Commissariat Store, Brisbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commissariat Store, Brisbane |
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Queen's Wharf Road facade of the Commissariat Store
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| Location | 115–127 William Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1824–1841 (convict settlement) |
| Built | July 1828 – 1829, 1913 |
| Built for | Moreton Bay penal settlement |
| Restored | 1969, 1978–1981, 1998–2001 |
| Current use | Royal Historical Society of Queensland |
| Architect | William John Dumaresq |
| Architectural style(s) | Georgian |
| Owner | Queensland Government |
| Official name: Commissariat Store (former), Government Stores (1898–1923), State Stores Building (1923–1960), Commissariat Stores (former), Colonial Store (1860–1898) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600176 |
| Significant period | 1828–29, 1890, 1912–13 (fabric) 1829–1960 (historical) |
| Significant components | fence/wall – perimeter, store/s / storeroom / storehouse, wall/s – retaining, yard |
| Builders | Convict labour |
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The Commissariat Store is a very old building in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It is located at 115–127 William Street, right next to the Brisbane River. This building is super important because it's where Queensland's history as a separate colony really began.
It was designed by William John Dumaresq and built between 1828 and 1913. Most of the early work was done by convicts under the direction of Captain Logan. A commissariat store was like a huge warehouse that held all the important supplies for the Moreton Bay penal settlement. Over the years, it was also known as Government Stores, State Stores Building, and Colonial Store. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
This building is one of only two buildings left from the time when Queensland was a convict colony. It's also one of only four commissariat buildings still standing in all of Australia. The Commissariat Store is the second oldest building in Queensland, built in 1829. The oldest is the Windmill from 1828. But the Commissariat Store is the oldest building in Queensland that is still being used today! It's currently home to the Royal Historical Society of Queensland (RHSQ), which has a museum, a library, and spaces for events.
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History of the Commissariat Store
The Commissariat Store was built in 1828–1829. It was made from local stone by Moreton Bay penal settlement convicts. Originally, it was a two-storey building used to store supplies near the Brisbane River. A third storey was added in 1913, made of brick, so it could keep being used as a government store. This addition also gave it an entrance from William Street.
Moreton Bay's Early Days
In 1823, Moreton Bay was chosen as a new penal settlement for New South Wales convicts. These were people who had committed more crimes or had re-offended after being sent to Botany Bay. The idea was to keep them isolated and make them work hard to change their ways. In 1824, Lieutenant Henry Miller arrived at Redcliffe with thirty convicts. But that spot wasn't great, so in 1825, the settlement moved inland to a ridge overlooking the Brisbane River. Simple buildings were quickly put up.
What is a Commissariat?
Penal colonies were run like military camps. A "commissariat" was in charge of getting, storing, and giving out all the important goods. This included food, tools, and clothing. It also acted like a customs office and a bank. The first building for this in Brisbane Town was a simple wooden structure. There were also other stores on Stradbroke Island.
In 1826, Captain Patrick Logan became the Commandant. He started a big building project, replacing old wooden structures with stronger ones made of stone and brick. The Commissariat Store was one of these new buildings. It was built on the same ridge where many government buildings stand today.
Building the Store
The new store was built close to the river. This made it easy to load and unload goods from a wharf. It also helped control all the supplies coming into the settlement. The design for the store came from William John Dumaresq, who was a Civil Engineer for New South Wales. His plans arrived from Sydney in April 1828.
The area near the river was very steep. Convicts had to quarry the rock to create a flat space for the building. This was hard work! Skilled stonemasons and quarrymen helped with the stone work. Later, strong retaining walls were built around three sides of the store.
Other Convict Stores in Australia
The first convict colony in Australia started in New South Wales in 1788. Over time, more settlements were built, including Moreton Bay. Besides the Brisbane Commissariat Store, seven other convict-built commissariat stores still exist today:
- Hobart, Tasmania (1808–1810)
- Darlington Probation Station on Maria Island, Tasmania (1825)
- Oatlands, Tasmania (1827)
- Paterson Barracks Commissariat Store, Launceston, Tasmania (1828)
- Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area, Norfolk Island (1835)
- Fremantle, Western Australia (1852)
- Guildford, Western Australia (1853–1854)
Only three of these are older than the Brisbane store, and they have all changed a lot over time. These old stores often look similar. They are usually strong and simple, showing the authority of the government. They often have features from Georgian and Regency styles, like symmetrical windows.
