Addresses
Type of place
Warehouse
Period
Federation 1890-1914
Style
Warehouse
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Alexander Stewart & Sons Warehouse (former)
Alexander Stewart & Sons Warehouse (former)
Addresses
Type of place
Warehouse
Period
Federation 1890-1914
Style
Warehouse
As the date on the parapet of this building suggests, this former warehouse was constructed in 1905 for Alexander Stewart and Sons, hat and clothing manufacturers, warehousemen and importers of general drapery. It was built to service the company’s adjacent factory fronting Marshall Street, which was built in 1898. Originally known as Stewart and Hemmant’s, the company was among the first in Brisbane to be devoted exclusively to the clothing industry. The success of the company, which by 1910 had retail branches in Melbourne, Sydney and London and had become a household name in Brisbane, led to the extension of the original factory building and the construction of this warehouse to meet increased demand. In 1935, the building was sold to merchants and indent grocers, Bruce Pie and Sons, who later expanded into textile manufacture, using this building as a distribution centre. The former warehouse is now best known as The Family nightclub.
Lot plan
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Walls: Brick - PaintedPeople/associations
Alexander Stewart and Sons (Association)Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
Lot plan
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Walls: Brick - PaintedPeople/associations
Alexander Stewart and Sons (Association)Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
History
In 1903 the company became known as Alexander Stewart and Sons, although Alexander Stewart’s partnership with William Hemmant had dissolved in 1871. Stewart and Hemmant began business together in the late 1850s, setting up a general drapery on the corner of Queen and Albert Streets. Their shop was destroyed by fire in 1864 and the partners re-established their business on nearby Queen and Adelaide Streets. The partners’ keen business sense, the central location of their store and Brisbane’s growing population helped the business to flourish.
It was under the management of Alexander Stewart that the business entered into the production of garments. The company became a major manufacturer of clothing and hats in Brisbane and a household name. The company’s factory produced clothing such as moleskin trousers under the Manx brand and shirts under the Thistle brand. It had two factories in Brisbane and one in Ipswich devoted entirely to the making of clothing, white wear and straw hats and had retail branches in Melbourne, Sydney and London.
By 1905 demand had grown to such an extent that it was considered necessary to build additional warehouse facilities adjacent to the factory.
In 1935 the building was taken over by Bruce Pie and Sons, merchants and indent grocers. Following Bruce Pie and Sons’ expansion into textile manufacture with the opening of a large textile mill at Kedron in 1948, the Valley building continued to be used as a distribution centre.
The building was originally face brick with rendered bands over the arched windows. At some stage after 1949 it was painted over.
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:
References
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Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 12
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Barton, EJT (ed), Jubilee History of Queensland, Brisbane: HJ Diddams, 1909
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Fortitude Valley Centenary 1849-1949, Brisbane: the Committee, 1949
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Lawson, Ronald Brisbane in the 1890s: A Study of an Australian Urban Society. St Lucia U of Q Press, 1973
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Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Detail Plan No 154
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Queenslander, 28 July 1900, pp 5 and 18
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Titles Office Records
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised June 2022)