Convict-era wall unearthed in Brisbane to feature at North Quay
By Tony Moore
A convict-era wall unearthed in Adelaide Street by Brisbane Metro workers will now be included in a wall to be built at North Quay.
More than two years ago, 30 metres of stone stairs and wall foundations from the original Moreton Bay penal colony were unearthed.
A worker inspects a 30-metre stone wall discovered under Adelaide Street in February 2022.Credit: Brisbane City Council
The foundations, at the intersection of Adelaide and George streets, are the remnants of Brisbane’s original convict hospital, next to the old Supreme Court.
At the time of the discovery, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said heritage architects told him the relics were crucial to understanding Brisbane’s early European history.
“Uncovering the convict-era medical facility is one of the most significant recent archaeological finds regarding European history in Brisbane,” he said in February 2022.
Neither the Queensland Heritage Council nor the heritage arm of the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation required the wall be protected in-situ so the stones were removed by Brisbane Metro contractors.
An aerial shot shows the extent of diggings under Adelaide Street, including the medical facility. Smaller artefacts, including bottles (right), have also been found.
But about a year later, the Royal Historical Society of Queensland questioned why the artefacts had not been protected and stored at the Queensland Museum.
It was feared that the rock wall had been dumped, but a Brisbane City Council photograph showed it had been put into storage.
Models of Brisbane’s earliest convict history around George and William streets are on display on the lower floor of the historical society’s office and museum in William Street.
Brisbane City Council, which is behind the $1.5 billion Brisbane Metro rapid bus project, confirmed on Wednesday that the remains of the heritage wall would feature in a new wall at North Quay.
“The convict-era dry stone wall will be used for Brisbane Metro streetscape works at North Quay that are scheduled to start later this year,” a spokeswoman for Schrinner said.
“There will be signage installed with the history of the stone wall and a brief history of the site upon completion.”
Denver Beanland, former president of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, urged the council and developers Acciona to take protection of the wall seriously.
A still-frustrated Beanland said heritage experts should have insisted the wall be kept in-situ.
He said signage must explain its significance and the context of that area during the city’s convict days.
“That wall is extremely significant,” he said. “It extended down to Queens Wharf Road. The wall down there is part of it.
He said erecting signs so people could understand the wall’s place in Brisbane’s history “is not 100 per cent satisfactory, but considering what was going on in terms of Brisbane’s heritage protection – which was zilch – it is probably not a bad outcome from a miserable situation”.