Geelong Customs House

Geelong Historic Buildings

Early wharf facilities at Geelong were primitive. Prior to the construction of the Stony Jetty (later known as the Eastern Pier) ship crews refused to go to Geelong unless they were paid double wages as they were required to wade ashore to land cargoes. Geelong`s commercial rival, Melbourne, enjoyed the advantage of being declared a free port. Imported cargoes could be warehoused at a commercial bond store with no duties being payable until the goods were sold. It was not until 1848 that Geelong was granted free port status which, with new customs arrangements and the extension of Stony Jetty by 300ft in 1849, brought financial rewards to the port.

In 1838 a tiny weatherboard office building, reputedly prefabricated in Sydney, was erected at Geelong as a customs office. A number of these buildings were scattered about Port Phillip Bay ports as temporary customs offices for the increasing number of ships serving the growing settlement. The building was moved about on the jetty and elsewhere according to the location of ships being examined. The growing importance of the rich Western District pastoral and agricultural areas resulted in Geelong becoming an important commercial focus. Geelong residents requested in 1841 that a permanent customs house be established.

In 1845 a substantial stone customs house of architecturally utilitarian character and traditional design was erected on a site adjoining the Stone Jetty to the design of Colonial Clerk of Works, James Rattenbury. The two storey building comprised of a store at ground level and long room and office accommodation above approached by an imposing external staircase. Following the discovery of gold in Victoria and the resultant population boom and increase in commercial activity it became apparent that the building was unsuitable as a customs house in the long term.

In June 1854 plans for a new customs house at Geelong were completed by Clerk of Works for Geelong, Edward Davidson, at the request of Acting Colonial Architect, Charles Pasley. H C E Childer, the Commissioner for Trade and Customs, approved the plans with minor alterations. The design is attributed to Edward Davidson and Colonial Architect, James Balmain. The prominent public works architect John James Clark also claimed responsibility for the design. The extent of involvement of each cannot be easily resolved but it is most likely that Davidson, Balmain and Clark all participated in the formulation of the Geelong Customs House design.

The tender of well known Melbourne contractor, W C Cornish, one of Melbourne`s most eminent and able contractors, of 12,000 pounds was approved in April 1855 but building works were not commenced until later that year. Tenders were called for fittings for the building in July 1856. The customs house reserve was fenced with a dwarf-wall and iron railing fence and handed over to the Geelong Harbour Master in December 1856.

The location of Geelong Customs House is an important marker of Geelong`s commercial centre in the mid-nineteenth century. The building is an expression of government confidence and authority during the period in which Geelong seriously challenged Melbourne as the principal commercial port in the colony. Twentieth century improvements in port facilities and changes in grain handling technology together with the establishment of petroleum refineries and growth of the Ford motor production industry in the 1950s confirmed the drift of port facilities to the north of Corio Bay where commercial shipping is now concentrated. The location of the extant Geelong Customs House however is associated with the early focus of the port of Geelong and its nineteenth century prominence in the lucrative wool trade.


The building has three storeys, is built of freestone and basalt and has a hipped slate roof. The main elevation to Brougham Street and the upper two stories of the rear elevation are of Barrabool freestone while the lower storey of the rear elevation and the side elevations are built of coursed basalt. The basement storey has semi circular window openings featuring radiating voussoirs, while the upper floor`s rectangular window openings have square and shouldered architraves.

The Colonial Georgian style of the Geelong Customs House is illustrated in its simplicity, proportions, plain surfaces, symmetry and spare use of classical detail. The rear of the Customs House however takes on a Renaissance Revival character with a rusticated basement, a piano nobile over and quoins to the corners of the building. The Colonial Georgian style is rare in public buildings in Victoria and most of those built have been demolished.