The commander of the British forces in New Zealand, General Duncan Cameron, selected a suitable site near the Māori kaianga (village) of Pōkeno in May.

Men of the 14th, 65th and 70th Regiments were involved in its building, and the fortification, the second largest in size to be built by the British during the New Zealand Wars, was completed by the end of the year.

[10] In October 1865, the military presence at the redoubt had been reduced to that required for care and maintenance and a year later the site was abandoned altogether.

Usually taking a square or rectangular plan form, they were prepared by excavating a ditch to a depth of around 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) to define the perimeter of the redoubt.

[14][15] At the centre of the redoubt was a parade ground and arranged around this was some 27 buildings, mainly barracks for the garrison but also including a storehouse and the hospital.

[12] However, the northern side of the redoubt's earthworks form the backyards of some dwellings on Selby Street, in the Pōkeno township, and remain in private ownership.

[16] With a view to developing the site as a visitor attraction, the south eastern portions of the redoubt were restored over a period of years.

An education centre for the New Zealand Wars and the role of Queen's Redoubt played in the conflict was built; this was completed in 2015.