Austral Motors Building, Historic motor showroom in Fortitude Valley, Australia.
The Austral Motors Building is a historic motor showroom in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, featuring distinctive red brick walls and large display windows. Located at 95 Boundary Street, it showcases the classic retail architecture with decorative elements typical of specialized motor vehicle dealerships from that era.
The building was constructed between 1923 and 1925 for businessman Blair Cunningham by architects Lange Leopold Powell and George Gerald Hutton. This period marked the growth of specialized automotive retail in Brisbane's expanding business district.
The building demonstrates how automotive retail evolved in Queensland, showing the shift toward dedicated motor vehicle showrooms during the 1920s. Its red brick design with expansive display windows reflects the pride people took in modern commercial spaces at that time.
The building sits at the northern edge of Brisbane's central business district and is easily reached on foot from the city center. Its location at the end of Upper Adelaide Street makes it a helpful landmark when exploring Fortitude Valley.
During World War II, the Royal Australian Air Force repurposed the building as a storage facility while keeping its original ownership intact. This dual use shows how commercial structures adapted to wartime needs without permanent changes.
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