P. L. Cardew, Solicitor

Initially established by James Walsh in the 1850s and then continued by John Malbon Thompson from 1857, this legal firm in Ipswich would endure through a number of name changes and principal solicitors. In 1857, their business office was described as being located next to the Bank of Australasia in Brisbane Street. However, from late 1861 when the School of Arts was erected, they were tenanted there. This was later Town Hall Chambers. These legal entities were constant occupants of this front office location until August 1952 when the Ipswich Council required the space for its own use. At this time, the firm was named Cardew, Simpson & Smith. 

William Havard partnered with Thompson in October 1876 thus giving rise to the new firm of Thompson & Havard (attorneys, solicitors and proctors). Two years later, J. F. G. Foxton joined the firm but by June 1880  Thompson retired and Havard & Foxton came into existence. Following Havard's death in November 1880 the name transitioned to Foxton & Cardew. 

Pollet Loftus Cardew was an Ipswichian through and through. He attended Ipswich Grammar School in the 1860s and as an adult deeply immersed himself in the life and community of Ipswich, acting in many leadership roles including for the Ipswich Hospital Board, Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Company, St Paul's Church of England parochial council, and various clubs. After school, Cardew was an Articled Clerk for local legal firm Thompson & Havard. Shortly after being admitted as attorney and solicitor in 1880, he partnered with Justin Foxton to form Foxton & Cardew, practicing in Ipswich and Brisbane. The firm was active in Ipswich as Foxton & Cardew until May 1896 when this partnership was dissolved by mutual consent with Foxton to carry on the Brisbane branch of the office, and Cardew to own the Ipswich branch. At this time, the firm became simply P. L. Cardew, Solicitor and offered money-lending as one of its services. 

In 1901, H. G. Simpson who had been articled to Cardew (his uncle) and was head office clerk in P. L. Cardew's firm, entered into an agreement with the principal to run the new Laidley branch of the law firm.  A few years later, Simpson returned to the Ipswich office. Thus, P. L. Cardew & Simpson was born. Every Monday for over 30 years, H. G. Simpson would visit Harrisville to service the firm's clientele there. When Cardew died in 1916, the deceased's interest in the firm was acquired by H. G. Simpson who elected to retain the name of P. L. Cardew & Simpson. At this time, the business was known in much of Queensland, well beyond Ipswich & surrounds, as both an old and reputable one. By 1934, P. L. Cardew & Simpson had become the oldest legal firm in Ipswich with a continuous history reaching back about 80 years.  

The old firm of P. L. Cardew & Simpson motored along for another eight years before taking  Charles Harold Merrell, their managing clerk, into partnership and thus becoming known as P. L. Cardew, Simpson & Merrell, Solicitors. At this time, the firm were City Solicitors for the Ipswich Council. In May 1946, another partner was taken on in the form of John Kennedy Smith. Despite the new addition, the firm would not change its name until 1952. Significantly, by the end of 1949 all three named principals of P. L. Cardew, Simpson & Merrell were deceased, leaving Smith as the sole proprietor.

 Staff and partners of Cardews were often long term employees, attaining their qualifications and working their way through the ranks before becoming partners. Merrell joined the business in 1901 at just 14 years of age. Simpson had begun his legal career in 1893 with Cardew before qualifying as a lawyer in 1899. Havard, Foxton and Cardew had all served under articles with John Malbon Thompson before attaining partnership in the firm. 

Following their eviction from Town Hall Chambers  by Ipswich City Council in August 1952, the legal firm commenced business on the first floor of O'Sullivan's Chambers at 100 Brisbane Street (opposite the Bank of NSW) now using the name Cardew, Simpson & Smith.  This business was still at 100 Brisbane Street in 1961, and perhaps longer.

John Kennedy Smith lived at 45 Salisbury Road, Ipswich in the 1950s. P. L. Cardew resided at Merton, 2 York Street, East Ipswich for many years commencing in the 1880s. At the time of his death in 1949, C. H. Merrell lived at 10 Gibbon Street in East Ipswich.  

John Malbon Thompson and J. F. G. Foxton both were Members of Parliament following their legal careers in Ipswich.