Wiss Brothers Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wiss Brothers Store |
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Store in 2015
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| Location | 99 George Street, Kalbar, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1890 - 1909 |
| Official name: Wiss Brothers Store & Dwelling (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 29 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 601200 |
| Significant period | 1890s, 1900s (fabric) 1909-1966 (historical use as general store) |
| Significant components | store/s / storeroom / storehouse, shop/s, residential accommodation - housing |
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The Wiss Brothers Store is a special old building in Kalbar, Australia. It was once a very important general store. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's a protected historical site.
History of the Wiss Brothers Store
The large timber store you see today was built in 1909. It was made for Lionel Ainger Wiss and his company, Wiss Bros. They were a well-known general store in the area, which was then called Engelsburg. This new building replaced a smaller store built in 1890.
The Wiss Family Arrives
Lionel Ainger Wiss came to Queensland from Germany around 1887. He arrived with his brothers, Campbell and Alfred. Even though they were born in Germany, their parents were English. After a short time in northern Queensland, Alfred went back to England. Lionel and Campbell moved to Ipswich. They worked there for a grocery store for about three years.
Starting a Business in Engelsburg
In 1890, the brothers bought land in Engelsburg. This area was settled by German farmers in the 1870s. At that time, Engelsburg was a small but growing town. It had a general store, a hotel, a butcher shop, and other businesses. There were also several churches and a school.
The Wiss brothers built a small store and a home on their land. It was next to the Fassifern Hotel. By September 1890, Lionel Wiss's store was being built.
Wiss Bros Becomes Important
Lionel Wiss married Maria Elise Wiuff in 1890. He then partnered with Campbell to form Wiss Bros. Their store quickly became one of the most important businesses in Engelsburg. The town was growing because of farming and dairying.
The Wiss Bros store sold many different goods. They also bought farm produce from local farmers. They even acted as agents for farm equipment companies. They offered credit, which helped many local farmers.
From 1894 to 1897, Wiss Bros also ran the local postal office. Before the railway came to Kalbar in 1916, they transported farm goods. They took produce to the nearest train station for farmers. The company was a major employer in the town. By the 1920s, they had 8 to 10 employees.
Changes Over Time
By 1903, the Wiss Bros property had grown. It included the small store, a separate house, a bulk storage building, and large stables. Campbell Wiss left the partnership around 1904. However, the business kept the name Wiss Bros.
When the new, larger store was built in 1909, the original small store was moved. It became Surawski's Fassifern Cafe. Later, in the 1980s, this old building was moved again.
Lionel ('Daddy') Wiss was a respected person in the community. He was involved in local events and the Methodist church. In 1910, he bought a large piece of land in Engelsburg. In 1916, he divided about half of it into smaller lots for homes. This helped create much of the western part of the town. In 1916, Engelsburg was renamed Kalbar when the railway arrived.
After Lionel Wiss passed away in 1932, his family managed the business. His daughter, Adeline Wiss, oversaw it. In 1947, the store was sold to Holmes Bros. It continued as a general store until 1966. After that, it was used by Chemical & Air Services Pty Ltd for over twenty years.
What the Store Looks Like
The Wiss Brothers Store is on a corner in Kalbar's main street. It is a rectangular building made of timber. It sits on wooden stumps. The roof is gabled and made of corrugated iron. A skillion awning (a sloped roof) extends over the footpath. There are four decorative metal vents on the roof.
Front of the Building
The front of the building, called the facade, is very fancy. It uses sheet metal to look like classical stone work. Above the awning, there are three arched windows. The middle window is the largest. It has a triangular top called a pediment with "WISS BROS" written on it.
Decorative columns, called pilasters, are on either side of the pediment. They have the dates 1890 and 1909. More pilasters are at the corners of the facade. They are topped with small ornaments called finials.
The building also has decorative pressed metal sheets. These show a brick pattern on the front. Floral and geometric patterns are on the verandah awning and parts of the ceiling. The shopfront has three glass display areas. Cast-iron columns are at the corners of the middle display. There are also French doors with fanlights (windows above the doors) between each display area.
Sides and Inside
The building has high windows on both sides and at the back. These are centrally pivoting hopper windows, which open outwards from the bottom. The back of the building has a corrugated iron verandah. It has two entry doors and sash windows (windows that slide up and down).
Inside, you can see the timber trusses (support beams) of the roof. The ceilings are sloped with diagonal wooden boards. The center of the ceiling has decorative pressed metal ceiling panels. The trusses are supported by central timber columns. These columns have timber arch brackets. Some of the original wooden partitions are still there. They have turned timber balustrade capping, which looks like decorative railings.
To the south of the store is the original house. It has two small timber and iron buildings connected by an enclosed verandah. A bulk storage building is located behind the store. It is made of timber with two hipped corrugated iron roofs and lean-to awnings.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The former Wiss Brothers Store and Dwelling was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 29, 1992. This means it's important for several reasons:
Showing Queensland's History
The store helps us understand how Queensland's history unfolded. It shows how Engelsburg (Kalbar) grew into an important farming and dairying center in the early 1900s.
Demonstrating Building Characteristics
This place is a great example of an old country general store from the early 20th century. It still has its original bulk storage building and the dwelling from around 1890.
Its Beautiful Design
The Wiss Bros Store is valued for its beautiful design. It stands out in the town. The way it uses sheet and pressed metal to look like a grand stone building shows amazing skill and artistry.
Connection to Important People
The store has a special link to Lionel Ainger Wiss and the Wiss Bros company. They played a very important part in the business, social, and physical growth of Kalbar and its surrounding area from the 1890s to the 1940s.
