Smellie's Building, Heritage warehouse in Brisbane, Australia.
Smellie's Building is a red brick warehouse at 32 Edward Street in Brisbane with a mezzanine level, central arched entrance, and pilasters rising to a decorated roofline. The structure features clerestory windows providing natural light throughout, heavy timber beams supporting the mezzanine, and multiple storage sections across its different levels.
Smellie & Co, an importing and engineering firm established in the 1860s, built this warehouse in 1895–96 to the design of architect Claude William Chambers. It stored hardware, engineering requisites and farming equipment. The company leased its properties to the Department of Public Works in the 1930s, and the Queensland Government acquired the building in 1945; Smellie & Co went into voluntary liquidation in 1946. It was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
The structure shows how Brisbane's business district developed through its solid brick design and large storage spaces that served merchants and traders. The tall windows and open layouts reveal how warehouses of this era were built to handle goods efficiently while allowing work throughout the day.
The exterior can be viewed from the street, where the brick facade and inscriptions are clearly visible. Visitors should explore the area in early morning or late afternoon when light naturally highlights the facade details.
The original inscription 'SMELLIE & CO' remains visible above the central bay, along with the date and the words 'HARDWARE AND MACHINERY'. These preserved original markings make it a rare example of surviving commercial signage from that era.
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