Hanby & Dangerfield

The firm of Hanby & Dangerfield, plumbers and gasfitters, was established 1 January 1891. Frederick Hanby and Thomas Dangerfield were partners for about 27 years however their business name carried on longer. The firm installed plumbing in many well known buildings and homes in Ipswich. In their first year they supplied plumbing on the old Prince Alfred Hotel in Booval. A few years later they worked on the new 2-story brick Caledonian Hotel. In the early 20th century Hanby & Dangerfield plumbed the new Ulster Hotel, and Cribb & Foote's new store in Bell Street. The firm laid water mains, and tendered for municipal jobs.

Initially the firm were simply plumbers and gasfitters but they gradually added more goods and services. By 1895 they were hardware merchants. They became agents for Massey-Harris bicycles and The Lancashire Insurance Company. By 1898 Hanby & Dangerfield were also general traders selling tinware, brushware, lamps, and ironmongery. Gradually they added more goods to their offering including: toys, glassware, pictures, photo frames, and kerosine stoves. They also made milk and cream cans. 

In the beginning, Hanby & Dangerfield operated from premises near the Baptist Church in Brisbane Street. The Fire Brigade station would later (1930) stand on this site. After a few years the firm moved to premises opposite St Paul's Anglican Church in Brisbane Street. This shop housed their general business. Behind their retail establishment was the firm's plumbing and tinsmith shop. In 1909 the business required larger premises and moved again to a shop adjoining their current premises that had been where Messrs. J. Harris & Co. had a drapery business in the past. 

After a few more years, in May 1913, Hanby & Dangerfield sold off their general trading and hardware business to Charles J. Gordon who had been their employee for many years working in the retail area of the firm. The shop was opposite St Paul's and became known as Gordon's White Arcade. Around this time the plumbing division of Hanby & Dangerfield moved to Ellenborough Street to the back of the North Star Hotel leaving their Brisbane Street premises vacant for J. P. Bottomley & Co.'s The City Meat Palace to move in. The firm also used James Foote's old flour mill in Ellenborough Street for their galvanised iron works. This was located behind their premises at that time.

Frederick Hanby retired in early 1918 however Thomas Dangerfield continued trading under the very well known and respected Ipswich name of Hanby & Dangerfield until he too retired in March 1930. Around this time (1928-1930), Albert George Wilks, a former employee of the firm, purchased the business with his son Robert and continued to trade under the old established name. The firm was still known as Hanby & Dangerfield until about 1942 when Albert died. By 1950 Robert was working under his own name and the Hanby & Dangerfield name was no longer used.