Brisbane Archives

Barry & Roberts passed away in 1985 on Queen Street. Barry & Roberts was famous for providing Brisbane with a range of draperies, fabrics, and groceries. As such Barry & Roberts was known to be one of the first shopping centres in Brisbane. Barry & Roberts developed the shopping centre so as to allow for maximum lighting through light wells and wide window fronts back in the 1930’s. Barry & Roberts had a striking intuition for advertising techniques by developing demonstrations of products on the premises to advertise and attract Brisbanites. Margaret Wright and Susan Cranitch remember going to the basement to shop for groceries. Kerri Griffin enjoyed malted milks in steel cups at the snack bar and cafeteria while June Piercy loved the salmon sandwiches. Bryan Dudley had his first job there, packing groceries, while Marlene Paff worked at the weigh vegetables and fruits for customers. Barry & Roberts was also keen on developing technologies for better customer service by introducing cash carrier pneumatic tubes as Clare Downling remembers.
Barry & Roberts was survived by a hole for 3 years and leaves behind the famous façade as part of a shopping mall.