Australian Mutual Provident Society Building (former)

The AMP building on the corner of Flinders and Stanley Streets was built in 1938. It was the second building in Townsville designed for the Australian Mutual Provident Society (AMP). The society was formed in 1849 to provide facilities for life assurance under the Friendly Society’s Act. The society’s agencies spread throughout the Australian colonies, New Zealand and England. Its first Townsville office was a temporary one established in 1883. A new building was completed fronting Flinders Street East in January 1888; now known as Magnetic House. Over time, a new larger office was required, and Brisbane architects Francis Hall and Harold Cook were commissioned to design a new building. It was built by Stuart Brothers on a site further west on Flinders Street. The three storey brick building opened on 21 February 1938. The ground floor was occupied by the society and the upper floors leased to tenants. The building retains the emblem of the society above the pediment: a tableau depicting a female figure with a cornucopia, holding the palm of victory above a seated woman and child to her left. To her right is a seated male figure, alienated from the family grouping.