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In 1848 the NSW government devoted 1000 pounds to the establishment of customs facilities in
Brisbane. A prominent site was selected, on the banks of the
Brisbane River along Queen Street. An unassuming single storey brick and stone building with ancillary structures was constructed at the site in 1849.
As the region's economic development intensified,
Brisbane's customs facilities became increasingly inadequate. A new wing and new verandah were added to the customs house in 1872, but by the 1880s these too were no longer adequate for the volume of river traffic and the 70 staff that the customs service now employed. The Colonial Architect's Office had begun developing plans for a new customs house and, after much indecision, a design (probably by Charles McLay) was agreed in March 1886. Tenders for the new building were awarded to local builders
John Petrie and Son for the sum of 37,342 pounds and work commenced in June 1886. Construction was scheduled to take 30 months, but ended up being 39 months after considerable delays in obtaining adequate raw materials for some stages of the building. The new customs house finally opened for business on 2 September 1889, and immediately became a prominent and awesome landmark on the
Brisbane riverscape.
For its first twelve years of operation the
Brisbane Customs House collected tariffs and duties on goods imported from overseas and from other Australian colonies. When the colonies federated in 1901, responsibility for customs collection was transferred to the new Commonwealth government and all intercolonial duties were abolished. All existing customs houses and employees were transferred to the administration of the Commonwealth, although many inland border stations became redundant. With the focus on international duties, the large capital city ports became central to customs operations, with the
Brisbane Customs House being one of the larger properties inherited by the Commonwealth. Around the time of Federation the Queensland government also constructed a number of new customs houses at major centres along the coast, including
Bundaberg,
Maryborough Rockhampton, Mackay and
Townsville in order to make a significant contribution to the new system of government.
The Commonwealth Customs Service operated at the
Brisbane Customs House until it was finally vacated in 1988. Over the course of the Twentieth Century, the siting of the building declined in significance as
Brisbane's port activities became more focused on the river mouth. The building has remained in Commonwealth ownership, but was leased to the University of Queensland in 1994. After a public fundraising campaign and contributions from the Commonwealth government, the University embarked on a seven million dollar restoration campaign. Restoration works were completed in 1997, when the building was re-opened to the public. The Customs House is currently used for art exhibitions, conferences and functions, as
well as providing the University with an inner city presence.
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The
Brisbane Customs House is a late Victorian building constructed in the Free Classical style. It is a masonry structure of three stories, although only the top two storeys are visible from the Queen Street facade. The ground floor, constructed as a warehouse can only be seen from the river due to the deep excavation of the site prior to construction.
The building features an asymmetrical facade which, excepting the warehouse level, is identical whether viewed from the river or from Queen Street. The facade is highlighted by a large copper-sheeted dome which crowns the Long Room space inside. The facade is flanked by two pedimented gables featuring colonnaded
sandstone and balustraded balconies to the upper level. The balconies contain curved ironwork balustrades imported from England. Externally, the major modification that has occurred since 1889 has been the replacement of original roof materials (except for the copper dome) with corrugated iron, which took place in the 1940s, along with other significant internal modifications.
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Internally, the key space, as with all contemporary customs houses, is the Long Room, which was the major area for public transactions. Originally designed as a large
open space, featuring timber floors and joinery, this room was also modified in the 1940s, with suspended concrete floorings. Other internal rooms, spaces and fittings (including staircases) received similar treatment, significantly altering the internal appearance. Recent restoration works have reversed this effect, however, with conservation architects working to the building's original specifications.
One of the key aspects of its former function as a customs house is seen in its prominent siting on the
Brisbane River. The irregularity of the street layout and the bends in the river open up several significant
views from the building, which would have played an important role in the observation of river traffic in the past. It is also prominently visible from both street and river, promoting an air of authority from a significant distance. The site is delineated by a
sandstone retaining wall around the perimeter, incorporating a wrought iron balustrade, which was added in 1891. A masonry jetty, built between 1902 and 1917 also survives. The
Brisbane Customs House is also one of the few substantial 19th Century buildings remaining along the river near the former entrance to the port of
Brisbane.
To view the 1st floor plan and a Drawing showing the Elevation on the River side ,
CLICK HERE
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