Convict Brisbane Walking Tour

Beginning at the historic Windmill on Wickham Terrace and winding down to the river at Queens Wharf, the Convict Brisbane Walking Tour traces the city's transformation between 1823 and 1842 – from a remote penal outpost to an emerging free town. 

You will hear stories of convicts and commandants, revealing how punishment, labour and authority shaped daily life. Along the way, the guides bring the settlement into focus, illuminating the social fabric and living conditions, as well as the central role of the Brisbane River in sustaining the colony.

Woven throughout the tour are First Peoples’ responses to British settlement, their enduring connection to Country, and the Frontier wars that directly followed this era. Together, these intersecting stories offer a deeper understanding of how Brisbane grew from its earliest foundations into a regional centre.

Good to know – Tour highlights include The Windmill (exterior), The Brisbane Crest, The Petrie Tableau, convict-built structures and surviving remnants, Miller Park & the Commissariat Stores, Queens Wharf and the Brisbane River.

Need to know – The tour has been designed to suit most fitness levels and involves walking downhill on city streets and uneven surfaces.

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