Southport Drill Hall

Southport Drill Hall is a historic military training building located at Queen Street with a distinctive curved iron roof and timber walls. Inside, four rooms preserve original military architecture including wrought iron trusses and wide windows fitted with period timber shutters.

The building was designed by George Connolly and constructed in 1890 to serve as a training facility for Queensland's defense forces. This came after the colony's separation from New South Wales, when local military infrastructure became necessary.

The building served various community groups over time, from scout organizations to lifesaving clubs that gathered within its walls. Its use by these different groups is still visible in how the space is organized today.

The building now stands in Owen Park as part of a group of relocated historic timber structures that can be visited together. Combining your visit with exploration of the surrounding relocated buildings provides a better sense of this heritage precinct.

The entire structure was physically moved from Lawson Street to Owen Park in 1995. This relocation allowed it to join other historic timber buildings that were gathered to create a unified heritage precinct.