As the oldest buildings in the city and one of only two buildings left from Australia's convict era, Old Windmill & Observatory provides visitors with a unique link to Brisbane's past. It was built of rendered stone and brick in 1828 by Captain Patrick Logan, who is known by most as a brutal man in Australian history for his treatment of convicts. The building was soon converted into a large treadmill where the convicts, instead of the wind, ground the corn. The Windmill became known as the Observatory at the end of the 19th century after an observation platform and cabin were built, and the building lays claim to some early experiments with television. It is closed to the public but can easily be explored on the outside.
Old Windmill & Observatory
