I Love Brisbane

Fete's in Brisbane - Ashgrove State School Fete

2011-04-28T21:51:00.007+10:00

I haven't been a very active Blogger of late, but every now and again I get requests for items which pique my interest, and here's one of them. Fete's are still a big activity throughout Brisbane, and one of the oldest State School's in Brisbane is having their fete this upcoming Mother's Day weekend on Saturday the 7th May.

Ashgrove State School was established way back in 1877, thirty five years after Brisbane became a free settlement. It has a long and proud history with a strong community spirit. The fun and success of the fete is based on local sponsorship, generous support and many hours of volunteer commitment. During the build up to the Fete and on Fete day, there is a noticeable feel of this community spirit. Ashgrove is about 4km out of the central business district of Brisbane, so heading out to the school fete isn't a difficult activity for most Brisbanites!

Fetes in Australia have a great history, particularly as a celebration of school activities each year. At Ashgrove this year the fete runs from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with a range of fun activities to suit everyone's taste. If you want action, there is plenty of family fun to be had on rides such as the Dominator, Dodgem Cars, Sizzler, Giant Slide, Tea Cups, High Flyer, Mega Castle, Laser Skirmish and UFO and many more. For a scary thrill, you could try the Ghost House and for the little ones there will be Barnyard Babies and pony rides. If this sounds like hungry and thirsty fun, you won’t be disappointed! There will be the traditional fete favourites, home-made cakes, jams, sweets and morning tea, as well as gourmet pizza’s, hot dogs, burgers and hot chips.
Entertainment includes dancing, singing, and performances by the school bands. For Dad’s and kids who have forgotten Mothers Day, there are Flowers and gifts available, or why not grab a bargain at the incredibly popular Fete Auction.

Hopefully, I'll see you there!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post

Brisbane Flood Disaster - Personal Perspectives 3

2011-01-18T22:57:00.008+10:00

One of the guys I know, Mark, who was directly affected by the Brisbane floods, took a series of professional photos of the flooding event from his perspective. Living in the Fairfield area, he had direct access to the river and the subsequent inundation around him. If you click here you can get to his flickr collection of the full suite of images.

Looking at Mark's recollections on Facebook, it all began with the movies. He outlined that he was thinking about going to the movies at Southbank, but then thought better of it. Someone suggested he should go see "Waterworld". How appropriate. Instead he went out and about and started to document visually what he saw. The river was angry that day, and around the University of Queensland, you began to get an idea of what the next few days were likely to bring if the river didn't recede.

As he wrote on Wednesday, "The water rose very quickly on day 2. After helping some friends move a few things to higher ground, I did a tour around the local area." Returning home, he had no power. Must have been hard for an IT guru but the good fortune of not having water in your home was probably worth the inconvenience. These shots from around the area now provide examples of some of what he saw.

As he commented about Dutton Park Cemetry, "Floods have no respect for the dead. Or the living. :)"

On Thursday, day 3 Mark was out around 4am at the time of the flood peak. He commented, "I went down to have a look - nobody else was about and it was incredibly eerie." This small selection reflects this. Note how by this time, the rain had stopped and at the peak it was a clear, warm morning.

Cross Street, Fairfield.

Flood peak at 4am, corner of Ashby Street and Cross Street, Fairfield.

After the peak, watching as the water slowly recedes.

Again, if you get a chance, have a look at Mark's full group collection of the floods on flickr to see both his and many other's images.

Please, if you can, I urge you to donate to the Queensland Flood Relief on the Queensland government website.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post (Fairfield).

All Images Courtesy Mark Cocquio.

Brisbane Floods Volunteering and The Lighter Side

2011-01-15T09:08:00.007+10:00

Watching TV this morning, I'm encouraged by the generosity and support we as Queenslanders are able to provide our community by volunteering our services to support the clean up effort. If you're in Brisbane, you can volunteer at several locations around Brisbane at:

Doomben Racecourse, Hampden St, Ascot – Main entrance Gate 5.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Melaleuca Drive, Boondall – follow signs to the main foyer.
Macgregor State High Assembly Hall, parking at Eight Mile Plains bus station or Upper Mt Gravatt park n ride
Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens Auditorium, Mt Coot-tha Rd.

Hopefully I will see you there!

I don't discount that this event has significant tragedy, with loss of life, lifestyle and personal possessions. With this community spirit I am also reminded of the lighter side of this event. There have been elements of this spirit which help lift our moods, and here are some examples of both the sublime and the ironic from friends.

I've already shown some of the shots around Suncorp Stadium. Outside Suncorp, someone had given the statue of King Wally Lewis a little bit of extra equipment. Wally is a true Queensland icon and like his efforts on the Rugby League field, these are being replicated in heroic fashion across the state. Now he's got the equipment to cope too!

Another friend, Mark, has been out and about in the Fairfield area where he lives. On the lighter side, one of his mates shows how hanging onto a street sign. As Mark wrote, "Andrew's problem was not jumping onto the sign - it was getting off without getting wet. This was unavoidable but we all agreed the pics were worth it. A little light-heartedness in the midst of a disaster goes a long way. :)"

Finally, on the ironic side, Karina took this shot of the Dick Smith store reopening in the City, with this interesting piece of advertising. Phones that float? How appropriate!

The cleanup is well underway. Please, if you can, I urge you to donate to the Queensland Flood Relief on the Queensland government website.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Images courtesy of Mark Cocquio and Karina Honey.

Brisbane Flood Disaster - Personal Perspectives 2

2011-01-14T22:35:00.010+10:00

One of my good friends, Kev, had an interesting personal experience as the floods hit over the past week. On Monday, as the deluge continued, he was in the city as it was recommended that businesses be evacuated. Looking out the window, he had previously had this incredible view of the church across the road through the full impact of one of the storms.

He quite rightly decided to get out of the city early. As he had caught the train into work, the train was the option to get out. As he recounted on his Facebook page: "I just don't want to be sleeping under the Storey Bridge tonight mate.... It's bloody hellish down here". Suffice to say that the trip to the train that night was a drenched one. This also provides some indication of the amount of rain that fell in the region, and that had begun on the weekend. Over the Wivenhoe Dam area, several 100mm of rain fell in a few short days.

On Tuesday, his place of work sent out the company wide e-mail telling people that the building would be closed, and urging people to leave the city. On returning home, Kev took a number of shots around home and his local area near the Logan River, which had also flooded. Here, you can see the backyard of his house, as he mentioned, "It began to create a new pool". Going down the street, he took shots of the River from the bottom of his street, and also the street signs at the local boat ramp. A day later, and you get the full impact of how much the River had risen in just that one day. Kev was fortunate in other than the impact of lots of rain onto his house, the flood waters didn't rise up to the levels that his house itself was flooded.

Hi did, however, experience something that many Queenslanders have experienced this past week on a visit to the Supermarket. Empty Shelves!

If you have a similar story you would like to share, let me know and I will attempt to post it to this Blog. After all, we All still Love Brisbane!

Please, if you can, I urge you to donate to the Queensland Flood Relief on the Queensland government website.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post (Logan River).

All Images Courtesy Kevin Spink

Brisbane Flood Disaster - Personal Perspectives 1

2011-01-14T22:00:00.009+10:00

I feel its appropriate to reflect on the Flooding from a personal perspective. As I have said, I was fortunate in both my personal and work life to have not been directly affected by the floods. I know many, however, who have. I will attempt to record some of their stories on this blog, and if you have a story you wish to share, just drop me a line.

From my own perspective, after the main flood peak on Thursday, I went to my workplace to see if there was any cleanup required. Our offices had been sandbagged in Eagle Farm, but fortunately the drainage system in the area held and no water came into the office park. Once we were assured things were ok we went to have a look at the river from Hamilton.

At the actual riverside, the river was fast flowing and full of debris. The ever present silt and dark brown cover meant visibility in the water was non existent. Someone had obviously been on the shoreline and attempted to clean up some of the debris, creating this small pile.

From Hamilton Hill, and below, the streets around Hamilton and Albion had localised flooding. A common site around Brisbane this week has been "tinnies" on the roadways. In some flooded areas either these, jetskis or canoes have been the only method of getting into the areas. Sandbags are also another common site.

On returning home, I was again greeted by details of the flooding throughout the city, but in particular within the City itself. Areas where I used to walk were now well underwater. City intersections covered in the slick mud will be the order of the day as the River water recedes. There is a large excavation area on Mary Street, which became a 30 meter deep pool. The images speak for themselves.

Please, if you can, I urge you to donate to the Queensland Flood Relief on the Queensland government website.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post (Hamilton).

Suncorp Stadium Underwater

2011-01-14T06:29:00.008+10:00

Over the past few days, we've seen lots of images of areas underwater in Brisbane. One which has struck me is seeing Suncorp Stadium flooded with brown, murky water. This morning, they are showing that at least the water is receding, however, now there is a carpet of mud over the playing surface. On the first day of the floods there were reports of fire in the stadium, though I believe this was confined to an electrical substation which hadn't been able to have been switched off.

This stadium is the home of Rugby League in Brisbane. To give you some idea of what it looks like in its "natural state", I had the good fortune to attend a game there last year. The lush, green turf shown here will now need to be relaid in preparation for this year's season, although they're now not sure whether that will be achievable. We shall see.

The stadium also has seen it's fair share of large scale international concerts. These have included Robbie Williams, Andre Rieu, U2, and Bon Jovi. The last two were as recent as December last year. What would Bono think of the stadium where he performed just last month? U2 performed an amazing show, with a strong collection of their hit songs and recent album. The stadium provides an intimate and close up view to these international artists, so has proven itself an excellent venue both close to the city and easily accessible. I was fortunate enough to attend the U2 show, and here is another shot which shows some of the stadium from the inside in concert mode.

