Plan and section of the Brisbane Commissariat Store

News of the day

Brisbane Courier, Thursday 13 September 1866, page 3

THE GOVERNMENT STORE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRISBANE COURIER.

SIR, - I think it would have been more to the credit of the Colonial Storekeeper had he stuck to his post last night instead of retiring to his home at the early hour of half past 10, or thereabouts. The captain of a ship in real or fancied danger should be the last to quit her. If it was necessary (as no doubt it was) to have a party on guard at the store throughout the night, it might have been expected that the head of the department would bear at least a share of the burden, instead of leaving the whole responsibility to his subordinate and a party of specials drawn from other quarters -I am, Sir, yours obediently,

OBSERVER.

Brisbane Courier, Friday 14 September 1866, page 2

The Government Stores.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRISBANE COURIER.

Sir, - The letter of " Observer " is unfair to the Colonial Storekeeper. That gentleman does not merit the insinuations cast upon him, for I saw him at his post, and know that he did all that could fairly be expected of him. The attack, coming from a brother officer in the Civil Service, gives the attempt to damage a nasty look. A more ill-chosen time to cast aspersions there could not be. The public cheerfully acknowledge they are under deep obligations to the gentlemen in the Civil Service for the alacrity and self-denial they have shown this week. I expect "Observer" is afraid that unless he went into the Colonial Storekeeper, even anonymously, his own character for intrepidity and military discernment would not be conspicuous. - I am, Sir. &c.

ANOTHER OBSERVER.

Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 18 September 1866, page 3

THE GOVERNMENT STORES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRISBANE COURIER.

Sir,-Two letters appeared in your paper last week referring to the Government Stores, the former of which some charitably disposed people are, I hear, inclined to give me the benefit of, either as author or instigator. Will you kindly give publicity to the fact that I know nothing about either the letters or their writers. With thinks for inserting this, I remain, Sir, yours truly,

AUGUSTUS SALMOND BOND,

Clerk, Government Stores.

Background

The Commissariat Store in Brisbane is Queensland’s second-oldest building, surpassed only by the Old Observatory in Wickham Terrace. Constructed between May 1828 and December 1829 during the regime of Captain Patrick Logan, Commandant of the Moreton Bay penal settlement, the Commissariat Store is of Georgian design with freestone walls. In 1886 a single-storey brick building was added to the south-east wing, with a second storey being completed in 1900, though the entire wing was later demolished. In 1912-1913 a third storey was added to the entire existing structure. When first completed, the Commissariat Store was contiguous to a wharf and crane for the convenient unloading of docked vessels. After fulfilling this role the building was used to house immigrants, as offices for the Queensland Law Reform Commission and as a repository for Queensland State Archives. Fittingly, the Commissariat Store now serves as the headquarters of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.

 

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