該建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)白色(se)古(gu)羅馬風格,是近代流傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)到中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的(de)歐洲新古(gu)典主義建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)的(de)典型建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)。1914年奠基(ji)(ji),由海關(guan)總(zong)稅務司署英(ying)籍(ji)總(zong)工程(cheng)師(shi)大(da)衛·迪克(David C Dick)規劃,英(ying)國(guo)(guo)(guo)皇家建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)師(shi)阿諾特·查爾(er)斯·達(da)德(de)利(C. D Arnott)設計(ji),華(hua)昌(chang)工程(cheng)公司承,于公元1916年6月(yue)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)。大(da)樓坐(zuo)北向南(nan),四(si)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),連鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓總(zong)高(gao)31.85米(mi)(mi),建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)面(mian)積4044平方(fang)米(mi)(mi),鋼筋混凝(ning)土框架(jia)結(jie)構。東(dong)南(nan)立面(mian)用花(hua)崗石(shi)砌(qi)(qi)(qi)筑(zhu)(zhu),西(xi)北立面(mian)砌(qi)(qi)(qi)紅磚墻(qiang),整體(ti)鋼筋水泥(ni)結(jie)構,以大(da)塊麻(ma)石(shi)作基(ji)(ji)礎。首層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)基(ji)(ji)座(zuo)(zuo)形(xing)(xing)式,用大(da)理條石(shi)砌(qi)(qi)(qi)筑(zhu)(zhu),使上層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)光(guang)滑的(de)圓柱和飾以花(hua)餅的(de)欄桿形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)對比。正(zheng)面(mian)外墻(qiang)以花(hua)崗巖(yan)圓柱與條石(shi)鑲砌(qi)(qi)(qi),正(zheng)面(mian)和東(dong)側(ce)柱廊(lang)全(quan)部雙(shuang)柱,仿(fang)羅馬愛奧尼式巨柱通(tong)貫二三層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),四(si)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)羅馬塔(ta)司干柱式。各室高(gao)大(da)寬敞,光(guang)線柔和并配有(you)壁爐,門窗(chuang)頂(ding)部略呈平緩的(de)拱形(xing)(xing),高(gao)大(da)黑色(se)柚木(mu)窗(chuang)、木(mu)門,木(mu)門中(zhong)間還有(you)兩(liang)(liang)扇小(xiao)門。走廊(lang)鋪(pu)設著細致講究的(de)花(hua)階磚地板、彩(cai)瓷磚墻(qiang)裙(qun)。頂(ding)筑(zhu)(zhu)巴洛克風格穹隆頂(ding)的(de)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓,四(si)面(mian)各砌(qi)(qi)(qi)塔(ta)司桿雙(shuang)柱,高(gao)13米(mi)(mi),建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)面(mian)積62平方(fang)米(mi)(mi)。分為(wei)(wei)(wei)兩(liang)(liang)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng):下為(wei)(wei)(wei)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)室,內有(you)不同口(kou)徑的(de)銅(tong)制(zhi)吊(diao)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)5座(zuo)(zuo),為(wei)(wei)(wei)1915年英(ying)國(guo)(guo)(guo)制(zhi)造;上為(wei)(wei)(wei)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)機房,里面(mian)安放有(you)目前全(quan)國(guo)(guo)(guo)罕見的(de)、保存完好的(de)英(ying)制(zhi)全(quan)機械傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)動(dong)式立鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)樓四(si)面(mian)各有(you)直徑2.5米(mi)(mi)的(de)外向圓鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)面(mian),晝夜通(tong)明(ming),可24小(xiao)時(shi)奏樂報時(shi),傳(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)聲甚(shen)遠。整個建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)共花(hua)了21萬銀兩(liang)(liang)。門頂(ding)原刻“粵海關(guan)”三字,1949年后曾(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)“廣州(zhou)海關(guan)”4個金字代替,2007年恢復原狀。
