File:Brisbane's Customs House and Story Bridge.jpg

English: A staff pick from Julanne for our favourites album!

The information below is courtesy of Brisbane Open House:

"Customs House is a substantial Victorian building located on Queen Street, overlooking the Brisbane River. This prestige landmark structure signifies the impor tance of the Customs Service in revenue-raising for the Crown. By necessity, its location had to be near the point of unloading of dutiable goods from the bulk shipping lines. Following Federation, the Customs Service and its assets were transferred to the Commonwealth.

The Brisbane building’s working life as a Customs House lasted a few months short of 100 years.Built during an era of economic prosperity in Queensland, Customs House was amongst the more impressive of a number of notable public and commercial buildings erected in Brisbane in the late 19th century. The Petrie family business was responsible for the construction of some of these including the Port Office and the Government Printing Office in Edward Street, and the Roma Street Railway Station. The builder, John Petrie was the eldest son of Andrew Petrie who was the first clerk of works for the Moreton Bay penal settlement in 1837. Petrie Bight is named after the family, whose 1838 home had overlooked the Customs House site. John was the first mayor of Brisbane in 1859, and in this role, welcomed the first Governor, Sir George Bowen to Brisbane the same year.

Customs House provides an insight into the history of Brisbane and Queensland through its fabric and the association with the Petrie family. It is an excellent example of the Victorian Free Classical style, expressing the optimism of Brisbane as it evolved from a frontier town to a Colonial City. The façade and dome remain as prominent features of the interior and exterior and it is a landmark structure in the City of Brisbane."