Download a brisbane city council heritage trail discover brisbane`s cbd riverfront

E CITY COUN
RISBAN
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HERITAGE TRAIL
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Brisba
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HeritaGe traiL
Each heritage site in this guide offers a uniquely Brisbane
experience. Take the whole walk or visit just those that relate to
your area of interest. Flip out the map to locate all the sites.
This walk is quite long, covering one side of the Town Reach of
the Brisbane River. Some parts of the walk may not be wholly
accessible for the disabled.
Cross-river ferry trips can be included to return to the starting
point of the trail, so you would need to be prepared for the
costs involved. Fare details are available from TransLink:
TransLink
Ph 13 1230
www.translink.com.au/travel-information/how-to/how-to-use-the-ferry
Be prepared – wear good walking shoes and a hat. You can stop
and rest, or buy refreshments at various points along the trail.
Many of the buildings are privately owned, so please respect
the privacy of the owners.
If you’re organising a group, read the trail ahead and ensure all
the places you want to see are accessible to all parties and/or
are open. Some sites are available for inspection and a few offer
guided tours. Please phone ahead to check the opening hours
of the following:
Customs House
Ph 3365 8999
www.customshouse.com.au
City Botanic Gardens
Ph 3403 8888
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/
facilities-recreation/parksgardens/city-botanic-gardens
QUT Art Museum
Ph 3138 5370
www.artmuseum.qut.edu.au
Queensland
Maritime Museum
Ph 3844 5361
www.maritimemuseum.com.au
Old Government House
(QUT Gardens Point)
Ph 3138 8005
www.ogh.qut.edu.au/contact
Gett
inG aroUnD
Brisbane is well serviced by a network of public
transport options. Call TransLink on 13 1230 or visit
www.translink.com.au for information on all train, bus, ferry
and CityCat services. Their operators will give you information
regarding transport options, timetables, fare costs and bus
stop/terminal locations. One call does it all.
Tickets can be purchased on the spot when boarding most
buses (except pre-paid buses), ferries or CityCats and from
most train stations. go card is an electronic ticket that lets you
travel seamlessly on all Brisbane bus, train and ferry services.
You can buy and top up go card at hundreds of locations in
South East Queensland or online at www.translink.com.au
The Transport Information Centre (TIC) is a one-stop shop
for information and advice on public transport (buses, trains
and ferries) and tips for healthy and environmentally friendly
transport options. The TIC is located at King George Square
station, Ann Street concourse in the Brisbane CBD.
For more tourist and visitor information call the
Visitor Information Centres listed below.
Visitor Information Centre
Queen Street Mall
Ph 3006 6290
Brisbane Marketing
Ph 3006 6200
www.brisbanemarketing.com.au
South Bank Information Centre
Stanley Street Plaza
Ph 3867 2051
For additional information visit
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
For additional information about
heritage sites in Brisbane visit
Brisbane’s Living Heritage Network
www.blhn.org
WILLIAM STREET
IA BRIDG
TOR
E
VIC
NORTH QUAY
FERRY TERMINAL
EN STREET MA
QUE
ELIZABETH STREET
ALBERT STREET
GEORGE STREET
CHARLOTTE STREET
21
20
MARY STREET
SOUTH BANK 1 & 2
FERRY TERMINAL
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17
18
16 15
MARGARET STREET
23
ALICE STREET
22
QUT FERRY
TERMINAL
ANIC GARDENS
BOT
24
QUEENSLAND
UNIVERSITY OF
TECHNOLOGY
GO
O
SOUTH BANK 3
FERRY TERMINAL
BRIDGE
ILL
DW
RIVER PLAZA
FERRY TERMINAL
27
CAPTIAN COOK BRIDGE
26
25
WHARF STREET
ALL
2
QUEEN STREET
1
3
CREEK STREET
MARKET STREET
7
8
9
10
11
FELIX STREET
5
6
ST
RIVERSIDE
FERRY TERMINAL
G
EA
EAGLE STREET PIER
FERRY TERMINAL
HOLMAN STREET
FERRY TERMINAL
4
13 12
THORNTON STREET
FERRY TERMINAL
14
1
ISBANE CITY COUNC
A BR
IL
HERITAGE TRAIL
STORY BRIDG
E
EDWARD STREET
ET
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LeGenD
Customs House
4
Eagle Street Drinking Fountain
5
Story Bridge
6
Naldham House
8
Former Coal Board Building
9
Former Spencer’s Building
9
Former Martin and Co Warehouse
10
Port Office Hotel
11
Former Port Office
11
Smellie and Co
12
Naval Offices
12
Former Smellie and Co Warehouse
13
Former Britannia Foundry
14
City Botanic Gardens
14
Former Watson Brothers Building
16
Former HB Sales Building
17
The Brisbane Synagogue
17
The Mansions
18
Harris Terrace
20
Former Immigration Depot
21
Commissariat Store
22
Parliament House
24
Queensland Club
25
QUT Gardens Point Campus
26
Old Government House
26
South Brisbane Dry Dock and
Queensland Maritime Museum
28
Coal Wharves
29
Brisbane City Council is committed to retaining and
celebrating Brisbane’s rich heritage. Through initiatives such
as this heritage trail, Council takes residents and visitors on
a journey into the city’s past.
