Primac House

By 1909, CCMA had 8 branches throughout Queensland and employed over 100 staff. The company manufactured bicycles, cars, commercial vehicles, marine engines, motorcycles and sports goods. The company claimed to sell wholesale and retail goods to “every district and centre in Queensland and even branches into the Northern districts of N.S.W.” (Barton, 1910, p. 303). 

The Company purchased the City site at the corner of Creek and Adelaide Streets on 3 November 1909 and the same day mortgaged it for £3,000. The Jubilee History of Queensland of 1909 described the new building: 

…each floor having a frontage of 74 feet to Creek Street and 132 feet to Adelaide Street. This building will be fitted up with everything necessary in connection with the motor and bicycle business, and will be second to none in Australia (Barton, 1910, p. 303). 

Continuing prosperity led the CMMA to extend its premises in 1925. Architect Richard Gailey, junior, designed the addition of the upper stories (Architecture and Building Journal of Queensland, 1925, p. 63). 

In 1934, the CCMA sold its building to the Queensland Primary Producers Co-Operative Association Ltd. Established in 1923, under a state government Act of Parliament, the association was known locally as ‘Primaries’. It operated as a business and conducted cattle and wool sales and sold agricultural products (stockfeed, fertilizers, chemical dips, poison) from its various branches throughout Queensland. It is from these owners that the name ‘Primac House’ is derived. ‘Primaries’ leased the building to the National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland in 1935.

The next year, ‘Primac House’ returned to use as a place associated with the Brisbane automotive community.  Used car dealers Eagers Retail (Pty. Ltd.) leased the building from 1936. In 1937, the Vacum Oil Company also leased office space in the building. In 1946, the Brisbane Automotive Service Co. Motor Accessories operated from the building (Queensland Post Office Directories). 

During World War II, ‘Primac House’ was requisitioned by the Australian Army, the Commonwealth Government and the US Army. ‘Primac House’ was the Australian Army’s Transport Command headquarters and its Manpower and Canteen Services office. The second floor contained the offices of the Brisbane War Road Transport Pool’s General Cartage Division, the Women's Land Army, the Women's Auxiliary Central Bureau plus His Majesty’s Australian Navy (HMAS) victualling yard administration. The third floor had the offices of the Commonwealth’s Deputy Director of Manpower for the Department of Labour and National Service. The fifth floor held offices of the Commonwealth War Damage Commission. 

On the fifth (top) floor was the main US Army Postal Exchange (PX) Canteen for Brisbane. Here, US servicemen could obtain liquor, cigarettes, chocolate bars, candy, soda pop and other items supplied direct from the USA. Many of these luxury items were heavily rationed throughout Australia and so were largely unobtainable for both Australian service personnel and civilians in Brisbane. The PX’s footpath was often the scene of bartering over US cigarettes between US and Australian troops.  

Local resentment grew over perceived favourable treatment meted out to ‘the Yanks’ by taxis or shops; American brazenness with Australian women; and Americans flaunting their access to luxuries. Anti-American feeling culminated in riots in Brisbane City of 26-27 November 1942. The 26 November was US Thanksgiving Day and celebrations were to be held at the US Army PX in ‘Primac House’. 

At 6.45 pm, a dispute between two US military policemen (MPs) and two Australian soldiers with their US mate resulted in the MPs being chased back towards the Adelaide Street doorway of ‘Primac House’ by a group of angry Australian soldiers. The two MPs were rescued by MPs guarding the PX, who beat the Australians with batons. This incited more Australians to besiege the Adelaide and Creek Street doorways of ‘Primac House’. By 7.15 pm, about 100 soldiers were yelling abuse at the 814th MP Company personnel. The MPs called their South Brisbane Town Hall headquarters for reinforcements.

The crowd grew to 2,000 troops and civilians (one estimate is 4,000 rioters). Some men collected bricks, rocks and sticks to throw at the MPs. Other rioters tore street signs from the road and began to smash the ground-floor windows of ‘Primac House’. The intention was to get upstairs to the PX that represented American privilege and arrogance to many rioters. At 8 pm, two MPs arrived in a Dodge weapons carrier from South Brisbane. As the two MPs pushed through the crowd, an Australian soldier challenged one MP and grabbed his shotgun’s barrel. The MP discharged 27 shotgun pellets into the crowd. Private Ed Webster later died while six soldiers and one civilian were wounded. The rioters, some from Webster’s veteran 2/9th Infantry Battalion, severely beat 11 MPs. Another eight soldiers were taken to hospital with baton injuries. On 27 November, groups of Australians ranged Brisbane City and assaulted 21 Americans. The PX temporarily closed. The ‘Primac House’ ground floor windows were boarded-up. More Australian military police and armed troops on picket duty were brought into the City and the assaults stopped the next day. The PX was transferred from ‘Primac House’ in July 1943.

1. Peter Charlton, “When Brisbane was Base 3” (The Courier Mail or The Sunday Mail) J.H. Moore, Oversexed Overpaid, & Over Here, (Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, 1981)

2. Peter A. Thompson and Robert Macklin, The Battle of Brisbane, (Sydney: ABC Books, 2000)

3. Barton, E.A.T. (1910). Jubilee History of Queensland: A record of political, industrial and social development, (Brisbane: H.J. Diddams & Co.) 

4. Queensland Post Office Directories, 1908 – 1949 editions

5. Titles Office Records