So now the cleanup begins. Please, if you can, I urge you to donate to the Queensland Flood Relief on the Queensland government website.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Waking up to Flooding

2011-01-13T07:36:00.012+10:00

I awoke this morning well aware of the likely consequences of the rising Brisbane River, like everyone here. The morning's media reports showed a lot of the impact. With their courtesy, here are some of the images being shown on morning television here. The image above shows the South Bank Parklands, and in particular Streets Beach which many tourists would know. Now, its a dirty, murky pool. All around the precinct is underwater. GOMA, one of my favourite places in Brisbane, looks to be submerged. Similarly, another relatively new tourist icon, the Wheel of Brisbane, is also underwater.

Another amazing image which greeted me was sections of the Brisbane Riverwalk breaking free and floating down the river. The tug boat operators did a magnificent job in ensuring this massive slab of concrete, weighing close to 100 tons, didn't hit any of the other infrastructure on the river. This walkway conneted the Brisbane city area around to New Farm. Having walked and run on this walkway many times, its sad to think that this is now gone.

Across the city, various parts that people who have visited may know well have been flooded. As these next few shots show, the Albion Park Paceway is underwater, as is the Breakfast Creek Hotel, and the Brisbane Tennis Centre at Tennyson.

While it is easy to show icons and the impact to our Tourist Industry, we must also consider the impact to our local homes and businesses, which truly bring home the tragedy of what has occurred here. Drift, a restaurant on the river at Milton is totally underwater. This business can be rebuilt, but will need to be done from scratch.

Finally, this shot from Fairfield shows the scope of the impact to my fellow Brisbaneites. Houses are totally underwater, where only the roofs are showing. My heart goes out to these residents, but thankfully, despite the material damage, as long as people and families are together and safe this will allow us to clean up this mess once the waters recede. The extent of these floods not only here in Brisbane, but throughout Queensland and now Northern New South Wales is massive.

Please, if you can, I urge you to donate to the Queensland Flood Relief on the Queensland government website.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Brisbane Flood Disaster 2011

2011-01-12T21:49:00.004+10:00

I haven't run an update post to this Blog for a few years now, however, this unprecendented event in Brisbane has made me get back to the site and post this unfortunate update.

By now, many of you may have seen the devastation of flooding which has been experienced throughout the State of Queensland here in Australia. There are various sites, like the ABC, Yahoo7, NineMSN, Brisbane Times and the Courier Mail which all have pictures, video and information. Tragically, lives have been lost, and many homes destroyed. Right now, as I type, the Brisbane River tonight will hit a peak close to the 1974 flood levels, over 5 metres above the base waterline.

I personally have not been directly affected, however, I have many friends and colleagues who are. Many of the sites and icons I've posted about on this site are being directly affected. Whilst I know we as Queenslanders will respond and bounce back, it is easy to be dispirited by these events. With our heads held high, the recovery will be quickly started to get us back on track, and back to the great city we know and love.

If you can, please donate to the Queensland Flood Relief on the Queensland government website.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Queensland photography competition

2008-07-05T10:45:00.006+10:00

Well, it has been a long time between drinks, as they say. I haven't done many posts on this Blog due to a lot of personal changes. Recently, however, I received an e-mail about a Tourism Queensland promotion for their Where Else But Queensland web site. Basically, it is for an amateur photography competition, which offers the chance to win a $10,000 Queensland holiday. And of course, where better in the world could their be for a Holiday, and you'd have to make sure you came to Brisbane!

The competition is open to any Australians with a digital camera, a taste for photography and a personal photo from their Queensland travels. It runs through until September 2008. They are lookng to invite Australians, whether they are now based in Oz or abroad, to enter the competition and go in the draw to win $10,000 worth of Queensland holiday vouchers. Given my focus on Brisbane, they thought "I Love Brisbane" would be perfect for reaching others that are passionate about Queensland.

I must admit I was pretty stoked to get the e-mail, as even though I haven't been posting, this blog site still gets lots of visitors who drop in and see some of the great things Brisbane has to offer. I've taken so many photo's around Brisbane, that its been hard to pick a favourite, and you can all look back through previous posts to get a sense of the kinds of things I'm in to, be they local attractions and events, sculpture, heritage architecture, pubs or shopping. The Story Bridge photo I have in the banner is one I love, but I might submit this one from a post I did on Streets Beach. To me it represents so much about Brisbane that I love: A Beautiful Day; The Beach in the City; People Having Fun! Let me know what you think!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Christmas in Brisbane

2007-12-30T20:57:00.000+10:00

I know I've been slack of late, but it would be remiss of me not to do a post about Christmas in our fair city. Unlike our Northern Hemisphere neighbours, Christmas Down Under is not about snow and shovelling driveways, but rather about beach swimming, sand and sunburn (all of which I've been doing!) Queensland knows how to turn it on, and even though it has been a relatively mild Summer, its still Summer none the less. Even with the sun, Brisbane still does bring out some of the regular sights of Christmas, so I thought I'd bring them out here to share with you in the spirit of Peace, Love and Joy of the Season. My son and I had a walk around the city on Christmas Day, and here are some of the things we found.

Commercialism is still alive and well on the city streets. There were a lot of people in and around the city, and the main restaurants on the Mall were doing a brisk trade. There were also a number of souvenir shops open, and this particular Santa took my eye. Although he's didn't seem as "tanned" in the flesh before we took the photo, the camera doesn't lie. Obviously he'd been out in the Queensland sun as well! Probably taking in the new swimming pool over at South Bank Parklands after his evening of present deliveries. Hey, what better place in the world to have your after work break up?

At the Myer Centre, the tradition Christmas Windows this year featured "Uno's Garden". Based on the excellent illustrative story by Graeme Base, it depicts a forest, filled with wild and wonderful animals, Uno's unique family and friends. With animals such as the Snortlepig, you know it is going to appeal to kids! Graeme has created some wonderful characters, and it is great to see them brought to life, or at least 3D, in this format. Each year, the Myer window decorators depict scenes like these, along with a traditional Christmas themed window for everyone to enjoy.

Christmas on the I Love Brisbane Blog wouldn't be complete without a few sculpture images. Within the Mall there are a number of Angel sculptures which have been used to stunning effect overlooking the shoppers and reminding them that it isn't all just about bargains. Surrounded by snowflakes, these works are spectacular, and at night are lit up with small lights to add to the dynamic effect. These sculptures were created by Iceworks Design of Paddington, who spent several months designing and creating sculptures to adorn the Mall.

Along with the Angels and snowflakes, at the top of the Mall beneath the Christmas tree is a large sculpture of Santa and his reindeer. Riding his sleigh, with it packed full of gifts, he's ready to go. The intricacy of the design is quite astounding, and you can see the immense effort which has gone into these works to highlight the skill of the sculptors. The sculptures are all handmade from stainless steel and acrylic and are illuminated by thousands of LED lights. And on that note, as this will probably be my last post for 2007, I would like to wish everyone a post Merry Christmas, and more importantly a fantastic and Happy New Year. All the best to the readers of this Blog, and I look forward to more posts into 2008.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post. (The Queen Street Mall)

The Cliffs Boardwalk

2007-11-25T21:37:00.000+10:00

If you cross the Goodwill Bridge from the city side, and venture around to your left, just under the Captain Cook Bridge (the Riverside Expressway) you'll find the start of The Cliffs Boardwalk. The walk runs adjacent to Lower River Terrace on the South Bank side of the Brisbane River. It stretchs along this reach of the river through Kangaroo Point Park to the Riverlife Adventure centre.

The Kangaroo Point cliffs are a results of a violent volcanic event which is estimated to have occurred some 220 million years ago. When the volcanic material settled, it was so hot it welded together. The fine grained rock which was formed is known as Brisbane Tuff. In the early years of settlement in Brisbane, convicts would quarry these cliffs to obtain the building stone which would be used in many of the city's original buildings.

This is another of the great walks within easy reach of the Central City area of Brisbane. The views and atmosphere are fantastic, and you'll often find people scaling the cliff walls in search of their own adventure. The park areas include barbeques, play areas, grassed lawns and even a nature reserve. Both bike and walking tracks are available. As an afternoon of outside exercise there aren't many other things which come close as part of a family activity.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

The Gabba

2007-11-13T20:54:00.000+10:00

Whilst not strictly part of the Brisbane CBD, the Gabba is one of the two major sporting complexes at least within walking distance, or a short taxi or bus ride from the city. Otherwise known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground the name "Gabba" comes from the suburb of Woolloongabba in which the ground is situated. Major sporting activities held at the ground include Cricket and Australian Rules Football, along with Soccer and Rugby Union. The Gabba is the home ground for the Queensland Bulls cricket team.the and the Brisbane Lions AFL team.

The history of the Gabba dates back to 1895, when the land was designated as the site for a cricket ground. The first event conducted there was a cricket match between Parliament and the Press on 19 December 1896. Whilst now the ground is considered one of the premier venues for cricket in Australia, there was no state or international cricket played their until 1931. Aside from Cricket, it has also been a venue for cycling and later greyhound racing and trotting, amongst those other primary sports listed earlier. Over the years the ground has been redeveloped in stages, gradually becoming the modern concrete colosseum beheld today. The seating capacity of the ground is now 42,000.

I had the good fortune over the weekend to attend the Sri Lanka versus Australia 1st Test. Unfortunately, it was an overcast day and the game was broken by intermittent rain showers. The crowd was also down because of both the rain, and the slow play of the Sri Lankans. The ground is also now fully enclosed, so gone are the old days of "the hill" and drinking until you fell down it. The Australian's won yet again, and now are on a run of 17 matches won at the Gabba in a row, having not been defeated here since 1989!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Big Sister

2007-10-20T22:47:00.000+10:00

Just outside the Pig 'N' Whistle pub and Michael's Restaurant at 123 Eagle Street is a unique and fascinating sculpture. Entitled Big Sister, the work by J. Seward Johnson Jr depicts two very lifelike characters. The younger girls awaits as the big sister ties her shoe, in a childlike scene reminiscent of many a familiar family scene. The kneeling teenager wears a blue skirt and a white blouse. Both figures have hair pulled into ponytails and held in place with blue barrettes.

