Customs House Museum, historic site in Queensland, Australia
The Customs House Museum is a single-story timber building with a rectangular shape and verandahs on three sides in Goondiwindi. The corrugated iron roof, timber sash windows, and French doors are typical of structures built between the 1860s and early 1900s.
The building was constructed between the 1860s and early 1900s, shortly after Goondiwindi was founded in 1858 and the first land sale took place in 1860. After Australia's federation in 1901, customs duties between states ended, and the building was later used as a private residence, shop, and eventually as a museum.
The building stands at a corner in Goondiwindi's center and served as a meeting point for people moving goods across the border for generations. Its timber construction and three-sided verandahs show the practical building style early settlers favored to shield themselves from heat.
The museum sits at a street corner in central Goondiwindi and is easy to reach on foot. The location provides access to nearby parking, picnic areas, and wheelchair access for visitors with limited mobility.
The building may never have been an official customs house but was informally used for customs activities in the early days when no formal station existed. This connection to customs history is more legendary than documented, making the building a fascinating window into the improvised practices of early border control.
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