During the early years of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, the Commissariat Store acted as the receiving and distributing depot for the burgeoning colony’s food and equipment. The officer in charge was paid the second highest wage in the colony, below the Commandant.
History and Use of the Building
| When | Building Use |
|---|---|
| 1829 | Construction of the building, comprised of two storeys, was completed. The lower floor was used as a Colonial/Government Store from 1829-1961. |
| 1848 | Land sales office |
| 1850s | Influx of free settlers to Moreton Bay. The second floor was used as temporary accommodation for immigrants unable to be housed elsewhere. A doorway was cut through the western wall to allow the immigrants access to the building from Miller Park and so avoid the ground floor which was being used as a store. As there were no cooking facilities in the building, the kitchen was in the yard. |
| 1860s | The second floor was converted to married and single quarters for the constabulary, with partitions, 18 windows and 6 doors fitted. |
| 1870s | Building reverted to immigrant accommodation. |
| 1880s | Accommodation for Justices visiting St Helena Island and the Dunwich Benevolent Society. In 1886, an annex was built at a right angle to the main building, to house a stationery store. The annex was demolished in 1977. |
| 1898 | With the advent of Federation, the building was renamed the Government Store – evidence of this is apparent above the William Street and Miller Park entrances. |
| 1909 | Two lifts were installed. These were hand hoisted by ropes over pulleys. |
| 1913 | The top floor was added to allow access to William Street and to provide extra office space. |
| 1914 | First electric lift installed. |
| 1923 | Building became the State Store. |
| 1961 | State stores moved out of the building. |
| 1962-1968 | Queensland State Archives operated on the ground floor. This space was then used by the State Library and the Law Reform Commission, as well as the State Irrigation Commission, the Justice Department, and as storage space for the Department of Stores. |
| 1976 | The Law Reform Commission, the only remaining government organisation in residence, vacated the building. |
| 1979-1982 | Building restored, however the major alterations were not aligned to current methods of conservation. |
| 1981 | Building leased to the Royal Historical Society of Queensland. |
| 1981-Now | Home of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland. |
| 1999-2001 | Major conservation and refurbishment of the building funded by a Centenary of Federation grant and the Queensland Government. |