Commissariat Store, Brisbane

The Commissariat Store, located on William Street in Brisbane, is a historically significant building with a heritage listing. It sits at the confluence of William Street, Queen's Wharf Road, and the Brisbane River and holds the distinction of being the birthplace of Queensland. The store's design is credited to William John Dumaresq, and it was constructed between 1828 and 1913 using convict labor under the supervision of Captain Logan.

The Commissariat Store, initially built for the Moreton Bay penal settlement, has gone by various names, including Government Stores and Colonial Store. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992.

This building is remarkable for several reasons. Firstly, it is one of just two surviving structures from the convict era in Queensland and one of only four remaining commissariat buildings in all of Australia. Secondly, it holds the distinction of being the second oldest building in Queensland, dating back to 1829, with the title of the oldest building going to the Windmill at Wickham Park, which dates back to 1828.

Architecturally, the Commissariat Store is a three-story structure, framed by original retaining walls made from roughly dressed and squared blocks of Brisbane tuff on its north-west and south-east sides. On the north-east side, it features a combination of retaining wall types made from brick. The building's hipped roof is covered with corrugated galvanized steel sheeting and includes a central fleche and gable located at the center of the Queens Wharf elevation, as well as two dormer windows facing William Street.

The Commissariat Store is currently in use and holds the honor of being the oldest continuously occupied building in Queensland. Presently, it houses the RHSQ (Royal Historical Society of Queensland), serving as a museum, housing the Welsby Library, and providing space for various functions.