The heritage of the Brisbane River provides an insight
into the past while at the same time delivering endless
opportunity for the future of the city.
From providing for the region’s indigenous inhabitants,
through to the important role it played during war –
accommodating vessels and soldiers; from housing vital
industry and export businesses, to its renewal as a vibrant
hub of residential and urban activity; the Brisbane River
holds a wealth of history.
PLease note:
Every attempt has been made to ensure the information
contained within this guide is correct at the time of printing.
The products, services and information given in this publication
are subject to change or withdrawal without notice at any time.
The Heritage Trail is not intended to be an exhaustive list of
heritage experiences found in Brisbane. Inclusion or exclusion
is not to be construed as endorsement of a particular operation.
The publisher, Brisbane City Council, expressly disclaims liability
to an entity for loss, costs or damages of whatsoever nature
arising out of or connected with its reliance on the contents
of this brochure. All material is subject to copyright.
imaGes UseD are coUrtesy of:
John Oxley Library (JOL),
State Library of Queensland
1
introDUction
‘Reflections on the River’ takes you on a journey around
the Town Reach of the Brisbane River. In our modern city
the river is primarily a recreational venue, prized for its
ecological and aesthetic values. On this Heritage Trail
you will encounter places that reflect the experiences and
perceptions of another age – a time when agriculture,
bureaucracy, commercial enterprise and industry all
flourished within this significant riverside locality.
For six thousand years the Indigenous inhabitants of the
region wove their lifestyle around this river, using the
thriving riverine ecosystem as a source of food.
From 1825 the Aboriginal people experienced radical
changes to their way of life when a British penal settlement
was established in the area they knew as ‘Meanjin’.
The penal settlement was deliberately isolated and
communication with the wider world was only by sea.
Supplies, mail, and personnel all moved by ship, making the
river essential to the settlement’s establishment and survival.
After almost two decades the prison closed, and with the
coming of free colonists after 1842 the frontier town of
Brisbane emerged. The river provided the conduit through
which imports, exports and immigrants flowed. Fed by the
profits of growing trade and spurred on by the economic
boom of the mid 1880s, the temporary buildings of convict
times gave way to a city built in stone.
Brisbane emerged as a city characterised by
typical Victorian energy and optimism.
2
The growth and success of the Victorian era, though
punctuated by times of economic depression and natural
disasters, continued into the 20th century. By the 1930s,
the rise of the motor car, population growth, and another
economic depression prompted the construction of the
Story Bridge, permanently altering the character of the
Town Reach. The calamitous wars of the 20th century are
also part of the river’s history. During WW a military hospital
was established on the banks of the river, and throughout
WW Brisbane was an important US and Allied naval base.
After the war the port was steadily moved downstream
and the wharves, warehouses and workshops made way
for office blocks, eateries, residential apartments and
recreational spaces.
Modern Brisbane is a diverse, multi-cultural city that
celebrates the river. An annual Brisbane River Festival
encourages us to experience and embrace this magnificent
waterway. This Heritage Trail is one of the many river
experiences available to you. Its purpose is to recall some
of the endeavours and aspirations of the people who built,
traded, lived and worked along the banks of the river, and
who ultimately helped shape the city. It offers us a greater
awareness of the history of the river and reflects its influence
on the history of Brisbane.
Pettigrew’s Brisbane
Sawmills, 1861, JOL
WHARF STREET
2
QUEEN STREET
1
EDWARD STREET
ET
RE
CREEK STREET
MARKET STREET
6
7
8
9
10
11
FELIX STREET
5
LE
ST
RIVERSIDE
FERRY TERMINAL
G
EA
This walk commences in Queen
Street at the old Customs House.
Customs
House is readily
3
accessible by public transport.
You can return to this point by
CityCat from QUT or South Bank.
STORY BRIDG
E
ALL
EAGLE STREET PIER
FERRY TERMINAL
HOLMAN STREET
FERRY TERMINAL
4
13 12
THORNTON STREET
FERRY TERMINAL
14
1
Customs House, Petrie Bight, circa 1920, JOL
1
Cu
In its heyday, this building formed an administrative gateway to
the city and the port. The closure in 1842 of the penal settlement
at Moreton Bay opened the way for commercial enterprise in the
sparsely populated outpost. Brisbane was not a self-sufficient town,
and shipping was crucial to its development. Exports of timber
and wool were matched by imports of manufactured goods and
foodstuffs. Not to let a potential source of revenue go untapped,
the colonial government imposed taxes on this trade from as
early as 1846. Opened in 1889, the impressive copper-domed
Customs House reflected the growing prosperity of maritime
trade in the colony. The grand facades of the building, designed
to demonstrate the economic strength and stability of the colony,
address both Queen Street and the Brisbane River.
