Historical Streets and Buildings to see in Brisbane

Anzac Square of Queensland.

All Australian cities commemorate those who have given their life for their country. Brisbane’s war memorial is centered on Anzac Square, an attractive park planted with, among other flora, rare boab (baobab) trees. The Eternal Flame burns in a Greek revival cenotaph at the Ann Street entrance to the park. Beneath the cenotaph is the Shrine of Memories, containing various tributes and wall plaques to those who gave their lives in war.

 

Old Windmill

Built in 1828, the Old Windmill is one of two buildings still standing in Brisbane from convict days, the old Commissariat Stores being the other survivor.

Originally the colony’s first industrial building, it proved unworkable without the availability of trained operators, so it was equipped with treadmills to punish recalcitrant convicts. It later served as a time signal, with a gun fired and a ball dropped each day at exactly 1pm.

The picturesque mill was also chosen as the first television image in Australia in the 1920s. The windmill is not open to the public, but it makes a striking photograph.

 

Fortitude Valley and Chinatown

The Ship Fortitude sailed from England and up the Brisbane River in 1859 with 250 settlers on board, and the name stuck to the valley where they disembarked.

For a time the area was the trading centre of the city and some impressive buildings were erected during the 1880s and 1890s. It then degenerated into one of Brisbane’s seedier areas.

In the 1980s, the city council began to revive the district. It is now the bohemian centre of Brisbane, with some of the city’s best restaurants.

McWhirter’s Emporium, an Art Deco landmark, is home to a popular indoor clothes market. On Saturday mornings, there is also a busy Outdoor market in Brunswick Street. The area should be avoided at night.

Also within the valley is Brisbane’s Chinatown, a bustling area of Asian restaurants, supermarkets, cinemas and martial arts centers. The lions at the entrance to the area were turned around when a feng shui expert considered their original position to be bad for business.

General Post Office

Built between 1871 and 1879, this attractive Neo- Classical building was erected to house the city’s first official postal service. It replaced the barracks for female convicts which had previously occupied the site. The building continues to operate as central Brisbane’s main post office.

Post Office Square, opposite the General Post Office, is a pleasant place to relax, while looking out over the landscaped greenery and fountains of Anzac Square.

 

St Stephen’s Cathedral

Early settlers provided the funds for this lovely English Gothic-style Catholic cathedral, designed by noted colonial architect Benjamin

Backhouse and completed in 1874. The main façade features restored twin spires on each side of the elaborate stained-glass windows.

Next door is St Stephen’s Church, the oldest church in Brisbane. It was designed by AW Pugin, an English architect who also worked on London’s Houses of Parliament.

 

Commissariat Store

The Commissariat Stores, constructed by convict labor in 1829, is the only surviving building from Brisbane’s penal colony days open to the public. Having been restored in 2000, it is now open to visitors and houses the Royal Historical Society of Queensland.

 

Parliament House

Queensland’s Parliament House was designed in French Renaissance style by architect Charles Tiffin, who won an architectural competition. Begun in 1865, it was completed in 1868. Tiffin added features more suited to Queensland’s tropical climate, such as shady colonnades, shutters and an arched roof which is made from Mount Isa copper. Other notable features are the cedar staircases and the intricate gold leaf detailing on the Council Chamber ceilings.

The building is still used for its original purpose and the public is permitted into the chambers when parliament is not in progress. Unlike other state parliaments, consisting of an Upper and Lower House, Queensland has only one parliamentary body.

Parliament House is also notable as being the first legislative building in the British Empire to be lit by electricity.

 

Old Government House

Home to the National Trust of Queensland since 1973, the state’s first Government House was designed by colonial architect Charles Tiffin and completed in 1862. The graceful sandstone building served not only as the state governor’s residence, but also as the administrative base and social centre of the state of Queensland until 1910.  Following its vice-regal term of office, the building was occupied by the fledgling University of Queensland (now situated in the suburb of St Lucia). Of particular architectural note are the Norman-style arches and arcades on the ground floor.

 

City Hall

Completed in 1930, the Neo-Classical City Hall is home to Brisbane City Council, the largest council in Australia. Brisbane’s early settlement is depicted by a beautiful sculpted tympanum above the main entrance. In the King George Square foyer, are some fine examples of traditional craftsmanship are evident in the floor mosaics, ornate ceilings and woodwork carved from Queensland timbers. City Hall’s 92-m (300-ft) Italian Renaissance-style tower gives a panoramic view of the city from a platform at its top. A display of contemporary art and Aboriginal art and ceramics is housed in the Museum of Brisbane.

The attractive King George Square, facing City Hall, continues to resist the encroachment of high-rise office blocks and has several interesting statues, including Form del Mito by Arnaldo Pomodoro.

The work’s geometric forms and polished surfaces, for which this Italian sculptor is noted, reflect the changing face of the city from morning through to night.  The bronze Petrie Tableau, by Tasmanian sculptor Stephen Walker, was designed for Australia’s bicentenary. It commemorates the pioneer families of Brisbane and depicts one of Queensland’s earliest explorers, Andrew Petrie, being bid farewell by his family as he departs on an inland expedition.

 

Customs House

Restored by the University of Queensland in 1994, Customs House, with its landmark copper dome and stately Corinthian columns, is now open to the public. Commissioned in 1886, this is one of Brisbane’s oldest buildings, predating both City Hall and the Treasury. Early renovations removed the hall and staircase, but these have now been carefully reconstructed from the original plans. Today, the building is used for numerous civic functions, and houses an art gallery and a restaurant.