It was finally consecrated on 18 July 1886[5] in a ceremony of "the most imposing and interesting character" which was "crowded to excess" by people of all faiths.

[6] The building features a large circular geometric tracery window of Oamaru stone above the Margaret Street arched doorway.

The rendered brick structure, constructed on concrete foundations, contains a basement, a nave and side aisles on the ground floor with a minister's retiring or robe room at the rear.

In accordance with traditional Jewish religious practices the sexes are separated during worship, with a gallery level for females only.

Prior to the centenary celebrations of the Brisbane Jewish community in 1965, considerable renovations were carried out, including the installation of additional stained glass windows.

The principal feature of the Margaret Street frontage is a doorway surmounted by a massive arch above which is a large circular tracery window of Oamaru stone.

[1] The building was designed to accommodate 400 people, 260 of them on the ground floor and the remainder on the upper level women's gallery which extends over the entry and down both sides.

The interior is divided into a nave and side aisles by large octagonal columns with moulded caps and cement bases.

Brightly coloured stained glass is situated in the circular windows on the gallery level and also the arched lower openings.

Located within the foundation stone cavity are artefacts and memorabilia which have the potential for yielding information about the Jewish community in the 1880s.

As an example of Australian-Jewish places of worship, the Brisbane Synagogue typifies the customs and liturgical practices of the Hebrew community.

The adaption in its design of both circular and octagonal elements to a traditional plan form to create a style suitable for an inner-city Synagogue.