Brisbane’s universities are not just places of learning — they’re playing an increasingly important role in preserving the city’s heritage. With the support of the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, these institutions are reactivating landmark buildings and giving them new public purpose.
The University of Queensland, a proud member of Brisbane Living Heritage, manages two of the city’s most iconic heritage sites. Customs House continues to host events, exhibitions and university functions, while the newly restored Atrium (the former National Australia Bank on Queen Street) has been transformed into a cultural and learning space for the community.
Griffith University has taken up residence in the historic Treasury Building, signalling a major investment in reimagining this civic icon as a new creative and academic precinct.
And QUT remains the custodian of Old Government House – which you can visit during the Brisbane Open House weekend – in the City Botanic Gardens, a beautifully maintained public museum and gallery space that connects Brisbane to its colonial past.
Old Government House
What makes these projects so significant is not only the quality of the buildings themselves, but the commitment to their ongoing use. Heritage doesn’t survive through static preservation alone — it thrives when spaces are used, visited, and folded into the everyday life of the city.
In a time when many historic buildings face neglect or redevelopment, Brisbane’s universities are showing what’s possible when institutions take on cultural responsibility as part of their public role. They’re investing in architecture, but more than that, they’re investing in memory, identity, and continuity.
Through teaching, exhibitions, research, and public events, these buildings are no longer simply relics. They’re living spaces, filled with new voices — and in many cases, open for all to experience.
Brisbane Living Heritage celebrates the ongoing role of our universities as caretakers of the city’s heritage — and encourages all Brisbanites to step inside these spaces when the opportunity arises.
Brisbane Living Heritage (BLH) is the heart of Brisbane’s cultural heritage and social history, advocating and encouraging curiosity in our city’s history. BLH shares the incredible stories of Brisbane’s rich heritage and inspire residents and visitors to enjoy our incredible and unique stories. They are your guide to Brisbane’s cultural heritage, with more than 90 member organisations — museums, galleries, heritage sites, historic houses & gardens and historical societies — and they invite you to discover the heritage of our great city.
Download the Brisbane Living Heritage Guide here.