Commissariat Store is located in Brisbane, Queensland bordered by William Street, Queen's Wharf Road and the Brisbane River, the birthplace of Queensland. The heritage listed building is one of only two surviving buildings from the convict period in Queensland,[1] and is one of only four surviving commissariat buildings in Australia. It is the second oldest building in Queensland, dated to 1829, the oldest building being the Windmill at Wickham Park, dated to 1828. However, the Commissariat Store is the oldest occupied building in Queensland, as it is currently occupied by Royal Historical Society of Queensland (RHSQ). The Commissariat Store was originally built by convict labour under the direction of Captain Logan as a permanent Commissariat Store for the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement. Presently, the restored and renovated building operates as the headquarters for the RHSQ, housing the museum, Welsby Library, and functions.
History
1828 - 1839
The Commandant, Captain Logan, proposed for a permanent Commissariat Store in Moreton Bay. In April 1828, Acting Civil Engineer for New South Wales, William Dumaresq, sent a plan from Sydney to Moreton Bay for a permanent Commissariat Store. Construction was most likely supervised by the Superintendent of Works for Moreton Bay, Lieutenant Bainbrigge. Construction of the Commissariat Store began in July 1828, when the river bank was excavated and the foundation established by convict labour, with the assistance of skilled stonemasons and quarrymen from Sydney. Stone was quarried from the cliffs at Kangaroo Point, with sandstone quarried from Oxley Creek. Lime for mortar was then obtained from burning oyster shells from Amity Point on Stradbroke Island or from the newly established lime kiln at Limestone Hill in Ipswich.
The original, two storey, utilitarian building was completed by late 1829, with the Royal emblem of King George IV and the date of “1829” over the gable. Features of the building included a brick drainage system throughout the foundation, as well as an 18-foot retaining wall at the rear with a wall and gate at the front facing the river. The Commissariat Store procured, stored, and distributed goods and rations, such as food, clothing, and tools, for the penal colony.
Moreton Bay Penal Settlement
The Moreton Bay Penal Settlement was established in 1824 as a secondary punishment for New South Wales convicts. Brisbane was then established in 1825 on the north bank of the Brisbane River, bordered by the river on three sides and the ridge of Wickham Terrace. In 1825, Moreton Bay had fewer than 100 convicts, however, by 1830 there were almost 1000 convicts. However, the Penal Settlement was closed by 1839, as the British government no longer favoured geographically remote settlements for punishment, mainly due to expensive costs. By 1842, Brisbane was declared open to free settlement.
1839 - 1887
Architectural plans for the Commissariat Store, circa 1840
The Commissariat Store continued to be employed by the Colonial Government mainly for the procurement and distribution of supplies for the free settlement. However, by the 1850s the Commissariat Store became an ideal building for immigration barracks, due to its proximity to the wharf. The first floor was employed for the immigrants most likely until 1887, while the ground floor still for storage. During the 1860s, the first floor also operated as a police barracks.
1898 - 1914
In 1898 the Commissariat Store was renamed the Government Store to reflect the Federation movement. By 1911 an additional storey was designed by Leonard Kempster, an architect for the Department of Public Works, in order to increase accommodation and provide access to William Street. Contractor, William Kitchen oversaw the construction of the new addition, which was completed in 1913.[2] An electrical lift was then installed in 1914, operating between the three storeys.
State Stores Board
Cabinet created the State Stores Board in Queensland on 23 March 1923, which would purchase and distribute all goods required by all government departments. The inaugural meeting of the State Stores Board was then held on 29 March 1923 at the Government Store. It was renamed the State Stores Building, and eventually vacated by them on 12 September 1960.
Additional Occupants
The Building resumed providing accommodation for other overcrowded government departments, such as the Stock and Water Supplies Branch of the State Irrigation and Water Supply Commission until 1962, and the State Archives until 1968. The Firms Branch, Department of Justice, and Department of Stores shared the second floor. While the State Library and Law Reform Commission also occupied the building temporarily, all vacating the building by 1976.
Restoration
In 1959, EJA Weller listed the Commissariat Store as a government building of heritage value deserving of protection, a Queensland Government architect. In 1969, the Cabinet then agreed to make $40,000 per annum available for restoration of specified heritage buildings. Funding was also made available from the Hope Inquiry into the National Estate in 1974. The Department of Public Works employed two stonemasons to restore these government buildings, as stone repair to the Commissariat Store was extensive spanning many years, ultimately resulting in a stonemason yard on the premises.
William Street view of the second floor of the Commissariat Store, 2012
Royal Historical Society of Queensland
The RHSQ was granted occupation of the Commissariat Store as its headquarters in July 1977. However, extensive restoration work ensued once again in 1978 before the RHSQ could move in during June 1981. This included the Works Department replacing the roof, installing a library and toilet on the second floor, along with refurbishing the floors and walls throughout, and landscaping the surrounding grounds of Miller Park. The building was then officially opened as the headquarters of the RHSQ on 24 November 1982, operating as a museum, library, and functions space.
The stonemason yard was then vacated in 1997. A later restoration followed from 1998 to 2001 by the Department of Public Works, funded by the Centenary of Federation Cultural and Heritage Projects Program grant of $1.1 million and the Queensland Government of $865,000, in order to amend the most recent restoration by adding a lift, removing the stairs, and replacing the roof.
Archaeological Excavation
Before restoration began in 1978 an archaeological excavation was conducted by the Queensland Museum, uncovering the original drainage system, modern material, oyster shells, bones, nails, buttons, ceramics, glass, and clay pipes. The University of Queensland conducted a second archaeological excavation after the floods in January 2011, which destroyed parts of the retaining wall. Some 8579 artefacts were recovered, possibly dating to the convict period.
Present
The ground, first, and half of the second floor are dedicated to both permanent and temporary exhibitions showcasing the RHSQ’s collection. The second floor houses the administration along with the Welsby Library, which is available to researchers. The ground floor is also available for functions. Guided tours of the Commissariat Store operate by volunteers during business hours, catering to school groups, social groups, community members, and tourists. [3]
It was damaged from a partial collapse of the William Street frontage on 13 January 2011 and was closed temporally while it underwent repairs.
Date retrieved: 16 December 2017 15:53 UTC
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