Shillito & Sons

In 1866 soon after his arrival by ship in Moreton Bay, Samuel Shillito opened a small engineering business in Ipswich that was located opposite the East Ipswich State School on Brisbane Street. In 1867 he moved the business to Nicholas Street. Shillitos mainly performed blacksmithing, produced agricultural tools, and carried out general engineering. A few years later Samuel purchased property on the corner of East and Limestone Streets. This location in 1882 is where the first Queensland-made railway wagons were manufactured, outside of the Railway Workshops. Corn huskers and shellers were manufactured here. They also had a contract with Ipswich City Council for 100 tones of three inch cast iron pipes to be used for the town water supply. Castings for the Ipswich Gas Works were made by the firm.

Samuel died December 1894 in a horse & cart accident leaving his sons to run the business. At this time the business had between 20-30 employees and sat on a quarter acre of land. 

In the late 1950s Shillitos were making wrought iron furniture, gates and balustrading.

Shillitos remained at the corner of East & Limestone Streets until the 1960s when they re-located to Bundamba and became a victim of the 1974 flood. Later the firm moved to West Ipswich but did not survive for long following that event.