Parkes operated the Empire from the premises in Hunter Street, where he had established himself in his trade of ivory turner after he arrived in the Colony. Initially he had the Empire printed by Robert Barr, printer at his premises in York Street. He later set up The Empire General Steam Printing Office in rented premises in George Street, at the rear of the Hunter Street office where his presses were located and the paper was printed and the job printing was done.
The Empire office can be seen on the right, the southern side of Hunter Street, with the sign on the side of the building. Parkes later leased premises at 173 George Street immediately behind across Empire Lane which runs behind the building.
The new Herald (the Herald moved here in 1856) building on the corner of Pitt and Hunter Streets can be seen in the background.