3-7 GEORGE STREET WAREHOUSE

GHOST SIGN

CASCADE HOUSE, GEORGE STREET

Although they have now relocated, this warehouse in George Street was for most current-day Launceston residents the home of Tulloch's Auctions.

Broomby and Dent were agricultural agents – involved in the sale of everything from animal feed, to flowers. They already had the warehouse when they purchased adjoining property on the corner of the street in 1909 – one suspects the current building has evolved into its current form over time.

(A picture of how it looked around 1907 can be seen in Michael Simco and Pete Jermy's little book “Launceston on old Picture Postcards”)

A newspaper report from February 1894 says that “Broomby and Dent have taken possession of the store in lower George.street until recently occupied by Messrs R. Newey and Sons. Both men had worked in the field for some time and proposed to store and sell wheat, hay and corn as well as engines to drive chaff cutters, crushing machines and more. At the time it was opened the building enjoyed the advantage of being close to both the railway station and the wharves. In this regard times have certainly changed! Newey's had been hay and product merchants in Launceston since the 1850s, the business having been founded by Richard Newey, who died in 1891.

Instead of Broomby and Dent, the inscription on the front of the building now reads :Irvine and McEachern. They were wine and spirit merchants and also sold cigars and tea, and had previously operated from 128 Brisbane Street. Rather confusingly the building has “Cascade House” on the front, but most newspaper references give the address of “Cascade House” as 38 Charles Street! Presumably there were two buildings with that title, both operated by the same company. I suspect someone out there will know whether or not the title was simply an association with Irvine and McEachern's business, or was related to the brewery in a more direct way. (All input welcome!!!!!)

Among the many enticing products wholesaled by Irvine and McEarchern was AB Tonic wine, advertised extensively in the 1930s. It was said to not only relieve exhaustion, lassitude and depression but to feed “the wasted tissues” and built up the system after influenza and other illness. All this for only 3 shillings!

As far as I can tell this building is not on the Heritage Register, but it stands as a reminder of Launceston's agricultural and commercial history and has a certain solid appeal, that paint aside, has not been overly damaged by overenthusiastic “development.”