With the removal of port facilities by the late twentieth century,
there was little need for a central city river-based Customs
headquarters. The building is now in the ownership of
The University of Queensland and is used as a functions centre
and art gallery. Customs House is open seven days from 9am.
4
Proceed along Queen Street and turning right cross at the
traffic lights to the centre island. Cross Eagle Street to the…
Intersection of Queen and Eagle Streets, 1889, JOL
2
eaGLe street DrinKinG foUntain
This public drinking fountain was completed in 1880 as part of a
beautification project. The municipal council funded the majority
of the work, and the remainder was raised by public subscription.
This led to much confusion as to the original purpose of the
fountain, as donations were also being sought around the same
time for a memorial to James Mooney, a volunteer fireman who
died in 1877 in the line of duty. Although an official Mooney
memorial was erected above his grave in Toowong cemetery, the
Eagle Street drinking fountain became inextricably associated with
the young fireman. In 1988 Brisbane City Council finally gave official
recognition to a persistent piece of Brisbane folklore, adding a
tablet honouring Mooney and other firemen who died on duty.
fire fiGHters
New York born James Mooney was fatally injured when a
barrel of spirits exploded while he was fighting a fire in a
Queen Street store in 1877. The 22-year-old member of the
City Volunteer Fire Brigade was the first Brisbane fireman to
die in the line of duty. During the twentieth century another
nine Brisbane firemen were fatally injured while protecting
life and property.
5
Return via the same route to Eagle Street and turn right. Walk
to the Riverside Centre and make your way through the plaza to
the riverside. From here you can view, in all its grandeur…
View of almost completed Story Bridge circa 1939, JOL
3
S
This functional yet elegant bridge has become an icon of Brisbane.
Begun during the 1930s depression, it was built to alleviate
unemployment and to address Brisbane’s future traffic needs. It is
one of the largest steel cantilever bridges in the world. The total
cost of construction was £1.6 million, an enormous sum for the
time, but this was recouped through a toll in just seven years.
The project, managed by Evans Deakin Hornibrook, employed on
average 320 workers in each of the five years it took to build the
bridge. The Story Bridge was a major feat of engineering, which
unlike the Sydney Harbour Bridge, was almost entirely designed
and built by Australians from Australian materials. Its construction
was a measure of the confidence and faith held in the future of the
city. That it was undertaken at a time of depression and uncertainty
is even more remarkable.
Ships moored in Petrie’s Bight, circa 1875, JOL
6
on
tHe Waterfront
This stretch of river, winding its way from Kangaroo
Point to Gardens Point, has loomed large in the story of
Brisbane. Many ships, both sail and steam, berthed here
in the area known as Town Reach. Vital to Queensland’s
development, the shipping industry carried wealth and
prosperity into the state and the city.
Once the flourishing centre of Queensland’s maritime
trade, an array of shops, eateries and office spaces now
stand in place of a thriving concentration of wharves
and warehouses.
From here you can imagine the river filled with sailing
ships and steamships from ports foreign and domestic.
Barques, brigantines, full rigged ships, paddle
steamers, tramp steamers, grain carriers, and passenger
ships all took their place beside these wharves,
discharging their cargoes and picking up new ones for
return voyages. At busy times ships waited at anchor in
the middle of the river for their turn in the hands of
the stevedores.
This was also the naval heart of Queensland. Across the
river are the Naval Stores, the former headquarters of
Queensland’s colonial navy. The gunboats Gayundah
and Paluma had their home base here and their
robust grey forms were often seen on the river. So too
the occasional British warship, visiting as part of the
Imperial fleet’s worldwide duties.
The port facilities remained here into the twentieth
century. As ships grew in size and capacity however,
Town Reach could no longer accommodate them and
wharf facilities were moved downstream. The largely
abandoned wharves were eventually demolished to
make way for commercial areas, office space and lately
for residential use. The only vessels now occupying
the river are pleasure yachts, the exotic names and
homeports of which remind us of days gone by –
days when hardworking trading vessels carried great
quantities of Queensland’s export goods right out of
the heart of the city, and brought in all kinds of wares
from the far corners of the globe.
