The firm was established by Thomas Finney and James Isles in 1864 with a draper's store in Fortitude Valley.

The Adelaide Street site was previously occupied by the Gaiety Theatre and part of its southern wall was incorporated in the new structure.

The building featured innovative display windows on Queen Street, silky oak staircases, lifts decorated in latticed ironwork and silky oak, pneumatic tubes for exchanging cash, a rooftop water tower and a large generator providing electricity to the lights, lifts, pneumatic system and the 400 sewing machines in the workrooms.

[1] In 1921 the company acquired a two storeyed building adjoining the northern side of the Queen Street store and it was converted for use as the men's department.

It featured pilasters designed in a modern vertical style with Art Deco spandrel panels of terracotta.

[1] The building with frontages to Queen and Adelaide Streets, comprises four main sections of varying levels and differing facade treatment.

The bays are divided by a cluster of slender columns and mouldings extending into delicate floral decoration at their top.

The words, "THE BIG BLOCK" and "FINNEY ISLES & CO. LIMITED" are contained on the parapet in raised lettering.

A concrete and glass overhead walkway that spans from the building to the opposite side of the Queen Street Mall intrudes into the facade at the first floor level.

The 1930s Adelaide Street section retains much of its Art Deco detailing, particularly evident is the black and white Rockhampton marble around the lift wells.

[1] The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.