[2] The site of the former Petrie Terrace Police Depot occupies the southwest edge of a ridge formerly known as Green Hills, which overlooks the former Roma Street railway yards and the Brisbane central business district.

When Moreton Bay was opened to free settlement in February 1842, the only prison accommodation available was at one end of the former military barracks in Queen Street – the remainder of the building was occupied by storekeepers.

The gaol reserve was enclosed by a wooden fence, which was replaced in 1862 by a 20-foot (6.1 m) high stone wall, constructed by contractor Joshua Jeays of Brisbane.

The stone was recycled and used on various government projects in Brisbane, including the foundations supporting the iron palisade separating Queen's Park (now part of the City Botanic Gardens) in Alice Street.

It was intended to accommodate recruits, probationers and single officers stationed at Petrie Terrace, Roma Street, and the Traffic and Criminal Investigation branches in Brisbane.

[1] The design for the new barracks was developed after extensive consultation with officers of the Queensland Police Force, with consideration given to providing commodious quarters for unmarried men, and taking advantage of the prominent ridge site to establish a distinctive and forceful presence as a sentinel building overlooking the centre of Brisbane and to the major arterial road of Petrie Terrace.

The ground floor comprised offices, store, armoury, guard room, lecture theatre with folding partitions, kitchen and mess.

[1] When the barracks was officially opened on Friday 29 September 1939 by the Minister for Health and Home Affairs Ned Hanlon, it was considered one of the best investments that the Government had made; it would enhance the reputation of the force and give dividends daily in efficient service.

Environment has a great influence on the future career of any person, and it is felt that the change in accommodation as well as the increased facilities for training will benefit both the public and the administration.

"[1] Design responsibility for the new Petrie Terrace Police Barracks was assigned to Raymond Clare Nowland, an architect in the Department of Public Works.

The scheme provided for a square to the east and southeast of the barracks to incorporate formal gardens, tennis court, residences for senior officers and garaging for cars.

[1] The new Petrie Terrace Police Barracks was constructed during an intensive public works building programme undertaken by the Forgan-Smith Labor Government in Queensland during the 1930s, to counter the effects of the economic depression.

While the Petrie Terrace Police Barracks was erected in 1938–39, the advent of the Second World War diverted resources, and the remainder of the scheme did not come to fruition.

The new facility, which was intended as the "nerve-centre" of police communications in Queensland, was linked to the technical services of station VKR by land lines, and staffed by junior wireless operators.

The open area to the east and southeast of the former Police Barracks, which contains significant sub-surface material associated with the former Brisbane Gaol (1860–1883), became a carpark.

The redevelopment won UDIA Awards for Urban Renewal and best large Retail/Commercial development[2] The site now contains a Coles supermarket, a range of eateries, bars, restaurants and shops, and the Palace Cinemas at The Barracks.

[4] The former Petrie Terrace Police Depot occupies the southwest edge of a ridge which overlooks the former Roma Street railway yards and the Brisbane central business district.

It is bounded on the southeast by the Brisbane-Ipswich railway, on the southwest by Upper Roma Street, on the northwest by Petrie Terrace, and on the northeast by Victoria Barracks military reserve.

It contains a number of significant elements, including:[1] The former police barracks is highly visible from a number of vantage points around the Brisbane CBD, the former Petrie Terrace Police Barracks is a prominent landmark on a ridge overlooking the Roma Street Railway Yards and provides an impressive presence to Petrie Terrace.

The second floor verandahs to both elevations are punctuated by pairs of Doric columns with battened timber balustrading with decorative criss-cross central panels.

Other detailing includes decorative terracotta tile panels to the projecting parapet fronts to each elevation and vertical bands of incised arrows to the concrete door surrounds to the north, south and east entrances.

The moulded concrete door surrounds to the north, south and east entrances have vertical bands of an arrow pattern to the upper corners.

The walls and partitions are of brick; the verandah floors, corridors and staircases are of concrete; and the roof is sheeted with corrugated fibro cement tiles.

[1] The former stables at the former Petrie Terrace Police Depot are located on the north-western site boundary line opposite Caxton Street.

The south-western wing of the former E-shaped building was demolished prior to the night club refurbishment with the exception of a section of the projecting eastern wall which survives and contains an early timber framed and clad pair of doors.

[1] The former garage and workshop constructed adjacent to the Stables building in 1936 is a single-storey brick masonry structure with a corrugated red Colorbond gambrel roof with timber lined eaves.

There is a retaining wall of roughly dressed sandstone, laid in courses, along the boundary between the former police and military reserves, at the northeast end of the site.

The patterning of the facades in bands of red facebrick and imitation stone render give the building a lively, defensive quality in a style reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The detailing includes decorative terracotta tile panels to the projecting parapet fronts to each elevation and vertical bands of incised arrows to the concrete door surrounds to the north, south and east entrances.

The sub-surface remnants of the former Brisbane Gaol (1860–1883) have strong historical, social and archaeological significance The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.