Historic Brisbane streetscape under threat A billionaire mining developer wants to demolish three old brick buildings in Brisbane's CBD that date back to 1864 and put in a temporary dog park. The planned demolition would remove a large Margaret Street heritage streetscape going back 100 years. Heritage experts say the 1864 sign over one building - O'Reilly's Bonded Stores - refers to the date the company set up in Brisbane, but the building itself dates to 1913. Developer Sam Chong on December 19 applied to Brisbane City Council to demolish three old brick buildings because he wants to build a temporary off-leash dog park on Margaret Street. Devine Limited sold the Margaret Street land - and the 1992 approval for an multi-storey apartment tower - to Mr Chong's company, Margaux 93, several years ago. A protest group called Brisbane Heritage says destruction of 100-year-old buildings for a temporary dog park is ridiculous. Spokesman John Macdonald they wanted the buildings kept in any future development. "To demolish them would destroy a heritage streetscape in Margaret Street and it would also effect the Queensland Club behind them," he said. The site of the three buildings is on Margaret Street, between Albert Street and George Street and a stone's throw from Brisbane's heritage-listed George and William Street precinct. The developers hope to demolish: Hotpoint House at 111 Margaret Street, O'Reilly's Bonded Stores at 93 Margaret Street, and the Free Stores Building at 93-105 Margaret Street. Set in the stonework above O'Reilly's Bonded Stores are the words, established 1864. Next door are the beautifully-restored HB Sales Building (1912) and the Watson Building (1887), which are both heritage-listed. The three buildings back onto the famous and heritage-listed Queensland Club (1884). With very little imagination, a public cobblestone walk through a restored "early Brisbane" near the Botanical Gardens could be created in this area. An online petition opposing the demolition order has 500 signatures. Brisbane City Council say there is two existing approvals over the site; an 1992 approval for an apartment building over 111-113 Margaret Street. an 2012 approval for a two-storey office and shop over 105 and 107 Margaret Street. Approval for demolition has not been given by Brisbane City Council. Brisbane City Council's heritage unit reviewed the history of O'Reilly's Bonded Store building. "While the sign on top of the building says 'established 1864', the building itself dates back to 1913," a spokeswoman said. The review also showed the building had been altered significantly since it was first built and as such did not meet Council heritage criteria. The buildings are not on the Queensland Government's heritage register. National Trust executive director Stewart Armstrong said there was a difference between the individual buildings being heritage-listed and the impact of "Margaret Street streetscape." "There are a lot of heritage places in that block and I think the red brick of those buildings make it quite a warm colour and makes a strong contribution to that streetscape," he said. And I think there is a level of fear of that sort of character will be removed and replaced with more tall buildings with more glass facades.