The Shilling Shop

Queensland Times, Saturday 25th August 1883, p.6

The Shilling Shop was one of six premises destroyed by fire on the morning of 31st January 1885.

At about 1am, a fire broke out in a vacant shop in Brisbane Street, next door to Wilson's butchers.  The flames quickly spread to the Shamrock Hotel, then on to Boyle's the bootmaker's, Ryan's the fruiterer's and the Shilling Shop, that was owned by Mrs W.H. Wilkinson.

Buildings to the east were protected by the brick wall of Wilson's butchers.

The Fire Brigade were unable to control the fire as, despite good water pressure being available, the first length of hose burst when it was turned on.  They were, however, able to save other neighbouring shops.

The insurance on the Shilling Shop (two shops) was £800 for the building (insured with the Commercial Union) and £250 for the stock (insured with the New Zealand Company).  As described in the Queensland Times later that day: 'A good deal of property, however, was conveyed safely from Mrs. Wilkinson's "shilling shop,"although, from its nature -- being articles of a fancy description, and, consequently, generally, of delicate make and construction -- a very great quantity of it suffered in the course of rapid transmission from the burning premises to the street.'

The shops were rebuilt before the year was out.

Mrs Wilkinson is thought to be the wife of William Henry Wilkinson, who had died the previous year, at the age of 32.