Dixson & Sons building (former)

In 1890, when Dixson and Sons built this factory, it became the second tobacco manufacturer on this side of Brunswick St, joining a hotel, grocers, boot manufacturers and the Oddfellows’ Hall, Reading Room and Free Library.  Cameron Bros. & Co. tobacco manufacturers built their warehouse in the next block on the corner of Martin and Brunswick Sts in the same year.

In 1889 Robert Dixson of Melbourne purchased 32 perches on the corner of Ivory and Brunswick Streets. Within days a new title was issued to Dixson and Sons Ltd. The Dixson family had a well-established tobacco manufacturing and importation firm in Sydney and Robert Dixson was Minister for Education in the South Australia.1

In April 1890 the Dixson and Sons Ltd factory on the corner of Brunswick and Ivory Streets was reported as being amongst the many fine buildings recently erected in Brisbane. The four storey building was constructed of ornamentally treated brick work with the dressings picked out in red and white brick. The tobacco factory fitout included hydrants all over the factory and ventilation “as far as the manufacturing of tobacco will allow”. The basement contained sixteen pressing machines, drying cupboards, and a sweating room.1 The building was designed by notable Queensland architectural firm John Hall and Son. John Hall and Son, and later Hall and Dods (FR Hall & RS Dods) are responsible for some of the finest buildings in Brisbane. In 1890, as well as Dixson’s Building, John Hall and Son designed Burke’s Hotel in South Brisbane, the Town Hall also at South Brisbane, Toombul Shire Hall and a number of villas in the suburbs.1 At this time, Francis Richard Hall was principal of the firm and, although “not regarded as a distinguished designer,” was a “capable manager” and attracted talented, skilled assistants to the firm.

Dixson and Sons was reported to be “the oldest established and largest tobacco manufacturers in Australia” and that their popular brands are made with imported American leaf tobacco, but manufactured in Australia, thereby being equal to imported brands, but providing employment for labour in Queensland.1 By 1896 the Dixson Factory was claimed to be improving the locally grown tobacco by insisting that local producers take every care to ensure that their product is equal to imported leaf.1

In 1902 all of the businesses of Dixson and Sons. Ltd, and Robert Dixson and Co. tobacco manufacturers were amalgamated. They traded as Dixson Tobacco Company Limited with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantle.1 By this time, the Brisbane company had moved out of their building in Brunswick Street and relocated their operations to 173 Elizabeth Street. The building stood empty and was purchased by William Shaw, the Managing Director of British Australasian Tobacco Company, Limited, Sydney in 1905.

In May 1906, the Brisbane Institute of Social Service leased the building for an initial term of five years. The Brisbane Institute of Social Service was inaugurated in 1907 by Rev. L. L. Wirt, the head of the Wharf Street Congregational Church to provide a venue for young people to spent time that would encourage physical and intellectual improvement.1 The objects of the Institute were reported as “the Formation, not reformation; humanitarian, not sectarian; To give a right start in life with the children of the poor up to school age. To provide an ennobling social and educational centre for working boys and girls. To institute and maintain a place of wholesome amusement and clean recreation as a counter to the influence of the street.” The work of this benevolent organisation was, Rev. Wirth asserted, founded in the “faith in God” and the generosity of the City of Brisbane and its people who earnestly “believed in the brotherhood of man".1

Approval was given by the owners of the Dixson Factory in October 1906 for “radical alterations to the fabric of the building” to make it better suited to the work of the institute and the “needs of the industrial classes”.1 L.G. Corrie was the honorary architect who transformed the building from a tobacco factory to a place of space and light. The ground floor was opened up as a main hall containing the gymnasium which was founded by the sons of a Mr. Campbell and named in his honour. On the first floor were a kindergarten and a crèche to care for the children and babies of “hard-working women."1 This was Brisbane’s first nursery-kindergarten. A Young Men’s Club and the Wilson clubrooms for Girls occupied the second floor.1 These facilities were ‘crowned’ by “the roof garden, light and airy”. Harry Doggett was the builder who supervised the construction work.1 The chimney associated with the Dixson Tobacco Factory was removed in this conversion.

The work of the Brisbane Institute of Social Service flourished in this building and it was formally purchased by the Institute in 1912. Unfortunately, as reported by Mr. J. R. Taylor (president) in 1932, the “upkeep of these premises … [was] found to be greater than could be maintained by the revenue available”.1 By 1917 the Brisbane Institute of Social Service Buildings were occupied by a broom manufacturer and motor garage on the ground floor, shop fitters and signwriters on the second, with the top floor occupied by the caretaker. That year the former Dixson Factory was transferred to Taylor and Colledge Limited.

Taylor and Colledge were a drug manufacturing company which also sold medical instruments and personal grooming and hygiene accessories. It became Taylors and Elliotts in 1926 and merged with the Australian Drug Co. Pty. Ltd to become Taylors, Elliotts and Australian Drug Co. Pty. Ltd. in 1932. Like Dixsons Tobacco Factory, Taylors and Elliotts proudly proclaimed that “the large number of drugs and pharmaceutical preparations distributed by the .. company are manufactured solely in Australia” whereas previously many medicines were imported.  In 1931 the company produced “Addis toothbrushes, Busistos’ eucalyptus oil, Clements’ tonic, hypol emulsion, kotex, Kruse’s magnesia, cherro malto, pino mentho pastilles, Abe’s volatile rub, exhepos (a palatable concentrated extract of mammalian liver for pernicious anaemia), and lubarol (the new palatable laxative emulsion, which is recognised as one of the latest discoveries in modern science).” At the Ipswich Show that year, Taylors and Elliotts also displayed “Queen” perfumes and toilet articles, which were manufactured in Queensland.1 In 1933 the company opened a new veterinary department in Edward Street featuring veterinary instruments and remedies.1 By that time the company’s land holding and operations had almost doubled to its current size, bounded by Brunswick, Ivory and McLachlan Streets.

