67-482: Brisbane City is the central suburb and central business district of Brisbane , the state capital of Queensland , Australia. It is also colloquially referred to as the "Brisbane CBD", "the city", or simply "town". The CBD is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River , historically known as Meanjin , Mianjin or Meeanjin in the local Yuggera dialect. The triangular-shaped peninsula
134-422: 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
201-531: A 25 metres (82 ft) setback. However, the university lost its court case in July 2016. In November 2016, the university reached agreement with the tower's designers to alter the tower's profile to preserve views, reduce external car parking and restrictions on the pruning of the fig tree. Construction was finished in three years at a cost of £38,346. The downstream end of the Brisbane central business district
268-615: A century. It is important historically as an expression of the importance of the customs service to Queensland and to Australia and for its site, which relates to the establishment of Brisbane as a port of entry and the development of major wharfage along the Town Reach of the Brisbane River and Petrie's Bight. The Brisbane Customs House was built during a period of economic prosperity and a construction "boom" in Queensland and
335-679: A city. Unlike the use in British or American English, this term can include inner-city, outer-metropolitan and industrial areas. Localities existed in the past as informal units, but in 1996 the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping and the Committee for Geographical Names in Australasia (CGNA) decided to name and establish official boundaries for all localities and suburbs. There has subsequently been
402-426: A price of £ 37,342. The contract time was 30 months but because of difficulties with the supply of some materials, especially stone for the foundations, and alterations to the original plans, the building took longer than anticipated to complete and it was opened on 2 September 1889. Retaining walls, fencing, a double staircase down to the river and nearby earth closets were also constructed. The completed building in
469-718: A process to formally define their boundaries and to gazette them, which is almost complete. In March 2006, only South Australia and the Northern Territory had not completed this process. The CGNA's Gazetteer of Australia recognises two types of locality: bounded and unbounded. Bounded localities include towns, villages, populated places, local government towns and unpopulated town sites, while unbounded localities include place names, road corners and bends, corners, meteorological stations, ocean place names and surfing spots. Sometimes, both localities and suburbs are referred to collectively as "address localities". In
536-542: 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
603-405: A well proportioned and skilfully designed 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. With its copper dome and two storey colonnade it makes an imposing and important contribution the streetscape and to
670-514: Is bounded by the median of the Brisbane River to the east, south and west. The point, known at its tip as Gardens Point , slopes upward to the north-west where the city is bounded by parkland and the inner city suburb of Spring Hill to the north. The CBD is bounded to the north-east by the suburb of Fortitude Valley . To the west the CBD is bounded by Milton , Petrie Terrace , and Kelvin Grove . In
737-407: Is home to several of Australia's tallest buildings . Brisbane's tallest buildings are Brisbane Skytower at 270 metres, The One at 264 metres, One William Street at 260 metres, Soleil at 243 metres, Aurora Tower at 207 metres, Riparian Plaza at 200 metres, One One One Eagle Street at 195 metres, and Infinity at 249 metres, which was completed in 2014. The Brisbane CBD
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#1732772676974804-599: Is one of the major business hubs in Australia. The City contains many tall office buildings occupied by organisations, businesses and all three levels of government that have emerged into a number of precincts. The areas around the Queen Street Mall and Adelaide Street is primarily a retail precinct. A legal precinct exists around the various court buildings located around the intersections of George Street and Adelaide and Ann Streets. The government precinct
871-471: Is split between the City of Newcastle and City of Lake Macquarie LGAs; and Woodville , which is split between the City of Maitland and Port Stephens Council LGAs. In unincorporated areas , localities are declared by the relevant state authority. Customs House, Brisbane Customs House is a heritage-listed customs house at 427 Queen Street, Brisbane CBD , Brisbane , Queensland , Australia. It
938-402: 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
1005-444: The 2021 census , Brisbane City had a population of 12,587 people. There are no schools in the central business district. The nearest government primary schools are Brisbane Central State School in neighbouring Spring Hill to the north and Petrie Terrace State School in neighbouring Petrie Terrace to the west. The nearest government secondary schools are Fortitude Valley State Secondary College in neighbouring Fortitude Valley to