Special Features of the Brisbane Store
The Brisbane store faced the river, showing how important the river was for bringing goods into the colony. You can still see the royal cypher (a special symbol) of King George IV and the date 1829 on the front, river-facing gable. The stone work is also different on the river side (very neat) compared to the back (more random).
The store was built using Brisbane tuff from Kangaroo Point Cliffs and sandstone from Oxley Creek. The mortar (the stuff that holds the bricks together) was made from burnt oyster shells or lime from Ipswich. The windows were small, had no glass, and were barred for security. The roof was covered with ironbark shingles. The Commissariat Store was finished in 1829.
The building had a brick drainage system and an 18 feet (5.5 m) retaining wall at the back. It was the main place for getting, storing, and giving out supplies like food, clothes, and tools for the penal colony.
The Wharf and Pathways
The only way into the penal settlement was through the wharf next to the store. This wharf, first called the King's Wharf, was built by 1827. A crane helped move goods from ships to the shore. The main road into the settlement went up the steep river bank, where Queens Wharf Road is today. A walking path also went from the wharf up to William Street, passing by the store. Convicts built a retaining wall along Queens Wharf Road before 1831.
Free Settlement Begins
The convict colony closed in 1839, and Moreton Bay was opened for free settlers in 1842. Many government buildings were sold or torn down, but the Commissariat Store was kept for government use. It had extra space, so the upper floor was sometimes used for selling land or housing immigrants in the 1850s. A new door was even cut on the side so immigrants could enter without going through the ground floor store. This was handy because the immigration barracks were nearby. This use continued until a new immigration center, Yungaba Immigration Centre, opened in 1887.
Changes and New Uses
In 1860, when Queensland became its own colony, the store was renamed the Colonial Store. It was repaired, and the upper floor became police barracks. New windows and doors were added. The ground floor got a raised timber floor, and its windows were made bigger and had glass.
The storekeeper and his team managed all sorts of things, from oil for lighthouses to blankets for Aboriginal people. In 1866, during the "Bread and Blood" riots, people tried to break into the store, possibly because it represented the government and its control over essential supplies.
Later, the first Queensland Museum building was built nearby between 1876 and 1879. This created an open space between the museum and the store, which was still used as a path from the wharf to the town center.
The Colonial Store kept being repaired and added to as the colony grew. In 1886, a brick wing was added for stationery. This wing got an extra storey in 1900. Other smaller buildings in the yard, like stables and a saddlery, were also built or rebuilt over the years.
In 1890, a concrete retaining wall was built along William Street. The old roof shingles were replaced with corrugated iron. In 1898, as Australia was becoming a federation, the building was renamed the Government Stores.
The 20th Century and Beyond
In 1911, an architect named Leonard Kempster designed an extra storey for the building. This was to make more space and add an entrance from William Street. The new storey was finished in 1913, and an electric lift was installed in 1914.
In 1923, the Queensland Government created the State Stores Board. This board bought and distributed all goods for government departments. The first meeting was held at the Government Store, which was then renamed the State Stores Building. The board moved out in 1960.
After 1960, other government departments used the building, including the State Irrigation and Water Supply Commission and the Queensland State Archives. The State Library of Queensland also used it temporarily. By 1976, all government departments had moved out.
Over time, the river location became less convenient. The new storey added in 1913 helped by providing more space and better light. It also changed the building's main entrance to William Street, facing the city.
In 1959, an architect named EJA Weller said the Commissariat Store was an important heritage building that should be protected. In 1969, the Queensland Government started providing money to restore important heritage buildings. The Royal Historical Society of Queensland (RHSQ) was given permission to use the building in 1976.
Big renovations happened between 1978 and 1979. This included removing an old staircase, lift, and strongroom. The roof was also replaced. An archaeological dig was done in 1978, finding an old brick drain and many artifacts from different time periods.
The land next to the store became a park in 1980 and was named Miller Park, after Captain Henry Miller. The store officially opened as the RHSQ headquarters in 1982. More restoration work happened, and the RHSQ moved in during 1981.
Another archaeological dig happened after a water pipe burst in William Street during the floods in January 2011. This caused part of the retaining wall to collapse. Over 8,500 artifacts were found, possibly from the convict period.
