 

Today, the Sunshine Advocate gives a rare glimpse into a community, the people who lived there, their social, sporting and working lives, family notices regarding birth, deaths, obituaries, bereavement, engagement & marriage notices, general news on topics of interest to the community, news on what was happening in Council, the local businesses advertisements, employment adds, private for sales notices and much more.

 

One of Clarence's most important works for anyone researching the district was the publishing of the Sunshine Cavalcade, a souvenir booklet commemorating the proclamation of the City of Sunshine in 1951.

 

Clarence died on the 31st March 1972, Aged 79 at Sunshine, Victoria. His wife Amelia died the following year on the 29th June 1973, Age 77, at Kew, Victoria.

 

Clarence and Amelia are both buried in the Altona Cemetery.

 

1925 Dawson St Sunshine, East Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1925 Devonshire Rd Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson - "Sunshine Advocate"

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1926 Devonshire Rd Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson - "Sunshine Advocate"

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1927 Devonshire Rd Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson - "Sunshine Advocate"

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1928 Sun Cres Sunshine, Sunshine Advocate - Carlton, Clarence Gibson

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1929 13 Sun Cres Sunshine, Sunshine Advocate - Carlton, Clarence Gibson

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1930 13 Sun Cres Sunshine, Sunshine Advocate - Carlton, Clarence Gibson

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1931 13 Sun Cres Sunshine, Sunshine Advocate - Carlton, Clarence Gibson

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1933 125 Durham Rd Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1933 13 Sun Cres Sunshine, Sunshine Advocate - Carlton, Clarence Gibson

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1935 125 Durham Rd Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1935 13 Sun Cres Sunshine, Sunshine Advocate - Carlton, Clarence Gibson

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1938 13 Dickson St Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1938 13 Sun Cres Sunshine, Carlton, Clarence Gibson & Co - Printers

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1940 13 Dickson St Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1940 13 Sun Cres Sunshine, Carlton, Clarence Gibson & Co - Printers

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1942 13 Dickson St Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1942 10 Dickson St Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson & Co. - Printers

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1945 13 Dickson St Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1945 10 Dickson St Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson & Co. - Printers

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1950 13 Dickson St Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1950 10 Dickson St Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson & Co. - Printers

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1955 13 Dickson St Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1955 10 Dickson St Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson & Co. – Printers

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1955 Hampshire Rd, Carlton, Clarence Gibson - Service Station

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1960 13 Dickson St Sunshine, North Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

1960 10-14 Dickson St Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson & Co. - Printers

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1965 10-14 Dickson St Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson & Co. - Printers

1965 7 Withers St Sunshine, West Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

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1970 12-14 Dickson St Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson Pty Ltd - Printers

1970 7 Withers St Sunshine, West Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

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1974 12-14 Dickson St Sunshine, South Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson Pty Ltd - Printers

1974 7 Withers St Sunshine, West Side Carlton, Clarence Gibson

 

Ref: S&DHS Newsletter Series 5. No 4, August 2005

Ref: Sunshine Advocate

Ref: Sands & McDougall Directories

Ref: Victoria Birth, Deaths & Marriages