Pollard's Store, Heritage department store in Charters Towers, Australia

Pollard's Store is a two-story red brick building with octagonal towers and Federation-style architecture from the early 1900s. Inside, stained glass windows and pressed metal ceilings add detail to the spaces where goods were once sold and displayed.

The building was constructed around 1909 for Daking-Smith and Company during a time when gold mining brought prosperity to the region. It served a thriving community that relied on mining wealth to support local commerce.

Locals nicknamed Charters Towers "The World" around 1900 for its multicultural mining population of about 30,000. Stan Pollard's staff made hats, dresses, sheets and manchester on the premises, with twelve women in the millinery room and twelve in the dressmaking room, trained in the upstairs workrooms from illustrations of the latest styles.

The building is located on Gill Street and blends its historic character with modern use today. Visitors can walk by and appreciate the architectural details even though the space now serves a different purpose than retail.

The Lamson Paragon Central Money Exchange System was installed when Stan Pollard bought the store in 1934 and stayed until Fosseys moved in during 1993. Cash and receipts travelled overhead between counters and a central cashier, so assistants never carried money through the sales floor.