Customs House, Maryborough

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Customs House, Maryborough

What it is
The Maryborough Customs House is a heritage-listed pair of buildings at the corner of Wharf and Richmond Streets in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia. The site includes the former Customs House (the public office) and a two-storey residence.

When and who
Both buildings were built in 1899–1900 to designs by John Smith Murdoch of the Queensland Department of Public Works. They replaced an earlier customs house from the 1860s.

What it looks like
- The Customs House is a single-story brick building facing Richmond Street, with a long central room, offices, a strong room and toilets. It has a Dutch-style tiled roof and a distinctive tower-like feature.
- The residence is two storeys with wide verandas, facing the Court House gardens. It’s built with red brick and rough cast stucco on a dark brick base and has many different window styles and decorative details.

Why it matters
Maryborough grew as a port town in the 19th century. The customs buildings show how important customs duties were to the region’s economy and government. The design is a high-quality example of late 19th-century public architecture that blends Arts and Crafts style with Edwardian Baroque details.

History in brief
- 1860s: An earlier customs house was built nearby.
- 1890s: The old building deteriorated; a new, larger customs house and residence were planned.
- 1899–1900: Construction finished at a cost of £5,956.
- 1901: Control of customs moved to the Australian Federal Government.
- 1995: The customs service left Maryborough, though the buildings remained Commonwealth property.
- 2001: The customs house became part of an interpretive centre at Portside Centre.
- 2005: The site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register.

Today
The Customs House and its residence remain largely intact and are used to interpret and celebrate Maryborough’s history as a port city. They remain an important historical and architectural landmark on the Mary River.