George Smith, Furniture Manufacturer

George Smith made and sold furniture at his place on the corner of Waghorn Street from about 1886. When Enoch Meggitt, a cabinetmaker, moved to Brisbane in early 1889, Smith seized the opportunity to re-locate to Meggitt's more central premises situated three doors west of The Qld Times office on Brisbane Street, and opposite Goleby's. From here, Smith carried on his trade for nineteen years. 

By the close of 1897, George Smith was apparently the only furniture trader in Ipswich who made and sold his own wares. By 1904, he had available more ready-made furniture like drawing room suites, cane chairs, bamboo tables, what-nots, couches, dressers and toilet sets, although custom-made furniture was still offered.

Despite improving his premises including installing floor-length plate glass windows looking onto Brisbane Street, Smith's business took a turn for the worse in  January 1906 when he was unable to pay thirteen creditors. Times were tough. There had been a drought and the coal-mining industry was in the doldrums. These conditions had a flow-on effect to local clients who were then unable to pay their outstanding accounts to Geo. Smith. As a consequence, the business was liquidated. Six months later, Smith's creditors discharged him of further responsibility and he was free to continue trading. He soldiered on for another two years, during which time he also repaired old & used furniture to be sold second-hand at auction by H. A. Campbell, Auctioneer & Commission Agent. However, in the middle of 1908, George Smith decided to "relinquish business" with a clearing sale of all remaining items in his furniture mart, including: kitchen utensils, linoleum, chiffonier, kapoc bed, safes, jardinier, washstands and wire mattresses. The auction of these goods was held on Friday 3 July 1908 at 11am by Ernest Cole & Co.