Lenehan's Building

The construction of the dry dock in 1881 and the 1884 opening of the Woolloongabba Railway Station (on the northeastern corner of Stanley Street and Merton Road) brought suburban and country custom to Stanley Street. Commercial development flourished and Stanley Street became lined with the premises of grocers, ironmongers and bootmakers.  Recognising the commercial potential of Stanley Street, prominent retailers such as Allan & Stark and J. & T. Heaslop established businesses there. The fire station and Post and Telegraph Office were erected near the intersection of Stanley and Vulture Streets, making this region the civic centre of South Brisbane.  Stanley Street became inadequate for the increasing volume of traffic and in 1883 the street, between Vulture Street and Annerley Road was widened. The Woolloongabba Divisional Board widened Stanley Street between Annerley Road and Merton Road in 1886.

During the 1890’s Depression, there was a decline in the economic activity in Stanley Street. The situation was aggravated by severe flooding in 1890 and 1893, which caused many retailers to move to higher ground on the north side of Brisbane.  The construction of Melbourne Street station in 1891 took custom away from Stanley Street and closer to the city.  As the economy improved in the early twentieth century, development returned to Stanley Street.

By 1918 the condition of Stanley Street had deteriorated to the extent that the South Brisbane Council spent £2,000 remaking and metalling the street.  Anxious to stimulate commerce, in 1920 this Council implemented a programme of reconstruction, allocating £56,000 to build permanent roadways in Stanley and Melbourne Streets.  As with most regional commercial centres, the development trends of Stanley Street, reflect the statewide economic fluctuations.  The last economic boom of Stanley Street occurred in the 1920s and little growth has taken place since then.

In 1927, the land on the northern, or riverside, of Stanley Street from Annerley Road to Merton Road, was resumed and the existing shops were demolished.  This section of Stanley Street was doubled in width and the tram tracks were re-aligned.   New commercial premises were constructed at the completion of this work. With the exception of those buildings mentioned earlier, the majority of buildings that comprise the Stanley Street streetscape are from this era or later. 

Robert Lenehan, chemist, had established a business in this section of Stanley Street around 1905. He moved to the present site of this building circa 1910. Following road resumption in 1927, the existing buildings were demolished. Lenehan then purchased the thirteen perch site in June 1928. A building application had been lodged earlier in May. The builder was Michael Dwyer of Hendra, who also built the adjoining ‘Magees Shop’ around the same time. 

Lenehan’s business flourished in the commercial hub of Stanley Street, serving the local and business community. Robert Lenehan died in February 1932, but the property remained in family ownership until 1966.