Work began on what became known as Queen's Dock in 1872. It was opened in 1877 and completed in 1880 at a cost of £901.000 and was, at over 33 acres, the largest dock in Scotland and the fifth largest in Britain.

Queen's Dock closed on December 31st 1969 and in 1975. the rubble from the demolition of the St Enoch Hotel was used as in-fill for the site, now the location of the SECC.

The dock's pumphouse which provided hydraulic power for the cranes and bridge was preserved and now houses part of the Tall Ship visitor attraction.