No.53 Herbert Street
The current building at No.53 Herbert Street is erected on one of the two 1 acre allotments set aside as a school reserve in the 1860’s. The allotment adjoining the Blue Cow Hotel originally contained the school residence, built by local builders James Dougall and Thomas Dodd and completed in February 1868. When a new school and residence were erected in Warwick Street in 1911, tenders were called for the purchase of the old school and residence. The residence was purchased by Mr. Frank Whitman for the sum of £85 and shifted to Goomburra. The allotment on which it stood was purchased by Joseph Sharpe and in 1916 he built the Central Hall on the site. In October 1920 T. E. Zaccour opened up in rooms next to Sharpe’s Hall selling drapery and clothing. He was still advertising in September 1922.
J. Middleton opened a tea room, restaurant and fruit shop in “the new building next to the Central Hall” in June 1923. Middleton had previously bought out G. H. Forster’s café at No.52 in April 1921. The café at No.53 had an attached residence. In February 1924 Mrs. J. Middleton advertised a “player-piano for parties” at her Central Café. G. H. Forster bought this café in October 1924. George Forster was the grandfather of Noel Forster who owned Allora News in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Mr. W. Masters took over the café in October 1927. Bill Masters was the grandfather of Keith and Rae Masters and the café was run by his wife and daughters. The café was sold to Mr. F. B. Buchanan in February 1929. At the time of the May 1931 Royal Hotel fire, the Central Café building was owned by Mrs. Grace Sharpe. Mrs. Sharpe must have inherited the building on the death of her husband in 1919. The residence and café were occupied at the time of the fire by Mr. E. A. Kerley. Volunteers had removed the furniture and contents and apart from smoke and water damage the building was unharmed.
The Allora Guardian Newspaper was moved from No. 88 to the “Central Hall Buildings’ in March 1933 and it operated from there until it ceased publication at the end of 1934. George Cunnington opened a café at No53 in the mid 1930’s and traded there until he moved to part the old Barnes & Co. building at No.76. The Central café was sold to F. H. Stewart. I am told that Max and Francie Pitkin (nee Stewart) lived in the residence in the war years. The Stewart family ran the café and “made the best malted milks in town” until at least August 1948. J. Inglis was in the café in June 1949 and in July 1950 it was occupied by W. Thompson. I don’t know if he was a New Zealander or not but in September 1950 W. Thompson was advertising the “Kiwi Tea Rooms”. Later in the same month Thompson diversified into the shoe business. The shop was renamed Thompson’s Boot and Shoe Store. The tea rooms were advertised at the same time. From November 1950 Thompson advertised frocks for sale as well as boots and shoes. A. L. Cock bought out W. Thompson in September 1951 and traded as Cock’s Shoe Store. He was also advertising frocks up to December 1951 when the building was sold.
When the Allora Guardian Newspaper ceased publication at the end of 1934, a group of local businessmen including Frank Donovan and Hubert Deacon, saw the need for some form of local advertising medium. They backed former Guardian employee Mick O’Connor to set up the Allora Advertiser, which he did in a shed behind his house at No.34 Raff Street. That shed today, is Bill and Sue Murdoch’s garage. The business passed into the hands of Con Carling who was a member of the local Salvation Army community. A. C. Hammond then took over the production of the Advertiser. A young John Gordon started his printing apprenticeship with A. C. Hammond. December 1951 saw the purchase of the former A. L. Cock’s Shoe Store and the Advertiser business was moved to No.53 Herbert Street. John Gordon bought the business from A. C. Hammond in September 1954 and it was John’s proud claim that for the next forty five years he never missed a production deadline. In December 1999 the Allora Advertiser was sold to Sam and Helen Achilles. David Gleeson took over as editor of the Advertiser in July 2007.
The residence attached to the Allora Advertiser has been occupied by a number of families over the years. I think that members of the Mason family lived there at one time and in the 1960’s Mick O’Dea and family lived there. Marion Denny and Annemarie Smith opened Dalrymple Country Quilts in the old residence in June 2003. Currently it is occupied by BNW formerly Brown, Nolan & Watts, Accountants.

