Alexander Stewart & Sons Ltd.

Alexander Stewart & Sons Ltd were a Brisbane firm of garment-makers. The company was registered in 1903 although their history actually went back to the late 1850s when Stewart had been in partnership with William Hemmant in a very successful drapery business.

In November 1907 the company purchased a property from W. F. Thain on the corner of Bell & Union Streets, in order to construct a shirt-making factory. The existing building had previously housed the printing works of Moreton Ledger (?). This wood and iron building was quickly sold for removal and  a new brick factory erected by early the following year, including a staff dining room.

Alexander Stewart & Sons opened their Ipswich branch factory Friday 27 March 1908. Staff initially numbered about 75 with 60 sewing machines. However there was capacity in the building for future expansion to approximately 150 machines. It was hoped this could be reached within 12 months.

In 1918, and for many years, Regis House (a boarding house) was located next-door to the factory on Union Street. Around this time, Alexander Stewart & Sons closed temporarily. However, in April 1918 they announced that they were re-opening and wanted their staff back.

Eight years later in September 1926, after 60 years in business, the company went into voluntary liquidation. Its  Ipswich premises were offered for sale in November. Apparently the business there had ceased sometime prior to the liquidation announcement. Herbert Hoare and W. B. Parkinson were enlisted to sell the building, furnishings and equipment. This was a sad end for a long-running firm. Within a couple of weeks the factory sold to A. M. Johnson & Sons, confectionery producers and merchants. 

Bayards and Beirne's both sold Alexander Stewart's liquidated stock.

In the late 19th century W. Haigh & Co. occupied the site prior to Alexander Stewart's factory.