Construction was finished in three years at a cost of £38,346. The downstream end of the
Brisbane central business district was selected to spur the development of wharves in the precinct known as
Petrie Bight. The building was designed by Charles McLay of the Queensland Colonial Architect's Office. Despite no government in the country having a
coat of arms at the time, the building features a depiction on its facade of a shield between an emu and kangaroo. An iron
balustrade was shipped from England with the
royal cypher VR for "Victoria Regina" wrought on it in honour of
Queen Victoria. Inside the structure features black and white marble with cedar fittings. The Brisbane Customs House, located at the northern end of
Queen Street and beside the Brisbane River at the northern end of the
Town Reach, is an imposing two-storeyed rendered brick building in the classical style. The site is prominent due to the proximity to the river, the bend in Queen Street and the general topography which opens up many views to and from the building. A prominent feature is the large copper
dome at the semi-circular northern end which is a focal point viewed from both directions along Queen Street and from the river for ships arriving from Moreton Bay. The
architectural form of the building announces the northern edge of the city centre and is sympathetic to the landscape features of cliffs and river bends. The
architectural form clearly demonstrates the intended purpose of the building with the double entrance from both the city and the river, which is a response to the siting of the building between the river and the town. The riverside setting allows long views across and along the river to the building. Other features of the Brisbane Customs House which demonstrate its former use are more characteristic of late 19th century customs houses in Australia, especially the general design and planning arrangement of the building to include an imposing masonry
facade, an impressive public space (the former Long Room now used for functions), a secure bonded warehouse (the former Queens Warehouse, now converted to an art gallery), offices and a secure boundary fence. The Brisbane Customs House is a well proportioned and skilfully designed example of a Victorian building in the Renaissance mode executed to take best advantage of its dominant site and solve the practical problems of dual access from the town and from the river. It has considerable unity in its scale, form and use of materials. The main structure of the building is of brick on a stone
foundation. The
columns,
pilasters,
balusters to the
colonnade, the parapet and side entrances are of Murphy's Creek sandstone. There are cast iron balustrades on the recessed verandahs and external
stairs. The main roof is clad with corrugated iron. Timber window and door joinery survives reasonably intact on the exterior walls. The exterior of the building is very intact except for the loss of the original roof, which was replaced by the present steel trussed roof in the 1940s, the removal of
chimneys and the widening of the northwestern end of the balconies in the 1940s. The interior fabric is less intact due to the alterations and additions carried out during its use as a customs house and to the most recent refurbishment, which removed much of the 1940s fabric but recovered aspects of the 19th century form, including reconstruction of the original timber staircase. Inside the building the most imposing space is that of the Long Room beneath the dome. Fluted Corinthian pilasters of painted plaster are below the coffered ceiling of the dome, which has a central glazed section. In the basement some of the original walls with arched openings remain. The 1890–91
Moggill sandstone retaining wall carries around the perimeter of the site reasonably intact and incorporates a
wrought iron balustrade, masonry piers, stairs and rooms for the former underground privies at the river's edge. There is a small ground with a mature fig tree and sunken garden, which contribute to the building's riverside setting. The view from the river and the secure wharf area has been compromised by the riverside walkway. ==Gallery==