1684年(清康(kang)熙二(er)十三年)清政府開(kai)放海(hai)禁,設粵(在廣(guang)州)、閩(在廈門(men))、江(在云臺山,今連(lian)云港附近)、浙(在寧(ning)(ning)波)四個(ge)海(hai)關(guan)。1757年(乾隆二(er)十二(er)年)關(guan)閉(bi)廈門(men)、云臺山、寧(ning)(ning)波三個(ge)海(hai)關(guan),僅留(liu)廣(guang)州一口對外(wai)貿易(yi),粵海(hai)關(guan)遂居重要地位。清朝(chao)皇帝(di)派(pai)遣“監(jian)督(du)”管理粵海(hai)關(guan)事務,以(yi)滿族親(qin)貴充任(ren),具有(you)與總督(du)、巡撫平行而班次略后的官(guan)階。
鴉(ya)片(pian)戰爭前,粵(yue)(yue)海關并不直(zhi)接管理來粵(yue)(yue)貿(mao)易(yi)的外(wai)(wai)國(guo)商(shang)(shang)人,而是通過特許商(shang)(shang)行——十三行進行管理。鴉(ya)片(pian)戰爭后,十三行壟(long)斷(duan)對外(wai)(wai)貿(mao)易(yi)的制(zhi)度被廢除(chu),粵(yue)(yue)海關開始(shi)直(zhi)接插手外(wai)(wai)貿(mao)管理。
第二次鴉片(pian)戰爭時(shi),英國(guo)攫(jue)取了(le)中國(guo)海關(guan)(guan)管理權(quan)。1859年(咸豐九(jiu)年)10月,海關(guan)(guan)總稅務司英國(guo)人李泰國(guo)攫(jue)奪粵海關(guan)(guan)行政權(quan),從此粵海關(guan)(guan)一直(zhi)為帝國(guo)主(zhu)義(yi)所(suo)把持,直(zhi)到廣州解放。
1931年(nian)6月1日,粵海(hai)五十(shi)里外常(chang)關(guan)改轄(xia)于海(hai)關(guan)機構(gou),稱分卡或分關(guan),統歸粵海(hai)關(guan)稅務(wu)司(si)署(shu)(簡稱粵海(hai)關(guan))管(guan)理(li),至此(ci)原來由粵海(hai)關(guan)監督管(guan)理(li)的常(chang)關(guan)退出歷史舞臺。
1949年10月14日廣州解放,1950年1月31日,粵海關稅務司(si)署改稱“中華人民共和國廣州海關”,直(zhi)屬于中央人民政府(fu)海關總署。
2016年是(shi)“大(da)鐘樓”建成100周年,粵(yue)海(hai)(hai)關(guan)舊址是(shi)繼北京中國海(hai)(hai)關(guan)博(bo)物(wu)(wu)館(guan)后第二(er)個(ge),也是(shi)直屬海(hai)(hai)關(guan)第一個(ge)國有博(bo)物(wu)(wu)館(guan)-粵(yue)海(hai)(hai)關(guan)博(bo)物(wu)(wu)館(guan),于(yu)2015年12月28日通(tong)過廣(guang)東省文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)局備案登記。主要進(jin)行與粵(yue)海(hai)(hai)關(guan)相關(guan)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)藏(zang)品的征集收藏(zang)、文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)建筑保護(hu)、陳(chen)列展示以(yi)及開展學術研究、社會教(jiao)育、文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)交流、文(wen)(wen)(wen)創產品開發等,深入挖掘粵(yue)海(hai)(hai)關(guan)歷史文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)內涵,彰顯海(hai)(hai)關(guan)工作對(dui)于(yu)促(cu)進(jin)對(dui)外經濟(ji)貿(mao)易的重(zhong)要作用。
粵(yue)(yue)(yue)海(hai)關(guan)(guan)設(she)立于公(gong)(gong)元1685年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(清康熙(xi)二十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),是中國(guo)(guo)早(zao)設(she)立的(de)(de)(de)海(hai)關(guan)(guan)之一,公(gong)(gong)元1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))粵(yue)(yue)(yue)海(hai)關(guan)(guan)稅務司在(zai)該建筑關(guan)(guan)址正式(shi)建立公(gong)(gong)署。