235 Boundary St

The Gorman Brothers’ Grocery store was built around 1895 in response to the growing demands of the residential population nearby. From the 1870s residents in the streets near the grocery store had to travel to the main shopping area further down Boundary Street for even simple conveniences. William and Patrick Gorman had for several years run a grocery store in Vulture Street, near the West End State School. As this part of Boundary Street attracted more and more residents, the demand for a local grocery store grew. By the mid 1880s, a butcher shop had been established between Corbett and Granville Streets, providing locals with at least this service. The need still existed for a grocery store however, so in 1895, after having owned the corner allotment since 1882, the Gormans finally had their two storey grocery shop and residence built. 

This two storey 1890s shop and residence on Boundary Street has the characteristic hipped main roof and separate curved verandah roof. It has a truncated corner on the ground floor and a post supported awning with a simple near horizontal roof that turns the corner onto Corbett Street. Three French doors open onto the first floor balcony. The timber verandah posts have flanking carved timber brackets. Between them the balustrading consists of evenly spaced vertical timber boarding. The windows on the side elevation at this level are double-hung sashes shaded by plain propped corrugated iron sun hoods. The ground floor has extensive glass shop fronts with top lights and a central entry facing Boundary Street. A ground floor extension occurs at the rear of this building.