7
When you descend to the boardwalk turn to your right and
make your way along to the Eagle Street Pier. Restaurants and
cafes abound on this stretch of the river, and many open well
into the evening should you wish to come back for a riverside
dining experience. At the Eagle Street pier take the ramp to
the upper level. Continue past the restaurants and exit to
Eagle Street via the covered walkway. Turn left and continue
into Mary Street. Just beyond Waterfront Place is…
Naldham House, circa 1935, JOL
4
naLDHam HoUse
Nestled behind stands of lush trees, Naldham House was
the home of the Australian United Steam Navigation Company
(AUSN) from 1888. You can read more about the building’s
history on an informative plaque at the near end of the building.
Note the flood markers on the side of the building, particularly
the record high of 1893.
Naldham House is our entry point to a largely intact nineteenth
century precinct. This area contains a number of sites that reflect
the importance of shipping to Brisbane’s commercial heritage.
Sometimes known as Frog’s Hollow because of its original low
geographic location and swampy nature, the area was a curious
blend of warehouses, large engineering works, foundries and
small workshops, of mercantile agencies, brothels, hotels,
boarding houses, and residences. All of these were adjacent to
busy wharves, a ferry terminal and the Botanic Gardens, one of
the few developed recreational spaces of the time. It was a
curious blend of people too, with tradesmen, merchants,
stevedores, shopgirls, labourers, sailors and prostitutes rubbing
shoulders in this busy commercial district. A variety of class and
ethnic groups worked, lived, and relaxed in this area, giving
it a vibrancy and cosmopolitan character of its own.
8
Move along the Mary Street frontage of Naldham House, and
cross Felix Street at the traffic lights. Continue along Mary
Street. On the left is the...
5
F
Scottish born squatters William Allan and William Graham,
who were also Queensland politicians, built this warehouse as
a speculative investment during the economic boom years of the
late 1880s. It was designed by prominent architect Richard Gailey,
and makes a significant aesthetic contribution to the street corner.
Through its working life it housed businesses that distributed a
variety of imported goods including china and glass, produce,
leather goods, and hardware. The Queensland Government
purchased the building in 1968, and the Coal Board and other
entities used it for office space.
Cross Edward Street and turn left. Continue until you are
opposite…
6
F
Not to be confused with the larger, newer, Spencer Chambers
beside it, Spencer’s Building was actually built as an investment
by Frances Jones, wife of Reverend Thomas Jones who had arrived
in Brisbane with the city’s first Anglican Archbishop, E W Tufnell, in
1860. Completed in early 1890, this warehouse had an inauspicious
start in life. It was inundated by floods in 1890 and 1893, and went
largely unoccupied during the subsequent depression. It was not
until the turn of the century that the building housed its first longterm occupants. Leonard Spencer, coachbuilder and ironmonger,
ran his business from here for 20 years until he built the 1920s
warehouse next door. With its finely executed detailing, this
building is an attractive contribution to the collection of
Victorian warehouses that is a feature of this end of Edward Street.
The recently named Spencer’s Lane was a rear service lane for
this building.
9
Adjacent to this building is…
Edward Street during March 1890 flood, JOL
7
former martin anD co WareHoUse
Situated close to the riverfront, this attractive warehouse was
built in 1886 and was home to a string of merchants and shipping
agents for nearly 80 years. The first tenant was R. Martin and Co
Ironmongers, prominent ship-chandlers, riggers and sail makers.
The near-waterfront location was ideal for such a business at a time
when many sailing and steam ships visited this part of the Brisbane
River. Hardworking nineteenth century ships needed constant
maintenance, and from here Martin and Co were able to supply a
range of much needed parts and stores to keep them fit for sea.
Yachting supplies and sails were also stocked. The building served
a number of other purposes through the twentieth century and was
acquired by the Brisbane and Area Water Board in 1982. It is now a
retail store.
At the lights turn left and cross Edward Street. Stand in front of
Martin and Co and diagonally opposite view…
Port Office Hotel, circa 1929, JOL
10
8
Port office HoteL
Situated in a maritime and engineering precinct, pubs such as
this one were certain to do well. John Kelly erected the Shamrock
Hotel on this site around 1864. It underwent substantial alterations
in 1876. These changes gave it the basic form that can still be
seen today. In 1888 the hotel was described as being extremely
commodious, containing (besides public and private bars and
an attractive clubroom) fifteen bedrooms, a drawing room, two
bathrooms, and four public rooms on the ground floor. In 1909 a
new licensee renamed it the Port Office Hotel due to its proximity
to that building. ‘Modernisation’ in 1955 led to the removal of all
verandahs, lacework, canopies and chimneystacks. Recent work
has been more sympathetic.
Cross Margaret Street to…
Port Office, circa 1889, JOL
9
F
11
On the opposite side of the street is the red brick warehouse
still adorned with the name of its original owners…
10 S
This attractive warehouse was constructed in 1895-96 for
importers Smellie and Co. ‘Smellie’s’ began as an iron foundry
and engineering business in the 1860s, undertaking all aspects of
heavy engineering and metal casting. They manufactured cast iron
posts and balustrading for buildings, heavy plant and equipment,
and even steamships and locomotives. The Louisa, the first iron
steamship built in Brisbane, was constructed by Smellies in 1872.
