In August 1906 CML purchased this site at 289 Queen Street, adjacent to the General Post Office in the heart of the Brisbane Central Business District, and constructed new premises.

[1] To compensate for the site's narrow frontage of 33 feet (10 m), an agreement was made between the Commonwealth authorities, who administer the adjoining General Post Office, and CML to allow a "right-of-way to extend the full depth of the building".

Duhig obtained a licence from America and opened the Benedict Stone works at Bowen Hills on 9 August 1929.

CML used Benedict stone to build a number of their Australian offices, ensuring some of their mortgage was repaid and employed Hennessey and Concrete Constructions (Qld) Ltd, Brisbane (Duhig's architect and contractor for the Holy Name Cathedral).

[1] On 12 November 1931 the CML building was officially opened by the Governor, Lieutenant-General Sir John Goodwin.

The ground floor provided offices for Colonial Mutual and the arcade leading to Queen Street contained retail premises.

The 1930s origins of the building are still evident in the classically spacious and high-ceiling interiors and in the special stonework and sculptures.

This inter-war commercial building is ten storeys high with a narrow frontage to Queen Street and a long side elevation.

Above the double height bays at the base of the top level sculptured lions stand on projecting brackets.

[1] The entire Queen Street facade is repeated at each end of the side elevation, the central bays of which are plainer.

Behind the parapet the building has an interesting roofscape of steeply pitched terracotta tiled roofs, one above the caretakers quarters and another over the lift room on the eleventh floor.