Hunter's City Boot Palace

In March 1889 the Ipswich branch of James Hunter's Boot Palace was opened in Nicholas Street in Hughes & Cameron's building, formerly W. Haenke's building,  which was located close to the corner of Brisbane Street. Hughes & Cameron's Auction Mart was closest to the corner with Hunters beside them. Boots were priced from 9 pence a pair at this time and Hunters boasted that they had the largest selection of footwear in the Australian colonies. 

James Hunter was both a boot manufacturer and an importer of European shoes. They were established several years before opening the Ipswich store. In 1883 their factory in Brisbane was producing an average of 2400 pairs of shoes every day. By the time they came to Ipswich the company was mooted to be the largest employer in the colony, excluding the government. 

In late November 1890 the firm seems to have changed hands because by December of that year, less than two years after opening in Ipswich, the establishment became John Hunter's Boot Palace. 

The business moved to the MacFarlane & Sons building, on the corner of Nicholas and Brisbane Streets in March 1894. Hunters became long-term residents here trading on this spot until 1928. This caused the location to be referred to by locals as Hunter's Corner. In earlier days this spot had been known as Given's Corner. In 1930 the corner allotment would become home to the new Commonwealth Bank. 

In the 1920s the business became known as John Hunter & Sons.

After 39 years in Nicholas Street and at the corner of Nicholas and Brisbane Streets, Hunter's moved into new premises down Brisbane Street on the block between Bell Street and East Street. They were situated in a shop between Mining & Hardware and Londy's Cafe. The business remained in Brisbane Street until at least the end of 1936. 

John Hunter & Sons Pty Ltd were still manufacturing footwear in 1941.