William Paisley was born in England in 1845 to Andrew and Ann Paisley. He travelled extensively before coming to New Zealand with his wife Grace Maria Warriss, where his 5 children were born.

He acquired the wooden building on the south west corner of Dee and Spey streets from Walter Guthrie in 1881 [Southland Times 29 Apr 1881] [see photo 57]. He then contracted F.W. Burwell to demolish the wooden structure and build a new concrete and brick property on the same section [Southland Times 2 July 1881].

The new building pictured opens in late 1882 [Southland Times 23 Oct 1882].

By 1883 Paisley leaves the business, which is carried on by previous owner Walter Guthrie, his partnership with Larnach having been dissolved [Southland Times 6 Aug 1883].

William Paisley moves to Australia, continuing business under W. Paisley & Co., when in 1894, as newly elected mayor of the suburb of Sydney, he is shot and killed by the town clerk [Sydney Morning Herald 13 Feb 1894].

Guthrie goes into liquidation in 1897 [Southland Times 27 Aug 1897], but purchases the property back at auction in 1898 [Southland Times 16 Jul 1898], before selling to Briscoe and Company in 1901 [Southland Times 2 Jun 1901].

Sources: Ances-tree: Journal of the Burwood and District Family History Group, Sep 2024; Papers Past.