618 Brunswick Street, New Farm

As the remote settlement developed with the establishment of a racecourse from the late 1840s, allotments along the ridges were sold and estates were established. The original purchaser of the land in the vicinity of these shops was Michael O’Neill, who purchased 6.5 acres in December 1853.  O’Neill’s property was subdivided with an area of almost an acre being sold in 1867. 

By 1878-79 sparse residential development extended along James Street to Annie Street, Brunswick Street and Bowen Terrace. The land at the corner of Terrace and Brunswick Streets is recorded as vacant at this time. By 1883-4 it was occupied by Mr Chang, a gardener. During the 1880s, a time of bouyant economic conditions accompanying an influx of migrants, suburban residential development became denser, particularly along Brunswick, Harcourt, Arthur and Terrace Streets. This population growth encouraged the development of public transport in the area with the Metropolitan Tramway and Investment Company laying the tram tracks which terminated at Brunswick and Barker Streets.  In 1885 a horse drawn tram route extended along Brunswick Street from Fortitude Valley to Ella Street, New Farm. The development of the tramways boosted land sales and residential development in the area. 

From 1885-86 the corner site is occupied by a Mrs Hay and in 1888-89 by a grocer. By 1886 an allotment of 32 perches of O'Neill's land was bought by John Fox who used it to secure a loan of £800 sterling. In 1890 the land was sold to Thomas Lane who then mortgaged it for £1750. Either of these mortgages could have been used to build the shops which operated on the site in the late nineteenth century. In 1891 -92 William Sandall, a pharmaceutical chemist, operated a store on the site, which was taken over by Thomas Maughan in 1893 – 1895. 1897 a carpenter, engineer and dressmaker shared the premises. 

From that time until the 1930s the shops housed a variety of businesses including fruiterers, dressmakers, boot repairers and a laundry. While the 'great depression' of the 1930s caused massive unemployment and business failures, only one store in the building remained vacant. In the post-war period the shops continued to operate with applications made for a second-hand shop and a self-serve laundry in the 1960s.

These shops, erected during the prosperous period of the late nineteenth century have survived the rigours of the twentieth century to remain standing as iconic two-storeyed timber shops in the twenty-first century.

1. Brisbane City Council, New Farm and Teneriffe Hill Heritage and Character Study, Oct 1995.

2. Brisbane City Council, Properties on the Web, website

3. Brisbane City Council, 1946 aerial photographs.

4. Department of Natural Resources. Queensland Certificates of Title

5. Queensland Post Office Directories