Always successful, they moved into importing in the 1880s bringing
in machinery, tools, and hardware. This dictated the construction
or purchase of a number of warehouses over the next few years
and this building is one example. This building is notable for its red
brick construction (something unusual in Brisbane) and the large
arched windows give a sense of airy grandeur. This building is now
used as premium office space.
Proceed past the former Port Office and the Stamford Plaza to…
N
11
The Queensland Marine Defence Force (QMDF) was formed in
1884, a time when defence was the responsibility of individual
colonial governments. Queensland commanded a small fleet
including the gunboats Gayundah and Paluma, the torpedo boat
Mosquito, the piquet boat Midge, and the minelayer Miner.
Naval defence of the colony also relied on part-time units of the
Queensland Naval Brigade to man vessels and gun positions in
time of war.
12
The Naval Offices were constructed between 1900-01 as
Headquarters for the QMDF. This building represents the
Queensland Government’s acknowledgment of its continuing
responsibility towards naval defence even on the eve of
Federation. Although the Commonwealth administered the naval
forces after Federation, the Naval Offices were not handed over to
the Federal Government until 1911, the year of the official creation
of the Royal Australian Navy.
Proceed along the footpath to…
Building of Smellie & Co. Ltd. Hardware, Brisbane, Queensland, circa 1920, JOL
12 F
Originally only three storeys high, this warehouse was constructed
in 1888 for Smellie and Co. Two storeys were added to the building
in 1895 as their enormous business success made more space
essential. This made it one of the tallest buildings in the city and
it dominated this area of town, reflecting the achievements of the
company. The building was acquired by the Department of Works
in 1945, but has recently been adapted as residential apartments.
13
Around the corner in Alice Street is...
13 F
The two-storey Britannia Foundry was built for Harvey Sargeant
and Co in 1887, a time when the heavy engineering industry was
blossoming in Queensland. Much of the ironwork that fed the
1880s Brisbane building boom was manufactured here. Indeed,
most of the block roughly bounded by Edward, Alice, Margaret
and Albert streets was taken up with engineering works and
foundries at that time. Smellie and Co took over the foundry
in 1909 for use as a warehouse.
Enter the gateway into…
14 C
Twenty hectares of riverfront land were originally set aside as
gardens in 1828 to enable food crops to be grown for the penal
settlement. Nearly three decades later a Botanic Reserve was
proclaimed over part of the site. Scientific research was carried
out on native plants, and agricultural experiments conducted in
the gardens contributed to the development of introduced species
as successful commercial crops. The Gardens are now primarily a
recreational venue, and the area is one of the larger open spaces
in the central business district. It includes Brisbane’s most mature
gardens, studded with rare and unusual botanic species.
Continue on the pathway parallel with the river until you reach
the second paved path on your right. Follow that through the
Gardens, veering to your right, until you arrive at the central
rotunda. From the rotunda proceed to the main gates opposite
Albert Street. The large sign to your left provides a short but
informative history of the Gardens...
Botanic Gardens, circa 1896, JOL
14
fLooDs
As well as being a foundation of prosperity, the river
has also been a source of disaster.
Several times devastating floods have wrought
destruction upon the City of Brisbane.
In 1893, three floods hit Brisbane within a fortnight,
two of these reaching levels that are the highest in
recorded history. Torrential rain, caused by three
successive cyclones, combined with storm surges to
create severe flooding in the areas of Brisbane’s central
business district, Kangaroo Point and South Brisbane.
Lives were lost and many businesses, homes, and
livestock were destroyed. The financial cost of the
floods was a setback to a city already coping with a
severe economic crisis. The river flooded on a number
of occasions over the next 80 years, though none
of these were on such a severe scale.
Brisbane was hit by another disastrous flood in 1974.
While not as high as the 1893 flood, it nevertheless cost
14 lives and caused damage to more than 6000 homes
and businesses across the city. The 1974 floods are
remembered as a time when the citizens of Brisbane,
unprepared for such a disaster, rallied together to
provide coordinated assistance and relief to those
affected. The flooding of 2011, while not as severe in the
central city, similarly brought strangers together forming
a ‘mud army’ to clean up damaged premises.
