McWhirters Building, Conservation Management Plan

Converge Heritage + Community was engaged to prepare a Conservation Management Plan for the McWhirters Building at Fortitude Valley, which is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. McWhirters is comprised of four adjoining brick buildings ranging from three to five stories. The complex was constructed in phases between 1902-05, 1912, 1923 and 1930-31. It was built for Brisbane draper, James McWhirter, of McWhirter & Son Ltd. It became one of Brisbane’s largest and most successful department stores and occupied over an acre of land, at the well-known ‘Valley Corner’. The store housed over 50 departments in its hey-day. The complex today contains residential apartments and commercial premises. While the interior has been altered throughout consecutive redevelopments over time, the facades of the buildings are considerably intact. McWhirters is a fine example of a twentieth century department store and contributes significantly to the commercial character and streetscape appeal of Fortitude Valley.

The Conservation Management Plan was prepared to be a practical tool to assist the body corporate management committee and assessing authorities to make sound decisions about conserving and managing the property. The document identifies the heritage significance of the site and sets out conservation policies to protect that significance, particularly in the event of change. It also provides strategies for putting policies into action.