GSA Guide - Treasury Building – First Wing (1887-89) Claimed

History

In the Depression years of the early 1890s the building was the focus of several demonstrations by Brisbane’s unemployed. The new building was occupied by the Premier, Colonial Secretary, Registrar-General, Treasury, Mines, Works, Police and Auditor-General Departments.

A few years after construction of the second wing, one of the most momentous events in Queensland history took place on a balcony of this first wing.  In 1901, the William Street wing of the Treasury Building, was the site where the Governor read the Queen’s proclamation of Australia’s Commonwealth.

Since 1995, the three wings of the refurbished building have housed the Conrad Treasury Casino, contrasting the once political orientation of the building to one full of entertainment for the people and visitors to Brisbane.

Building materials

This wing's pale grey Highfields sandstone (Formation: Koukandowie Formation) comes from around Spring Bluff near Toowoomba and Pearson's quarries near Helidon (Formation: Woogaroo Subgroup), and it takes on a rosy hue when illuminated after dark.

The sandstone sits on a base of Brisbane Tuff. 

The Highfields sandstone was a poor choice for a building stone: it was soft and therefore prone to weathering which has resulted in white colour that discolours easily and quickly appears dirty. The foundation is porphyry (Formation: Brisbane Tuff) from O’Connelltown quarry on Lutwyche Road at Windsor, a northern suburb of Brisbane.

Video: https://konect-tourism.s3.amazonaws.com/Treasury.mp3

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