Destruction of Messrs. Fraser’s Stores in York-Street, Sydney.

Rare engraving of the fire at Fraser’s Stores which was situated on the corner of Barrack and York Street, Sydney.

The store was owned by John Frazer (1827-1884), merchant, company director and philanthropist. The store was rebuilt for £15,000 in massive stone and with modern fire-fighting equipment. From the mid-1860s Frazer speculated in land in Queensland and by 1871 had four runs of his own and eighteen in partnership. In Sydney he had built two large new stores, a bonded warehouse and the impressive Frazer House. He had also sold his home, Ranelagh at Darling Point, and about 1874 bought Quiraing at Edgecliff.

From the original edition of the Illustrated Sydney News.