The Old Windmill

The Old Windmill is Brisbane's oldest surviving building, located in Observatory Park on Wickham Terrace in Spring Hill. Built in 1828 by convict labour as a windmill for grinding grain, it later served as a treadmill punishment site, signal station, and observatory. The heritage-listed tower is a rare example of convict-era construction in Queensland and a prominent landmark overlooking the Brisbane CBD, valued for its historical and architectural significance.

Visitors can view the exterior of the heritage-listed stone windmill tower set within Observatory Park on Wickham Terrace. The site is an open parkland with lawns, mature trees, paved paths and seating, offering views over the Brisbane CBD. The tower interior is not generally open to the public and is viewed from outside behind fencing. Information signage explains its history. It is a short stop for sightseeing, photography and heritage appreciation.

Built in 1828 by convict labour for the Moreton Bay penal settlement to grind grain, it is the oldest surviving building in Brisbane and Queensland. It was later converted to a treadmill for convict punishment, then used as a signal station, and from 1860s as an observatory and time-keeping station. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register as a rare surviving convict-era structure.

A landmark symbol of Brisbane's convict origins and early colonial development, valued by the community as a heritage icon and historic reference point in Observatory Park. It represents early European settlement architecture and the evolution of the site through multiple civic uses.