Whiteheads Booksellers & Stationers

For sixty years in Ipswich, two generations of the Whitehead family were booksellers and stationers. For the first 24 years the business was known as S. F. Whitehead, Bookseller and Stationer. Then in 1882, Mr Whitehead was ordained in the Congregational Church and took up a posting in Gatton and their shop was now referred to as that of Mrs Whitehead, Bookseller & Stationer. This state of affairs with Mrs Caroline Whitehead managing the business continued until her death in August 1902, after which the Misses Whitehead (Caroline and Florence) assumed control. 

Mr Samuel Francis Whitehead commenced the family tradition in 1858 by purchasing A. Beattie's bookselling & stationery business in Brisbane Street. The shop sold school books, toys, account books, and fancy articles as well as books and stationery. The shop was located in a timber cottage in Brisbane Street where London Pharmacy would later stand. In 1862 the business was described as being next door to the Bank of New South Wales in Brisbane Street. However, Whitehead's Booksellers & Stationers was located in Bell Street between about 1882 and July 1891. At this time, they moved to former premises of the Victoria Hotel  (also known as Kennedy's hotel) in Brisbane Street, and next door to the Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Company's clothing establishment. In the 1890s, Mrs Whitehead sold Christmas cards, Bibles, albums, ink stands, baskets and scented note paper as well as the usual stationery and books, annuals, crewel silks, knitting supplies, artworks, magazines and floral calendars. The complete stock of Weigel's paper patterns for women and children were also available for home dressmaking. 

On Tuesday 17 June 1902 a fire caused serious damage to the shop and uninsured stock. However, Whiteheads was luckier than the other two merchants occupying the same building. All three shops were owned by W. G. Johnston (the grocer of Brisbane Street) and were located opposite the Palais Royal Hotel.  Both R. Wilson's tobacconist and hairdressing salon, and the confectionery & pastry business of F. J. Ireland were gutted. Close neighbours the Qld National Bank received some minor damage, and the Qld Woollen Manufacturing Co. was unscathed. Perhaps the loss due to the fire may have taken a toll on Mrs Whitehead who became ill and died only two months later. Johnston re-built his building in brick and the Misses Whitehead carried on the family business there until their retirement in 1918 when Mr & Mrs Winks purchased the old established business.  

Other tenants in the Johnston building in 1918 were Messrs. M. Byrne (hairdresser), N. Smith (fruiterer) & E. H. Wilson (pastrycook). A. J. Stephenson, commission agent & auctioneer was located next to the Whiteheads in Thomson's Buildings.