Published June 2025
Behind a simple shopfront in Wickham Street lies Downes Shoes, Fortitude Valley’s oldest surviving commercial business.
Its story began with the arrival in Brisbane of Henry and Elizabeth Downes in 1863.
Some of their children became drapers, bakers and stonemasons, but 13-year-old Harry continued in the boot making trade he had first learned in England.
Harry’s son William carried on the tradition as did two of his own sons.
Norman Downes had several shoe stores in the city while Victor, who became President of the Master Bootmakers and Repairers Association, ran a repair business in the Valley.
Generations of local residents took their leather shoes to Norman, Victor and then their own children to be reheeled or resoled.
A new era began in 1985 when Barry Toombs bought the Downes’ Valley store.
Barry had left school at 14, completed a five-year boot repair apprenticeship and built up a successful business, but he knew that cheap synthetic imports and a growing throwaway culture threatened his profession’s viability.
Barry decided to diversify and hit upon the idea of importing and selling Dr Martens shoes and boots.
The famous UK brand was a hit with students, artists and hospitality workers and Barry stocked the largest range in Brisbane.
Leah Fischle joined Barry in the business in the early 2000s “by accident” and originally only intended to work there a few weeks.
She stayed and together they ran the business from its landmark Ann Street store before relocating to larger premises in Wickham Street a decade ago.
These days Leah and her small but dedicated team handle the sales while skilled craftsman Nathan is in charge of repairs and modifications.
Barry is a regular visitor and mentor, an ongoing link between the store’s past and present.
Each day brings a steady flow of customers. Many are long term regulars; others are first time visitors.
Photos of happy customers line the walls, alongside images of Barry in his younger days.
Further connections with the past include the century old industrial sewing machine in the front window and the old wooden classroom benches salvaged from the nearby All Hallows’ School.
But even long-established businesses must adapt to survive, so while Doc Martens sales and repairs continue to be the store’s mainstay, Leah is diversifying the brands she stocks and adding new product lines.
Barry nods as she describes themselves as “custodians” of Downes Shoes, rather than owners.
“It’s something older and bigger than us,” Leah explains.
She has a simple ethos: offer a value for money product, provide quality service and treat everyone with respect.
It may be an old-fashioned concept, but it seems to be working.
