Big White's

John Charles White started Big White's in 1919 in a shop located opposite the Lyric Theatre on Brisbane Street at the Top of Town where he sold secondhand household goods and furniture. In 1921, White bought a property opposite the original shop and opened another Big White's there. For a while there was a Big White's store on both sides of Brisbane Street. The firm stated selling new furniture during World War II.

The business remained in this position at 160 Brisbane Street until it closed in March 2012, after 93 years in operation. It was one of Ipswich's oldest businesses with four generations of the same family owning and operating the business, ending with Jason White who was the great grandson of the founder. Big White's had 3 other stores in Queensland. 

In 2014 the site was redeveloped and now forms part of the Sammut Bulow Building, on Brisbane Street.