Wilcox Mofflin Ltd (former)

Three important events prompted industrial development of this area in the 1890s - the construction of the Colonial Sugar Refinery of the Bulimba rail branch in 1897 and the growth of Queensland's primary industries which took place in this decade.

Eventually the area attracted Brisbane's most important specialised wharves, devoted to the handling of wool, skins and hides.  The wool stores were constructed in response to the economic fortunes of the industry.  Most of the stores were constructed during the two boom periods between 1909 and 1915 and in the 1920s, however some were built in the mid 1930s, and the last two were constructed in the 1950s.

Although the wool industry dominated this area, there were many other primary produce-related facilities established here.  George, Murray and Sydney Wilcox and Glen Legoe (Wilcox and Co) built their first hide and skin store in Helen Street, Newstead around 1914.  The company purchased both this and the Helen street site in 1912, but did not build on this one until around 1928.  By that stage their business had expanded and they sold the Helen Street store in 1926.  The company, which changed its name to Wilcox Mofflin Ltd in 1918, dealt in wool, hide, skin, tallow and fur.  It had offices in Brisbane, Townsville and Rockhampton, as well as branches throughout Queensland.

The Post Office Directories of 1915-16, 1920-21, 1940, and 1947 list 18, 24, 28 and 24 Hides and Skins Merchants respectively. An indication of the worth and significance which hides and skins played in Queensland's pastoral exports, as part of a Primary Industry based economy, in £ terms and excluding non-furred skins, is given in the following statistics; 1937-38 (£412,743), 1940-41 (£82,403), then understandably a decline during the war years, 1945-46 (£270,365), and 1947-48 (£277,467).  During these years hides and skins alternated between 3rd and 4th in value of pastoral exports from Queensland.

The store remained in the hands of Wilcox Mofflin Ltd until Whithey and Valentine took control of the building in 1971.  Wilcox Mofflin leased the building for 5 years in April 1972.  Control of the building has passed through various owners in the interceding years.