View from bottom of Margaret St looking south during 1890 flood, JOL
15
Cross Alice Street at the traffic lights, and then cross Albert
Street. Continue along Albert Street until you reach Beatrice
Lane on your left. Be mindful of traffic and walk to the top of
the lane. You are now at the rear of…
Watson Brothers Building, circa 1902, JOL
15 F
This building was constructed in 1887 for Watson Brothers,
plumbers, gasfitters, and metalworkers. They had done well during
the 1880s boom, and expansion of their business prompted the
construction of this £6000 warehouse. Watson’s fabricated the
ironwork for the building, and it stands on a site selected for its
proximity to both the city centre and the wharf area. A shed and
stables were built at the rear of the building, most of which still
remains today and is in use as car parking space. It is an excellent
and interesting example of a late nineteenth century commercial
warehouse. Watson’s remained successful in the twentieth century
and carried out much military work during both World Wars.
The business ceased to operate in 1961.
16
Continue down the laneway to Margaret Street. Turn left past
Watson Brothers and find nestled next door the…
16 F
Marine engineers and metal workers, Smith and Ball, constructed
their Acme Engineering Works here in 1913. Prior to World War
the Queensland economy went through a major growth period,
and light industry continued to be a feature of the inner city.
Combined with the Watson Brothers building it forms a rare,
surviving light industrial precinct. The building is distinctive for
its eclectic mix of architectural styles. From 1930 it was used as a
warehouse, and in 1958 chemical wholesaler HB Sales obtained
the site, hence the name in large relief on the facade.
A little further along the street are other examples of early
twentieth century warehouses. These were built in what was a
largely residential area during the nineteenth century. On the
opposite side of the street is…
The Brisbane Synagogue, circa 1906, JOL
17 Th
Founded in 1865, the Brisbane Hebrew Congregation had
worshipped at a variety of locations until funds were eventually
raised to build a permanent place of worship. The design of the
synagogue was determined by an architectural competition won
by Arthur Morry. The building took 18 months to construct and was
completed in 1886. Few changes have been made to the building
over the years, though additional stained glass windows were
added just prior to the congregation’s centenary. Many of these
were memorials to family members murdered during the
WW Holocaust.
17
Walk on to the intersection with George Street. From the corner
you get a great view across George Street of the elaborate
Victorian building known as…
18 Th
Queensland Premier Boyd Morehead, Treasurer William
Pattison, and their business associates financed the construction
of this property in 1889. In the atmosphere of prosperity that
characterised the late 1880s, property investment was common
among those who could afford it. Close to Government House,
Parliament House and the Queensland Club this property, and
others like it in George Street, were shrewd investments.
They attracted the wealthier members of Brisbane society as
tenants. Early residents of this striking row of terrace houses
were mainly professional people including Dr Lillian Cooper,
Queensland’s first female doctor. The building was acquired
by the Queensland Government in 1954 and has been
substantially refurbished.
Mansions building, circa 1908, JOL
18
Dr Lillian Cooper, circa 1859, JOL
LILLIAN COOPER
Lillian Cooper was the colony’s first female doctor and
Australia’s first female surgeon. Arriving from England
in 1891, she immediately set up a medical practice in
The Mansions. Despite a chilly reception by Brisbane’s
all-male medical profession, in a few years Dr Cooper’s
practice was busy and successful. She was particularly
popular among Brisbane’s socialites and the wives of
the well-to-do. Lillian Cooper paved the way for other
women to begin medical careers. By 1907 almost a
dozen female doctors were practising in Queensland,
four of these in Brisbane.
19
Cross George Street to the Mansions, turn right and cross
Margaret Street to…
Harris Terrace at the corner of George and Margaret Street, circa 1869, JOL
19 Harris terrace
Local businessman and parliamentarian George Harris built this
charming row of attached houses in 1867. The construction of
nearby Parliament House may have prompted his speculative
action, and his lessees included professionals and Members
of Parliament. For a time the property was leased as separate
residences but by the mid-twentieth century tenants included
a garage and mixed businesses. In 1958 it was purchased by the
Queensland Government for use as office space and, unusually
for the era, was restored to its original appearance in 1985.
Harris Terrace is a reminder of an earlier time when this part of
the city was a prime inner city residential area.
Turn back to Margaret Street and walk to William Street. Turn
right and proceed along William Street to the pedestrian
crossing. Cross to your left to the…
20
Immigration Depot at William Street, circa 1868, JOL
20 former immiGration DePot
Built in 1865-66, the Immigration Depot provided migrants with a
staging point from which to begin their new life in the colony. After
a voyage sometimes lasting as long as six months, passengers
disembarked in Moreton Bay, were transferred to local vessels and
brought into Brisbane. On arrival the migrants were temporarily
housed at the Depot until they were able to find work or residence.
The number of immigrants was particularly high during the early
1860s. Over the two years in which the Depot was erected, one
shipping company alone carried more than 21,000 immigrants to
Brisbane. The Immigration Depot was re-established at ‘Yungaba’
on Kangaroo Point in 1887 and the William Street building was
converted to government offices. It is now the headquarters of
the National Trust of Queensland.
miG
to BrisB
ratinG
ane
Immigration was recognised as an important factor
in the economic development of the new colony of
Queensland. The Black Ball Line, a British shipping
company, had an agreement with the Queensland
Government to bring out free, assisted and fare-paying
passengers to the colony. In Britain, the Emigration
Commissioners also chartered vessels to carry free and
assisted immigrants to Queensland. In the days of sail,
early voyages to Queensland from Britain came around
Africa’s Cape of Good Hope via the trade wind belt.
