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Burns, Philp & Co, Limited
DESCRIPTION
Name Burns, Philp & Co, Limited
Description
The Firm was founded in 1873, when James burns established a general retail business in Flinders Street. Robert Philp acquired a share in the business in 1876. Philp was left to manage the Townsville store after illness caused burns to return to Sydney in 1877.
In 1883, Burns and Philp’s individually established trading networks in North Queensland amalgamated as Burns, Philp & Company Ltd. By 1887 the company had disposed of their retail concerns, concentrating on the importation and wholesaling of general merchandise, and general shipping and insurance, with branches in London, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Thursday Island, Normanton, Charters Towers, Cooktown and New Guinea.
The company also had interests in North Queensland sugar, gold and pastoralism. Although Robert Philp was bankrupted in the 1890s and resigned his interests in the firm in 1893, the name of Burns, Philp & Company Ltd was retained.
By 1895, Burns, Philp & Company Ltd dominated trade in Townsville, and their importance to this town and to North Queensland in general was illustrated in the erection of substantial new premises.
The new building found on Flinders Street opened on 12 November 1895. Burns, Philp & Company Ltd retained the building until 1977.
In the 19th Century and early 20th century, the company extended its interest from Melanesia to the central pacific, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
Address124,Flinders Street,Townsville,4810,Australia
DescriptionThe Firm was founded in 1873, when James burns established a general retail business in Flinders Street. Robert Philp acquired a share in the business in 1876. Philp was left to manage the Townsville store after illness caused burns to return to Sydney in 1877.
In 1883, Burns and Philp’s individually established trading networks in North Queensland amalgamated as Burns, Philp & Company Ltd. By 1887 the company had disposed of their retail concerns, concentrating on the importation and wholesaling of general merchandise, and general shipping and insurance, with branches in London, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Thursday Island, Normanton, Charters Towers, Cooktown and New Guinea.
The company also had interests in North Queensland sugar, gold and pastoralism. Although Robert Philp was bankrupted in the 1890s and resigned his interests in the firm in 1893, the name of Burns, Philp & Company Ltd was retained.
By 1895, Burns, Philp & Company Ltd dominated trade in Townsville, and their importance to this town and to North Queensland in general was illustrated in the erection of substantial new premises.
The new building found on Flinders Street opened on 12 November 1895. Burns, Philp & Company Ltd retained the building until 1977.
In the 19th Century and early 20th century, the company extended its interest from Melanesia to the central pacific, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
Address124,Flinders Street,Townsville,4810,AustraliaPhotograph
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Burns, Philp & Co, Limited. Townsville City Council, accessed 08/12/2024, https://stories.townsville.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/19973
