Thomas Boyle, Tailor & Habit-Maker

Before emigrating from England, Thomas Boyle worked as a cutter in the tailoring trade. About August 1880, Thomas Boyle and John Francis Gilmore formed a business partnership in Ipswich. They were to move into the former premises of A. McDonald in Brisbane Street and work together as tailor (Boyle) and draper (Gilmore). The business was advertised as Tailoring & Outfitting House. This partnership was very short-lived. After 10 months, each man went his own way. It was decided that Gilmore would remain in the same location and continue his drapery and clothing business, whilst Boyle would move two doors away to the corner of West Street and establish his own tailoring enterprise. Boyle's shop stocked tweeds, worsteds, superfine broadcloths and serges for custom-made garments plus ready-to-wear men's clothing. He also made riding breeches and habits. 

In October 1882, Boyle moved his business to Nicholas Street, continuing to use the name Tailoring & Outfitting House for the next few years. It was located opposite Hughes & Cameron in that street. His inventory included Oxford shirts, regatta shirts, collars, ties, hats, braces, belts, scarves, hosiery and umbrellas together with fabrics for coatings and suits.  Three years later in 1885, Thomas Boyle moved again to a new shop in a block of four, also in Nicholas Street. The new shops were sited where Pettigrew's stores had stood before a fire destroyed them at the beginning of the year. H. E. Wyman was the designer of the new brick building. The three neighbouring businesses were: E. Meggitt's furniture arcade, R. D. Graham & Son, and Beale & Co. 

A new establishment was not enough to ensure Boyle's financial success it seems, and the next few years were difficult both professionally and personally for the tailor. By April 1886 Thomas Boyle was declared insolvent. In June, John Forsyth & Co. of Brisbane bought Boyle's stock and proceeded to open their own establishment  in O'Sullivan's Buildings in Brisbane Street. The following month it was reported that Boyle had accepted employment as a cutter with E. Butler & Co. in Ipswich. In less than another year, Thomas Boyle became manager of  The West Moreton Tailoring Company which was located next to Mrs Hooper's Royal Hotel at 215 Brisbane Street. Then in July 1888 Boyle's insolvency matters were discharged. Following this event, shop fittings of West Moreton Tailoring House were advertised for sale and an auction of his household goods was held by Hughes & Cameron at his residence in Brisbane Street (next to J. W. Reed's and opposite West Moreton Tailoring House). Within days of these events, Thomas Boyle moved to Brisbane to commence a new tailoring enterprise.