John Mills Himself

Story

John Mills Himself Building is a heritage-listed warehouse at 40 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1919. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.HistoryThe confidence and optimism caused by Queensland's economic prosperity between 1908 and 1914, found its expression in the redevelopment of inner city areas like Charlotte Street where light industry workshops replaced timber residential and business premises. Small industrial businesses, such as John Reid and Nephews (engineers), George Weston (metal merchants) and John Mills (printer) built their premises in Charlotte Street on the fringe of the commercial centre, in 1912-13, 1915 and 1918, respectively.In July 1918 this site was purchased by John Charles Mills. Mills traded as Mills and Green, printers and stationers from 1907-1908 in Adelaide Street, but on dissolution of the partnership, he traded alone, under the name John Mills Himself. During World War I his business expanded and he established a large warehouse at Newstead. In 1919 he moved to Charlotte Street and constructed his office, printery workshop and warehouse on this site previously occupied by Markwell's cottage. By the 1920s the business was well established, attracting clients such as Steele Rudd. Mills leased the remainder of the building to related businesses, including the Gresham Publishing Company Ltd from 1920 to 1933 and the Press Etching Company, blockmakers and process engravers from 1921 to 1941. Other rooms were leased to clothing manufacturers, mapmakers, watchmakers and lantern slide makers.