Clearly the piece is identified as the work of J. Seward Johnson Jr, a renowned American sculpture, and part of the Johnson & Johnson dynasty. After initially having a career as a painter he turned his talents to sculpture in 1968. Since then he has created over 250 lifelike and life-size cast bronze statues of people of all ages engaged in day-to-day activities. This technique, Trompe-l'œil, involves the artist providing extremely realistic imagery in order to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects really exist.

What most fascinates me about this work is whether this is an original, or a copy. If it is the original as I believe, I have no clear path as to how it made it to Brisbane. It has been located, as far as I can identify at various times, in Las Vegas, NV, Hamilton, OH, Phoenix, AZ, and Geneva, IL - all in the U.S. The original work can be seen in its original placement and in more vivid colour on his Web Site under the Collections section, in the Children and Families - Children area. Regardless, it is still a fantastic piece, and no matter how it got here it is another fine example of worldly public artwork in our great city.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Queensland Maritime Museum

2007-09-27T21:21:00.000+10:00

The Queensland Maritime Museum is located at the intersection of Sidon and Stanley Streets at the southern end of the South Bank Parklands. Staffed by volunteers, the museum offers an engaging look into the long maritime history of Queensland. The museum is open most days of the year from 9:30am to 4:30pm, and also is available outside these hours for private functions. Admission charges range from $3.50 for kids to $7 for adults, with family and group discounts also available. There is also a Museum Shop which stocks a collection of maritime books, gifts, and souvenirs. Great views of many of the outside exhibitions can also be seen from the Goodwill Bridge.

The museum was founded in 1971, and is run by the self-funded voluntary Queensland Maritime Museum Association. The main entrance incorporates a two level exhibition building presenting historic sailing ship models together with merchant shipping from early cargo ships to modern container ships, tankers and cruise liners. Of particular personal interest is the large wall map showing the location of approximately 200 of the 1500 vessels that came to grief in the graveyard of ships along the Queensland coast, in part due to the various coral reefs.

Outside you get to see some of that history come alive. The HMAS Diamatina currently sits in part of the South Brisbane Dry Dock, itself a landmark due to and the century of service it provided to ships and submarines of all types. There are also exhibitions to lighthouses, and other vessels such as the Penguin, and my personal favourite, the Forceful. Built in 1925, for most of her career she acted as a tug on the Brisbane River with brief trips to the Middle East, Fremantle and Darwin during the war years. Her life as a museum ship started at the same time as the opening of the museum back in 1971, although ever now and again she has runs out and about on the river.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Parliament House

2007-09-16T07:30:00.000+10:00

Queensland Parliament House is located at 69 Alice Street, at the intersection with George Street and adjacent to the Botanic Gardens and Queensland University of Technology. A building of rich historical significance, Parliament House was constructed between 1865 and 1867 as the seat of Queensland government after separation from New South Wales in 1859. Aside from government obligations, there are free public guided tours at various times, and a gift shop, selling souvenirs and memorabilia, is located in the main foyer. There are also regular public art displays held in the parliamentary annexe.

The building was designed in what was then known as French Renaissance style (although now referred to as classical revival) by Queensland's first Colonial Architect Charles Tiffin. Various forms of Queensland sandstone were used in the building process, along with Mount Isa copper being used for the roofing. Additions were made several times during the late 1800's, although from that period on the building has remained largely unchanged except for maintenance work. A 22-storey Parliamentary Annexe was built during the early 1980's with a new Legislative Chamber on the 5th floor.

This week there has been a raft of activity at Parliament House due to the change of Queensland Premier from Peter Beattie to Anna Bligh. Anna Bligh becomes the first female Premier of Queensland and suceeded Mr Beatie with his retirement after nine undefeated years. I imagine that for her, walking through the doors of parliament as a new leader would have held as much special significance has it has for the 36 other leaders who proceeded her. How fantastic that they have such a culturally and architecturally splendid building to operate from.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Balloons over Brisbane

2007-09-06T22:01:00.000+10:00

One of the great tourist attractions which are available in Brisbane means you need to step away from the city to partake in it. However, it still meets the criteria of being involved with Brisbane City, its just that you generally go right over the top of it! The activity is Hot Air Ballooning. Flights will generally take you over the Brisbane River and allow amazing views of the Brisbane City centre and buildings. On clear days the in-flight views to extend north beyond the Glass House Mountains and south to the Border Ranges, with Moreton Bay and the islands visible to the east. Most hotels in the city will have a booking service for the various ballooning operators.

Balloons over Brisbane, Floating Images and Fly me to the Moon all offer flights at dawn. Sure, you have to get up early, but for the flight, the spectacular views, and the chance to see the sunrise over Moreton Island its worth that little less shut-eye. Flights run year round, weather permitting, with an early start during the summer months. Flight time is around one hour, although the whole event tends to take three to four hours. Prices range from around $200-$300 depending on inclusions and time of week. Group and children's discounts are often available.

What a great way to experience the city, although I've never done it! The reason why I haven't is because I'm scared of heights. Everyone assures me that this isn't an issue in the basket, and that it is quiet and exhilarating once you're aloft. All of the sites promoting each operator provide fantastic shots and even video of the views. I prefer to watch them from the river or outside the city to see their colourful displays enhanced by the backdrop of the city.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Adelaide Street Bronze Pavement Inlays

2007-08-29T21:31:00.000+10:00

In 1996 there appears to have been a lot of public artwork by artist Brona Keenan installed around Brisbane City. Not only did she do all the artwork on the bronze inlays which form the Albert Street Literary Trail, she also created a number of pieces located in Adelaide Street, between George and Albert Streets. These are all ostensibly themed around the Brisbane Bus network. The titles include: An Angel at my Bus Stop; Our Neighbour's Cat; Still Life with Reclining Bus Ticket; and When I was Six. Although I have been unable to find much about Brona, I do know that aside from public artwork she has also illustrated children's books.

All of these pieces are bronze and brass inlays, with a variety of recollections of bus travel as a child. The wording on Our Neighbours Cat is "Our neighbour's cat often tried to catch the bus with her to work but he never had the right fare." Anyone who has travelled by bus can also sympathise with the phrase "When I was Six I accidently discovered that eating my bus ticket was a great way to start a conversation with the bus inspector." I tried that once when I was in my teens, but it didn't quite cut it so I was thrown off the bus!

These are more of the artistic gems dotted around Brisbane City. After being in place for over 10 years, they are still remarkably resilient. The inlays are doubled up, that is, you will find examples of the same piece on both sides of the street. That just means that you have double the opportunity to enjoy them! If you're a public transport user hopefully you get the chance to see them, remembering them when you are stuck in traffic.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Royal Cuban Palms

2007-08-24T21:44:00.000+10:00

The City Botanic Gardens are home to a vast array of flora and fauna. One such feature, near the Alice and Edward Street Entrance to gardens is a circle of royal Cuban palms (Roystonea regia). These were planted in the early twentieth century by the then curator, Ernest Walter Bick. The palms are indigenous to Cuba, and can grow to a height of 40 metres and live for 200 years.

Historically, the area where the palms stand was once a cricket ground when it was part of the former Queen's Park. Queen's Park was incorporated into the botanic gardens in the 1860s, although it remained as a sports field until it was officially gazetted in 1916. At that point, the gardens was extended to close to 50 acres, a substantial area of city land. In 1919 the lower end of Queen's Park was filled with soil from the newly graded riverbank to reduce flood risk. The circle of royal palms were planted here at that time.

It is fantastic to stand in the midst of these towering palms as they encircle you. These shots were taken just before this weeks deluge of rain in the city, and I can assure you that the whole of the gardens loved the great soaking they received. I love walking through this area of the gardens. It is almost like an organic Stonehenge, as you'll often see people engaged in somewhat strange activities in the middle of the circle. I mean sporting activities, of course! Oh, and passionate embraces!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Goodwill Bridge

2007-08-18T14:33:00.000+10:00

The Goodwill Bridge is a footbridge which links the South Bank Parklands on the southside of the Brisbane River, to the Gardens Point Campus of the Queensland University of Technology on the northside. Opened on the 21st October, 2001, the Goodwill Bridge was named after the Goodwill Games which had been held in Brisbane that same year. The bridge only carries pedestrians and cyclists although it is used for fireworks during the annual Riverfire festival. It is estimated that more than 3 million people cross the bridge each year.

Construction was coordinated by Arup services to a design by Cox Rayner and construction by John Holland. The total cost was over $20 million. The total length is approximately 460 metres long, and just over 6 metres wide. There are two main components: the arch, which is closer to the southern side of the bridge; and the pavillion, which is on the city side and holds a river viewing deck. The bridge is the same height from the water as the nearby Captain Cook and Victoria Bridges, to cater for CityCats passing underneath.

The Goodwill Bridge did attract a certain amount of controversy during construction and when it first opened. It was subject to quite significant budgetary costs, as well as having many critics of its unorthodox design. It definitely isn't your straight and narrow bridge! It does, however, remain an excellent way to get from the City to Southbank from the Botanic Gardens. I think its brilliant, and have incorporated it into my occasional jogs around the city.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Strike Bowling Bar

2007-08-11T15:20:00.000+10:00

The Strike Bowling Bar is located on level 3 of the Wintergarden shopping mall, off the Queen Street Mall. Offering a twist on the traditional ten-pin bowling environment, Strike provides 12 bowling lanes which can be divided into three self-contained private bowling lounges for functions and parties. The venue also offers a bar and beverage service, although it does cater for both families and the more adult oriented crowd. Strike Bowling Bar prices start at around $13 a game depending on the day, and they are open every day. Paid parking is available at Kings Parking below the Wintergarden.

