Joseph Sparks, Tailor

Joseph Sparks (Sparkes) was in business in Ipswich for 46 years. He was an early settler in Ipswich arriving around 1860. He had learned the craft of tailoring in England, being apprenticed to his father William Sparks. Both father and son came to Ipswich, separately, and both had their own tailoring establishments in the town. 

At first, Joseph worked at H. M. Reeve's Australian Stores before getting a job with Geo. C. Ross, a tailor in East Street. In early 1864 he started his own tailoring business in Brisbane Street, next door to Henry Kilner the chemist, who was also the landlord. This site was later used by W. B. Darker, and  W. F. S. Fox. After an indeterminate amount of time, Sparks moved his establishment to Bell Street where Cribb & Foote's power house would later stand. 

When the Qld Woollen Manufacturing Company at North Ipswich held its historical first auction (8 November 1878) of plain and fancy tweeds, Sparks was a major buyer procuring locally produced woollen fabric for his tailoring firm. 

In 1882, the business of Joe or Jos. Sparks, tailor, outfitter and habit-maker moved to Nicholas Street adjoining Scott & MacGregor's auctioneers offices.  Around this era he was fashioning suits from tweeds, serges and worsteds. The store also sold shirts, collars, scarves, ties, handkerchiefs, braces and studs for men.

By the mid 1880s, Joseph Sparks had insolvency issues however after a year or so these were discharged and the business carried on. A decade later in  mid 1895, the old building in Nicholas Street housing his business premises, that of D. Jackson, and Harding's Auction Rooms (often called Harding's horse bazaar) was demolished to make way for a new structure to house Sparks, Harding and another business. In the meantime  while a new building was being erected, Sparks carried on his trade in Barclay's buildings, opposite the North Australian Hotel. By 30 November that year the new site was ready for occupancy. The three tenants were: Elias Harding, Joseph Sparks located in the shop closest to Ginn & Hooper's store, and a barber. Now in new premises Sparks carried on, achieving 44 years in business in Ipswich in 1908. A few years later in early 1911 Joseph Sparks retired and P. A. Dowie, Tailor purchased the business which was located opposite T. C. Beirne & Co.