From 1998 to 2001, more restoration work was done. This included adding a new lift, changing the stairs, and replacing the roof again.
The Store Today
Work in the late 1990s and early 2000s aimed to fix or change some of the earlier renovations. The roof was replaced, and the fleche (a small spire on the roof) was rebuilt to look like it did in 1913. New floors, a new lift, toilets, and glass partitions were also installed. This work finished in late 2000.
In January 2011, the store was damaged by a burst water pipe during a flood. Part of the William Street retaining wall collapsed, sending a lot of dirt and debris into the building. The store's wall was repaired using original stone pieces that were saved from the debris. The archaeological project found 8,579 artifacts, including ceramics, glass, and animal bones, dating from the 1850s to the 1880s.
What the Building Looks Like
The Commissariat Store has three storeys. It's built into a hill, with William Street at the top and the Brisbane River at the bottom. You can enter from William Street using a walkway to the top storey. The original entrance from the river is through a paved yard with iron gates.
The building is surrounded by old retaining walls made of Brisbane tuff and sandstone. The lower walls are largely convict-built. The roof is made of corrugated galvanised steel and has a central fleche and dormer windows.
The side of the building facing the river has three sections. It has windows and doors on each level. You can still see the royal cypher of King George IV and the date 1829 on this side. A large double door opens into the yard from the ground level.
The William Street side also has many windows. The main entrance here has an arched hood with the words "Government Stores" written on it. This entrance is accessed by a concrete walkway. Many of the old windows have bars, and some are original. There's also a door to the first floor from Miller Park.
Inside, the building has been changed to create office, exhibition, and storage spaces for the RHSQ. Miller Park, next to the store, is an open grassy area with trees and paths. It connects William Street to Queens Wharf Road. Some parts of the stone wall along Queens Wharf Road are original convict-built sections.
Even though you can't see them on the surface, there might still be archaeological remains under Miller Park. This is because of the site's long history and previous digs.
Current Use of the Store
The ground, first, and part of the second floor are used for permanent and temporary exhibitions. These show off the RHSQ's collection. The second floor also has the Welsby Library, which researchers can use. The ground floor can be rented for events. Volunteers offer guided tours of the Commissariat Store during business hours for school groups, tourists, and other visitors.
Why It's Important (Heritage Listing)
The Commissariat Store is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria:
It shows how Queensland's history developed. Finished in 1829, the store shows how European settlement grew in Queensland. It's one of only two buildings left from the Moreton Bay convict colony. It became a government store after free settlement began and was even used to house immigrants. Changes to the building over time show how Brisbane grew. Miller Park has always been an open space and still provides a path between the river and the city.
It is a rare and special part of Queensland's history. As a key building from the convict era, the Commissariat Store is very rare in Queensland. It's also one of only eight convict-built commissariat buildings left in Australia. The stone retaining walls around the store and along Queens Wharf Road are the only ones in Queensland built by convicts. These structures show us how buildings were made and what skills and materials were available back then.
It can help us learn more about Queensland's history. Studying the Commissariat Store and Miller Park through archaeology can teach us a lot about the convict colony and how the site was used later. This can give us clues about the lives of convicts, immigrants, and early residents, and what their daily lives were like in 19th-century Brisbane.
It shows the main features of its type of cultural place. This place still has the main features of a convict-era Commissariat Store that changed for free settlement and became a Government Store. Its simple, strong design and Georgian/Regency influences show the authority it represented. Its location between the river (where goods and people arrived) and the town center is also very important.
It is beautiful and important to look at. The Commissariat Store and its retaining walls are beautiful landmarks that can be seen from William Street and the Brisbane River. The building is part of a very important group of government buildings in Queensland, which includes the: former Treasury Building (Treasury Building, Brisbane), former State Library (Old State Library), former Land Administration Building (Land Administration Building), Queens Gardens (Queens Gardens, Brisbane), and the former Government Printing Office (Government Printing Office).
It has a special connection to important people or groups in Queensland's history. The Commissariat Store has a special link to Commandant Patrick Logan. It's one of the few remaining parts of his building program, which helped develop the colony and state of Queensland.
The building also has a lasting connection with the Royal Historical Society of Queensland. They have used it since 1976, and the building's riverside view is even a main part of their logo!
See also
