The designer, Brisbane architect Thomas Ramsay Hall, incorporated an earlier (c. 1900) two-storeyed stone warehouse into the structure.

[1] The Castlemaine Brewery and Quinlan, Gray & Co. Brisbane Ltd manufactured Queensland's famous "XXXX" beer and imported wine and spirits.

In addition to the brewing business the firm supplied wine, spirits, groceries and general merchandise to hotelkeepers, storekeepers, and graziers throughout Queensland.

In 1909–1910 the company purchased two nearby allotments, at the corner of Adelaide Street and Clark Lane, with the object of constructing their own building on the site.

[1] These allotments were part of a larger parcel of land bounded by Wharf, Adelaide and Ann streets alienated in 1853 by Dr William Hobbs.

Bowser & Co. were the proprietors of the Bowen Park Quarry opposite the Exhibition Grounds, supplying porphyry (Brisbane tuff) for both building and asphalting purposes, and appear to have been responsible for the construction of a two-storeyed stone warehouse at the corner of Clark Lane and Adelaide Street c. 1900.

[1] From October 1900 the Salvation Army held a five-year lease over Bowser & Co'.s building, which they conducted as a Workmen's Metropole providing low-cost temporary accommodation to itinerant working men.

After the Salvation Army vacated this building it was occupied by various businesses, including the Queensland Motor Agency, WF Turk & Co. electrical engineers and machinery agents, and JW Walker, clothing manufacturer.

[1] Work on construction of a new building had not commenced prior to World War I (1914–1918), which interrupted trade and had a detrimental impact on the company's activities.

In 1916 the directors made three significant decisions: to withdraw from general importing and to specialise in brewing and in the distribution of wine and spirits; to introduce Castlemaine XXXX Sparkling Ale; and to proceed with the construction of the Adelaide Street building.

The new structure more than doubled the footprint of the existing building on the site, necessitating further cutting into the rocky outcrop adjacent to St John's Deanery.

The main office was arranged on the "American "open" system" and was finished with Queensland timbers and tessellated floor tiles.

On an upper floor a rest lounge with reading and cooking facilities was provided at the front of the building, overlooking Petrie's Bight, for the use of female staff members.

His larger commissions had included the Sandgate Town Hall (1911–1912), the McDonnell & East department store on George Street (1911–1913), and work for the Catholic Church.

In 1919 he took into partnership his former articled pupil, George Gray Prentice, and in that year their design for the new Brisbane City Hall (opened 1930) was accepted.

The introduction of Castlemaine XXXX Bitter Ale in 1924 proved highly popular and became the basis for future brews; then in October 1928 the firm consolidated its position as a leading Queensland brewing company with the purchase of a controlling interest in Perkin's & Co. Ltd, acquiring the Toowoomba maltings and brewery (established in 1866), sections of the City Brewery plant, the trade of 19 freehold hotels for a period of 25 years, and the trade of 50 leasehold hotels until each lease expired.

[1] The new bulk store was designed by Brisbane architects Addison and Macdonald, who undertook most of Castlemaine Perkins' hotel refurbishments and brewery expansion work at this period.

Despite the impact of the economic depression of the early 1930s, Castlemaine Perkins Ltd was able to consolidate its holdings, taking advantage of the slump in the property market to purchase further hotel freeholds and leaseholds.

The Port of Brisbane had moved downstream and the Castlemaine Perkins building was one of many Petrie Bight warehouses that subsequently became redundant.

The south-western side is set back about one metre from the hill that rises to St John's Deanery to permit light and ventilation to the interior of the building.

[1] The rear third of the site, where the land slopes up from Adelaide Street, is occupied by a two-storeyed brick and concrete section that appears to have been constructed in at least two stages (1918–1919 and 1928–1929).

The central pediment is decorated with a garland of vine leaves and bunches of grapes, symbolizing the business of the firm that commissioned the construction in 1918, and bears the date 1871 (the year in which Quinlan, Donnelly & Co. was formed).

This has a varnished, panelled timber ceiling and highly glazed early ceramic tiles lining the walls to door height.

The ground floor of this section retains a number of elements associated with its former function as a dispatch area - three large goods doors (two in timber and one of fire-proof steel construction) and front loading docks.

These characteristics include:[1] The building is important as an excellent example of the early work of Brisbane architect TR Hall prior to his joining GG Prentice in partnership in 1919.

The building has aesthetic significance generated by the rhythm and detailing in the facade, including exaggerated keystones, decorative elements in the central bay and parapet, and the play of the brick against the render.

Designed as the firm's signature building, the front elevation incorporates symbolic elements in the facade associated with the work of the company.