historic Wiss Emporium & Cottage
Welcome to Kalbar's unique heritage precinct containing the Wiss Emporium c.1909 and the Wiss Cottage c.1890. Built for Mr Lionel Ainger Wiss, this quintessential country store and dwelling enables you to experience a moment of Queensland’s past and colourful history.
Kalbar is situated within the rich, fertile Fassifern Valley in the Scenic Rim Region, fringed by the majestic and world heritage-listed Scenic Rim Mountains of South-East Queensland. This giant extinct volcanic caldera is only 60 minutes from Brisbane's CBD heading towards Warwick. Kalbar was first settled as scrub farms back in the 1870's by mostly German migrants. Originally the town was named Engelsburg but due to rampant anti-German sentiment which prevailed across Australia during the First World War and also to celebrate the arrival of the railway into the town in 1916 it was prudently changed to Kalbar - an aboriginal name meaning "bright star".
The Wiss Emporium is still the landmark building in Kalbar today and attracts interest from afar. Constructed in 1909 for Lionel Ainger Wiss (a grand old pioneer in the highest sense of the word) and at a time when only hand tools were available for use, it was quality crafted from magnificent timber directly logged from the original surrounding forest - clearly this was a time when buildings were made to last! 
The Wiss Emporium was built to replace the original general store that the two Wiss brothers - Lionel and Campbell, first established in 1890. This small store was called Wiss Bros. and stood on the present site of the Emporium building and beside Lionel Wiss' first residence, now simply known as Wiss Cottage.
The new Emporium building was said to be six times larger than its predecessor, and in afterthought was developed into a classic early twentieth century "department store". It boasted of being Universal Providers, the House of Quality and sold a great variety of goods from the most delicate lace and haberdashery items to sweets, newspapers, produce, groceries, hats, boots and shoes, drapers, tailors, ironmongers, hardware, stoves, paint, household furniture, insurance, farm machinery, milking machines and separators, tractors and oil engines, petrol and kerosene. It also traded farm produce, acted as agent for major farm equipment suppliers, and offered substantial credit, doing much to assist local farmers. 
Today, following a meticulous and carefully researched restoration by the current owner, the Wiss Emporium and Cottage have returned as the Star of the Fassifern just as the Wiss Emporium was the jewel in the crown of the Wiss Family’s vast commercial enterprise in the early part of the 20th century.
Both buildings are listed by the National Trust of Queensland due to their cultural heritage and significance. Much-valued and treasured by the local community as a link to the past and for future generations to enjoy, the Wiss Emporium is regularly used for specific community events and charity functions and is now open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am - 4 pm, except Christmas Day, Good Friday or ANZAC Day. Other days for groups on prior arrangement.
Wiss Emporium is "almost famous" and is invariably used as a draw-card to encourage tourists and visitors to our beautiful Scenic Rim Region. It is highlighted in
much of the principal advertising for the area, on tourist brochures, guidebooks, newspaper articles and television programs.
Visitors marvel at the grandeur and craftsmanship of this intact, early 20th century, huge timber building of a general purpose country store contrasted against the primitive construction and quaintness of c.1890 little workers cottage. This sharp contrast clearly illustrates the Wiss Family’s humble beginnings and their growth to establish one of the most important businesses in the town, as the town progressed into being the centre of a thriving dairying and agricultural district in the early part of the 20th century.
Today both buildings stand proud as evidence of that bygone era. Come visit us soon!
