History

The origins of The Retailers Association can be traced back to a meeting held June 29th 1887 at which it was
proposed to establish a Grocers Association. By August of the same year the Brisbane Grocers Association had
established offices in the Hunter's Treasury Buildings in George Street Brisbane. The Committee were meeting
regularly every 3rd Tuesday of the month and employed a Secretary to manage the affairs of the 'subscribers'.

The Association grew quickly and by November of 1889 had become the Brisbane Traders Association - a name
change brought about by the growing diversity of its 'subscribers'. The Annual Report of October 17 1898 shows
274 names on the members roll. Prominent traders on the list of members included Allan & Stark, T.C. Beirne and
Overell & Coy.

In July 1901 the Association moved to new offices in the Darragh's Building in Queen Street. By this time reports of
the quarterly meetings were being printed in the Courier Mail.

In 1910 The Brisbane Trader's Association Annual Report shows several affiliated bodies covering a total of 215
firms in addition to the normal membership.

They were:-

• The Brisbane Grocers (84 firms)
• The Brisbane Drapers (15 firms)
• The Master Butchers (42 firms)
• The Brisbane Tobacconists (47 firms)
• The Master Tailors (27 firms)

The first issue of "The Queensland Grocer" was printed in January 1923. By this time the Association had moved
to larger premises in Commerce House Adelaide Street.

The first meeting of the Queensland Grocers Association took place in the rooms of the Brisbane Traders
Association on 16th July 1924 and was attended by representatives of the Brisbane Grocers Association and the
Brisbane & Suburban Shopkeepers Association who, while still operating as independent bodies, formed the
nucleus of the QGA.

In May 1925, the Queensland Grocers Association affiliated with the Federation of Retail Grocers Associations of
Australia.

In 1933, the Brisbane & Suburban Shopkeepers Association became the Queensland Shopkeepers Association. On
8th November 1933 "The Queensland Retailer" was first published - as a result of a name change from "The
Queensland Grocer" to better reflect the growing diversity of membership. This title is still going strong today, as
our monthly magazine (now known as the "Australian Retailer") which is now distributed across the country.

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the Queensland Grocers Association held at the registered
offices, 3rd Floor, Commerce House, Adelaide Street on Thursday 10th December 1942, the resolution to change
the name from Queensland Grocers Association to Queensland Grocers and Retail Traders Association was
unanimously adopted.

During the second World War the Association was an integral part of the war effort and involved on many
committees covering every aspect that may have affected retail eg. Rationing, blackouts, manpower, regulated
pricing. It was in 1943 during the depths of war that the first State Conference was held in Rockhampton. That
conference went on to become known as GREATA, and continued for over 50 years, until 1996.

The Association's name was changed once again in April 1954 to "The Queensland Retail Traders Association (of
Grocers, Drapers and General Stores)".

On 26 January 1974 the Association offices at Buchanan St West End were flooded in the Australia Day Floods.
Many of our records were water damaged, and we still have the plaque showing the level of water which swept
through the building - 5 feet high.

May 1975 "The Queensland Shopkeeper" and the "Retailer of Queensland" merged to become the official journal for
both the Queensland Shopkeepers Association and the Queensland Retail Traders Association.

On January 31, 1978, the Queensland Retail Traders Association and the Queensland Shopkeepers Association
merged to become the Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association.

In June 1987, QRTSA celebrated it's Centenary - as part of this celebration, the Association moved offices to its
current location in Kelvin Grove.

The purpose of The Retailers Association throughout its history has been clear. We have been there to protect
independent retailers, lobby all levels of government on their behalf and help them in their day to day operations as
much as possible. With over 110 years of history behind us, we believe that our record speaks for itself.