firedamage

M.D. Pigott set up a drapery business in Brisbane soon after arriving in Australia in 1885. He opened his first store in Russell Street, Toowoomba (next to the Criterion Hotel) on 6 July 1896. Pigott & Co advertised that at their opening there would be the 'most marvellous bargains ever offered in Toowoomba.' Just a year after opening Pigott & Co moved into specially remodelled premises in Ruthven Street on 24 August 1897. M.D. Pigott, his wife Mary Josephine and eight children moved from Brisbane to Toowoomba following the success of the store. During the later years of the 1890s and into the early years of the twentieth century, branch stores were opened at Boonah, Beaudesert, Chinchilla, Pittsworth, Dalby and Warwick. Tragedy strikes in 1909 In 1908 the store was completely remodelled including vestibule windows. Tragedy struck Pigott & Co when fire broke out on 8 July 1909 only a month after the renovations were complete. The building and stock were completely destroyed. To continue the running of the popular store a temporary building and offices were arranged the very next day. Warehouses rallied to supply goods and after a couple of weeks, business had increased and the temporary premises had to be extended. On 18 April 1910, the new Pigott & Co store opened with twice the floor space, enlarged departments and new departments added. Source: www.tr.qld.gov.au/our-region/history/historic-locations/1...

The Great Fire of Brisbane, 1864 By JOL Admin | 11 September 2008 All attempts at fighting the fire were impeded by the fact that Brisbane had virtually no water supply at this time. In addition, most of the buildings were constructed of timber, causing the fire to spread too rapidly to be contained. Considering the extent of the fire, casualties were very few and there was no loss of life. Only four people were taken to hospital, mostly suffering from bruises. Following the conflagration, the area was redeveloped, with more substantial buildings constructed of brick and stone, rather than timber. A detailed description of the fire appeared in the Brisbane Courier, 2/12/1864. A brief extract follows. "Last evening will be long remembered in the annals of Queensland as the date on which occurred one of the most disastrous and crushing conflagrations that ever brought ruin and desolation on a town. Indeed, it would be almost impossible to convey with the pen anything like an adequate idea of the exciting and appalling scene, which certainly beggared description. At all events, the whole of the business premises and private residences which occupied what may fairly be considered the most valuable site in Brisbane, was, in a couple of hours, reduced to a heap of ruins, in spite of all that could be done by hundreds of willing and courageous men to stay the fearful progress of the devastating element." Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/great-fire-brisbane-1864#:~:text=...

FIRE AT GOONDIWINDI. Fire- broke out about 3 o'clock this morning, and the Commonwealth Buildings, comprising seven shops, and Mr. E. G. Lucas's Central Hotel, together with most of the contents, were destroyed. The Central Hotel was an up-to-date two-story building. The other places burnt were those of H. Nable, a tailor; H Gurtler, bootmaker; Mrs. Tanner, refreshment room; A. Andrews, billiard saloon; J. D. Hindmarsh, auctioneer; S. Cowell, mercer; J. Birkett, stationer. The total loss is estimated at £10,000. Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 Oct 1916 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28101856#