Cleveland Courthouse: Historic views overlooking Moreton Bay up for grabs

The bayside restaurant – which closed late last year – sports an expansive lawn with more than 20 metres of direct frontage overlooking Moreton Bay, with both indoor and outdoor dining making the spot a popular choice for weddings and events over the past 25 years.

Located between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay is the gateway to Queensland’s picturesque North Stradbroke Island, where stunning beaches and rugged nature host abundant wildlife. 

The Cleveland Courthouse, located at 149 Shore Street North, on the corner of Paxton Street, also includes a self-contained two-bedroom apartment boasting bay views.

Set on 1290 square metres of land, the property presents an “extremely rare” opportunity,  nestled moments from Cleveland Point, a 150-year-old lighthouse and the proposed Toondah Harbour precinct, and residential growth.

The property, located in the City of Redland, is being marketed by listing agents Nathan Moore and Alex Sinclair of RWC Bayside.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure one of the Redlands’ most treasured buildings,” says Moore.

“It’s more than a property; it’s a piece of Cleveland’s identity, and it’s ready for its next chapter in the hands of a visionary operator or investor.”

Co-listing agent Alex Sinclair says, “it’s truly turnkey for restaurateurs or event operators”.

“This site delivers the ultimate blend of history, character, and location.”

Historic features such as leadlight windows, timber floors, exposed brickwork, and a working fireplace complement a restored interior with modern conveniences, such as a fully-equipped commercial kitchen and three private dining rooms. 

The interior spans 485 square metres while the all-weather outdoor dining space is 165 square metres. 

Cleveland, a relaxed harbourside and coastal town known for its performing arts centre, is home to around 15,000 people, a mix of families and singles who mostly own their own homes, and are aged on average, 60-plus. A three-bedroom home in the suburb commands around $860,000, according to Domain Insight data. 

The historic building was built around 1853 as a courthouse and “lock up” by European settlers, and is of historical importance to the Queensland Heritage Register.

It features a bowed verandah section, set low abutting the footpath where Paxton Street leads down to the sea, an aesthetic contribution to the Cleveland Point townscape.

The Old Cleveland Courthouse is also considered important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland’s history.

It is “associated with the earliest phase of European settlement at Cleveland, and with the establishment of the administration and enforcement of European law in the Redland district,” the register states.

After serving as a courthouse, the property later served the community as workers’ accommodation, a boarding house, and tearooms, before an extension in 1978 saw it grow into The Olde Courthouse Restaurant.

Ferries to North Stradbroke Island leave from Cleveland’s Toondah Harbour.

Redland Council’s Toondah Harbour Priority Development Area aims to enable redevelopment to boost tourism, and create new business opportunities and jobs.

A large-scale controversial development proposal by the Walker Corporation was rejected last April, with a scaled-down plan underway.

“Whether revitalised as a destination dining venue, exclusive event location, or reimagined entirely, this property offers a canvas like few others … it’s ideally positioned for the next phase of Bayside development,” the listing reads.

“This kind of offering is extremely rare,” adds Moore.

“The Cleveland shoreline is tightly held, and opportunities like this don’t come around often, particularly with such rich history and immediate operational potential.”