[1] The Old Cleveland Police Station and Courthouse, constructed 1934–35, is located at the corner of Passage and North Streets.

[1] The Governor of New South Wales (Charles Augustus FitzRoy) authorised a town survey of the area in 1850, and soon after proclamation, the first land sale took place in 1851.

At the time of the sale, Ipswich was still a strong contender for the capital of Queensland and there was strong rivalry between Cleveland (promoted by Ipswich interests, supported in turn by the Darling Downs squatters) and Brisbane, as to which would become the port to serve the north of the (then) Colony of New South Wales.

[1] The first police station and lock-up in Cleveland, following the Separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859, was located in a building in Paxton Street rented from Francis Edward Bigge.

The area of land on the corner of Shore and Passage Streets was proclaimed on 23 January 1884, by which time the police station and courthouse had been built.

[1] The first purpose-built police station and courthouse served the local community for over 50 years, however, by the early 1930s there were calls to replace the building as it was showing its age.

The new police station and courthouse cost almost £1500 and was described in an Annual Report for 1934–35: "This...new building is of timber construction and has a corrugated fibrolite roof.

"[1] The original floor plan dated 30 November 1934 prepared by the Queensland Government Architect's Office shows a single story timber building comprising public waiting area, court room, and an office to the rear, open verandahs on the northern, western and eastern elevations and an enclosed verandah on the southern elevation.

[1] The Cleveland Courthouse was a purpose-designed building, reflecting the estimated level of use, accommodating the particular needs of the local community, sited to constitute a strong civic presence to that part of the town.

A motel now occupies the post and telegraph office site to the south-east; however, there is clear evidence in the park reserve, in the mature tree planting and the war memorial, of the early role of this area as an important civic precinct.

This verandah was enclosed as early as 1939 due to the entry of the weather from that direction and alterations and extensions have continued since that time.

Clad with weatherboards, the building has tongue and groove boarding to the interior and verandahs and a skirt of vertical battens around the base.

There are discreet battened fan lights with a small, S-shaped decorative mid-panel to the living room and bedrooms off the hall.

[1] A small, detached, timber washhouse with a corrugated iron clad skillion roof lies immediately south of the east wing.

)[1] The Old Cleveland Police Station with its Court House was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 26 March 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.

The first purpose-built police station and courthouse was constructed in 1879, demonstrating the continued judicial use of the site for nearly 120 years.

Most suburban police stations were not constructed with a courthouse, further demonstrating Cleveland's importance as a major centre outside of Brisbane.

It has a special association with the work of the Government Architect's Office which developed a number of courthouse types which sought to respond to matters both economic and climatic, as well as providing a high quality of public building even on this modest scale.

The siting of the former Cleveland Police Station and Courthouse at the corner of Passage and North Streets provides evidence of the early role of the area as an important and strongly defined civic precinct, an area which includes the park reserve, mature tree planting and the war memorial.

[1] The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.

The former Cleveland Police Station and Courthouse is significant for its association with Brisbane architect, William James Ewart, who designed the building.