原樓于1913年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)拆除,公(gong)(gong)元1914年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(民國(guo)(guo)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))粵(yue)(yue)(yue)海(hai)關(guan)(guan)大樓工程在(zai)現(xian)址奠基,由英國(guo)(guo)建筑師戴衛德·迪克(ke)(David Dick)設(she)計,仿照(zhao)歐洲古典建筑形式(shi)設(she)計,華昌工程公(gong)(gong)司承(cheng)建,于1916年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)5月(yue)竣工。1925年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)建筑照(zhao)片送(song)“美國(guo)(guo)建筑技術賽會”陳列展(zhan)出。2006年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)9月(yue)12日(ri),廣(guang)州海(hai)關(guan)(guan)辦公(gong)(gong)地(di)點(dian)正式(shi)撤出已經使(shi)用了91年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)粵(yue)(yue)(yue)海(hai)關(guan)(guan)大樓,遷往天河(he)修復前的(de)(de)(de)粵(yue)(yue)(yue)海(hai)關(guan)(guan)大門上方的(de)(de)(de)“廣(guang)州海(hai)關(guan)(guan)”四字區(qu)珠江新城。海(hai)關(guan)(guan)總署于2007年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)2月(yue)批復,原廣(guang)州海(hai)關(guan)(guan)的(de)(de)(de)“大鐘(zhong)樓”將建設(she)為中國(guo)(guo)海(hai)關(guan)(guan)博(bo)(bo)物館分館。2007年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)8月(yue)完(wan)成恢復其舊貌(mao),保養維護工程。海(hai)關(guan)(guan)博(bo)(bo)物館則在(zai)同年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)12月(yue)28日(ri)布置完(wan)成并適時(shi)對公(gong)(gong)眾開放(fang)。
粵海(hai)關(guan)舊(jiu)址是中(zhong)國內地海(hai)關(guan)博(bo)物(wu)館(guan)。粵海(hai)關(guan)舊(jiu)址于2007年(nian)(nian)12月(yue)(yue)28日(ri)完成館(guan)內布置,每逢周一、三、五(wu),接受機關(guan)、學校、企事業單(dan)位等社會(hui)團體(ti)的預約(yue)參(can)觀。2009年(nian)(nian)9月(yue)(yue)20日(ri)和28日(ri),曾對社會(hui)公(gong)眾試(shi)行開(kai)(kai)(kai)放(fang)(fang)2天;從2010年(nian)(nian)1月(yue)(yue)13日(ri)起,改(gai)為每逢周三對社會(hui)公(gong)眾免(mian)費開(kai)(kai)(kai)放(fang)(fang),開(kai)(kai)(kai)放(fang)(fang)時間(jian)為上午(wu)9:30至下(xia)午(wu)4:00,市民憑(ping)身份證(zheng)等有效證(zheng)件(jian)可(ke)領票(piao)免(mian)費進場,參(can)觀1至4層(ceng)的博(bo)物(wu)館(guan)展(zhan)室,屋頂(ding)及其(qi)上面的鐘樓則不開(kai)(kai)(kai)放(fang)(fang),每日(ri)參(can)觀人(ren)數限于800人(ren);從2011年(nian)(nian)1月(yue)(yue)開(kai)(kai)(kai)始,博(bo)物(wu)館(guan)再次縮減(jian)開(kai)(kai)(kai)放(fang)(fang)時間(jian),只限在每個(ge)月(yue)(yue)第三周的周三向個(ge)人(ren)開(kai)(kai)(kai)放(fang)(fang)參(can)觀,維持憑(ping)證(zheng)件(jian)免(mian)費領票(piao)的安(an)排,開(kai)(kai)(kai)放(fang)(fang)時間(jian)為上午(wu)9:30至下(xia)午(wu)4:00,社會(hui)團體(ti)憑(ping)單(dan)位公(gong)函仍可(ke)在每周一、三、五(wu)預約(yue)集體(ti)參(can)觀。
粵海關舊址的大(da)鐘(zhong)(zhong)曾每隔15分鐘(zhong)(zhong)響一(yi)次音(yin)樂(le),上世紀80年代(dai)后期(qi),考(kao)慮到(dao)大(da)鐘(zhong)(zhong)報(bao)時(shi)聲和(he)(he)鐘(zhong)(zhong)聲會影響周圍居民(min)休息,海關應市民(min)要求最終(zhong)還(huan)是停止了鐘(zhong)(zhong)聲和(he)(he)音(yin)樂(le)報(bao)時(shi)。樓(lou)頂機械大(da)鐘(zhong)(zhong)近年,由(you)于大(da)鐘(zhong)(zhong)運行(xing)時(shi)間太(tai)長(chang)及零部件磨(mo)損嚴(yan)重,導(dao)致大(da)鐘(zhong)(zhong)時(shi)間出現較(jiao)大(da)誤差,為此曾對大(da)鐘(zhong)(zhong)進行(xing)過(guo)兩次維修以(yi)恢復大(da)鐘(zhong)(zhong)走時(shi)的準確性。2016年1月1日起,大(da)鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)早(zao)晚8點恢復敲鐘(zhong)(zhong)。