McDonnell & East Ltd Building

The McDonnell & East Ltd Building is a three-story department store on George Street made from red brick and stucco with decorative details and raised lettering on its facade. The structure combines traditional materials with crafted details typical of commercial buildings from this period.

The building was constructed between 1912 and 1928 and served as the retail center for McDonnell & East Ltd, founded by Irish immigrants Frank McDonnell and Hubert East. It became a significant business in the city that served generations of shoppers.

The design shows influences from Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements, visible in the preserved original pressed metal ceilings throughout the interior. These details reveal the artistic tastes that shaped retail spaces in the early 1900s.

The building is easy to locate on George Street, one of the main thoroughfares in the city center. The spaces have been adapted for modern use and are accessible for pedestrians to view and explore the exterior and public areas.

From 1931 to 1990, the building housed the George Street Post Office, offering postal services inside the department store. This combination was unusual and made the location a convenient hub for completing multiple errands in one place.