City Printing Works Rockhampton marks 120 years of family business

From the single-penny paper The Critic to surviving a depression and multiple floods, this fourth-generation business is a testament to great service. SEE OUR PHOTOS FROM THE ARCHIVES.

Warwick and Eric Anderson at City Printing Works with reprinted copies of The Critic.

Long standing Rockhampton family business City Printing Works has this week marked 120 years of operations, making it one of Australia’s oldest companies owned by the same family.

Scottish migrant Andrew “Lofty” Anderson founded the business on May 1, 1903.

Four generations of the Andersons family have owned and managed the store, with Warwick currently at the helm.

He is the son of former partner Eric Anderson OAM, grandson of the late David “Hook” Anderson MBE, and great-grandson of founder Lofty.

City Printing Works at the Industrial Fair at the Rockhampton Show

“We are proudly a family business,” Warwick said.

“Indeed the business – our staff and our customers – are family to us.

“We have had generations of employees and generations of customers.”

Archive photo of Dave Anderson working at City Printing Works.

The business started out printing a working and sporting newspaper, The Critic.

It sold on Friday evenings for one penny a copy and printed up until the Great Depression in 1931.

“We continued to do commercial printing during those lean years and that has been our mainstay ever since,” Warwick said.

“During World War II when paper was rationed, we printed the ‘Victory’ writing sets for US servicemen based here to send messages home.”

City Printing Works in the 1918 floods.

With their offices located in East Street since 1908, they have survived major floods of the Fitzroy River including the 1918, 1954 and 1991 events.

The Andersons installed and paid for plaques on historic buildings in the Rockhampton CBD and have been long-time supporters of the Rockhampton Art Gallery.

File photo from 2017. Eric Anderson shows off old printing equipment from the 1950s at a new City Printing Works display at The Heritage Village.

They also continue to operate the working print shop at the Rockhampton Heritage Village.

“We have seen Rockhampton and Central Queensland grow and prosper over the last 120 years,” Warwick said.

“Whether it is personalised printing like wedding invitations or family histories, for business like cattle sale catalogues, business cards, or stationery for school and work, we have been a constant part of the lives of so many in our community.”

Eric Anderson with son Warwick at the front of the City Printing Works and a display of one of the original printing presses they have had restored.

Eric Anderson with Beef memorabilia at City Printing Works ahead of the 2018 event.

Given the average age of family-owned businesses in Australia was 41 years, according to the 2021 Family Business Australia survey, City Printing Works is a remarkable success story.

It is even older than the likes of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Qantas.

“The business has adopted the latest in printing technologies, and we have always remained true to the business motto ‘success through worthy service’,” Warwick said.

“That approach has sustained us for 120 years. ”