(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; # APO-040-0001-0002 )
The commercial houses present in this photo no longer exist. On the right we see The Mercantile Bank of Sydney, and on the left, across the laneway, is the three storey Federal Building Society building, which is standing on the corner of Edward St and Queen St. Across Queen St on the other corner can be seen the Courier building, home of Brisbane's newspaper.
You might expect that things would have changed in the ensuing 120 years, and you would be right. Edward St is now paved, for a start! All three of the buildings have been demolished and replaced, some more than once. You can see today's image below.

Starting from the right of the picture, we have the Edward St entrance to MacArthur Central shopping complex. The laneway has now gone, and MacArthur Central butts right up to the next building on the left, the nine storey MacArthur Chambers. No horses in sight; transport has evolved to the ubiquitous motor car, and the public transport buses. Then, on the far side of Queen St, we now have the Commonwealth Bank building. So, the names have changed, and the buildings are taller. That's progress.
For a Google Maps view of this site, click here.
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Would you be able to tell me what building was previously on the site of the Commonwealth Bank Building, cnr Edward and Queen Streets please?
ReplyDeleteThankyou.
The immediately prior building was an earlier Commonwealth Bank. Prior to that I believe may have been Queensland Newspapers - I'll have to check.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing some research on Messrs Smellie & Co Ltd. As can be seen from the following link, they had a retail outlet in Queen Street that the article says was opposite the GPO. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/177124420/19633887
ReplyDeleteI can find few references to this retail establishment as opposed to Smellie's agricultural machinery/hardware business. I have some documentation that proves they the retail outlet was operating in 1926. I also have photos of an amazing ceramics department the contents of which would be worth millions today. But I have yet to prove whether they were taken in this retail establishment. Can any one help me with any relevant information pictures ?
I am also looking for info on the buildings previously on the ComBank site. I am sure that the second building up from Edward Street was the Hibernian Building in which my grandfather had the Morrison Health Institute. I can only find reference to a Hibernian Building opposite King George Square. Can anyone help with any information about this?
ReplyDelete