Draft:Petrie (construction company)

The Petrie business was founded in Brisbane, Queensland in 1840 by Andrew Petrie, who was the Superintendent of Works for the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement. It was the first business in Queensland and was the first building contractors and architects.

History
Andrew Petrie commenced work as a builder in Australia in 1831 upon his arrival to Sydney . He then went into partnership in 1833 with George Ferguson as building contractors in Sydney. The partnership was short lived and only lasted for two years when Andrew went into business on his own. He won numerous projects and was favoured by the Government to construct many of their projects. Andrew was appointed Superintendent of Works to the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement and moved from Sydney to take up this position in 1837, and it was here in 1840 he established the Petrie business.



The business operated as Andrew Petrie from 1840 and was located at Andrew Petrie's residence in Petrie Bight. Over the coming years as his eldest son John Petrie started to assume more responsibility in the running of the business, it was changed to Petrie & Son. In 1848 when Andrew lost his eyesight, John, became sole proprietor and took over running of the business. Under John's leadership and due to Andrew's age and health, the business changed its name to John Petrie and operated in that capacity until 1882 when his eldest son, Andrew Lang Petrie became a partner in the business. It was known as John Petrie & Son from 1882 to 1894.

The business suffered with John's death in 1892 and in mid 1893, after suffering the effects of major flooding, a global financial crash and rapid depression in land values, the business suffered extensively and Andrew Lang Petrie had to sell most assets, however, maintained a number of land holdings and continued undertaking contracting work and stonemasonry projects under the Andrew Lang Petrie name. In 1910, with Andrew Lang's eldest son, John George Petrie working in the business, it operated as Andrew L. Petrie and opened new premises in Toowong opposite the cemetery gates.

After Andrew's death in 1928, the business was run by John George (Jack) Petrie then his son John Robert (Bill) Petrie who incorporated the business in 1954 to Andrew L. Petrie Pty Ltd and was then run by his son John Ronald Petrie who took over the business and in the 1980s it became known as John Petrie & Associates. The Petrie family firm remains in operation today, as one of the longest-running Queensland businesses remarkably managed by John Geofrey Petrie, Andrew Petrie’s seventh generation descendant.

Commercial and Civic Projects
The Petrie's are responsible for the construction of many of Queensland's prominent colonial buildings including:
 * the Old Windmill = 1839
 * First Methodist Church - 1849
 * Court House Conversion - 1850
 * First Brisbane School of Arts - 1850
 * First Presbyterian Church - 1850
 * Cleveland Court House - 1852
 * Ipswich Presbyterian Church - 1853
 * Pettigrew's Sawmill - 1853
 * St John's Pro Cathedral - 1854
 * Ipswich Gaol - 1857
 * Brisbane Immigration Barracks - 1858
 * United Presbyterian Church - 1859
 * Brisbane Gaol (Petrie Terrace) - 1860
 * Australian Joint Stock Bank - 1860
 * The Windmill Signal Station Conversion - 1861
 * Bank of Australasia - 1862
 * Normal School - 1862
 * Old Government House Stable and Lodge - 1862
 * First Government Printing Office - 1862
 * John Campbell and Son's Wharf - 1862
 * Perry Brothers Shop - 1865
 * Second Immigration Depot - 1866
 * Brisbane General Hospital - 1867
 * City Botanic Gardens Drinking Fountain - 1867
 * Queensland Parliament House - 1868
 * Petrie Brickworks - 1868
 * Second All Saints Anglican Church - 1869
 * Wharf Street Congregational Church - 1872
 * Registrar Generals's Office - 1873
 * Second Government Printing Office - 1874
 * Petrie Office - 1874
 * Quarantine Buildings on Peel Island - 1875
 * Supreme Court of Queensland - 1879
 * Roma Street railway station - 1879
 * General Post Office - 1872 & 1879
 * Port Office - 1880
 * Customs House - 1889

Residential Projects
The Petrie's also built a large number of the fine houses in colonial Brisbane including:
 * Andrew Petrie's Residence and Workshops - 1839
 * Newstead House - 1846
 * Harbour Master's Residence - 1848
 * Bulimba House - 1850
 * Adelaide House - 1853
 * Robert Bourne House - 1857
 * Adderton House - 1858
 * Kedron Lodge - 1862
 * Murrumba (Tom Petrie's residence at North Pine) - 1864
 * Oakwal - 1864
 * Toorak House - 1865
 * Mountview House - 1865
 * Eldernell - 1869
 * Whytecliffe - 1876
 * Beerwah - 1879
 * Mornington - 1879
 * Mooloomburram - 1886

War Memorials
The business was responsible for constructing several significant war memorials and monuments in Queensland. Some notable examples include:


 * Toowong War Memorial located in Toowong Memorial Park, Brisbane - An obelisk-style monument located in Toowong, honouring the fallen soldiers of World War I with marble and bronze plaques.
 * Ipswich War Memorial, Ipswich - Unveiled in 1919, this memorial includes a life-sized statue of a soldier and inscriptions of the names of the fallen.
 * Gin Gin War Memorial, Gin Gin - This memorial features a life-sized digger with head bowed and arms reversed, wearing an ammunition bandolier over his shoulder, is atop a typical Petrie base.
 * Kalinga War Memorial, Kalinga - This monument honours local servicemen and women, showcasing Petrie's craftsmanship in stone masonry.
 * Bowen War Memorial, Bowen - A striking tribute to the town's soldiers, featuring a combination of marble and stone work.
 * Southport War Memorial, Southport - Constructed to commemorate those who served in World War I, with detailed architectural elements and inscriptions.
 * Nambour War Memorial, Nambour - Featuring a soldier statue and a detailed pedestal, this memorial honours local servicemen.
 * Barcaldine Memorial Clock Tower - constructed from marble and granite, the memorial honours the 292 local men who served during the First World War, including the 38 fallen.
 * Chinchilla War Memorial, Chinchilla - the war memorial was designed and constructed by A. L. Petrie & Son and was unveiled in 1919.

Offices
The business has had many offices throughout Queensland including Brisbane, Fortitude Valley, Albion, Toowong , Warwick , Bundaberg, Northgate, Townsville , Carole Park, Auchenflower. The current office is located in Ashgrove.