Cowton and Bland were brothers in law and began their partnership in 1847 in an import/export business similar to that of Rutledge and Co., although a lot smaller in scale. Later, the partnership acquired other land on the river front in Gipps Street where they had a wharf and bonded stores . The partnership lasted until 1864. Both men had been sea captains.No other photograph is known to exist of the half round store that is shown here Black and white photograph of bullock team with wagon in Bank Streettransport, rail, road, cowton and bland, import, export

Pt Fairy Wharf Fish Train 1942 .Belfast and Koroit Steam Navigation Company office on the left of the photographblack and white photograph of train shunting a wagon to the wharftransport, rail, road, gipps street, wharf, train