Commonwealth Government Offices, Brisbane, Heritage-listed building in Brisbane, Queensland
The Commonwealth Government Offices is a government building in central Brisbane dating from the 1930s. The structure consists of two connected towers with sandstone facades, polished granite at the street level, and classical details such as dentil cornices and rusticated stone bands. A generous ground-floor arcade with marble and black-and-white mosaic tiles connects the blocks and provides an open, welcoming space for shops and cafes.
The building was constructed between 1933 and 1936 during the Great Depression to create jobs for unemployed workers. Architect John Smith Murdoch designed the structure with classical elements that harmonized with the adjacent Anzac Square. In the 1960s, the government decided against building the planned additional blocks next to the square and instead built a larger office tower across from it, partly due to public concern for preserving the square's openness.
The name reflects its role as the national government's administrative center in Brisbane. The ground-floor arcade with wooden-fronted shops and leadlight windows shows how this place once served as a gathering spot for shopping and daily life. Today the street level remains active with cafes and shops, drawing people from different walks of life through its covered passage.
The building features an open ground-floor arcade accessible to the public and ideal for exploring at your own pace. The passage with shops and cafes offers seating areas and rest spots, making it easy to observe architectural details from inside and outside without feeling rushed.
The original plan called for four office blocks, but only two were completed due to limited funds during the economic crisis. The two missing blocks were never built, and today the pair of original towers stands as a reminder of this incomplete first phase of development.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