Each bowling lane has lane-end video projections, special effects lighting, soft comfortable seating, computerised scoring, with food and beverages able to be served to the lanes. Aside from bowling, Strike also has the latest in interactive entertainment. They have a video and pinball games area, and Pool Lane, which has four pool tables. They also offer theme nights including karaoke, sports viewing, a dance floor and a Skybox private function room.

I believe these is the only public bowling lanes within the city. It is a great place to get away, particularly if you like to knock down the pins and can get yourself a strike or a spare. I've been fortunate enough to play, and barely win, on a few occasions. Not that I'm any great bowler, but the atmosphere makes it conducive to get others drunk so it becomes a bit easier! Its all in good fun, and a great way to spend a Friday night.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Brisbane Riverwalks

2007-08-08T21:10:00.000+10:00

The Brisbane River effectively borders the city, and one of the most impressive ways to explore the city is to walk its banks via the many city riverwalks. If you venture down to the river from almost any location in the city, you will come across one of the paved walkways from which you can view the river. You can even go into one of the many and varied cafes or restaurants located along the river to enjoy not only the view, but some of Brisbane's best cuisine. You can even get a Brisbane Riverwalk's Map from the city council. The images shown here are primarily from just under the Story Bridge, through to the Botanic Gardens.

From Boundary Street at the Tidal Indicator you can either venture back along the city past Eagle Street Pier, to Garden Point and the City Botanic Gardens. Alternatively you can go the other way along the relatively new floating walkway to New Farm. Further to that, venture up and over the Story Bridge, and you can walk on the Southern Bank past the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and around to the South Bank Parklands. Even from under the Riverside Expressway you'll find a path running beside the pylons.

This is one of the great ways to enjoy the city. The walkways are explored by tourists exploring the river sights and sites, and by city workers at lunchtime or on breaks. You also often see people out for some exercise including walking, jogging, running, cycling, rollerblading and skateboarding. The walkways are wide enough to cater for all activities. During major festivals and on the weekends with market stalls in certain areas, they are awash with people. It really is a great way to relax and watch the world go by.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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City Hall Leadlight

2007-07-28T22:22:00.000+10:00

When people think of Brisbane City Hall, the immediate things which spring to mind are its facade featuring the tympanum of the pediment, the Museum of Brisbane, or the spectacular main auditorium. However, if you wander around the hallowed halls, you can come across other, more subtle pieces of Brisbane's history. These include the magnificent leadlight feature windows which can be found in the small entrance halls off Adelaide and Ann Streets on the first floor level. These were designed by artist William Bustard.

William Bustard (1894-1973) is renowned in Australia not only as a painter, but also due to his stained-glass and book illustration work. Born in England in 1894, he migrated to Queensland in 1921. At that time he was already well versed in stained glass work and over the intervening years through to the second world war he did work in many of Brisbane's churches, along with this piece in City Hall. His artworks can also be found at the Queensland Art Gallery.

The history of City Hall has been well documented, having been opened in 1930, but with the idea and foundation stone being laid in 1913. I think that William Bustard would not have worked on this until the late 1920's. What I particularly love about this piece is I believe it would have been reflective of the view one would have had from Adelaide Street back down to the Brisbane River at that time. The crest with the phrases City of Brisbane and Conjunctis Viribus (With united powers) emblaze the sky, and the wealth from the land and growing industry are also depicted.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Big Feathers

2007-07-18T21:41:00.000+10:00

Big Feathers is a sculpture in the Queen Street Mall which was commissioned by the Brisbane City Council in 1999. Located in the heart of the mall, near Jimmy's, it was created by Sydney-based artist Bronwyn Oliver. Made from aluminium, the sculpture consists of two large and intricately constructed aluminum feathers which are suspended on overhead wires.

The associated plaque details how the image of the feathers floating downwards connects the earth and sky. Like birds, people flock together to socialise, preen and display. Given that the Queen Street Mall is the premiere gathering place in the city, the associations of how both people and birds use their "plumage" is represented in this piece. As the plaque says "'Plumage' attracts attention, displays status and virility, beauty and availability, and indicates belonging to one group or another." Also, the feather brings an image of the natural world into the city centre.

Bronwyn Oliver was born in 1959 and passed away in 2006. She has contributed in a very unique and significant way to visual culture in Australia, with a large body of public works over her 20 years of producing sculpture. I feel blessed that we in Brisbane were recipients of one of her works in the public domain, and that it has made it to such a prominent place in the mall. Again, I wonder how many people pass underneath each day, not knowing that a feather like touch is just above them!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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State Library of Queensland

2007-07-15T20:48:00.000+10:00

The State Library of Queensland is located in the Cultural Centre at Stanley Place, Southbank. Next to the Gallery of Modern Art, it reopened at its revamped location on the 25 November, 2006. The library is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours through to 8pm on Monday through Thursday. There are also commercial outlets including the Library Shop and Tognini's Cafe.

With its mission of "Creatively linking Queenslanders to information, knowledge and each other", the State Library offers a raft of services to the Queensland public. These include access to traditional hard materials like books, newspapers, journals, family history, maps and audio-visual, as well as a number of electronic services, such as bibliographic and full content databases. They also provide access to key historical collections of Queensland, including the John Oxley Library. The State Library has a distinct focus on Queensland’s documentary heritage, and advocates for as well as partners with public libraries all across Queensland.

Despite the new look to the library, many of the traditional services offered have been provided to the community for well over 100 years. Since moving from the Former State Library in William Street in 1988, the Library has continued to grow and expand into a far more varied offering today. They provide services that would have been frowned upon years ago, particularly with the active kids programs (and noise that goes along with them!) Their electronic services are excellent, with wireless access throughout. Being a former librarian myself, I'm incredibly proud that such a great facility is available here.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Building Blocks of Life

2007-07-10T21:23:00.000+10:00

"Building Blocks of Life" is a sculpture located in the City Botanic Gardens. Created by sculptor Antone Bruinsma, it was gifted to the gardens in 1988. The imposing work features a traditional family, with the father protector stoically holding the mother and two young children under his protective and watchful eye. The mother is with the younger of the children, whilst the older child resides with inquisitive face and the large hand of the father. Standing over 2.4m high, it is sculpted in sandstone.

Antone Bruinsma is a Dutch born, Australian-based sculptor. Active as an artist for over twenty five years, he graduated from the Queensland College of Art in 1979. This work is reflective of his association with the Warana Festival (which became the Brisbane Festival) in the 1980's. To quote directly from his resume, I think this sums up his approach fantastically: "His sculptures are homages to Mother Earth and the gifts she bestows on us. He uses archetypal and mythological imagery, related to the environment and the community in which the sculptures will be placed."

Antone is quite an inspirational sculptor and has an obvious affinity with Queensland. His works can be found in many locations around Brisbane and the Great South East. He is an active community member, and I must agree by reviewing his works that he has enriched all of the areas which have had his works and sculptures on display. I love the way he has captured the essence of family within the sculpture, which I agree are truly the building blocks of life. I would highly recommend exploring his sculpture park in the Gold Coast hinterland at Cedar Creek, south of Brisbane.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Irish Murphy's

2007-07-06T22:02:00.000+10:00

Irish Murphy's Brisbane pub is located at the corner of George and Elizabeth Street. Part of the Irish Murphy's chain, their motto is to offer the best craic in town. They provide live music seven days a week, and have function rooms available. Their gallery restaurant offers more traditional Irish food, and their cafe bar menu offers standard pub fare. They also offer backpacker accommodation from around $30 per night, however, with an opening license through to 3am you need to be a bit of a party animal to stay there!

This building was formerly the Treasury Hotel. It was built in 1887-1888 and with the Transcontinental is the only building from this era on George Street still operating as a hotel. However, even back then the hotel was a replacement for an earlier hotel, the Dunmore Arms, from 1865. The site therefore has quite a long history. It was named to serve the new government treasury building across the street. The title TREASURY HOTEL still can be seen in the balustrade at the top of the building.

Today, despite being a pub of some repute, you can still see the classical design in the architecture. The upper two stories contain much of the original detail, but the first floor verandah has obviously been altered to serve the drinking consultants who frequent the bar on most evenings. It can be a bit cold to hand out there during winter, but with a few Guinness in your kick I'm sure it warms the cockles of your heart enough to endure!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Little Stanley Street Restaurants

2007-07-03T22:41:00.000+10:00

We've had some real Winter weather here in Brisbane over the past few weeks, which is a bit of a novelty. What better way to enjoy it, than by spending some time out eating in some of the great restaurants the city has to offer. One precinct which has certainly expanded over the past 10 years is Little Stanley Street, adjacent to the South Bank Parklands. In this particular strip you will not only find boutique fashion shops, but a variety of restaurants as well. Most offer both indoor and al fresco dining, as well as take-away service.

The variety is excellent. Ahmets is a licensed Turkish restaurant. The Gandhi Curry House offers Indian. Ginga is Japanese. Toscanis is Mediterranean / Italian. In addition there are Chinese, Vietnamese, Australian and others offering meals ranging from simple fare through to gourmet. You can even have the Aussie staples of steak and seafood!

I've had the pleasure at eating at a number of these restaurants, and although I'm no culinary master, I'd recommend most of them. The food is usually great. I've also found that the service in Brisbane is generally quite good, and especially in Summer when there is a lot to smile about. That said, given a rainy day in Brisbane when things are a bit slower, the staff seem even more likely to smile to give you a bit more warmth. Its all part of the reason why I love living here.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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I'm Back - And an Update

2007-07-01T21:17:00.000+10:00

Dear Valued Readers!

