The Moreton Bay district of what is now the state of Queensland was officially opened to free settlement in 1842 and growth of the Port of Brisbane quickly followed. The Colony of New South Wales declared Brisbane a 'Port of Entry and Clearance' in 1846. The original Custom House was built in 1849 at a bend in the Brisbane River known as Petrie's Bight. It was demolished in 1886 at the commencement of construction of the new Custom House, which was completed in 1889. This building was used for Customs operations in Brisbane for the next 100 years. Originally referred to as 'Custom House', it has been referred to as 'Customs House' since Federation in 1901.
The changing face of Customs House
The building has had minor changes and repairs over its life, with major internal alterations in the late 1940s and a major restoration in the early 1990s. The National Archives office in Brisbane holds a number of plans, files and photographs that document the changes in Customs House.
Plans and drawings
Selected series of plans detailing architectural work, siting, design, repairs, maintenance and alterations relating to Customs House are listed below. Digital copies of plans held in series BP 374/1 may be viewed on our RecordSearch database.
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural plans | 1863–1948 | J2774 |
| Architectural plans | 1878–1959 | J2698 |
| Architectural plans | 1959–88 | J344 |
| Original drawings, prints, negatives, tracings and sketches of plans of works carried out for Commonwealth Departments in Queensland | 1878–1971 | BP227/1 |
| Plans of customs buildings – Queensland | 1896–1942 | BP365/1 |
| Plans of Brisbane Customs House | 1950–72 | BP374/1 |
Repairs and alterations
The Brisbane office holds correspondence files relating to the Department of Works, and the Property and Survey Branch. They document various works carried out on Commonwealth buildings and include specifications, alterations, improvements and repairs. The series below contain records relevant to the Brisbane Customs House.
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Specification of works | 1869–1913 | BP269/1 |
| Property correspondence files | 1902–98 | J56 |
| Works files | 1939–50 | BP243/1 |
| Director of Works job files | 1949–76 | BP881/1 |
Photographs
Because of the prominent location and iconic status of Brisbane Customs House, photographs – including images of the original building – are found in a number of photographic collections held by the National Archives. Selected samples are listed below.
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Photographs of Brisbane Customs House | 1890–1976 | J2218 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Historic photographs collected by the Postmaster-General's Department, Queensland | 1846–1992 | J3109 |
| Photographic collection of postal and telegraphic services in Queensland | 1880–1991 | J2364 |