GSA Guide - Former Government Printery Office (1874) Claimed

Located at William Street

Former Government Printery

The Queensland Government Printing Office operated in a complex of buildings on this site from 1862 until 1986.

History

This building was constructed in 1874 and designed by Colonial Architect F.D.G. Stanley in quasi-Victorian gothic revival style (something of a stylistic curiosity in that it combines Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and French elements). The design shows Stanley's knowledge of French Renaissance Revival architecture and Gothic Revival detailing.

The architect F.D.G. Stanley wanted machine pressed bricks for this building instead of the hand made bricks used since Convict days. The tender of John Petrie of £4751 plus £170 for the machine made bricks and £50 for internal dressings was accepted with a construction time of six months. Completion was delayed because of a shortage of bricklayers.

This building was used for activities including publishing, composing, ruling, binding, storage and dispatch.

Building stones

The main building structure comprises a well-proportioned three-story brick structure with a roof of Welsh slate. The footings on the Eastern side of the building