Over the course of the majority of this year, I've attempted to blog each day about an element of Brisbane City that I've found of interest. This is has been quite demanding, and although I've found it very enjoyable the time burden has become somewhat of a personal issue.

So instead of posting daily, I'm now intending to post somewhat less frequently. This isn't because I've found the city has less to offer, rather, there are always new and exciting things to explore and discover. I hope to continue to share these with you into the coming months.

Cheers, Wes.

Hiatus II!

2007-06-23T00:30:00.000+10:00

I Love Brisbane will again be on a short hiatus whilst I take another personal holiday travelling! This time around I'm fortunate to be going a Queensland coast island as part of a trip organised by my wonderful mother as part of her 70th Birthday celebrations.

Cheers, and see you soon, Wes.

General Post Office

2007-06-22T22:49:00.000+10:00

The General Post Office is located at 261 Queen Street, directly opposite Post Office Square. Facing the building, on the right you have specialty shops including the RACQ, and on the left, the Post Office and related postal services of Australia Post. Under the arch the complex is split by an arcade which runs from Queen Street through to Elizabeth Street.

The General Post Office was opened in September of 1872. The original GPO building, was designed by colonial architect Francis Drummond Greville (FDG) Stanley with an Italianate influence. The two storied northern building was completed by John Petrie in 1872, and the southern wing, central tower and archway were erected from 1876 to 1879. The complex was established to meet the increasing communications needs of the colony of Queensland. Helidon freestone is used throughout the building, particularly on the facade, columns and arcades. Over the years further extensions and expansions of the complex were made, however the main original components remain intact.

I love the historic grandeur of the building. Restoration work was undertaken in the mid 1990's, and today the building still shines as a result. The sandstone usage, like many other buildings in the city from that period, is sensational. One part of the GPO I love is the clock face on the northern building. It reminds me of the clock tower from Back to the Future! One day someone should dress up as Doc and slide from the tower down into Post Office Square.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Indigenous Art Under the Story Bridge

2007-06-21T23:12:00.000+10:00

Most mornings when I walk into work I park in a suburb of Brisbane known as New Farm. This walk involves going under the Story Bridge at its northern end, almost directly under the roadway and high on the cliff side. Rather than dull grey or off white on the walls, aboriginal style artwork has been painted over a simulated brickwork on much of the area directly under the bridge.

I have been unable to determine who or why did this work. I can only assume it may have been part of an community artwork scheme, but then again it may have been a fully commissioned work. It is quite extensive, with a large area which has been sealed off fully painted. Animals represented include snakes, turtles, lizards and fish in vivid colours. There doesn't appear to be any indication of the artist or artists at the actual site.

My take on this is that the Brisbane River is said to have flown for over 400 million years. Indigenous Australians have been here for at least 40,000 years, and were settled in the Brisbane region long before European Settlers left their marks. The artwork represented here appears to be an obvious recognition of the river, its makeup, and of the animals that originally inhabited the area. If you are exploring the city and walk over the Story Bridge, don't forget to have a sneak peak under it at another of Brisbane's hidden delights.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Shingle Inn

2007-06-20T23:07:00.000+10:00

Today is my birthday, and what better way to celebrate it with a post on The Shingle Inn. Somewhat of an institution in Brisbane, The Shingle Inn has been creating superior quality cakes since 1936. There are a number of stores throughout Brisbane and the suburbs, however the one represented here is in the basement of the Macarthur Central. The store consists of display cabinets for cakes and pastries, with a cafe area with magnificent high backed chairs to sit, eat and enjoy purchased treats at your leisure.

The Shingle Inn has a long and distinguished history within Brisbane. The original Shingle Inn was unfortunately closed in August 2002. Located in Edward Street between Adelaide and Queen Streets, it resembled English Tudor architecture, and had a distinct feel both inside and out. It also was said to be a popular haunt of soldiers during the second world war, as detailed here. After its closure, the original was painstakingly dismantled due to its heritage listing, with the intent that it would be rebuilt at some future time.

I'm glad you can still savour the delicious cakes in the city even with the original closed. I must admit, however, that as much as I wanted to buy a birthday cake during the day, I knew my wife had made me scrumptious chocolate mousse to devour when I got home - so I had to knock it back for today. There have been very recent rumours that the original Inn will be rebuilt at City Hall, with specific budget put aside, but we shall see.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Jimmy's on The Mall

2007-06-19T21:07:00.000+10:00

Jimmy's on the Mall is a restaurant and bar between Edward and Albert Streets in the Queen Street Mall. Effectively an Al Fresco cafe, they offer both a modern Australian (read beer, steaks and seafood!) and Asian influenced menu, and are open every day from breakfast until very late in the evening. There is seating for over 200 patrons, and they are licensed.

Meals range in price from around $10 for entrees, $25 for mains and $8 for desserts. Opened in 1984, Jimmy's has become one of the mainstays of central Brisbane. It is actually operated by the same crowd that runs the Pig 'N' Whistle pub restaurants within the city. There are both outside and inside seats, although the bulk of the seating still is undercover.

If you want a fairly laid back experience and want to watch the multitude of people who frequent the mall on a weekday or weekends, Jimmy's is a great place to go for lunch. Its also a great place for a late night snack or drink, and for a long time was a stop off point within the city for that last bite, due to it being one of the few places that was still open. There are now a number of cafes which do the same thing, but at least with Jimmy's you know you've got an original.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Adelaide Street Animal Sculpture

2007-06-18T22:14:00.000+10:00

The light posts on Adelaide Street between George and Edward Street are home to a menagerie of sculpted creatures. Created by artist Fred Whitehouse, they include Birds, a Flying Fox, a Frog, a Goanna and a Possum. They are installed in Adelaide Street as permanent artworks. They are all cast bronze sculptures and were installed in 1996.

The detail of each is exquisite, even after more than ten years of peering down on the bus travellers of Brisbane. The recent roadworks and ongoing shop front work have meant that they may not be as obvious to those wandering past, but all you have to do is look up. Fred Whitehouse has other works installed around the city suburbs, however, I'm unsure if he is a local Queensland sculptor, or just happened to be passing through in 1996, when the bulk of his works in the area were installed.

These are more examples of public artwork which blends into the streetscape and is not obvious to those doing their normal daily errands. It is fascinating to watch the responses of people as you turn your camera up to the top of a lamp post. Most people look at you with an expression of "What is he doing?" which soon turns to either delight, amazement or puzzlement when they realise that there are these fantastic creatures mere feet above their heads. I like the surprises, and that our city has these somewhat hidden delights - even if they are in full public view!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

2007-06-17T22:05:00.000+10:00

The Queensland Art Gallery - Gallery of Modern Art, or GOMA as its known to the locals, is a wonderful new gallery located in South Brisbane within the Cultural Centre precinct of South Bank. It is the largest gallery of modern and contemporary art in Australia. Opening hours are from 10:00am to - 5:00pm Monday to Friday, with the weekend opening time extended to 9:00am. Admission is free, except for special exhibitions and screenings. It was opened on the 2nd December, 2006.

The entrance foyer is dominated by this huge black and white work by Eko Nugroho. The prime reason for having an art gallery is to exhibit Art, however, aside from the many public gallery areas, there are also cinemas, a library, a number of cafes, and a gallery store. Multi-media and new technology is used as both an adjunct to certain pieces, and also as art in itself. They also have guest speakers and guided tours of the collections. A major exhibition, the Asia–Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art was the prime opening exhibition. At present, the main gallery is being refurbished for a new exhibition. Details of upcoming and current events can be found on the gallery website.

Today we were still able to wander through the existing exhibitions. There are some things which take my eye, and others that leave me wondering if a blank canvas with a small splotch of paint really is art. I enjoyed the indigenous aboriginal collection. One problem I have with these galleries is how hard it is to take your kids, and not let them touch the artworks, particularly things like carved stonework. Of course they want to explore! However, in this instance my boys were very well behaved.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Australian Vietnamese War Memorial

2007-06-16T19:05:00.000+10:00

The Australian Vietnamese War Memorial is located at the College Road entrance to Roma Street Parkland, at the top of the park. The memorial commemorates and honours Australian defence service personnel who served in Vietnam, and is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. It was unveiled on the 16th September, 2005.

The memorial features two life size bronze statues dedicated to the armed forces of Australia and The Republic of Vietnam. On the left is an Australian Infantryman and on the right a South Vietnamese soldier. The memorial consists of a 1.2 metre high base which has the map of Vietnam on the front panel with the Australian and Republic of Vietnam flags on either side. The side panels have the tri-service logos of both the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) with words of dedication underneath them.

I feel similarly about this memorial as I do about the Vietnam Memorial in ANZAC Square. I'm saddened that we had to send our troops to Vietnam, largely due to the large loss of life and the ultimate futility of War. I'm glad that we have come to recognise the work and sacrifice of Australian Vietnam Veterans, and also glad that this particular memorial also reflects the Vietnamese community and recognises the South Vietnamese impact.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Elevat "at" 32

2007-06-15T22:43:00.000+10:00

Hidden within every city, down a side street or lane, there will always be a local eatery, restaurant or take-away that doesn't seem to make it to any of the eating guides. One such place in Brisbane is Elevat@32. Located at 32 Burnett Lane, the restaurant serves simple Taiwanese food, but is always busy with mainly Asian clientele. They are open weekdays from 11:00am until 7:00pm, and later on Friday evenings.

The menu is distinctly Asian with a strong Thai influence. Most meals are served with either noodles or rice, and you can have chicken, pork, beef or vegetarian variations. Prices are excellent, ranging from a few dollars to generally no more than ten. They also have a variety of the pearl teas which are quite popular within the Asian communities here.

