A. M. Johnson & Sons Confectionery Works

Arthur M. Johnson was the son of Frederick William Johnson the principal of City Coach Works which later became known as F. W. Johnson & Sons Coachbuilders and Undertakers. He bought his work truck from the F.W. Johnson dealership in Ipswich in the 1920s. According to the advertising on the side of this truck they traded in biscuits and ice cream, and manufactured confectionery.

A. M. Johnson bought the confectionery business in Bell Street from George Treagle in 1921. This site had previously been occupied by a stable and was the site of Salvation Army meetings. The business then moved (1927) to the corner of Bell and Union Streets to a larger factory known as The Johnson Lolly Factory or A. M. Johnson & Sons Confectionery Works.  Local architect H. Wyman with tradesmen W. G. Shearer and A. Mansfield effected changes to the existing factory building. This site was previously occupied by shirt manufacturers Alexander Stewart & Sons.

They made candy and chocolate Easter Eggs and by 1950 also manufactured coloured candy sticks (Fairy floss), boiled sweets, licorice all sorts, caramels, jubes and fondants. By 1950 A. M. Johnson was Chairman of Directors and his sons (Mervyn, Keith and Allan) ran the business which supplied Queensland, exports, and reached into northern N.S.W. and Victoria. In fact lollies were so lucrative that in 1949 a  depot to service the south coast trade was set up by the company in Southport.