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Customs House

Location Cliff Street PORTLAND, GLENELG SHIRE Level Included in Heritage Overlay

Statement of Significance

The Portland Customs House was erected in 1849, probably to designs by Henry Ginn, the Clerk of Works of the Port Phillip District. The contractors were John Hughes and Alexander Grant. The simply conceived stone structure is typical of early Government Buildings in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart. The Customs House is one of the earliest surviving Government Buildings in Victoria and the only surviving intact pre-federation Customs House in Victoria of a substantial nature. The continuity of use of the building for 130 years is also significant.