Practising as a solicitor in Gympie from 1868 until 1898, Tozer was noted as an authority on mining law and as a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, minister and Agent-General.

[1] As Gympie evolved from a hastily established mining settlement, the early makeshift structures of the 1860s gradually gave way to more permanent and substantial public and private buildings from the mid 1870s.

Gympie's part in the production was reflected in the redevelopment of upper Mary Street during the 1880s and 1890s with substantial commercial buildings such as banks and mining secretaries' and brokers' offices.

Horace Tozer established a legal practice in Gympie in 1868 following his admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 7 December 1867.

[1] In 1891 the premises leased by Tozer and Conwell were burnt down when the north-eastern side of Mary Street, between the Gympie Times office and the Mining Exchange Hotel was razed, and the partnership suffered a loss of £5,000 in uninsured property.

He designed the Commercial Hotel and the Bank of New South Wales Building located in Mary Street, Gympie.

His widow was involved in a number of community organisations including the National Council of Women of Queensland (NCWQ), first as a delegate and later as Honorary Vice-President.

[1] Her lessee, Sir Horace Tozer, born on 23 April 1844 at Port Macquarie, New South Wales, was both solicitor and politician.

He was elected as member for Wide Bay in 1871 but stood down a few months later for Henry Edward King to contest the seat in a by-election.

In his ministerial capacity Tozer was responsible for establishing the Free Public Library in 1895 and the National Art Gallery of Queensland c. 1896.

Vivian Tozer qualified as a solicitor in 1892, later was elected MLA, and served as a citizen soldier in the Queensland Defence Force.

The original counter in the foyer is in place but the clerk's grill with writing slope has been removed, although it remains stored in the building.

Its roof, clad with corrugated metal sheeting, is concealed behind the parapet walls to the front and side alignments and its hipped end is visible from the rear.

[1] Tozer's Building has a detailed, symmetrically composed facade with smooth-rendered masonry featuring elements arranged in careful proportion typical of the Neoclassical style.

Openings are arched and of equal widths and are visually separated by square pilasters set in low relief and string courses.

[1] The main entrance is located on the western side of the facade and is accessed from the street via two concrete steps with risers finished with tessellated tiles.

The foyer contains the original counter with robust detailing, part of which is stored in the basement and a grandfather clock on the southern wall.

[1] The strongroom with heavy metal door is also located on the north- western wall adjacent to a fireplace to the rear office.

The rear wall contains a central door and two full height windows with double hung sashes secured with metal grilles.

The majority of the interior timber work and joinery is clear finished though the skirting in the rear office of the ground floor has been painted.

Original door and window furniture survives and some light fittings including gas jets above the staircase and in the rear office on the first floor.

Tozer's Building (1896) is important in demonstrating the evolution of gold mining at Gympie, a major contributor to the wealth of Queensland for approximately 60 years from 1867.

[1] Its siting near Commissioners Hill in the vicinity of important government and gold-related buildings also illustrates the growth and evolution of Gympie's development.

Resident in Gympie from the first year of the Gympie goldfield, Sir Horace Tozer became an authority on mining law, introduced significant legislation into Queensland parliament and held influential public offices during the course of his career, thereby helping to shape the future of the Colony, and later State, of Queensland and its people.

The legal firm that he established in 1868 and his descendants continued was conducted from Tozer's Building for 94 years, perpetuating his name and connection with the site.