J. C. Minnis - Chemist

After serving in France in the Field Ambulance during World War I, James Charles Minnis returned to Queensland in 1917 and promptly moved his family to Ipswich.  By the end of that year he had entered into a partnership with F. C. Allen the chemist whose premises were in Brisbane Street. Allen's was a long serving and well established pharmacy in the town. The chemist shop was known as The City Pharmacy and the firm was then known as F. C. Allen & Company.

1918 Block Maps show Allen & Minnis - The City Pharmacy on the block between Bell and East Streets (located beside the Australian Bank of Commerce which was on the corner of Bell and Brisbane Streets) while F.C. Allen Chemist is on the block between Nicholas Street and Bell Street. 

After a couple of years in partnership, Allen announced his intention to retire and handed the business over to Minnis.  Minnis and his wife Margaret purchased the property at 131 Brisbane Street in August 1923 and it became J. C. Minnis - Chemist.

The chemist shop was located at 131 Brisbane Street, where the Post Office Hotel had stood in earlier days.  This was opposite the Post Office. It was the same spot where Samuel Paris had had his drapery in Bowen House. In the 1930s Minnis's Pharmacy shared the Bowen House section of the building with tobacconist J. P. O'Dea while  Woolworths occupied the other half of the building.

The same premises would house Minnis's pharmacy for several decades to come.

Minnis was qualified as both pharmacist and dentist, although he did not practise dentistry in Ipswich. He was a pioneer of the Queensland Pharmaceutical Guild and a president of the Pharmaceutical Board. He was a compounding chemist who developed his own medicinal scientific preparations.  Over the years he trained several apprentices including his own daughters: Ursula beginning in 1924, and Isobel. Ursula was also store manager in 1930.

J. C. Minnis died January 1954. Following his death the pharmacy may have been in limbo or closed for a time. Whatever occurred, by 1955 daughters Ursula and Isobel took over the business, restoring Minnis's Pharmacy. 

James Charles Minnis was well known about town, being active in many community organisations and clubs including the Returned Soldiers League and Chamber of Commerce. He also served as Mayor from 1939-1949.

Ursula Minnis was well known in Ipswich for her life of community service. 

In 2023, Banshees Bar & Art Space is found at 131 Brisbane Street.