It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 January 2003,[1] but was removed in June 2015 after it was destroyed to create the Inner Northern Busway.

[2] However, a short section was preserved as a feature in the King George Square busway station.

In 1825 the penal settlement at Moreton Bay was moved from Redcliffe to Brisbane, where a reliable supply of water could be found.

[1] The Municipality of Brisbane, which was proclaimed on 7 September 1859, covered an area of ridges and swamps that could not be drained.

[1] On Thursday 24 January 1861 a tender was called for a culvert to enclose Wheat Creek under the road and box drains for water entry and exit to the design of new City Surveyor, Christopher Porter.

William David Nisbet, Engineer for Harbours and Rivers, took charge of the design and construction of the city drainage.

The Brisbane City Council carried out a video investigation of the culvert in May 2000 as part of the light rail project being undertaken by Queensland Transport.

[2] Prior to being moved for the busway construction, the Brisbane tuff ovoid culvert, which has been covered by successive layers of fill, was located under the intersection of Albert and Adelaide Street.

[1] The culvert is constructed of Brisbane Tuff, commonly known as porphyry and appears to be unaltered from its original design, which is shown on the Brisbane City Council Plan D-1-8 and is approximately 16 metres (52 ft) long, 1,350 millimetres (53 in) high and 1,330 millimetres (52 in) wide.

At the time of its heritage listing, it was reported that the sheer weight of the culvert appeared to hold the structure together as there was little mortar visible in the lower levels.

[1] Wheat Creek Culvert was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 January 2003 having satisfied the following criteria.

The Wheat Creek culvert at the intersection of Albert and Adelaide Street is one of the earliest surviving examples of a civil engineering project that was administered by the then newly formed Brisbane Municipal Council.

[1] The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.

[1] The place is important in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.

The Brisbane Tuff (porphyry) ovoid culvert is significant as part of the storm water drainage system of the 1860s and 70s that showed great technical achievement.

[4] As at 2017, five sites had been removed, including the Wheat Creek Culvert, which was demolished as part of an approved development, the Inner Northern Busway.