Brisbane's architectural landscape is a captivating blend of heritage and modernity, reflecting the city's rich history and ongoing growth. Among its notable historical structures is The Old Windmill, located in Wickham Park, which was built in 1824 using convict labor and stands as the oldest surviving building in Brisbane. Another significant landmark is the Commissariat Store on William Street, constructed in 1828 and originally serving as a grain store. Today, it houses the Royal Historical Society of Brisbane and features a museum that showcases the city’s past.

The city's architectural significance extends to a variety of 19th and early 20th-century buildings, including the Treasury Building, City Hall, Customs House, Land Administration Building, and MacArthur Chambers. The Federation-style People's Palace, once a temperance hotel on Edward Street, adds to this historical richness with its unique design.

A distinctive feature of Brisbane's architectural identity is the Queenslander-style house, prevalent throughout the region. These homes typically exhibit timber construction, expansive verandahs, gabled corrugated iron roofs, and high ceilings. Elevated on stumps, these houses are designed to promote cooling airflow beneath them, making them well-suited to the subtropical climate. The affordability of timber in southeast Queensland has historically favored the construction of Queenslander homes over brick or stone alternatives. Due to early legislation mandating minimum residential block sizes, few terrace houses were built, leading to a landscape dominated by these elevated, timber-framed residences.

Brisbane is also home to several of Australia’s tallest buildings, all located within the CBD. The city’s skyline began transforming in the 1970s, following the completion of the 91-metre City Hall, which was the tallest building in Brisbane for decades until it was surpassed in height. The current tallest building is the Brisbane Skytower, standing at 270 meters (890 feet). Other architecturally significant skyscrapers include Riparian Plaza, designed by Harry Seidler, One One One Eagle Street, known for its LED lighting that mimics the buttress roots of the Moreton Bay fig tree, and 1 William Street, which serves as the headquarters for the Queensland Government.

Among these modern structures is the Manor Apartment Hotel, completed in 1931, showcasing the evolution of urban design in the city. Additionally, the Shrine of Remembrance at ANZAC Square stands as a major memorial, emphasizing the city’s commitment to honoring its historical roots.

Brisbane's architectural diversity, from its heritage buildings to contemporary high-rises, creates a vibrant urban landscape that reflects both the city's historical significance and its dynamic growth into the future.