51 Herbert Street
The allotment at No.51 Herbert Street was the former site of the Allora School residence. The land was purchased by Joseph Sharpe in 1911 after the removal of the buildings. In 1916 he built the Central Hall there. The first function held in the hall on 29th November 1916, was a plain and fancy dress ball run as an ambulance benefit. Unfortunately it was a wet night with only 120 people turning up. The promoters were Mesdames Sharpe and Pain. The night was successfully repeated on the 11th December 1919, when about 220 people turned up and £20 went to the Warwick ambulance, £10 to the Repatriation Committee, and £2/2/0 to the Clifton ambulance. Joe Sharpe died in 1919 and the hall was leased to the Star Picture Co. The first silent film showing was on the night of 1st March 1919. From May to August 1919 the theatre was closed because of the influenza epidemic. The Allora Branch of the Q. C. W. A. was formed in 1922 and from 1923 to 1927 the meetings were held in the Central Hall courtesy of the owner, Mrs. Grace Sharpe. Mrs. Sharpe was the president of the Q. C. W. A. from 1924 until 1933.
I am not sure of the configuration of the hall but in January 1923 Netz Bros. opened up as boot makers and repairers at the Central Hall. In August 1929 Syd Slatter moved into temporary premises in the Central Hall after the fire and Mrs. Elma Greer had a frock shop in the Central Hall Buildings for a short time in 1950. Part of the present day supper room may have been partitioned off at some stage.
After the death of Mrs. Grace Sharpe in 1934 the hall was left to her daughter Beryl (Bea) Sharpe and was rented to Allora Talkies run by the Reppel family. The theatre was then purchased by A. C. Cameron who ran it until about April 1948 when it was sold to Clyde Stewart. The Stewart family conducted regular picture shows until December 1954 when the theatre was sold to Hector Hungerford of Clifton. Clyde Stewart went on to buy a share in Allora Motors. Hec. Hungerford and the Hungerford family ran the theatre in conjunction with their New Tivoli Theatre in Clifton. In its heyday films were shown every Friday and Saturday night and sometimes on Wednesday nights. In the 1960’s large crowds would spill out at interval to either the canteen in the foyer or to Cunnington’s café across the street. The theatre was filled with canvas chairs, the sit-up ones at the back of the hall and the lay-back ones at the front where the young people sat. The show started with the playing of “God Save the Queen” when everyone stood. There would be news reels, cartoons and two films, one on either side of interval.
Falling attendances due to the surge in popularity of television saw the closure of the theatre at the end of June 1969. The last film was shown on Saturday night, the 28th June 1969.
The hall had been regularly used on week night for balls and dances. In 1974 it was purchased by the Allora Shire Council. It was repaired and repainted, the supper room was replaced, toilets were added and it was opened as the Community Hall. The hall was administered by a public committee, Shirley Gwynne being the first secretary, followed by June Gilmore and then John Byrne from the Allora Shire Council. In 1978 the floor was renewed and in 1988 the hall was chosen as the main project for the Bicentennial Committee and it was repainted, curtains added, and lighting improved.
The hall is currently being renovated by the Southern Downs Regional Council.

49 Herbert Street
The allotment at what is now No.49 Herbert Street was part of the School Reserve purchased by William Deacon on behalf of Deacon & Co. in 1911. The original school building was at the current No.50 Herbert Street and wings were added on the southern and northern sides as enrolments grew. The northern part of what was then Deacon & Co’s premises was demolished in the early 1950’s and the land was sold to the National Bank of Australasia Ltd. The intention was apparently to build a new bank and residence there but did not proceed at that stage. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s the annual Allora Shire Council children’s Christmas party was held on what was then a vacant allotment.
The Queensland National Bank started operations in Allora in February 1888 with Patrick Donovan as the first manager. In November 1890 the foundation block was laid for a new bank and residence at what is now No.23 Drayton Street. It was designed by F. D. G. Stanley and the contractors were J. Hack & Co. of Brisbane. The building foreman was Joseph Sharpe who stayed on in the town after the completion of the building. The Q. N. Bank was taken over by the National Bank of Australasia in 1948 and traded at the Drayton Street site until new premises were built at No.49 Herbert Street in the mid 1960’s. The N.B.A. merged with the Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney in 1981 to form what is now known as the National Australia Bank. In February 1988 the bank celebrated its centenary of operations in Allora. Special guests were Pat Donovan and Marie Coe, grandchildren of the first manager, Patrick Donovan, and Colin Black, the longest standing account holder.
Some of the managers at No.49 Herbert Street include Arch. Wellington, Roly Hamilton, Les. Salisbury, John Baldwin, Alan Thorn, and Ray Broughton.

