A Rich Family History
1884
John McKinney Pty Ltd is founded in Toowoomba. A barber shop and tobacconist at the outset, the business would soon start to evolve into one of the very first department stores.
1934
A men's and ladies' fancy department is added to the Ruthven Street store. It includes among other things giftware, chinaware and sporting goods.
1976
McKinney’s opens its first store outside of Toowoomba, in the Indooroopilly Shoppingtown in Brisbane. A department store initially, it would become best known for its chinaware, jewellery and gifts.
1984
McKinney’s celebrates its centenary year. The business is recognised by Wedgwood and Royal Doulton as their number one retailer in Australia.
1988
McKinney’s acquires the famous jewellery house Hardy Brothers from Christopher Skase, with high-end stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Port Douglas and the Gold Coast.
2005
McKinney’s opens a jewellery store in the fashionable Emporium retail precinct – now known as 1000 Ann Street - in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.
2022
Margot McKinney is invited by the Museum of Brisbane to showcase her work in an exhibition named ‘World of Wonder: Margot McKinney’. The exhibit is staged over six months and attracts 19,526 visitors.
2023
Extensive renovations to the McKinney’s store at 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley are completed in November of this year.
2024
The business celebrates its 140th anniversary. Its history encompasses five generations of the family, with the great-great grandchildren of John McKinney Senior now actively involved.
2025
Margot was honoured with an invitation to exhibit her work at TEFAF (The European Fine Art Foundation) Fair in Maastricht, Netherlands, from 15 to 20 March 2025.
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