The former Harbour Board building, a two-storeyed rendered masonry structure, is located fronting Quay Street to the northeast overlooking the
Fitzroy River. The building has a twin
gable roof, the front section of which is hipped with central
box gutter draining to the rear. The Quay Street elevation has an arcaded
colonnade to the ground floor and
balcony to the first floor, each of which consists of three elliptical arches separated by
pilasters supporting an
entablature. The ground floor is designed in the
Roman Doric order, and the first floor in the Corinthian order. Each arch has expressed mouldings, including
imposts and
keystones. The ground floor pilasters have a deep
pedestal,
fluting to the lower section of the shaft, and rosettes to the neck of the capital. The entablature has expressed triglyphs and a shallow
cornice, and a low cast iron balustrade with central paired entry gates and
newel posts is located between the arches. The first floor pilasters have fluting to the entire shaft, and Corinthian order capitals. The entablature has expressed
modillions to the deep cornice, which is surmounted by a parapet concealing the roof, and a rendered balustrade is located between the arches. The parapet has a raised central section which is framed by corner pillars flanking a perforated ring course. The central section is surmounted by a flagpole, and has the name HARBOUR BOARD ESTD 1896 in relief lettering framing a winged motif. The ground floor colonnade has an encaustic tiled floor and curved rendered ceiling. Entry to the ground floor is via an off-set central paired timber panelled entry door, with entry to the first floor located at the northern end of the colonnade. Tall sash windows open onto the colonnade, and window and door openings have rendered
architraves and sills, and security bars have been affixed. An engraved
First World War memorial marble plaque is affixed to the colonnade wall, together with two metal plaques commemorating the use of the building by the Rockhampton Harbour Board and the Fitzroy Shire Council. The first floor balcony has a painted concrete floor and timber boarded ceiling, and French doors with fanlights open from the front rooms. The Quay Street elevation detailing returns the width of the colonnade and balcony either end of the building. The southeast elevation has sash windows to the ground and first floors, each with a curved corrugated iron window hood supported by cast iron
brackets, and security bars have been affixed to the ground floor windows. The northwest elevation, treated in a similar manner, has no windows to the ground floor. The rear of the building has a first floor steel framed verandah surmounting the junction of a single-storeyed rear wing, constructed of concrete blocks with a ribbed metal roof, which replaced the original verandah. The rear wall of the building has a twin gabled parapet, with central arched ventilation panels. The first floor verandah has vertical louvres above the balustrade, and French doors and sash windows open from the rear rooms. The northern end of the verandah has been enclosed, and a narrow addition containing toilets has been attached. Internally, the building has rendered masonry structural walls and timber partition walls, with cedar architraves, skirtings and
cornices, however several of the internal doors have been removed. The ground floor contains three offices on the southern side, a large central room, and stair and strongroom on the northern side. The central room has a large carved timber reception counter at the front, and the name FITZROY SHIRE COUNCIL is inset in the vinyl tiled floor to the entrance. This room has a central cast iron
column and timber boarded ceiling, and a dumb-waiter has been installed adjacent to the strongroom. Exposed air conditioning ducts have been installed, with ducts penetrating window and fanlight openings. The stair to the first floor has a cedar newel post and
handrail, with turned cedar
balusters to the first floor. The first floor has similar finishes to the ground floor, however most of the panelled cedar doors are extant. Two rooms and a hallway front the Quay Street balcony, all with access via French doors, and the southern room has a suspended acoustic tiled ceiling. A large opening has been inserted in the timber partition wall adjacent to the stair landing, and the southwest room has been subdivided by the insertion of lower partition walls. The rear wing contains offices and service rooms, and the property is accessed by a
driveway on the southern side of the site which exits to Quay Lane at the rear. == Heritage listing ==