In 1889, while working as a draughtsman in the office of the Queensland Colonial Architect, Henry Atkinson submitted an entry into a competition for a new Head Fire Station on the corner of Ann and Edward Streets in Brisbane.
Having won the competition, he left the Queensland Public Service and started his own private practice.
The Head Fire Station was completed in December 1890 but has since been demolished.
[4] In 2015, the practice founded by Henry Atkinson is known as Conrad Gargett.
[2] The University of Queensland Library holds many architectural drawings by Atkinson and his practice.