Addresses
Type of place
Shop/s, Shophouse
Period
Victorian 1860-1890
Style
Filigree
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Lawless Grocery Store (former)
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Lawless Grocery Store (former) 1
Lawless Grocery Store (former)
Addresses
Type of place
Shop/s, Shophouse
Period
Victorian 1860-1890
Style
Filigree
This two-storey Vernacular style shop and residence was built circa 1876 for Thomas Lawless who operated a French polishing and cabinet-making business from the lower storey and lived with his family on the top floor. By the early 1880s he had changed his business to a general produce store. By this time, a lot of the area surrounding the property was vacant and only a few shops and residences were located in this part of James Street. Lawless operated his business here until the mid-1910s since which time it has continued to be used for various commercial purposes.
Lot plan
L1_RP46992
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (B) Rarity; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
Lot plan
L1_RP46992
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (B) Rarity; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
History
Thomas Lawless, cabinet maker and grocer, was born in Ireland in 1837 but spent much of his childhood in Scotland. After leaving school he served his apprenticeship in cabinet making. He migrated to South Australia in 1857 and moved to Brisbane in 1862, joining his parents who had immigrated to Queensland. Lawless became a prominent citizen of Brisbane. He was active in the formation of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society in Queensland and served as a Justice of the peace. He married in Brisbane and had six children who attended local schools.
Lawless began business in Queen Street as a cabinet maker. In 1876 he inherited a large parcel of land at the corner of James and Jane (now Robertson) Streets. That year Thomas Lawless, french polisher is recorded as receiving mail there, suggesting that he had built this two storey timber shop and residence on the site. By the early 1880s he had changed his business from french polishing and cabinet making to dealing in general produce. By this time there were only two properties listed on the south side of James Street between Ann and Robertson Streets – the rest was vacant land. A few scattered houses and shops had been built along the street towards New Farm, but there was still much vacant land in the area.
The delay in development of much of this area may have been due to the fact that it was low-lying and swampy. In 1893 flood waters lapped at the door of Lawless’s shop, but it appears to have been spared from flooding completely.
The Lawless family continued to operate its business from this building until the mid 1910s. It continued to be used for various commercial purposes, although in 1952 it was registered flats. Two shops were established in 1954 and the building as it appears in the 1946 aerial photo has been extended.
Statement of significance
Relevant assessment criteria
This is a place of local heritage significance and meets one or more of the local heritage criteria under the Heritage planning scheme policy of the Brisbane City Plan 2014. It is significant because:
Supporting images
Photographer unknown,
‘James Street, Fortitude Valley, during the 1893 Brisbane flood’,
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
References
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John Oxley Library photographic collection, Brisbane – suburbs – Fortitude Valley, 1893
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Morrisson. W. Frederick F., The Aldine History of Queensland, Illustrated, Volume 2, (Sydney: The Aldine Publishing Company, 1888)
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Post Office Directories.
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Titles Office Records
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised June 2022)