Hunt remained resolute throughout to end unbeaten on 130 as the visitors reached 7-289.
He brought up his ninth first class century with a six despite taking 236 balls to reach three figures in a watchful knock.
Queensland concluded a long day in the field at Allan Border Field taking 4-24 at one stage during the final hour.
South Australia lined up with Jake Lehmann returning after a 2nd XI century in place of Test star Travis Head ahead of the impending arrival of his second child.
There were also changes to the bowling line-up with Liam Scott and Wes Agar replacing Lloyd Pope and Brendan Doggett.
Queensland made two changes for their first home match of the Shield campaign with injured allrounder Jack Wildermuth and rested pace bowler Tom Straker omitted. Batter Lachlan Hearne and debutant paceman Tom Whitney came in for the pair.
Alex Carey looked strong in making 42 off 63 balls. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)
The Bulls failed to take advantage of winning the toss, with new skipper Marnus Labuschagne sending South Australia in to bat and the visitors putting on a century opening stand.
Conor McInerney and Hunt scored at barely 2.5 runs an over in reaching 106 before the former was caught behind for 51 off Test aspirant Michael Neser.
Captain Nathan McSweeney posted 37 only to offer Jimmy Peirson a second catch, this time delivering a debut wicket for Whitney.
It became two wickets in successive overs for Whitney when he bowled Daniel Drew for a duck.
The scoring rate didn't pick up until Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey arrived at the crease just after the tea break.
He was eventually undone by Neser's first over with the new ball, offering a simple catch to mid-off from a leading edge.
Carey looked comfortable in his 42 off 63 balls, having also scored 90 and 111 in the season opener.
Mark Steketee achieved a similar dismissal in the following over as Lehmann's attempted flick to leg ended up in a catch at gully and a second-ball duck for the middle-order batter.
Steketee then bowled Scott for 9 and Whitney knocked over Ben Manenti for 7 as South Australia lost 4-49 from 15 overs against the new cherry.
The 21-year-old Whitney was the pick of the bowlers with 3-51, while Neser returned 2-46 and Steketee 2-69.