World War Two created a large demand for drugs. By 1941, although the Commonwealth had “bought large quantities early in the war”, drugs obtained from herbs imported from China and France were in short supply. The proposed solution was for “patriotic home gardeners to grow their own plots of medicinal herbs”. Gardeners here could follow the lead of “thousands of members of gardening clubs in the United States” who were growing important herbs for atropine and hyoseyamine, heart ailments and a variety of ointments. Brisbane drug manufacturers were prepared to purchase herbs from backyard growers only if they were grown under proper conditions with special seed. Mr L.A. Poole, the director of Taylors Elliotts and Australian Drug Pty Ltd said the government would have to supervise herb growers and the farmers would need to be encouraged to take up large-scale production. In 1941 Taylors, Elliotts and Australian Drug Pty Ltd manufacturing chemists had two stores in Brisbane (in Charlotte St & Brunswick St), as well as a bulk store in Montague Road West End. They also has offices in Quay Street Rockhampton, and Sturt St, Townsville. In 1942 Taylors and Elliotts Brisbane was providing advice as to whether native quinine samples could be used as substitutes for medicinal quinine.1

In 1954 it was announced that, “in the interests of greater co-ordination of the wholesale druggists, importing chemists and merchants throughout the Commonwealth,” Taylors and Elliotts firm was to be changed to Drug Houses of Australia Ltd, known as D.H.A. (Queensland) Pty Ltd.1

In 1960 the land was transferred to South Queensland Mines (Pty) Ltd and a Deed of Grant issued with specific reservations excluding mining, petroleum extraction and quarrying on the site.1 The following year on 4 December 1961 the land was transferred to the State. Since that time, the State of Queensland, represented by various government departments, have controlled to site.

A rendered band defines the second floor level with string courses at third floor level and the springing line of the upper arches, continuing across the frontage of the Alice Street portion. Further string courses above the tops of the arches are surmounted by a solid parapet with a stepped top and continuation of the projecting pilasters.

Alterations to the building have included the installation of modern glazed shopfronts to the ground floor, removal of a cantilevered balcony and construction of a suspended awning, replacement of original windows, painting of parapet, arches and window spandrels, and removal of signage.

1. It was noted in the report of his death at age 49 in December 1891 that he had gone to London “in search of health” ‘Current News’ The Queenslander 5 December 1891, p.1098; http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/20298388

2. ‘Robert Dixson’s and Co.’s Tobacco Factory’. Brisbane Courier 26 April 1890. Copy in file

3. John Hall died in January 1883 just after taking his son, Francis Richard Hall into the practice. D. Watson & J. McKay Queensland Architects of the 19th Century Queensland Museum: Brisbane, 1994, pp.84, 87, 91

4. ‘Tobacco Manufacturing’ The Queenslander 28 March 1896, pp.28,29. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20446479

5. ‘Dixson’s Factory’ The Queenslander 26 December 1896. p.1241; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle20767836

6. ‘Business Amalgamation’ The Brisbane Courier 29 October 1902, p.4; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle19190520

7. ‘Useful Work’ The Brisbane Courier 2 June 1932, p.11 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle21955819

8. ‘Social Service’ The Brisbane Courier 18 April 1907, p.5; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle19499623

9. ‘Brisbane Institute of Social Service’ The Brisbane Courier 31 October 1906, p.4; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle19480055

10. ‘Social Service’ The Brisbane Courier 18 April 1907, p.5; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle19499623

11. Notation on SLQ image 36632 ‘Children of the rooftop of BISS, 1907’ The Creche & Kindergrten Association became separate from the Institute of Social Service in 1910

12. ‘Social Service’ The Brisbane Courier 18 April 1907, p.5; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle19499623

13. ‘Useful Work’ The Brisbane Courier 2 June 1932, p.11 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle21955819

14. ‘Australina Made’ Queensland Times 9 May 1931, p.19; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle116152460

15. ‘New Veterinary Department’ The Courier-Mail 9 December 1933, p.10; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-aticle1149410

16. ‘Correspondents Answered’ Queensland Country Life 18 June 1942,p.10; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97076429

17. ‘Change of Name’ Cairns Post 6 July 1954, p.3; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42831400

18. South Queensland Mines were involved with the gold mine at Kingston in the postwar period. ‘Kingston’s Proposals’ The Courier-Mail 28 May 1953, p.9; http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50543113

19. S Christensen, P O’Connor, W Duncan, R Ashcroft ‘Early Australian Land Grants and Reservations: Any Lessons for the Sustainability Challenge to Land Ownership’ QUT 2008. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/28418/1/28418.pdf (accessed 3/4/14)

20. History of Fortitude Valley, http://www.ourbrisbane.com/living/suburbs/ fortitude_valley/history/and Brisbane Place Names Board, Brisbane Suburbs and Localities. retrieved on 24 August 2004

21. Post Office Directories.

22. Queensland Certificates of Title

23. State Library Queensland. Picture Queensland. Dixson and Sons. http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=SLQ&docId=slq_digitool99764

24. Trove. Digitised newspapers and more. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

25. Watson, Donald & McKay, Judith, Queensland Architects of the 19th century, (Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994)