(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; 111862)
Smellie & Co in Brisbane dates back to the 1860s, when the RR Smellie & Co foundry was established in Alice St. A burgeoning Brisbane ensured that the firm grew, and by 1882, it had become Smellie & Co, a hardware and machinery retailer. A three-storey building (bottom of photo above) designed by Richard Gailey was constructed on the corner of Edward St and Alice St in 1888, but still further expansion became necessary and a bulk warehouse (top of photo above)was constructed in Edward St in 1895-6.

The higher of the two buildings now contains a restaurant and apartments, and the smaller bulk warehouse also survives as an office at the bottom of Edward St, just opposite the Stamford Plaza hotel. Here is a photo of it that I took recently (above). Click on it if you wish to see a larger version. Although the original name isn't apparent on the taller building (I guess it's not too trendy to live in the "Smellie Apartments") the Smellie & Co name is proudly displayed on the front of the smaller building, and I hope that it never goes out of fashion there.
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Next: James the builder
The elaborate Gothic revival Smellie grave in Toowong Cemetery is worth a look (though not to all tastes!). The quality iron fence around it reflects the arches of the headstone, and is appropriate for a foundry-owning family.
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