1072-399: The 2021 census , the suburb of Brisbane City had a population of 12,587 people. The Brisbane central business district is an area of densely concentrated skyscrapers and other buildings, interspersed by several parks such as Roma Street Parklands , City Botanic Gardens and Wickham Park . It occupies an area of 1.367 km. The city is laid out according to a grid pattern surveyed during
1139-709: The Queen's Wharf megaproject is under construction along the southern end of William Street, which includes a pedestrian bridge crossing the Riverside Expressway . Like most other Australian capital cities, Brisbane has experienced dramatic rises in rental prices for residential and office space before the Great Recession . At the beginning of 2008, the Brisbane central business district contained 1.7 million square metres of office space. High demand in
1206-549: The Town Reach of the Brisbane River , near Petrie's Bight , between 1886 and 1889 to a design prepared by Charles McLay of the Queensland Colonial Architect's Office . The 1880s building replaced an earlier and much smaller customs house on the site. The location had been chosen in 1849 following the declaration of Moreton Bay as a port of entry in 1846 and after considerable discussion as to
1273-481: The Victorian Free Classical style incorporated pedimented gables and a massive colonnade . The copper-sheathed dome was constructed by sub-contracted coppersmith and brass founder, William Smith Henderson, of Perry Street, Petries' Bight. Heraldic scenes in the pediments were precursors to the official Queensland coat of arms , which was not granted until 1893. A curved iron balustrade to
1340-458: The balconies included the royal cypher of the reigning sovereign, Queen Victoria , in the cast. Red cedar was used extensively for desks, counters, cabinets and tables as well as for a massive and elegant staircase. The Brisbane Customs House was built during a period of economic prosperity and a construction "boom" in Queensland and was amongst the more impressive of a number of notable public and commercial buildings erected in Brisbane during
1407-644: The 1880s, which included the first stage of the Treasury Building (1886-1889). Public pride in the new customs house was considerable. On 7 September 1889, a few days after the building was opened for business, the local Brisbane Courier newspaper drew attention to "the handsome and imposing appearance, especially as seen from the river or from Petrie's Bight" and predicted that the Brisbane Customs House with its tall columns, pilasters and large copper-sheathed dome would "become one of
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#17327726769741474-531: 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
1541-411: The 1940s fit out were removed except for some good quality intact 1940s office cabinetry which survived and part of the 1940s main stair which provided access to the basement. Two of the 1940s galleries added to the Long Room were removed and one, at the southwest end, retained and adapted. Timber window and door joinery was conserved and plaster mouldings reconstructed where they were missing. Following
1608-517: 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
1675-504: The Brisbane River. It hosts an art gallery and operates Old Government House as a museum; both of these and other facilities are open to the public. A number of other universities have premises in the Brisbane CBD for events, networking, and short courses, but their major teaching and research facilities are not in the CBD. Up until 1964, a Brisbane City Council regulation limited building heights to 132 ft (40 m). Some of
1742-472: The Brisbane congregation having previously met in a range of public buildings since forming in 1855. It was designed in the Early Italianate style and was built by Andrew Petrie . The church was 57 by 34 feet (17 by 10 m) and could accommodate 250 people. The cost was £2000 for the land and building, but part of the cost was covered by donations, e.g. Thomas Blacket Stephens partially donated
1809-676: The CBD include City Hall (including the Museum of Brisbane ), the Story Bridge , the Howard Smith Wharves , ANZAC Square , St John's Cathedral , the Brisbane River and its Riverwalk network, the City Botanic Gardens , Roma Street Parkland , Queensland Parliament House , Old Government House and Customs House . Brisbane has many heritage-listed sites, including: By road, four road bridges connect
1876-870: The CBD with the southern bank of the Brisbane River: the Captain Cook Bridge , the Victoria Bridge , the William Jolly Bridge and the Go Between Bridge . The Story Bridge connects Fortitude Valley with Kangaroo Point and provides access to the city from the southern bank. The Captain Cook Bridge connects the Pacific Motorway , south of the river, with the Riverside Expressway which runs along