The Black Ball clipper Young Australia made the trip
to Moreton Bay in just 82 days, a record time in 1862.
Returning vessels loaded wool, timber, tallow, cotton,
hides, bone and skins ready for British markets.
This trade made the carriage of passengers to the
Antipodes commercially viable.
21
Adjacent is the…
Former Commissariat Stores building in Brisbane, circa 1928, JOL
21 commissariat store
Now the headquarters and museum of the Royal Historical Society
of Queensland (RHSQ), this building is one of only two convict-built
structures remaining in Brisbane. The Store was erected in 1829 to
secure the food, clothing and tools used at the convict settlement.
For more than 130 years it remained in use as a government store
building. Originally two storeys, a third floor was added in 1913.
From 1960 it was used by a series of government departments
before it was occupied by the RHSQ. The story of the Commissariat
Store, and indeed of early Brisbane, is now told in the RHSQ
Museum. Brisbane’s other convict structure is the Old Windmill
on Wickham Terrace.
Turn back along William Street, and continue past the former
Immigration Depot. The Neville Bonner Building commemorates
Australia’s first Indigenous parliamentarian and statesman, who
devoted his life to the service of his people and represented
Queensland in the Federal Senate.
This area has changed much over the years and in the
nineteenth century included the site of one of Brisbane’s
important early industries.
22
Advertisement for Pettigrew’s Sawmill, 1861, JOL
iGreW’s saWmiL
L
Pett
anD WHarves
At the bottom of Margaret Street was a wharf precinct
that included Pettigrew’s Sawmill. William Pettigrew,
a Scottish migrant, came to Brisbane in 1849 as part
of the Reverend Dr JD Lang’s emigration scheme. He
trained as a surveyor but eventually made his fortune
by establishing Brisbane’s first steam powered sawmill
in 1853. Pettigrew purchased logs from all over the
region and floated them down the smaller rivers and
creeks into Moreton Bay. From there they were towed
upstream to the mill. The mill, and a small shipping
company he also established, thrived until the
1890s economic depression.
23
At the Margaret Street intersection, cross both William and
Margaret Streets. Proceed to Alice Street and cross at the traffic
lights. The imposing structure in front of you is…
Parliament House, circa 1875, JOL
22 ParLiament HoUse
When Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859 it had
no seat of government, and the first parliament met in the former
convict barracks in Queen Street. Three years after the laying of its
foundation stone in 1864, the new Queensland Parliament building
was opened. Financial constraints meant that only the George
Street frontage was erected at the time. The colonnades were
built in 1878, and it was not until 1887 that the Alice Street frontage
was commenced. Designed and overseen by successive Colonial
Architects Parliament House was completed in 1889.
Alice Street ferry, circa 1898, JOL
24
Q Ue
ensLanD LeGisLativ
e
coUnciL
Although established under the Westminster system
of an upper house Legislative Council and a lower
house Legislative Assembly, the Queensland Parliament
is unique in that it no longer has an upper house.
Members of the Legislative Council were appointed
for life by the Governor, and were not elected by the
population. A traditionally conservative body, they soon
came into conflict with the advent of Labor members
into parliament. A shrewd Labor Premier ‘Red Ted’
Theodore arranged for appointment of a large number
of Labor members to the Legislative Council. In 1921
the Council voted itself out of existence, and by 1922
Queensland had only a lower house to represent the
interests of the people of the State.
Pause by the corner of George Street. Diagonally opposite, and
partially concealed by a magnificent fig tree, is the…
The Queensland Club, corner of George and Alice Sts, 1912, JOL
23 QUeensLanD cLUB
Following the tradition of British private clubs for influential
members of the community, the Queensland Club was established
in 1859 for men of common interest and socio-economic
backgrounds. Membership largely comprised landed gentry,
politicians, and business and professional men. Begun in 1882 and
opened in 1884, this building was designed by prominent architect
FDG Stanley and built by J Smith and Sons. It was designed to
provide a recreational venue and accommodation for members,
and originally contained 41 bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a
clubroom, dining room, billiard room, smoking room and various
kitchens and servants’ rooms. Changes have since been made to
the internal layout of the club, though it still functions as a ‘home
away from home’ for its membership.
25
Turn right into George Street and continue into the grounds…
24 QUt GarDens Point camPUs
This was the first site of the University of Queensland, established
in 1909. The University remained here until 1945 when a new
campus was constructed at St Lucia. The site was then occupied
by the Central Technical College which became the Queensland
Institute of Technology in 1965, eventually evolving into a university
in its own right in 1989. The building immediately to your right as
you enter the campus is part of the fabric of the original university.
