Newstead House is Brisbane’s oldest surviving residence, and a small museum you can tour on Fridays and Sundays. It sits in Newstead Park on the bank of the Brisbane River where Breakfast Creek meets it, about 10 minutes by car from the CBD.
The house dates from 1846 and has been a family home, a base for American troops and, today, a museum run by a board of trustees with a volunteer group. The park around it is free, open all day and easy to combine with a picnic or a river walk.
A short history of Newstead House
Newstead House began in 1846 as a small Colonial-Georgian cottage for Patrick Leslie, designed and built by Andrew Petrie, Brisbane’s first architect and builder. Leslie sold it the next year to John Clements Wickham, the police magistrate. The house was extended in later decades and now has a late Victorian look.
It changed hands several times. Merchant and politician George Harris lived here for 27 years, and the Lysaght Brothers bought it in 1898 with plans for a factory that never went ahead. Brisbane City Council bought it in 1918, and American troops were housed here during World War II. It was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.
Touring the house
The house is open for self-guided visits on Fridays from 10 am to 2 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm. Signs describe each room, and a QR code at the entry brings up more history and photos on your phone.
Volunteer-led guided tours run on Fridays at 11:30 am and on Sundays at 11:30 am and 2 pm. You do not need to book. Pay at the entry when you arrive. Groups of 10 or more use the group booking form on the tours page.
Adult entry is $12, concession is $9 (show your card), and children under 16 are free with an adult. Bike shoes are not allowed on the verandahs or inside the house.
Newstead Park and the river views
Newstead Park is the council park around the house, open 24 hours. It has public toilets and an accessible toilet, drinking fountains, a playground, picnic areas and shelters, a rotunda and a boat ramp. No barbecues are listed, so bring a rug and your own food.
The park also holds several memorials: John Oxley, the Centenary tide recorder, a Royal Australian Navy corvette, the USA Friendship Monument and the Vietnam Veterans memorial. River views are the reward for a slow lap of the grounds.
Is Newstead Park dog friendly?
The council lists no dog facilities at Newstead Park. The only off-leash dog park in Newstead is at Waterfront Park, a short walk away.
Planning your visit
- House days: Friday and Sunday. The house is closed Saturdays.
- Cost: The park is free. House entry is $12 for adults, $9 for concession cardholders and free for children under 16 with an adult.
- Toilets: Public and accessible toilets are in Newstead Park.
- What to bring: A hat, water and a picnic rug for the park.
- Contact: 07 3216 1846 or [email protected].
Getting there and parking
Newstead House is on the corner of Newstead Avenue and Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead. By car it is about 10 minutes from Brisbane CBD without traffic.
Parking: An accessible drop-off zone and designated accessible parking are available, and there is limited public parking along the Newstead Park access road.
Bus: Brisbane City Council buses stop at Bus Stop 12, Breakfast Creek Rd at Newstead House, inbound and outbound. Route 300 stops there. Plan the trip on the Translink stop page.
Train and bike: The closest station is Bowen Hills, about a 30-minute walk to the park. Bike paths run beside the river from Kingsford Smith Drive or New Farm.
More details are on the official plan your visit page.
Nearby
- Howard Smith Wharves – riverside eating and drinking under the Story Bridge.
- Story Bridge – the history of Brisbane’s landmark bridge.
- Brisbane Powerhouse – arts and events on the river at New Farm.
- New Farm Park – jacarandas, a playground and river picnics.
- Eat Street Northshore – the shipping container food market on the river.
- The Old Windmill – another of Brisbane’s earliest buildings.
More like this: history and landmarks across South East Queensland, and everything on our Brisbane page.
Quick answers
What is Newstead House?
Newstead House is Brisbane’s oldest surviving residence, built in 1846 and now a museum in Newstead Park beside the Brisbane River.
When is Newstead House open?
Fridays 10 am to 2 pm and Sundays 10 am to 4 pm. It is closed on Saturdays. Check the website before you go.
How much does Newstead House cost?
Adults pay $12 and concession cardholders $9. Children under 16 are free with an adult. Newstead Park is free.
Do you need to book a tour?
No. Guided tours and self-guided visits need no pre-booking; you pay at the entry. Groups of 10 or more use the group booking form.
Is there parking at Newstead House?
Yes. Limited public parking is along the Newstead Park access road, with accessible parking and a drop-off zone.
How do you get to Newstead House by public transport?
Take a bus to Stop 12, Breakfast Creek Rd at Newstead House (Route 300 stops there). The closest train station is Bowen Hills, about a 30-minute walk.
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