1943-402: The Long Room was carried out in 1911 and again in 1919. Frequently minor repairs, cleaning and maintenance work was carried out to the interior of the building in succeeding decades. In 1947 major internal alterations were undertaken: all but two of the internal masonry walls were demolished; the timber floors were replaced by concrete slabs; the cedar staircase was removed and a new terrazzo one
2010-598: The Victoria, William Jolly, Go Between and Story road bridges. The Kangaroo Point Green Bridge is being built between the CBD and Kangaroo Point. The Brisbane central business district is the central hub for all public transport services in Brisbane. Bus services are centred on the Queen Street bus station and King George Square busway station . Suburban train services pass through Central railway station , and Roma Street railway station . Roma Street also serves as
2077-562: The basement during the 1893 Brisbane River floods . As a consequence of the Federation of Australia, the Brisbane Customs House, valued at £ 80,804 ( £ 40,804 for the structure and £ 40,000 for the site), was transferred to the Australian Government by December 1908. In 1906 the inadequacies of the original flat roof were overcome by the installation of a new hipped roof . Rearrangement of counters and partitions in
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2144-411: 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
2211-546: The central business district along the river bank. The Brisbane CBD has featured in a number of films, including: Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth Hobart Darwin Canberra Suburbs and localities (Australia) Suburbs and localities are the names of geographic subdivisions in Australia , used mainly for address purposes. The term locality is used in rural areas, while
2278-874: The church. On 2 April 1860, the Queensland Government opened its first school, the Brisbane National School in Adelaide Street under headmaster John Rendall with an initial enrolment of 50 boys and 8 girls. A congregation of the Church of Christ was established on 23 September 1883 in the Brisbane central area. In the late 1890s the congregation purchased 430 Ann Street ( 27°27′46″S 153°01′49″E / 27.4628°S 153.0302°E / -27.4628; 153.0302 ( Your Church (Church of Christ) ) ) to establish their first church, still operating as at 2021 under
2345-580: The city's central war memorial ). The Brisbane central business district was built on a spur of the Taylor Range with the highest spot in the suburb being Wickham Terrace . North Quay is an area in the CBD that was a landing point during the first European exploration of the Brisbane River . Petrie Bight is a reach of the Brisbane River ( 27°27′49″S 153°02′06″E / 27.4636°S 153.0351°E / -27.4636; 153.0351 ( Petrie Bight ) ), which gives its name to
2412-719: The city's early colonial days, a feature typical of most Australian street patterns. Most central streets are named after members of the House of Hanover . Queen Street (named in honour of Queen Victoria ) is Brisbane's traditional main street and contains its largest pedestrian mall , the Queen Street Mall . Streets named after female members ( Adelaide , Alice , Ann , Charlotte , Elizabeth , Margaret , and Mary ) run parallel to Queen Street and perpendicular to streets named after male members ( Albert , Edward , George , and William ). The CBD's squares include King George Square , Post Office Square and ANZAC Square (home to
2479-693: The colonial architect George Connolly and was appointed Chief Draftsman in 1889. His works include the Bundaberg Post Office, probably the Fortitude Post Office and the Lady Norman Wing Brisbane Children's Hospital (with John James Clark ), of which the Brisbane Customs House is by far the most ambitious and prominent design. The contract was let to one of Brisbane's oldest and most respected contractors, John Petrie & Son , who tendered with
2546-405: The features of the city". In 1891 stables, additional retaining walls and fencing, and more earth closets were erected at a cost of £ 446. By the mid-1890s gardens and a driveway had been developed. The mature fig tree now at the site was possibly planted about this time. Minor repairs were carried out throughout the 1890s, including some work in 1895 after 7 feet (2.1 m) of water inundated
2613-438: The first instance, decisions about the names and boundaries of suburbs and localities are made by the local council in which they are located based on criteria such as community recognition. Local council decisions are, however, subject to approval by the state's geographical names board. The boundaries of some suburbs and localities overlap two or more local government areas (LGAs). Examples of this are Adamstown Heights , which
2680-454: The first skyscrapers built in the CBD include the SGIO building (now Suncorp Plaza ) in 1970 and AMP Place in 1977. Other notable openings included Comalco Place (1984), Riverside Place (1986), the two towers of Central Plaza (1988 and 1989), and Waterfront Place (1990). In the last few decades the number of apartment buildings that have been constructed has increased substantially. Brisbane