47 Herbert Street
William Deacon arrived in Allora in May 1867 as the first Head Teacher of the Allora School. He resigned from that position in May 1873 to open a general store on the corner of Drayton and Forde Streets. In April 1890 he opened in new premises between the Q. N. Bank and the School of Arts at what is now No.25 Drayton Street. The business traded as Deacon & Son from August 1900. I am not sure which of William Deacon’s three sons, William Arthur, Hubert Gladstone, or Charles Edwin, was in the business with him but in March 1903, the general store was taken over by Hubert and Charles who traded as H. & C. Deacon. In April 1904 the stock was sold to John Scott and in May 1904, H. & C. Deacon opened business as auctioneers, stock & station agents, produce dealers and general machinery agents. The first sale of cattle and horses was held in Collins’ Club Hotel yards in July 1904. The firm of Deacon & Co. was founded in mid 1907 and must have consisted of Hubert Deacon, Charles Deacon, and Clifford Somerset Alford, because in May 1911 Cliff Alford left the partnership of Deacon & Co. Cliff Alford would have been a grandson of Francis Kates.
When the Allora School shifted to a new building in Warwick Street in 1911, William Deacon bought the old building and site in Herbert Street on behalf of Deacon & Co. and on the 1st June 1912 the business was moved there. Charles Deacon left the firm in February 1914 to become a Federal Land Tax Valuer with the Federal Land Tax Department and Deacon & Co. was carried on by Hubert Deacon. His son, Robert Gladstone Deacon, left his job with the Q. N. Bank to enlist in the 2/25th Battalion in the Second World War. After service in the Middle East and New Guinea, rising to the rank of Captain, Bob Deacon joined the staff of Deacon & Co. on his discharge from the army in 1945. Long time employee, Keith Masters, joined the firm soon after. The old school building was re-modelled in the early 1950’s. The northern wing was demolished and the land sold to the National Bank. A new show room was added to the front of the central part of the building. Hubert Deacon died in June 1964. The business was carried on by Bob Deacon until his death in February 1973. Keith Masters then took on the management of Deacon & Co. In April 1974 Rodney Clunes bought a share of the business from Mrs. Waveney Deacon, widow of Bob Deacon. At the same time Rodney Clunes bought out the firm of H. W. Stay & Sons. In July 1975 the partnership between Mrs. Waveney Deacon and Rodney Clunes was dissolved. Allan and Heather Green bought the business in September 1988. The buildings and land had been bought by David and Daphne Tomlinson. Keith Masters retired after working for Deacon & Co. for forty two years. By December 1989, the business included hardware and building supplies and in December 1991, hardware and produce. In January 1992 it was known as Allora’s Produce and Key Hardware. The Allora Blue Nurses All Sorts Shop had moved to a rear room of Deacon & Co. in August 1989.
Allan and Heather Green bought Allora Hardware at No.44 Herbert Street from Neville and Rae Siebenhausen in November 1999 and traded in both shops for a short time before closing No.47. Allan and Heather opened The Tender Spot to deal in second hand goods in 2003 and closed it in February 2006. Barry and Anne Glass had opened Allora and District Tyres at No.88 Herbert Street in March 2006 and traded there for a short time before moving to No.47 from where they still operate.

43 and 45 Herbert Street
Daniel Leggatt was one of Allora’s earliest settlers, coming to the town in 1862 and acquiring the 1 acre allotment next to the School Reserve. During the 1880’s and early 1890’s Mrs. Leggatt had a small general store on the northern side of the allotment. I am not sure if the Leggatts lived at the rear of the shop or they lived in the house which fronted Herbert Street next door. Dan Leggatt was living in Herbert Street at the time of his death in 1902. His son, William, married Aileen Ludgate in 1904 and they lived at No.43 Herbert Street, in the house which was bought by David and Daphne Tomlinson in 1974 and moved to the rear of the allotment. That house is currently occupied by the Acason family.
Mrs. Leggatt’s shop was closed in 1891 when she developed a serious illness. The building was used for a variety of purposes after the death of Dan Leggatt. Mr. & Mrs. Martin, professional photographers, occupied the building in July 1902. Appel Bros., the Warwick jewellers, opened there in September 1904 before moving to Holmes’ Buildings at the northern end of Herbert Street. J. T. Provan & Co., Clifton newsagents, opened an Allora branch in the building in September 1905 before moving to a new building on the corner of Herbert and Drayton Streets. W. H. Paulsen, the Warwick photographer, opened a studio there in February 1906 and used the building on regular occasions. Miss Leggatt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Leggatt, opened a cash millinery shop at No. 45 in September 1912.
Patrick Donovan came to Allora in February 1888 as the first manager of the Queensland National Bank. He left the bank and the town in August 1894 for Western Australia with the idea of setting up a business on the goldfields. He returned to Allora in January 1895 and set up as an auctioneer and commission agent in the old Wesley Chapel building. The building had been purchased by John Holmes when the new Methodist Church was built in 1896 and shifted to a site in Herbert Street near the Drayton Street corner. Donovan’s Auction Mart had their first horse and cattle sale in Basford’s Commercial Hotel yards in February 1897.
In November 1905 Patrick Donovan formed a partnership with Arthur O’Leary as Donovan & O’Leary but the partnership was dissolved in September 1906. In December 1906 Patrick Francis (Frank) Donovan joined his father and the business became Donovan & Son. Following the destruction of their premises in the February 1909 fire, Donovan & Son moved to Flynn’s Royal Hotel building. They were still there in September 1914 but I am not sure when they moved to No.45.
Frank Donovan took over the business on the retirement of his father. He was later joined by his son, John Purcell (Jack) Donovan. Frank Donovan died in November 1955 and Jack Donovan was killed in a car accident in October 1960. The business was in the hands of the Donovan Estate when it was sold to Roy Smith in November 1962. Roy had joined the staff of Donovan & Son from school in 1952 and built the business into a very successful enterprise. Donovan & Son was bought out by Primaries Mactaggarts in March 1974 and traded in Allora under the Donovan & Son name until the end of 1976.
In 1979 the Allora and District Co-operative Hospital Society purchased the former Donovan & Son building and restored it as a doctor’s surgery. From December 1979 it was rented to Dr. Peter Elliot & Associates. Doctors to follow include Doctors Robert Chandler, Wellstead, M. Thorpe, M. Farrell, Yvette Wylde (later Burge), and Mishra. Following the sale of the Allora and District Co-operative Society to Southern Cross Health Care, the Allora Medical Centre was taken over by the Condamine Medical Centre of Warwick and is currently staffed by Doctors Kay Ellis and Mike Pei.

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