The eventful 1950s began with the increase in price of the Sun and the Herald to 3d                                                                                                                                         per copy. On December 20, 1951 the property known as O.Gilpin's on the comer of                                                                                                                                         Horace and Best Streets in Sea Lake was put up for auction. Oliver Gilpin's chain of                                                                                                                                         stores had been taken over in the 1940s by Foy & Gibson and then G. J. Coles. As                                                                                                                                         Coles already had a store in Swan Hill they decided not to open in Sea Lake and                                                                                                                                         dispose of the premises. Reports state that bids were not forthcoming on auction                                                                                                                                         day so Stubby, in order to start proceedings raised his hand at £1500 and the                                                                                                                                         building was promptly knocked down to him. [It was probably the best business                                                                                                                                         decision he ever made! - Ed.] For the next 14 years the building was occupied by a dry                                                                                                                                         cleaning business.                                       Bert & Olive's Ruby Wedding Anniversary, 1951.                                                                                                                                                                                                              A tour bus outside O.Gilpin's, Horace Street.                                                                                                                                               In July 1952 the Sun rose again in price to 4d. Following an offer from the                                                                                                                                           Newsagency Board of Victoria earlier in 1952 Stubby agreed to consolidate the                                                                                                                                           newsagency trade in Sea Lake to one operator by purchasing the business of John                                                                                                                                           Matthews. The transfer was affected in August 1952 at a changeover price of £4760.                                                                                                                                           Much of the stock purchased was unsaleable however due to its age.            "Gilpin Girls" - Betty Bumham, "Clippy", Billie Currie, Dorothy Amos, Peggy Smith.                        As the nation prospered in the early 1950s costs rose accordingly. In August 1954                                                                                                                                           wages had risen to £55/4/- per fortnight, telephone was £9/14/10 for 6 months,                                                                                                                                           electricity £11/I8/- for 2 months, a letterbox cost 15/-, a wireless licence was £2                                                                                                                                           and motor registration had risen to £8/2/-.