It was the site of Brisbane’s initial settlement, at a point where a stream flowing from Spring Hill provided fresh water, later collected in a reservoir on Tank Street.

By one opinion, it is about seven blocks long, covering the northerly bank of the Brisbane River between the Victoria Bridge and the William Jolly Bridge; another opinion gives it roughly the area of four city blocks in length, from Ann Street north of Brisbane Square to Queens Gardens, including the Conrad Treasury Casino.

[1] Captain Henry Miller was responsible for the settlement transfer, which was due to armed resistance by local Aboriginal groups, biting insects and a lack of reliable fresh water at Redcliffe.

[1] A riverside bikeway leading to the University of Queensland and the western suburbs from the Victoria Bridge has been built on the river at North Quay.

North Quay was historically and remains the centre of Queensland's legal infrastructure: The road can be congested on week days with traffic from Coronation Drive using part of the street to enter the city.