2747-531: The imposing form; general arrangement of spaces to include Long Room, Bond Store and offices; and secure fencing. It is a fine example of the work of architect Charles McLay and a good example of one of a series of customs houses designed in the Queensland Colonial Architect's office and of the work of contractor John Petrie. The place is important because of its aesthetic significance. The Brisbane Customs House has aesthetic value as
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2814-547: The land. In 1881, the church was enlarged, but the need for further growth resulted in a decision to build a new church, the City Tabernacle in Wickham Terrace . The Wharf Street church was sold, holding its last service on 5 October 1890 with the tabernacle being dedicated on 9 October 1890. The building is no longer extant. On Tuesday 25 May 2021, a Baptist Historic plaque was placed at the site to commemorate
2881-493: The most suitable location for a customs house. At the time shipping activity was centred on the South Brisbane Reach and the decision to locate a customs house at the northern end of the Town Reach acted as an impetus for the development of wharves along this part of the river. A small building was erected for customs purposes in 1850 and in the following decades became increasingly inadequate as Brisbane emerged as
2948-561: The mouth of the Brisbane River, resulting in its closure in April 1988. The building remained vacant from 1988 until leased by the University of Queensland . The university refurbished the building from 1991 to 1994 at a cost of A$ 7.5 million. At this period some of the interior masonry walls that had been removed in 1947 were replaced and the original timber stair was reconstructed. Non-significant partitions added after 1948 and parts of
3015-487: The mouth of the river. The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history. It has a special association with the Australian Customs Service, which occupied the building for nearly 100 years. [REDACTED] This Misplaced Pages article incorporates text from "The Queensland heritage register" published by
3082-619: The name Your Church. The Brisbane City Library opened in 1965, moving into Brisbane Square in 2006. The city centre was damaged by the 2010-2011 floods . In the 2016 census , Brisbane City had a population of 9,460 people.The most common countries of birth other than Australia were China 16.0%, South Korea 8.3%, England 3.7%, Taiwan 3.2% and Brazil 2.8%. 43.7% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 12.3%, Korean 7.7%, Cantonese 3.6%, Spanish 2.9% and Portuguese 2.7%. The most common responses for religion were No Religion 43.0% and Catholic 16.8%. In
3149-567: The north-east and Kelvin Grove State College in neighbouring Kelvin Grove to the north. Queensland University of Technology has its major campus at Gardens Point ( 27°28′36″S 153°01′41″E / 27.4767°S 153.0281°E / -27.4767; 153.0281 ( Queensland University of Technology (Gardens Point Campus) ) ), located between Parliament House , the City Botanic Gardens, and
3216-407: The office market had pushed vacancy rates in the Brisbane CBD to 0.7% by January 2008, the lowest in Australia. Premium grade office space was even less vacant with an occupancy rate of 99.9%. By the end of 2009 the situation had reversed. In mid 2013 the market for office space had declined to its worst position in two decades with a vacancy rate of just under 13%. Major landmarks and attractions in
3283-434: 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. The former Brisbane Customs House
3350-426: The preference for wharves was due to the site being directly downstream from the central business district. Wharf Street Baptist Church opened at 38 Wharf Street (corner of Adelaide Street, 27°27′55″S 153°01′47″E / 27.4652°S 153.0296°E / -27.4652; 153.0296 ( Baptist Church (1859) ) ) on 6 February 1859. It was the first Baptist church to be built in Queensland,
3417-596: The principal commercial centre and port of Queensland. In 1884 the Queensland Government decided to construct a new customs house. In March 1886 a design by Charles McLay was selected from many proposals in the Colonial Architect's Office for a new Brisbane Customs House. McLay completed the specification in May 1886 and construction commenced in September that year. Charles McLay was the major designer under
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#17327726769743484-492: The renovation, there is a restaurant and function centre within the building, and regular concerts and an art gallery occupies the lower floor. The Long Room was once the place customs business was transacted. Today the room is used various events, such as lectures and dinners. In October 2015, it was announced that a 47-storey tower block would be built adjacent to the Customs House. Protests erupted over concerns that
3551-448: 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),
3618-409: 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
3685-417: The small pocket of land centred on the area under the Story Bridge 's northern point, around the Brisbane River to Admiralty Towers II . The location was originally known as Petrie Gardens and was an early settlement farm, one of two that provided food for the colony. The site was named after Andrew Petrie and has been the base for water police and in earlier times wharves. The location of Customs House and
