Hendren & Co.

William Hendren was an early settler in Ipswich. He commenced business as a general storekeeper in East Street 1854. Thomas Overell became his partner in Messrs. Hendren & Co. but it was a short-lived affair. The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent in April 1860. 

The store was situated close to the corner of East & Brisbane Streets. Part of their establishment was located on part of the site of the former Clarendon and Queens Arms Hotels which had been on the corner of the two streets. Later the Queensland National Bank would stand on this corner. 

William Hendren imported goods to sell. In 1861 the business was described as wholesale and retail drapery, clothier, and haberdashery warehouse. Hendren & Co. were also general grocers and tea dealers supplying tea, coffee, sugars, preserves, hams, cheese, bacon, flour, and fancy biscuits. Free delivery and country orders were part of the service offered.  In 1862 Hendren discontinued the drapery side of the business but maintained groceries, plain goods and clothing. Before long he became a General Commission Agent, selling land and wagons and other goods. Hendren is also described as a Stock and Station Agent dealing in cattle and produce. He became a local magistrate, and was granted an auctioneers license in the 1870s. It is suspected that the store may have closed around this time although its fate is not clear. Certainly, Hendren's general store building was used as a cordial factory in the late 19th century.  After alterations and extension in 1898 part of the old general store property was transformed into a residence occupied by Dr J. A. Cameron, and owned by Dr Robertson. 

By 1863, William Hendren became a council alderman. Around 1867, he became the first locally appointed Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. He was the state government member for Bundanba (now Bundamba) from 1878-1880 and a trustee of the Ipswich Savings Bank. 

William Hendren was connected to several houses in the district: living at Maryville c1863, Malmsbury House c1865,  Rosalee in the Eastern Suburbs c1872, and the Stone House in Tiger Street which was viewed as a local landmark then.