Thomas Dixon Centre

Thomas Dixon Centre is a heritage-listed former factory and now a venue for the performing arts at 406 Montague Road, West End, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1908. It is also known as Dixon's Shoe Centre and T C Dixon & Sons. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 October 1998.HistoryThe Thomas Dixon Centre was constructed in 1908 as premises for the expanding business of Thomas Dixon, bootmaker and tanner. A substantial two-storey brick building, it was designed by Richard Gailey Architects.In 1869, encouraged by his brother who was already residing in Brisbane, Thomas Coar Dixon relocated from New South Wales, where he had established a small tannery, to Brisbane. Shortly after his arrival, Dixon established a tannery at West End, which was expanded in 1878 to incorporate a boot and shoe manufacturing business, with equipment, machinery and lasts brought by Dixon from Sydney.Tanneries and boot and shoe manufacturing were among the earliest established industries in Brisbane. In Barton's Jubilee History of Queensland it is stated that by 1909 there were 21 boot making factories, employing over 1000 people in the metropolitan area. T C Dixon and Sons are mentioned as one of the companies having recently constructed a large factory.The first Dixon shoe factory was opened in Russell Street and was announced in The Queenslander on 6 July 1878. The advertisement guaranteed that the TCD Brand was "equal to any boot manufactured" due to use of machines of the 'latest and most approved construction and the best materials only being used.'