3752-550: The south western edge of the city. Heading under and bypassing the CBD is the Clem Jones Tunnel . Because on-street car parking is in high demand, parking meters are installed across the inner city. By bicycle and foot, the Goodwill Bridge allows cross river access to South Bank. The Kurilpa Bridge allows cross river access from North Quay to South Brisbane. Cyclists and pedestrians may also cross while using
3819-531: The term suburb is used in urban areas. Australian postcodes closely align with the boundaries of localities and suburbs. This Australian usage of the term "suburb" differs from common American and British usage, where it typically means a smaller, frequently separate residential community outside, but close to, a larger city. The Australian usage is closer to the American or British use of "district" or "neighbourhood", and can be used to refer to any portion of
3886-412: The terminus for long distance and country services. The central business district is served by various city ferries. Brisbane's CityCat high speed ferry service, popular with tourists and commuters, operates services along the Brisbane River between the University of Queensland and Northshore Hamilton, stopping at several CBD wharves. The Brisbane Riverwalk , a pedestrian and cyclist pathway adjoins
3953-489: The tower would be too close to the Customs House causing over-shadowing and the likely destruction of the fig tree. University of Queensland announced it would lodge a legal challenge against the approval of the project by Brisbane City Council , stating that the tower would be only 2.6 metres (8 ft 6 in) from the Customs House boundary, despite the council's own provisions in the City Plan 2014, which would require
4020-472: The townscape. Its location on the riverbank adds to its aesthetic values, allowing distant views from along and across the river. The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. The place has strong associations for the Brisbane community as a landmark and as a rare surviving marker of the Port of Brisbane before it moved to
4087-521: Was amongst the more impressive of a number of notable public and commercial buildings erected in Brisbane during the 1880s. It is important in demonstrating part of the pattern of Queensland's history. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places. The former Brisbane Customs House is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of its class of cultural places: late 19th century masonry customs houses. These characteristics include:
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#17327726769744154-504: Was an area centred on the Executive Building that includes many Queensland Government offices. 111 George Street , Mineral House , and Education House are also located here. 1 William Street was completed in 2016, now serving the role of the former Executive Building. The Executive Building and Neville Bonner building were demolished for the state's largest infrastructure project. An urban renewal project based around
4221-506: Was designed by Charles H McLay and built from 1886 to 1889 at a cost of £38,346 by John Petrie & Son . It was originally used for the collection of customs duty and was opened in 1889, when Queensland was a British colony, replacing the original Customs House located at Petrie Bight . It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 February 2005. The collection of custom duties on imported products
4288-536: Was installed at another location; mezzanine floors were erected in the Long Room; and the roof was replaced - without the original chimneys. In 1978 part of the exterior was cleaned, repaired and sealed and painted. In the mid-1980s the Australian Customs Department moved out of the building to Australia House. The building became redundant when port facilities moved to the Port of Brisbane at
4355-404: Was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 February 2005 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history. The former Brisbane Customs House, constructed between 1886 and 1889 to a design prepared by Charles McLay of the Queensland Colonial Architect's Office, was in use by the customs service for nearly
4422-516: Was particularly important to Queensland where the manufacturing sector was slow to develop. Brisbane was declared a port city in 1846. In 1908, seven years after federation, the building was acquired by the federal government. Customs House is within reach of the CityCat catamaran ferry service, as well as the Free Loop Bus. The Brisbane Customs House was erected at the northern end of
4489-404: Was selected to spur the development of wharves in the precinct known as Petrie Bight . The lower floor contained a secure warehouse where goods not having been passed customs were stored. Customs House is a Brisbane landmark known for its distinctive copper dome. The building was designed by Charles McLay of the Queensland Colonial Architect's Office. Despite no government in the country having
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