I was lucky enough to get introduced to this place by a colleague one lunchtime. Although the interior is nothing exotic, it is functional. The congestion at lunchtime to me is always a sign that they must be doing something right! I was glad I found it, however, I can't stress enough how little information there appears to be on the Internet about it. Perhaps if I could decipher the Asian characters I'd find more!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Frogs Hollow

2007-06-14T22:49:00.000+10:00

Between the Port Office Hotel and Smellies Building at the lower end of Edwards Street is a small entrance way which has this excellent sculpture known as Frogs Hollow. Created by artist Christopher Trotter in 2000, it is part of his series on nature. As you can see, the sculpture is basically a resting place for all manner of metallic frogs!

In Brisbane's history, this was part of the low-lying, swampy district known as Frog's Hollow. It was bounded by George and Edward Streets to the north and south, the west by Elizabeth Street and on the east by Alice Street. In the 1880's boom period Frog's Hollow became the principal warehousing and light-industrial sector of Brisbane's central business district. The sculpture is inspired by this area, and the use of discarded metals is noted by the artist as acknowledging the significant founding ironmongery history of the building to which it is attached.

This is another excellent work reminiscent of one of Christopher's other pieces, City Roos. The attention to detail, and his ability to add character and a sense of fun to his works is evidenced by not only this piece, but the number of artworks throughout the Brisbane suburbs which he has also created. Frogs Hollow has been acknowledged as quite a rough neighbourhood in its heyday, although I bet the frogs were always friendly!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Walter Hill Fountain

2007-06-13T21:46:00.000+10:00

The Walter Hill Fountain, in the City Botanic Gardens, is a unique monument to the colonial botanist and original director of the gardens, Walter Hill. Stonemason John Petrie built the stone drinking fountain in 1867 using the designs of Queensland's first colonial architect, Charles Tiffin. It was constructed using Helidon sandstone and marble from Gladstone.

The fountain commemorates the construction of the Enoggera Dam, which was engineered to provide drinking water for the growing city. It was the first ornamental drinking fountain in Queensland, and for many years functioned as such. The aim of Walter Hill was that all visitors to the Botanic Gardens would have access to pure drinking water. The original lions head through which the water funnelled still remain as features of the fountain. Located almost in the centre of the gardens, the fountain would have provided a focal point for those visitors as they perused the botanical delights.

I've just spent the past week travelling down through the eastern parts of Australia. Fortunately, as I went inland we had quite a lot of rain during my travels, and this meant that finally some of the drought stricken areas of the country have had some relief, and their was greenery through most of New South Wales. Posting on this fountain has made me reflect on how the provision of water, one of the basic necessities of life, has been made so difficult for our city over the past few years. Here's hoping we get more rain into our catchments so we can be spared further drought restrictions in the future.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Hiatus!

2007-06-05T23:48:00.000+10:00

I Love Brisbane will be on a short hiatus whilst I take a personal holiday travelling! On my return next week, I'll continue posting about our wonderful city of Brisbane.

In the meantime, why don't you go over and visit Brisbane Is Home, another wonderful blog dedicated to this fantastic town!!!

Cheers, and see you soon, Wes.

Shrine of Remembrance

2007-06-05T22:50:00.000+10:00

The Shrine of Remembrance is located in ANZAC Square and serves as a State memorial to those who lost their lives participating in overseas armed service campaigns, in particular the First World War. The Shrine houses an Eternal Flame in remembrance of those who lost their lives representing the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs). It holds an elevated position at the Ann Street entrance to ANZAC Square. It was dedicated at 11am on Armistice Day, Tuesday, 11 November 1930.

The Shrine is a dominant feature of the Square. The architecture is Greek Classic Revival style, utilising the forms of a Greek sacred enclosure (temenos) comprising of a round temple (tholos). The various columns are made of Helidon sandstone, which stand on a three tiered base of Queensland granite. The eighteen columns utilise doric order, and represent the year of peace, 1918. They support a circular entablature which on its outside edge is ornamented with rosettes and within the shrine is inscribed with the names of battlefields where Australian soldiers fought. Within the middle of the shrine a bronze urn houses the Eternal Flame. Twin stone staircases wrap around the Shrine, descending to the level of the Square.

Of all the elements within ANZAC Square, this has to be the most striking. The Shrine is a meeting place for the dawn service on ANZAC Day, and throughout that particular day draws huge crowds who pay their respect. At any time of the year, it is a moving and sombre experience to visit and recognise and remember the fallen.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Mansions

2007-06-04T23:12:00.000+10:00

The Mansions are a row of six attached houses which were built in 1889. The first tenants were three doctors who set up practice early in 1890 and included Dr Lilian Cooper, the first female doctor in Queensland. It was also used by Queensland parliamentarians, including the then premier Boyd Dunlop Morehead. In the following years the various houses were used as private residences, a day school, consulting rooms and boarding houses before falling into government hands as offices. In 1982 the building was refurbished to accommodate shops and a restaurant on the ground floors and offices on the upper levels.

Given its age, the style is a Victorian version of Italian Classical architecture. With predominantly red brickwork, each attached house is three stories in height. Designed by architect G.H.M. Addison it is an example of the prestigious housing of the late 19th century. This was where the elite of Queensland society of the time lived, offering views over the township and the river from one of the highest points in the city. The interiors have been significantly renovated over time, with very little of the original interior architecture remaining.

I love how at each of the main corners of the building facing George Street, two cats are perched overlooking the streetscape. These are similar to Gargoyles, however these serve as sculpture providing what appears to be an ornamental or artistic function. I wonder if these were placed here to scare off evil spirits and used for some level of spiritual protection. They looked quite determined with their ever vigilant eyes on those who pass by underneath.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Thomas Joseph Ryan Sculpture

2007-06-03T22:22:00.000+10:00

Thomas Joseph Ryan was Premier of Queensland, Australia from May 1915 until October 1919. He has been immortalized with a bronze statue designed by noted Australian sculptor Sir Edgar Bertram MacKennal which was unveiled in Queens Gardens in 1925. It is located diagonally in from the intersection of William Street and Elizabeth Street. The grand figure in full legal regalia stands upon a pedestal of Helidon sandstone and Enoggera granitebase with a plaque which identifies his stature in Queensland politics, and provides a remembrance of his untimely death.

Ryan was born at Port Fairy in Victoria on 1 July 1876. He was educated in Victoria at South Melbourne College, Xavier College, Kew, and the University of Melbourne, graduating with legal qualifications. Moving to Queensland, he practised as a solicitor at Rockhampton and then as a barrister in Brisbane. He entered politics in October 1909 as part of the labour party, and was elected leader in 1912 from whence he became Premier at the election of May 1915. He moved from state to federal politics in October 1919. Unfortunately, during a trip to England he contracted influenza, and on his return never quite fully recovered. On 1 August 1921 he died of pneumonia.

There are not that many of these types of sculptures in the Brisbane city area. This work effectively provides a memorial to a man who many believed could have been a likely Australian Labor Party leader, and potential Prime Minister, before his premature death. The sculpture itself is an excellent representation of who TJ Ryan may have been. The plaque notes that not only was he Premier, but also a Scholar, Jurist and Statesman. Given the piece was erected by public subscription, he must have been well respected within the community of the time.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Plant Form

2007-06-02T22:05:00.000+10:00

Plant Form is a large steel sculpture located on the riverfront within the City Botanical Gardens. Brisbane City Council purchased the piece after the finish of World Expo 1988 and relocated it to this position within the gardens. Created by Robert Juniper, it stands over four metres tall and is an imposing artwork on the riverwalk. The easiest way to locate the artwork is to enter the gardens via the Alice and Edward Street entrance and proceed along the river.

Born in Merredin, Western Australia in 1929, Robert Juniper is considered one of Australia's most renowned painters, sculptors and printmakers. He is acknowledged as a major figure in Australian landscape painting, and he has also been honoured by the Western Australian government as a 'Living Treasure'. He's even been on Burke's Backyard! He studied commercial art and industrial design at Beckenham School of Art, England before returning to Western Australia in 1948 where he painted, taught and exhibited from the early 1950s. In the 1980s he investigated other artistic avenues, including stained glass and metal sculpture like the work presented here. He has won numerous awards with individual and group collections presented worldwide.

In researching Robert, I found reference that most of his sculptures are made from bits and pieces of rusty steel he finds in old deserted gold mining towns and dumps, and then welds together. This seems to fit this mold perfectly. I feel like this work is perfectly located. To me, the leaf elements of the work look like boat anchors, so the juxtaposition with the yachts on the river works beautifully. In a similar vein the same juxtaposition with the garden backdrop behind the piece works just as well due to the "plant" nature of the sculpture. Good planning, or just good luck? Who cares, it sure is striking!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Transcontinental Hotel

2007-06-01T22:51:00.000+10:00

The Transcontinental Hotel is a historic pub located at 482 George Street opposite the Brisbane Transit Centre. Open from 10:00am until late each day, the complex offers restaurant, bars and a pokies gaming area. Renowned as both a live music and dance venue, as well as a great place to get cheap eats, the Trans, as it is locally known, has been a Brisbane pub institution for a number of years. I do not, however, believe the hotel currently offers accommodation.

The Transcontinental Hotel has quite a long history with Brisbane. It was constructed in 1883-4 as a first class hotel for the city's gentry. It originally contained 27 bedrooms, seven public rooms, billiard room and a private bar over four levels, with the lower level being below street level. It was reputed to have one of the largest bar trades in Brisbane, with only the best liquor carried. Over the years, although the facade has remained largely intact, the interior has had significant remodelling.

