Preddey's Ltd.

Preddey's Ltd was registered as a company on 26 April 1911. Alfred Edward Preddey owned more than half the shares and became Managing Director. Ethel M. Nash (saleswoman) and William F. S. Fox (chemist), both of Ipswich were also shareholders. The intention of the company was to take over H. F. Smith's jewellers, ringmakers, watchmakers and opticians business in Brisbane Street, Ipswich. Sometime between 1911-1913 Preddey commenced trading. Preddey had worked for a jeweller in Sydney before coming to Ipswich.

For several decades until Preddeys closed, Rawlings was their next door neighbour to the west. In 1918 W. Tatham (Stationers) was their neighbour to the east.  In 1929 Woolworths became another long term neighbour occupying the building to the east.

From at least the early 1930s Preddeys were Golden Casket agents.

The business endured for several decades in the same shop.

Alfred Preddey was an Ipswich City Council alderman from 1927-1930. He was also a landlord around town, owning serveral city buildings including  Woolworths Variety premises, shops further up Brisbane Street near the Club Hotel, and a cottage in Limestone Street.