246-248 King Street, formerly Quartly’s

Quartly’s have occupied this site since 1918. Edwin Quartly, an oil and colour merchant, started his business in ca. 1880 in Goulburn, and moved to 286 King Street Newtown in 1897. Prior to becoming Quartly’s, the site at 246-248 King Street was occupied by numerous businesses from the mid-19^th Century as diverse as tobacconists, undertakers, and hairdressers. Originally listed in the Sands Directory as Newtown Road, then 172 King Street, it became 246 King Street in 1895. The current building is designed in the Federation Free Style – a popular architectural design from c. 1890 to 1915. Edwin Quartly ran a successful business winning many tenders and contracts. In 1906, Edwin was nominated for Alderman of O’Connell Ward, losing by only 30 votes to Mr Henry Nunn Howe, and was also a Member representing the Employers in the Building Trades Group for the Department of Labour and Industry, resigning in July 1914. Edwin died in 1922 and left Quartly’s Pty Ltd to his sons: Leslie, Horace and Norton. A small fire on the 3^rd of May 1929 resulted in minor damage. Quartly’s became Quartly’s Mitre 10 Hardware Store in the early 1980’s and later Mitre 10, and also houses solicitor’s offices upstairs. Quartly’s expanded to incorporate building 250 King Street and 1 Whateley Lane in the 1980’s. In 2011 Chemist Warehouse became the primary occupant and Mitre 10 moved to 1 Whateley Street.