Custom House

While it may not blend in with the towering skyscrapers around it, the Custom House is a key part of Brisbane’s heritage. Its Victorian architecture, grand colonnades, portico, and copper dome, transports us straight back to the 19th century. At that time, this Australian city was experiencing rapid growth, prompting the government of Queensland to replace the old customs building with a larger, more imposing structure near the city center. And this was the result! When it was inaugurated in the late 1880s, 300 employees managed the city’s main source of revenue, collecting duties on overseas goods. As one of the few remaining signs of Brisbane’s once-thriving river port, the Custom House has been operated by the University of Queensland since 1994. Inside it, there are meeting spaces and a stunning ballroom used for wedding ceremonies. Also, there’s a restaurant in what was once the Queen’s warehouse.