Today, the trans has several theme nights, changing from pub sports on Monday, music jam night Tuesday, funk and R&B Wednesday, university night Thursday, office Friday and differing varieties on Saturday and Sunday. The crowd is a mix of backpackers and tourists, the office set, and students, depending on which night you go. During happy hours the beer is cheap and flows regularly, and their pub meals are quite good value.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Mephisto

2007-05-31T21:39:00.000+10:00

Mephisto is the last surviving German A7V Sturmpanzerwagen tank from the World War I. Accessible from the Dinosaur Garden at the Queensland Museum at Southbank, the tank is enclosed in glass with a number of informational displays on its history. The Germans produced only this one type of tank during the first World War. Only 20 of them were built during 1918, and they saw action from March to October that year. This one, dubbed "Mephisto", is chassis number 506. As much as possible, the Museum has attempted to preserve its original condition, so the tank is no longer operational.

The tank was effectively disabled at Villers-Bretonneux during a the first tank versus tank fight on 24 April 1918. On the 25th April in a counter offensive, the ground where the tank had stalled was retaken Australian and British troops. The Germans did attempt to destroy it, however, it remained stranded in a shell hole over the following months until the 28th Batallion, consisting mostly of troops from Queensland, determined to recover it.

How amazing is this? In all the world, a German historic replica ends up in a museum in Brisbane! It got here effectively as a keepsake when it was loaded onto the SS Armagh for transport to Australia on 2 April 1919. Even then Prime Minister Billy Hughes got involved in deciding it could remain in Brisbane as part of the Queensland Museum where it has resided ever since.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Spencers Building

2007-05-30T21:06:00.000+10:00

There are times when I wander around the city that I come across places and wonder what there history could be. Like in any city in the world, you can come across derelict buildings. This one, at 45-47 Edwards Street, is in obvious need of repair. Although the facade is still intact, inside is a complete mess. There is rubbish and signs of squatters on the main entrance floor, and although the main structure is intact, the building is basically untenantable. There is also graffiti over the building as well.

However, there was a time when this building, and its associated building next door, formed part of the warehouse district near the bustling original Port of Brisbane. Known as Spencers Building, the building was completed in 1890 to a design by colonial architect FDG Stanley. Unfortunately it was flooded in the 1890 floods not long after completion, however over the intervening years it was used as a coach building premises, tent manufacturer, leather manufacturer, and as is noted on the facade, a typewriter dealer. Unfortunately it has since fallen into disrepute.

I can only hope that at some point in the near future, the building will be redeveloped, and the classical Victorian detailing will be maintained. There is still hope for this, as the adjacent building still maintains an example of what the facade could be like if the entire structure was refurbished. There is ample space inside and whatever its future holds, it does offer its owner a great opportunity to maintain the aesthetic qualities of this type of architecture.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Tidal Indicator

2007-05-29T20:22:00.000+10:00

The Tidal Indicator is a sculpture created by artist Nola Farman, at Petrie’s Bight on the Brisbane River. It was installed in 2003 at the entrance to the Brisbane River Boardwalk. It was created as a commissioned work for the Devine company's then new apartment block River Place.

Sydney based West Australian artist Nola Farman has been commissioned to produce large public artworks such as this and others in Brisbane and throughout Australia. She also has international renown, with her works in collections in Paris, London, Canada and New Zealand. I am slightly unsure whether the stonework at the base of the sculpture is part of the artwork, and I assume it is. The inscriptions are quite reflective of humanities place in the world with phrases such as Here and Now and There and Gone.

I like how from certain vantage points the arch of the Tidal Indicator frames the Story Bridge. I also learnt something new as I researched this piece. "Littoral" means of or pertaining to the shore of a lake, sea or ocean. It is also used to reflect the area between the low and high water marks. This makes it ideal in referring to a tidal marker. If only our city's dam levels could reach these high water marks at the moment.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Motorcycle Culture

2007-05-28T22:50:00.000+10:00

With the continuing increase in petrol prices, and the ongoing traffic congestion which occurs around Brisbane, one of the alternatives being sort by more and more city dwellers is use of motorcycles or scooters. Over the past five years there has been a definite upswing in the number of riders in and around the city. There are different makes and models being used, from the larger, faster, performance bikes, through to scooters and even old postal delivery bikes. Although we haven't quite matched the Asian countries on uptake, more people are making use of this form of travel.

One of the biggest growth areas has been in Scooters. Scooters are economical to buy and a whole lot cheaper to run around on than public transport! On top of that, in Queensland you can ride a scooter up to 50cc on a Car licence. Anything over 50cc will require you to have a Motorcycle licence. There are a number of places where you can buy scooters, including Scootopia and TeamMoto. There are less bike rental options in the city, although if you go North or South to the holiday spots, it is quite easy to pick up rentals, for example, Aussie Biker tours and rentals offer a range of bikes.

As you can see from these two shots, parking is also a little easier to get! This area on Turbot Street has seen a growing increase in bike patronage, and even thought the signs urge riders not to park beyond certain boundaries, these seem to be often ignored. Regardless, the city has a real need to cater for this upsurge, and catering for our bikers is an important aspect of the continuing growth of another form of cheap and alternative transport which reduces the number of cars on the roads.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Former State Library of Queensland

2007-05-27T22:08:00.000+10:00

The building at 159 William Street has a long and auspicious history within the public life of Brisbane. Like many other buildings in the area along William Street, this is another of the city buildings designed by Colonial Architect Francis Drummond Greville (FDG) Stanley. It was modelled on 16th century Italian architecture. Constructed between 1876 and 1879, it was the first purpose-built home for the Queensland Museum.

Unfortunately, it proved inadequate for museum purposes. It reopened as the Public Library of Queensland in April 1902. Over the years the collection expanded, and the the library building itself was extended in 1958-59. The name was changed to the State Library of Queensland in 1971. In 1988 the State Library moved to new, larger premises in the Queensland Cultural Centre at Southbank.

Along with the historic building, the associated annex with mural by Victorian artist Lindsay Edwards, are still prominent architectural and artistic features on William Street. I believe the building may still be used as a library store, although I also understand that it is partially home to offices of Tabcorp, associated with the Treasury Casino across the road. Hopefully we'll never lose such a unique facade.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Topiary Surprise

2007-05-26T21:23:00.001+10:00

Topiary Surprise is a cluster of sandstone sculptures located within the Spectacle Garden at Roma Street Parkland. Unveiled in 2001, the works are by Brisbane sculptor Rhyl Hinwood. They are sculpted from Helidon freestone.

Sited within the Spectacle Garden next to the topiary and maze, the sandstone is sculpted in domed forms. Rhyl outlines on her website that the intention was to reflect the shapes of the surrounding clipped plants, such as azalea, camellia, gardenia and dwarf bougainvillea. The surface of each of these has been etched to show the leaves of each of these plants. In addition, carved images of Queensland native fauna are also included, such as the cicada, snake, lizard and jewel beetle.

My youngest certainly loved exploring these sculptures. I'm not quite sure he was meant to run on the garden, but the invitation of the snake and lizard made it hard for him to resist, and he is less than two! He liked the smooth feel of the sandstone, and delighted in pointing out each of the animals he found. What a great way to show your kids not only the gardens, but the great works of art that are found co-located with them.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Commissariat Store

2007-05-25T21:30:00.000+10:00

The Commissariat Store at 115 William Street is the current home of the Royal Historical Society of Brisbane (RHSQ). The building is one of the most significant building, having been completed in 1829. Like the Old Windmill, it was originally built by convicts and is one of the only remaining remnants of the original penal settlement on which Brisbane was founded. Today, it effectively runs as a museum to Brisbane's history. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10.00am - 4.00pm, with adults costing $4.00 to enter, and children $2.00.

The Commissariat store's primary role was to hold good for storage and distribution to the military, convicts and colonists. It was also used to control the supply of medicines and hospital equipment, customs and banking. When the penal settlement finally closed after more than a decade of brutal reign, the store became a land sales office, and then a military and police barracks. From the 1880's it became government offices, was extended in 1913, and in 1982 became the home of the RHSQ. It also holds the Welsby library for those who wish to research Queensland history.

When I visited, I was amazed at the wealth of historical displays and information on Brisbane held within the building. Not only is the building itself a wonderful historical icon, but the materials kept and displayed here all offer aspects of Brisbane's history which are both insightful and interesting. One specific thing which sent chills down my spine was the gallows beam from Boggo Road Gaol, on which several men were hung during its time as a prison. Then there are other uplifting displays to men such as Thomas Petrie who worked tirelessly for Aboriginal rights. The tour guides do an excellent job as well.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Brisbane Transit Centre

2007-05-24T21:29:00.000+10:00

One of the key places associated with travel to and from Brisbane is the Brisbane Transit Centre. Located on Roma Street adjacent to Roma Street Station, the transit centre acts as a hub for trains and buses travelling within Queensland and interstate. City buses also utilise the transit centre. The complex also includes a number of shops, cafes and restaurants, two office towers, multi-level car park and also a Holiday Inn hotel. The Transit Centre can be entered via ground level, or by a pedestrian overpass across Roma Street, which is accessed by a stairway or escalator.

Components of the centre have a long history. Roma Street Station was Brisbane's first railway station and opened in 1876. Over the years, the station was extended, with new platforms and facilities added. The most recent, and most significant change to the Railway Station occurred in the 1980s when the transit centre, incorporating the Hotel and associated business towers, was constructed.