A convenient map illustrates the route through the campus to
the Goodwill Bridge. Follow the main walkway through the site.
Note the former Library Building, built in 1935, and now the
QUT Art Museum. Entry is free. From the Art Museum follow
the pathway around to…
Old Government House, circa 1879, JOL
25 Old
The colony of Queensland was created in 1859 and immediately
plans were put in place for the construction of a government
residence to accommodate the first Governor Sir George Bowen
and his family. Completed in 1862, Government House is smaller
than other government residences constructed around Australia.
It was intended as a temporary residence to be superseded by a
larger one in the country. It was also somewhat of an experiment
as the architect, Charles Tiffin, put considerable thought into
adapting it for Queensland’s climate. The successive Governors
of Queensland resided here until 1909. Guided tours of Old
Government House are available by prior arrangement.
26
Continue on the roadway past Old Government House. On the
plaza level follow the paved pathway curving off to your left.
This will lead you to the Goodwill Bridge, Brisbane’s first crossriver pedestrian bridge. It was named to commemorate the
Goodwill Games that were held in Brisbane in 2001, the year
the bridge was opened.
o
Loss
f tHe Pear
L
Brisbane’s worst maritime disaster occurred near here
during river flooding of January 1896. The Victoria
Bridge was damaged by floating debris and closed to
traffic. Four small steam vessels, of which the Pearl was
one, were chartered to carry people across the river.
The strong current made crossing difficult, and while
trying to avoid the steamship Normanby, the Pearl ran
onto the anchor chain of the Government ship Lucinda.
The Pearl was almost cut in two, and capsized and sank
immediately. Thirty-four people were rescued from the
vessel and twenty-eight are known to have perished.
QGS Lucinda, circa 1890, JOL
27
As you cross the Brisbane River you will note the South Bank
Parklands which stretch out along the riverbank on your right.
A popular destination for locals and tourists alike, South Bank
occupies the site used for Expo 88. This 1988 international
exposition was a defining moment in Brisbane’s history, and
exerted a far-reaching influence on the development of leisure
activities in the city.
Queensland fleet Paluma and Gayundah at South Brisbane, JOL
26
S
As the Port of Brisbane grew in prosperity and shipping
traffic increased, a need arose for local ship repair facilities.
Built between 1876 and 1881, the South Brisbane Dry Dock is
one of the oldest in Australia. The dock cost more than £83,000
to construct – a measure of the importance maritime commerce
held for Brisbane’s prosperity. The dock was soon found to be too
small and was extended in 1884. It was then able to service most
vessels, forming an important part of the Port of Brisbane well into
the twentieth century. The dock was used extensively during the
Second World War, but in post-war years was unable to compete
with the larger Cairncross Graving Dock further downstream.
In 1973 maintenance problems forced the closure of the
Dry Dock and it is now used by the Queensland Maritime Museum
to permanently house the retired Royal Australian Navy Frigate
Diamantina. Diamantina is open for viewing and the Museum
has a range of other fascinating maritime exhibits.
28
To enter the Maritime Museum turn hard right at the end of
the bridge. As you exit the Maritime Museum continue around
the perimeter of the old Dry Dock towards the Captain Cook
Bridge. Along the water’s edge are a number of large steel
encased concrete pillars. These mark the site of the original…
Kangaroo Point Coal Wharves, circa 1900, JOL
27 coaL WHarves
In the days of steam, coal was the fuel that powered industrial
society. Extensive mines at Ipswich provided much of the coal
for the Port of Brisbane. The coal was transported by rail directly
to specialised handling facilities constructed here along the
riverbanks. Five steam cranes loaded coal from railway hoppers
on the wharves into barges or other vessels berthed there.
The foundations of the steam cranes and a few timber posts
and beams are all that remain of the old coal wharves.
The coal trade began a slow decline after World War II.
The railway siding was removed in 1960 and, after the closure
of the Woolloongabba Branch railway in 1969, the abandoned
wharves were demolished.
From here you could continue walking along the Kangaroo Point
Cliffs Boardwalk to the Thornton Street ferry terminal; or return
past the Goodwill Bridge and proceed along the boardwalk to
Southbank and the CityCat Terminal to travel to the city, further
upriver or back to the starting point.
We trust you enjoyed this walk, and hope you will consider
exploring Brisbane’s heritage further using other Brisbane
Heritage Trails. Look for books on Brisbane’s history at
Council libraries http://elibcat.library.brisbane.qld.gov.au
29
Brisbane City Council
Information
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001
Printed on recycled paper
N2011-02780
© Brisbane City Council 2011
For more information
visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
or call (07) 3403 8888