Burns, Philp & Company Ltd Building (former)

The 1895 Burns Philp building has a commanding presence on the corner of Flinders and Wickham Streets, overlooking the Townsville wharves. It is the only surviving 19th century warehouse/office complex along Ross Creek. Burns Philp was one of Australia’s most important mercantile companies that dominated shipping, insurance and trading throughout Australia and the South Pacific. James Burns founded the firm in Townsville in 1873. Robert Philp (later knighted and twice Premier of Queensland) became a partner in 1876. They initially acquired 200 metres of wharfage and an old 1860s building established by Townsville’s founders Robert Towns and John Melton Black. By 1895, Burns Philp’s success necessitated the construction of substantial new premises. Sydney firm McCredie Brothers in partnership with Brisbane architect Claude Chambers designed and supervised construction, completing the building in November 1895. It housed the shipping department on the ground floor, and cashier, correspondence and manager’s offices on the first floor. In 1922–23 extensions were carried out by local architect Walter Hunt, creating a merchandising department along Flinders Street. This was extensively damaged by fire in January 1949. Burns Philp maintained ownership until 1977 and the original part of the building was subsequently converted to a night club.