Convict discovery at Birchalls

Mr Tilley found what he believed to be a brick from the convict era, as he and his staff commenced cleaning up the basement in anticipation for a future sale of the iconic bookstore. 

“Sitting on this shelf there was this brick. It’s definitely a convict brick they don’t have the sculpt in the base of them, and they used to put their thumbprint in it,” he said.

QVMAG history curator Jon Addison said the brick appeared to be from the convict era. 

“This brick matches other colonial-era bricks. It has no frog in the base, and bears a tell-tale thumb print in one corner, which tells us that it was a hand-made brick,” he said. 

The sale of Birchalls is currently being handled by Harcourts NAI and the premises will be sold by Knight Frank. 

Mr Tilley said although he was yet to receive a formal offer, the response so far had been positive. 

“It’s a large and complex business with many parts to it, and it just takes time. We’ve gotten inquiries from lots of people, local and interstate, which is really good. So lots of positive prospects.”

He said the building of Inside Home & Gifts in Hobart has sold above market estimate.

Birchalls is Australia’s oldest bookshop and begun during the convict era, when Samuel Tegg opened a bookstore in Brisbane Street in 1844.

A series of sales led to the store’s acquisition by A.W.Birchall in 1893.

Mr Tilley’s father Ray worked at Birchalls for 65 years, and took over ownership from his father Stanley in 1968.