The Old Windmill

On Wickham Terrace in Wickham Park, overlooking the city, stands the Old Windmill. Built in 1828 by convicts, it is allegedly the oldest surviving building in Brisbane. Originally built as a working windmill, it was used to grind flour and maize for the penal settlement. The site is now Brisbane Heritage Listed.

Over the years it has fallen in and out of use. It was the first temporary home of the Queensland Museum, back in 1862. It was used as a signal station and fire lookout during the late 19th century, and in the 1920-1940's was used as an experimental transmission station for early radio and television broadcasts. You can also notice it has a time ball on the very top, which was dropped regularly at 1:00pm from 1895-1930.

I have no idea how you get into the place now. I couldn't find any guidance, and it seems the large wooden doors are closed up. Apparently it is currently used as a weather station, so they wouldn't want anybody just rocking up and adding water to the rainfall gauges. I think it would be cool to go up the top and look down over the city, and imagine what it was like more than 150 years ago.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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