Samuel Allen & Sons (former)

This two-storey brick building with contrasting bands of stucco on the façade was the headquarters of the important mercantile and trading company, Samuel Allen & Sons. Samuel Allen came to Townsville in 1872 and established a small produce store. He took out a lease on this land in 1876 and reputedly built the ground floor of this building around 1881. His business prospered, particularly after his four sons became partners in 1883. They established stores throughout North Queensland including in Charters Towers, Ravenswood Junction, Hughenden, Cairns and Atherton. Their business interests included servicing the gold mining and wool industries. They built the Lion Brewery in 1896 and a large warehouse on Ross Island in 1897 adjacent to the railway. A second storey was added to the building in 1910, designed by local architects Charles Dalton Lynch and Walter Hunt. Brewing and hotels became a significant element of the business through the early 20th century, with it eventually being taken over by Carlton and United Breweries in 1979. This building was then sold and has been occupied by a number of businesses, most recently as a restaurant.