• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Naval Historical Society of Australia

Preserving Australia's Naval History

  • Events
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Show Search
  • 0 items
Hide Search
Menu
  • Home
  • Research
    • Where to start
      • Research – We can help!
      • Self help
      • Naval Service Records
      • Library
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Resources
      • Articles
      • On This Day
      • Podcasts
      • Videos
      • Australian Military Ship Losses
      • RAN events on a  Google Earth Map
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Other
      • Newsletters: Call The Hands
      • Occasional Papers
      • Books
      • HMAS Shropshire
      • Book reviews
    • Close
  • Naval Heritage Sites
    • World Heritage Listings
      • Cockatoo Island
    • National Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites
      • HMVS Cerberus
    • Commonwealth Heritage Listings
      • Garden Island NSW
      • HMAS Watson
      • HMAS Penguin
      • Spectacle Island Explosives Complex NSW
      • Chowder Bay Naval Facilities
      • Beecroft Peninsula NSW
      • Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications
      • HMAS Cerberus
      • Naval Offices QLD
      • Garden Island WA
      • Royal Australian Naval College ACT
      • Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT
    • NSW Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Rushcutter
    • Close
  • Tours & Cruises
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, East
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, West
    • 81st. Anniversary Cruise: Sydney under Japanese Attack
    • Tour of Sub Base Platypus
    • Garden Island Dockyard Heritage Tour
    • Garden Island Northern Hill and Garden Tour
    • Tour Bookings
    • Close
  • About us
    • About Us
      • What we do
      • Our People
      • Office Bearers
      • Become a volunteer
      • Our Goals and Strategy
    • Organisation
      • Victoria Chapter
      • WA Chapter
      • ACT Chapter
    • Close
  • Membership
  • Shop
  • Become a volunteer
  • Donate
You are here: Home / Naval Heritage Sites / Naval Offices QLD

Naval Offices QLD

· Jun 29, 2017 ·

The offices of Navy were first established in Brisbane at the former Port Office at 39 Edward Street on the Brisbane River in 1886. The offices were designed as an administration and operational headquarters for the Queensland colonial navy. By the 1890s the condition of this building had deteriorated and in 1899 the Queensland government devoted 1500 pounds to the design and construction of a new naval building.

A site was selected for the new naval offices on the corner of Edward and Alice Streets facing the river, not far from the former Port Office building. The building was essentially complete and in use by August 1901, the first year of the Federation. It was used as the administrative headquarters of Queensland Marine Defence Force in the transition from colonial to Commonwealth defence. It was not, however, transferred over to Commonwealth ownership until 1911.

From the RAN’s formation in 1911 and across the span of two world wars, the Naval Offices in Brisbane served as a key naval administrative location. In 1975, with the rationalisation of defence properties, the building became redundant and was left unoccupied, but remained in Commonwealth ownership.

The building was returned to Queensland State Government ownership in 2011, and since 2012 has been leased to commercial operators.  It is listed on the Queensland Government Heritage Register and the Commonwealth Heritage List.

References

Naval Offices (former), Brisbane, Queensland Government Heritage Register

Naval Offices, Australian Heritage Database

Further Reading

Origins of the QUEENSLAND Navy, by Naval Historical Society of Australia, published June 1975 edition of the Naval Historical Review

Developing Australian Naval Forces, by Walter Burroughs, published June 2011 edition of the Naval Historical Review

 

Primary Sidebar

World & National Heritage Sites

  • Cockatoo Island
  • HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites
  • HMVS Cerberus

Commonwealth Heritage Sites

  • Chowder Bay Naval Facilities
  • Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT
  • Royal Australian Naval College ACT
  • Garden Island WA
  • Naval Offices QLD
  • HMAS Cerberus
  • Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications
  • Beecroft Peninsula NSW
  • Spectacle Island Explosives Complex NSW
  • HMAS Penguin
  • HMAS Watson

The NHSA acknowledges support provided by the Australian Department of Environment and Energy which made these pages possible.
Greater detail on building history, the natural and Indigenous significance to these sites is available by accessing the National Heritage List.

  • Research – We can help!
  • Naval Heritage Sites
  • Garden Island Dockyard Heritage Tour
  • About us
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Facebook

  • Facebook
  • Members Area
  • Privacy Policy
  • Log Out

Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. Copyright © 2023