Museum of Brisbane unlocks the secrets of the city’s penal colony past on the new Convict Brisbane Walking Tour – a guided 90-minute exploration of Brisbane’s colonial roots through historic landmarks, interwoven with First Peoples’ enduring connection to Country.
From April 2026, the walking tour invites history buffs and the culturally curious to journey into Brisbane’s rich and layered past, starting at the heritage-listed Windmill and ending at Queen’s Wharf.
The Convict Brisbane Walking Tour explores the evolution from a remote penal colony to a thriving township between 1823 and 1842 through the city’s architectural landscape and historic landmarks.
Through convict-built structures and remnants, the tour brings the early settlement into focus, spotlighting the social fabric and living conditions of the time.
Discover Queensland’s oldest convict-built building, the Old Windmill Tower, as well as The Brisbane Crest, The Petrie Tableau, Miller Park and the Commissariat Store, the state’s second-oldest surviving colonial building, on a city street walk that’s suitable for most fitness levels.
Expert Museum of Brisbane guides share intriguing tales of convicts and commandants in the British settlement, revealing how harsh punishment, hard labour and strict authority ruled and shaped daily life in the penal colony.
Along the way, you’ll gain insights into First Peoples’ responses to British settlement and the Frontier Wars that followed. Together, these intersecting stories offer an in-depth understanding of Brisbane’s complex and fascinating history.
Museum of Brisbane CEO & Director Zoe Graham said the new tour offers an interactive journey into Brisbane’s rich cultural history, complementing our well-loved program of guided city walking tours.
“Our newest walk expands on Museum of Brisbane themed tours introduced in 2020, presenting everything from pre-colonial history to cutting-edge contemporary art to thousands of visitors,” said Ms Graham.
“At a street level and a slower pace, the Convict Brisbane Walking Tour allows you to notice the small details you may have hurried past in the city that reveal deeper layers of history and cultural context.”
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the new tour would bring Brisbane’s history to life, showcasing the moments that shaped the city.
“Museum of Brisbane does an outstanding job helping people see the city in new ways, using our streets and landmarks to tell the story of how Brisbane came to be,” said Cr Schrinner.
“These tours dive deeper into our past while highlighting the people, places and events that helped define Australia’s lifestyle capital.”
The Convict Brisbane Walking Tours are held on select Saturdays. For more information, visit: www.museumofbrisbane.com.au for details.
Images: Convict Brisbane Walking Tour – photo by Katie Bennett | Convict Brisbane Walking Tour – photo by Dave Kan