Old Cleveland Court House, Heritage courthouse in Cleveland, Queensland, Australia.
The Old Cleveland Court House stands at Paxton Street with painted brick walls, a hipped corrugated iron roof, and traditional timber posts supporting the verandah. The building was originally designed as living quarters but was later adapted for legal functions and now houses a restaurant with a courtyard added in 1977.
The building was constructed around 1853 as workers' quarters for the Bigge family and was later transformed into a courthouse and police residence. This shift shows how early Queensland communities adapted their spaces to meet growing needs for public institutions.
The building shows how early European settlers created their institutions and what role the courthouse played in the growing community. You can still see how the rooms were designed for official purposes and how they were later adapted for different uses.
Visitors can explore the site on foot and easily navigate the building since it is relatively compact and located on a main street. The restaurant space allows guests to spend time on-site and experience the grounds at a leisurely pace.
The building contains several original features, including a fireplace transferred from a once-wealthy hotel in Brisbane. This detail shows how early structures assembled components from various sources to create their interiors.
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