F. C. Allen - Chemist

Frederick Charles Allen came from Charters Towers to Ipswich in the early 1890s. Around 1893-94 he purchased Lale & Co's chemist shop and business at 131 Brisbane Street.  The chemist shop was located opposite the Post Office and School of Arts, and where the Post Office Hotel had stood in earlier days. It was the same spot where Samuel Paris had had his drapery in Bowen House.

The chemist traded in drugs, medicines and toiletries.  In 1901 Allen became an optician and set about combining his two fields of expertise. He did sight testing and spectacle fitting. 

Towards the end of 1917 F. C. Allen and J. C. Minnis entered into a partnership purchasing a pharmacy.  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 & Brisbane Streets) while F. C. Allen Chemist is on the block between Nicholas Street and Bell Street, and located opposite the Post Office. 

Allen's was a long serving and well established pharmacy in the town. After 26 years in his Ipswich pharmacy, in December 1919, Allen sought to retire and handed the reins to Minnis who eventually bought the property at 131 Brisbane Street and carried on business in his own name for many years more.

It is believed that Allenby at the corner of Ellenborough & Roderick Streets was F. C. Allen's Ipswich home.