Alex Gow Funerals

Alex Gow Funerals is an Australian funeral director based in Brisbane, Queensland, and is described by the company as Queensland's oldest funeral business, tracing its origins to 1840. The business was established by Andrew Petrie, the Clerk of Works in the penal colony of Moreton Bay, who ran it as Petrie's Undertaking Establishment from his residence and factory at what is today the northern corner of Queen and Wharf Streets, an area then known as Petrie's Bight. Over the following decades the business changed hands several times, passing through owners including George Barney Petrie, Walter Barrett, William Henry Hancock and John Corbett, George Sillett and Alma Adlington, and later Sillett & Barrett. In 1908 Alexander Gow, then aged 47, joined the firm of Sillett & Barrett as a third partner. When George Sillett died in September 1908, his daughters chose not to participate in the business, and Alexander Gow bought their share. The business has remained family-owned and operated by the Gow family since 1908, and the company states it has served Brisbane families for four generations. It positions itself as an independent, family-owned alternative to corporate funeral providers, noting that by remaining family-owned it is not burdened by fluctuating stock market prices or a need to impress corporate shareholders. Alex Gow Funerals provides funeral and cremation services, funeral pre-planning and pre-arrangement, funeral arrangement guidance, and webstreaming of funerals. The company operates four offices in Greater Brisbane and states an intention to extend its funeral planning services across South East Queensland. Its services include transfer of the deceased into its care, with published fee structures such as a $650 fee for transfers outside normal working hours (4.30pm to 8.30am) and a charge of $5.20 per kilometre beyond the first 50 kilometres included in professional service fees. The company also supports community programs such as the QUT Body Request Program. The brand's stated philosophy is that "every life is an amazing story," and it emphasises personalised funerals, strong family values, honesty, integrity and quality funeral care. It markets itself as one of the most trusted funeral directors in Greater Brisbane, with a name synonymous with dignified and personal attention.

The business that became Alex Gow Funerals traces its origins to 1840, when Andrew Petrie established what the company describes as Queensland's very first funeral business. Andrew Petrie was the Clerk of Works in the penal colony of Moreton Bay, a renowned stonemason and builder sometimes referred to as Queensland's first free settler. He ran the funeral business, also known as Petrie's Undertaking Establishment, from his residence and factory at what is today the northern corner of Queen and Wharf Streets, an area then known as Petrie's Bight. Andrew's youngest son, George Barney Petrie, eventually took over from his father and ran the funeral business until shortly before his death in 1878 at the age of 38. Walter Barrett bought the business in 1877, though it is not known from where he conducted it. In 1878 he took out a mortgage with the Corporation of the Bank of New South Wales for £700 and established the business at Petrie Bight. The business operated from that site for 85 years until November 1963, when it moved to Newstead. In May 1884 Walter Barrett sold the business to William Henry Hancock and John Corbett, who traded under the name Hancock and Corbett until the business was sold to George Sillett and Alma Adlington in 1891. After Alma Adlington died in May 1891, Sillett & Adlington continued trading until Walter S. Barrett, son of the original Walter Barrett, entered the business as partner to George Sillett. In 1908, Alexander Gow, then aged 47, joined the business of Sillett & Barrett as a third partner. As George Sillett only had daughters, when he died in September 1908, they decided that they did not wish to participate in the business, and Alexander Gow bought their share. When Walter S. Barrett sold his remaining interest, the business passed fully into the hands of the Gow family. Since 1908, Alex Gow Funerals has remained a family-owned and operated independent business, and the company states it has served Brisbane families for four generations. The company emphasises that by remaining family-owned it has not been burdened by fluctuating stock market prices or a need to impress corporate shareholders, allowing it to offer fairly priced services delivered with professional care. It now operates four offices in Greater Brisbane and continues to grow, with plans to extend its funeral planning services across South East Queensland to bring better choices to communities outside of Brisbane. The company's stated ideals are family, partnership and responsibility, and it supports community initiatives such as the QUT Body Request Program.

• 1963

  The business moves from Petrie Bight to Newstead in November after 85 years at the original site.

• 1908

  Alexander Gow joins Sillett & Barrett as third partner; after George Sillett's death, Gow buys the Sillett share, and the business becomes family-owned by the Gow family.

• 1891

  Business sold to George Sillett and Alma Adlington; after Adlington's death, Sillett & Adlington continues trading.

• 1884

  Walter Barrett sells the business to William Henry Hancock and John Corbett, trading as Hancock and Corbett.

• 1878

  Walter Barrett takes out a £700 mortgage and establishes the business at Petrie Bight; George Barney Petrie dies aged 38.

• 1877

  Walter Barrett buys the business.

• 1840

  Andrew Petrie establishes Queensland's first funeral business, later known as Petrie's Undertaking Establishment, at Petrie's Bight.

Independent, family-owned funeral director emphasising personalised, dignified and fairly priced funeral care, positioned as an alternative to corporate funeral providers.

• Funeral services

• Cremation services

• Funeral pre-planning and pre-arrangement

• Funeral webstreaming

• Funeral arrangement guidance

• Transfer of the deceased into care

1. 1Funeral and Cremation Services - Funeral Homes Brisbanealexgowfunerals.com.au
2. 2Our History – Alex Gow Funerals – Brisbanealexgowfunerals.com.au
3. 3Alex Gow Funerals Family Ownership – Alex Gow Funerals – Brisbanealexgowfunerals.com.au
4. 4When A Death Occurs & Alex Gow Funerals & Brisbanealexgowfunerals.com.au