Corbett and Son Store, Heritage store in Fortitude Valley, Australia
Corbett and Son Store is a single-story red brick building at the corner of Brunswick Street with decorative cement bands and white brick trim. It includes a basement level and retains original interior details such as pressed metal ceilings and timber floors from its days as a grocery shop.
Patrick and Michael Corbett began their grocery business in 1885 before commissioning architect Robin Dods to design this building in 1908. The structure marked their transition from temporary locations to a permanent home for their expanding commercial operation.
The store reflects the commercial aspirations of a growing retail district, with its grand corner design signaling importance during the early 1900s. The pressed metal ceilings and timber floors inside reveal the attention to detail that shop owners invested in their businesses then.
The building now houses different commercial tenants, so it is best to check current opening times before visiting any specific businesses inside. Its corner location on Brunswick Street makes it easy to spot and explore while walking through the neighborhood.
Architect Robin Dods specifically designed the building to work with the sloping terrain, creating a distinctive corner presence that made strategic use of the site's natural grade. The basement level that results from this slope remains an interesting architectural feature when visiting.
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