Children with their noses pushed against glass cases selecting lollies to fill a bag, workers buying smokes and a pie, mums with an urgent cooking request and a busy shopkeeper who knew all the local gossip.

That was the world of the local corner convenience store – an essential part of life in country towns for many years.

When supermarkets were granted seven-day trading freedoms it quickly meant the end to a local way of life.

Orange used to have stores on or near many corners of town.

Whybrows, Cornings, Quoins, Nagle’s, Mead’s, Mrs Egan’s, Gardiner’s McKenzie’s Wells’ Waterson’s, Mackies and Thommos were among the many regularly visited by locals.

The Central Western Daily has discovered about 30 former stores.

Many have been converted into houses while others have new uses including as hairdressers, an art gallery, a dental clinic, an interior design store and more.

Many retain their unique features including the corner verandah and posts from another time.

Roger and Chris Kershaw’s March Street home was converted before they moved there in 1993, but they say the locals have fond memories of “Mick Mead’s shop” or Lewis’s as it was before.

“There was an 80-year-old lady from over the road who said she used to come here for lollies,” Mrs Kershaw said.

The front entrance has been turned into a window and a Tetley’s Tea sign painted over but it still has the feel of its past life.

Neighbor John Owens, remembers several convenience stores in the area.

One store, he remembers was run by “miserable people” while others kept the shop dark.

“You had to have a torch when you went in there it was so dark.”

Middletons Ice Blocks used to deliver to many stores across Orange.

Co-owner Marie Middleton said they were sorely missed.

“There were called convenience stores because they were so convenient,” she said.

“If you ran out a bit of sugar or milk you just ducked down the road to get it.

“You got to know them very, very well.”

It was known as Amanda’s Store – after one of Rosemary Wells’ daughters.

On the corner of March and Hill streets it provided locals with produce and local schoolchildren with lollies for many years.

But, as Mrs Wells remembers, it would die the death of many corner stores once the supermarkets came to town.

Once they were granted extended trading hours the small shops could not compete.

“My brother-in-law was running it about 10 years ago,” she said.

“He gave it up when all the supermarkets opened.

“It was too hard to compete with all the hours.”

Mrs Wells said the store was a great place for locals and the local school.

“We were the lolly shop for the school. It was busy because of the school,” she said.

Since closing, the shop has been converted into their house.

But the absolute street frontage and the verandah and posts reveal its heritage.