Colin Grainger
The Old Government Printing Office Entrance Door.
The Old Government Printing Office Entrance Door.
The former Queensland Government Printing Office is located between George Street and William Street, south-east of Stephens Lane. It operated between 1862 and 1983, and consisted of a number of buildings. As the first purpose-built government printing office in Queensland, the Government Printing Office played an important role in administration of the colony and then the state of Queensland. The former Government Printing Office complex currently consists of two buildings built over three different periods: a three-storey brick building facing William Street constructed 1872–1874; a three-storey brick building erected along Stephens Lane between 1884 and 1887; and a three-storey brick extension to the Stephens Lane building, constructed along George Street between 1910 and 1912.
A government printing office was required in Queensland after separation in 1859 (from NSW) when the establishment of the new Colonial Government generated a need for the printing of Hansard, the official report of the proceedings of the Houses of Parliament. Many other items were also printed on the premises, including postage stamps, Government Gazettes, Acts of Parliament, annual reports of departments, survey maps, text books, electoral rolls, school readers, and banknotes.
The entrance bay on George Street has a rusticated base of granite and an arch leads to an inset porch with stairs up to the entrance doors. These doors are timber with stained glass panels and side lights depicting various printing techniques. The Coat of Arms, Audax at Fidelis, which translates to Bold but Faithful is displayed above stained glass door
In 1983, the office moved to new premises in Woolloongabba, and a decade later the William Street building was remodelled for use by the Public Service Club.
In 2005-06, the George Street wing was renovated for use by the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
The building is now closed to enable the construction of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, and will be restored and repurposed for a re-opening in 2022.
The former Queensland Government Printing Office was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992
The Old Government Printing Office Entrance Door.
The Old Government Printing Office Entrance Door.
The former Queensland Government Printing Office is located between George Street and William Street, south-east of Stephens Lane. It operated between 1862 and 1983, and consisted of a number of buildings. As the first purpose-built government printing office in Queensland, the Government Printing Office played an important role in administration of the colony and then the state of Queensland. The former Government Printing Office complex currently consists of two buildings built over three different periods: a three-storey brick building facing William Street constructed 1872–1874; a three-storey brick building erected along Stephens Lane between 1884 and 1887; and a three-storey brick extension to the Stephens Lane building, constructed along George Street between 1910 and 1912.
A government printing office was required in Queensland after separation in 1859 (from NSW) when the establishment of the new Colonial Government generated a need for the printing of Hansard, the official report of the proceedings of the Houses of Parliament. Many other items were also printed on the premises, including postage stamps, Government Gazettes, Acts of Parliament, annual reports of departments, survey maps, text books, electoral rolls, school readers, and banknotes.
The entrance bay on George Street has a rusticated base of granite and an arch leads to an inset porch with stairs up to the entrance doors. These doors are timber with stained glass panels and side lights depicting various printing techniques. The Coat of Arms, Audax at Fidelis, which translates to Bold but Faithful is displayed above stained glass door
In 1983, the office moved to new premises in Woolloongabba, and a decade later the William Street building was remodelled for use by the Public Service Club.
In 2005-06, the George Street wing was renovated for use by the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
The building is now closed to enable the construction of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, and will be restored and repurposed for a re-opening in 2022.
The former Queensland Government Printing Office was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992