Townsville Customs House, Heritage customs building in Townsville, Australia

Townsville Customs House is a two-story colonial building with red brick walls, sandstone details, and broad colonnaded verandahs designed for tropical conditions. The structure contains multiple offices, storage rooms, and a central Long Room that once served as the main space for public customs transactions.

The building was completed in 1902 and served as a customs facility for almost a century, managing trade operations in Queensland. It operated through the period around Australian Federation, playing a key role in regional commerce during this important transition.

The site was bought from the Bank of New South Wales in November 1898 for £1600, on the recommendation of customs and estate agent JN Parkes. The building is the fourth customs house in Townsville, replacing a converted Post and Telegraph Office used from 1892. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 February 2005.

The building sits at the corner of Wickham Street and The Strand, making it easy to locate in the city center. The covered verandahs offer shelter during tropical downpours, and the high ceilings keep interior spaces comfortable in warm weather.

The site chosen in 1898 was bought from the Bank of New South Wales for £1600, on two blocks bounded by The Strand, Wickham and Cunningham Streets. The building is the fourth customs house in Townsville; the first small customs service, set up in 1865, was run by a Sub-Collector who also served as Police Magistrate and Harbour Master for an annual fee of £300.