Construction of the building commenced in 1895[1] for prominent local merchant John Wesley Bateman[2] to house his growing hardware business.

The new building designed by architects, Davis[3] and Wilson, was built at a cost of £7,000 giving Bateman a more central location and more space.

On the rood parapet there are alternating segmented arched and triangular pediments separated by stucco corinthian pilasters and featured urns.

[4] In 1898 a fire started in W. J. Beisley's tobacco shop, on the ground floor of the Union Stores building causing about £200 of damage.

[5] In 2014 the council had some exterior renovations completed on the building's facade and roof including removal of paint and concrete, restoring lime and mortar as well as street frontage maintenance.