P. A. Dowie, Tailor

When Percival Angus Dowie was a young man in the first years of the 20th century he worked at the Qld Woollen Manufacturing Company where several Ipswich tailors learned and honed their trade. For some time between 1907 and 1910,  P. A. Dowie was employed at J. C. Grant's tailoring establishment as head cutter and manager. In  February 1911 Percival Dowie opened his own shop in  lower Nicholas Street, opposite Beirne's,  after purchasing the business of Joseph Sparks.

After only a year in business, P. A. Dowie's shop was gutted by fire, losing stock and fittings. The fire also destroyed two neighbouring businesses: Cardew & Co. Auctioneers, and, J. Brody, Tobacconist. Fortunately Dowie was insured, allowing him to re-open within days in premises vacated by T. Jenyns (hairdresser).  This was to be a temporary location. Within 5 months a new building was erected on the old site and Dowie moved in, adding a mercery department to his store.  Around this time Dowie lived in Union Street and described himself as a master tailor.

In the early 1920s the business moved to Brisbane Street and in 1929 was located over Parkinson the auctioneer. By 1931 P. A. Dowie, Tailor was located over W. Marsh & Son in Brisbane Street. 

Some time after 1933 Dowie's business becomes invisible. Perhaps it failed due to the Great Depression when a new suit would have been a luxury few could afford. Percival Dowie had run his own business in Ipswich for more than 22 years. He appears to have been employed at Rothwells (possibly in Brisbane) prior to returning to employment in Ipswich in March 1945  to work for Cribb & Foote in the tailoring department as head cutter. The Dowie family had continued to live in Sloman Street, Booval throughout this time.