Jack & Newell General Store & Petrol Bowser (former)

On the corner of William and Grace Streets Herberton, are two former store buildings established by the founders of the local tin mining industry. William Jack built the southernmost structure in 1882, after he and his partner John Newell staked out their claim in 1880. They had been in partnership with Thomas Brandon and John Brown, and together established the Great Northern mine: the richest discovered on the Australian mainland. Jack sold his shares to entrepreneur John Moffatt establishing an early store here, before purchasing the land in 1881 and building a more substantial structure of pit sawn cedar chamfers. John Newell joined him as managing partner in Jack and Newell General Merchants, Forwarding and Shipping Agents in 1882. In 1885, he married Jack’s daughter Janet. As mining flourished, Jack and Newell established a chain of 26 stores on the Atherton Tableland. They constructed a second building here in 1895. By the late 1890s Jack and Newell was the largest merchant house north of Townsville. William Jack died in 1910, and John Newell maintained the business while serving in local and state government. The Herberton store remained the company headquarters until about 1960. The stores continue operation as retail establishments.