If you are a tourist or backpacker, travelling around the city and into the far reaches of Queensland on the train and bus will no doubt take you through the transit centre. There are a number of tour operators on the site, and many tours run from here. Baggage and storage lockers are available. Use this as a starting point, and not only the delights of Brisbane and it surrounds will be available to you, but so will the whole of our magnificent country.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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William Buck Centre Windmill

2007-05-23T23:03:00.000+10:00

The William Buck Centre at 120 Edward Street has an interesting windmill sculpture in its entry foyer. Well, this is what I've called it! I've been unable to find much specifically about the sculpture. As you can see from the pictures, it incorporates what appears to be a stainless steel spiral over an eight pointed framework. It rotates clockwise and must be close to 3 metres in diameter from casual observation.

The William Buck Centre incorporates some incredible environmentally supportive technology. It has a large solar panel roof structure, which has been built into the overall structure. The whole office tower has been designed to minimise energy consumption. Energy efficient features include movement and light-level sensors, low-flow shower roses, dual-flush toilets, movement detector urinals, flow limiters on taps, solar hot water collectors. Studies with the Environmental Protection Agency have shown the results of these efficiencies, and the tower has a 4.5 star building greenhouse rating.

Initially it was the novelty of the sculpture which drew me into the foyer in the first place. The panel underneath, highlighting information such as carbon emission efficiency gains, suggested that the building might have something more to offer. It was only when I began research into what the building was all about that I discovered its green nature. Lets hope that this offers more than a glimpse to the future, and all developments will incorporate these kinds of initiatives, as well as offering us unique public art.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Naval Offices

2007-05-22T21:51:00.000+10:00

The Naval Offices at 3 Edward Street are representative of the historic character of the Brisbane riverfront. They were built in 1901 as the administrative headquarters of Queensland Marine Defence Force, providing a residence for the Naval Commandant and his staff. The Naval Offices served as a key naval administrative location from the Royal Australian Navy's formation in 1913 and throughout two World Wars. The premises were occupied by the Navy through to 1959. Subsequently, they were used by various government departments until being leased as a restaurant in 1982. The Naval Offices are currently home to Baggaley's Florist.

The architectural style of the building is mainly Baroque, with an ornate entrance pediment which incorporates the Naval Defence Coat of Arms. This is a largely intact example of a Federation period building. The original wrought iron entry gates still hang in the arched entrance way. The building is predominantly constructed from red brick which is essentially plain on the lower level and stuccoed on the upper level.

This is another of the city buildings with a unique and largely intact historical significance. Being so close to the river, the naval representatives would have had a commanding view of the activities on the river during both wars, although now the Stamford Hotel has largely blocked their vista. They could also have monitored activities at the Naval Store, directly across the river. Today, there's flowers inside, so if you're looking for a brilliant bloom, have a look at their floral delights whilst you savour the history!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Korea Malaya Borneo Memorial

2007-05-21T23:23:00.000+10:00

The Korea Malay Borneo Memorial in ANZAC Square commemorates those Australians and their allies who died or served during the wars in Korea, Malaya and Borneo between 1948 to 1966. Part of an R.S.L. Bicentennial of Australia Project, it was sculpted in bronze with a pedestal of granite by Rhyl Hinwood, and unveiled on 23rd April, 1988.

The memorial depicts an Australian soldier from the Malaya and Borneo Wars standing alongside an an Australian soldier from the Korean Campaign, with an arm outstretched welcoming peace and friendship. Australia participated in the Korean War 1950-1953, Malaya War 1948-1966 and Borneo War 1962-1966. As Rhyl describes it herself: "Two life size figures stand side by side supported by sandbags draped with camouflage netting. One wears tropical jungle dress while the other is depicted in winter gear mostly borrowed from other nationals."

This is another of a significant number of artworks around Brisbane sculpted by Rhyl Hinwood. She does both serious and humorous works, and has done both corporate and public items. I'm glad that some of these are available for all to see, and in particular this one, which has such historical significance in remembering those who died or suffered in war. The main image here is actually from earlier this year, when I visited the square and took some other shots, so you can notice the hoardings behind the sculpture which have since been removed.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Roma Street Parkland Playgrounds

2007-05-20T19:31:00.000+10:00

When you have kids, I feel its important to be able to utilise the city parks and gardens with them. Although you can show kids sculpture, artworks and horticulture, invariably the one thing they want to do is play in the park. Roma Street Parkland quite adequately meets this requirement. Bounded by Wickham Terrace, College Road and Parkland Crescent, the sixteen hectares contain a number of recreational areas and playgrounds, particularly in the Upper Parkland precinct.

Each playground contains a variety of activities. There are swing sets, covered walkways, crawl spaces, ladders, bridges and slides. Everything is vivid and multicoloured. There are also areas where musical instruments in the form of piping have been interspersed along the walkways to provide interactive play elements. They even have a Liberty Swing, which is a great invention for kids with disabilities to get the experience of swinging in a wheelchair. The playground areas also contain BBQ and picnic areas so its easy to take a picnic lunch and eat it on the lawns whilst your children play.

On weekends, for those of us Brisbanites who live in the suburbs, a trip into the city generally means spending several hours in town. With the kids, one of the trade-offs I use is to let them know that if they're going to spend time shopping or running around, that they can have some kid time in the park playgrounds. I'm grateful that we have wonderful facilities like this in such close proximity to the city, and a detour into the Parkland is an easy and effective way to let the kids run off their boundless energy.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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South Bank Parklands Grand Arbour

2007-05-19T19:54:00.000+10:00

The Grand Arbour is a major architectural and horticultural attraction at South Bank Parklands. It weaves from one end of the parklands to the other, and is over a kilometre in length. Consisting of 443 curled pylons of steel, nearly all pylons are interconnected with up to nine steel wires on which grows trains of magenta bougainvillea plants. There are also yellow plates of steel which provide additional shade cover at various locations throughout the walkway.

The Grand Arbour was designed by a Melbourne-based firm Denton Corker Marshall in 1997 and completed in 1999. It was a significant feature in the redesign of the parklands. The walkway is not only enjoyed by tourists, it is also a popular route for runners having been used in a number of fun runs. Art exhibitions are also hung from the wires from time to times, and when the parkland markets hit their peak period many of the stalls use the shade of the arbour to provide comfort for visiting shoppers.

In full bloom the arbour is nothing short of spectacular. I recall when I worked at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in the late 1990's they had a similar but much smaller concept, which I looked forward to see growing. Imagine my delight when I came to Brisbane to find a similar framework, and over the years I've lived here watching it achieve the grandeur of the original design concept flower into what we all can enjoy today. I can't wait until it fully engulfs the entire steel frame!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Belgian Beer Cafe Brussels

2007-05-18T22:24:00.000+10:00

The Belgian Beer Cafe Brussels is a replica Belgian themed bistro and bar located at the corner of Mary and Edward Streets, at 169 Mary Street. The venue offers a restaurant with A La Carte menus and desserts, fine wines, cocktails, and of course Beer. There are function areas both within the restaurant on the ground floor, and an area on the upper terrace. The other outstanding feature is the outside open air beer garden. Opening hours are from 11am until late every day of the week.

The building itself is also known as the Coal Board Building, and has historical significance within Brisbane. Originally used as a warehouse, it was erected in 1887-88. It was used initially by importers of china and glass, and then subsequently used by boot manufacturers, and a variety of produce and leather merchants, engineers, hardware suppliers and saddlers' ironmongers. In the 1960's it was transferred back to government offices, before being converted to a bar/restaurant in the 2000's.

There are a number of other Belgian Beer Cafes throughout Australia. The aim of the cafes is to recreate the look and feel of 1920s bars of Belgium along with their art-nouveau design. Each bar also features famous beers of Belgium - including Hoegaarden, Leffe and Stella Artois - with the customary two fingers of foam at the top. If you want a great place to enjoy a foaming beer in lush surrounds with the chic crowd, then this is the place. The chocolate desserts are also excellent!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Post Office Square

2007-05-17T20:34:00.000+10:00

Post Office Square is another of the open spaces within the Central Business District. Bounded by Queen Street and Adelaide Street as its main street access, and with buildings either side, it covers an arcade of shops underneath. The shopping area is predominantly eateries and a food court, however, there is also a pharmacy, newsagent and other specialist shops. Post Office Square was opened in April of 2004.

The main lawn area has been affected by the drought, and subsequent lack of watering. That, however, does not stop the large number of city dwellers who congregate here during their lunchtimes to either eat on the lawns or surrounding seats. There are also a number of cafes and restaurants adjoining the square which offer a range of delectable taste delights! There are also trees to provide some level of shade. On a warm autumn lunchtime its a great place to stop.

The Square is opposite two of Brisbane's feature locations. On one side is ANZAC Square, and on the other is the General Post Office. It is close to where I walk, and a good place to go to just stretch out and grab a bit, and watch a bit of the local colour. It even has public toilets, which are on the National Toilet Map!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Queensland Police Museum

2007-05-16T22:07:00.000+10:00

The Queensland Police Museum is located on the ground floor of the Queensland Police Headquarters, at 200 Roma Street. Two of the museums key aims are promoting the Queensland Police Service and preserving its history and heritage. The museum has a variety of displays on police heritage, Queensland crimes, police investigative techniques, medals, police women, operational equipment and transport, amongst others. It is open from 9:00am to 4:00pm weekdays, with the occasional Sunday opening. Entry is free.

Providing an education program for both primary and secondary students, the museum can be quite busy during certain times of the day. You can participate in forensic science and crime solving sessions, and there is even a mock courtroom. There is also a research library at the facility which can source and produce the service history for any Queensland Police officer who served between 1864 and 1940. I like that they have a 1930's poker machine on display, although I doubt it still works!

Some of the more chilling displays involve infamous Brisbane crimes, and real murder cases. One that struck me was the unsolved murder case of Betty Shanks, a young woman who was killed in the early 1950's. Still unsolved, the story remains one of Brisbane's most significant murder mysteries. Perhaps someone who visits the museum will have their memory sparked and may be able to shed some more light on the case, 50 years on.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Inchcolm Hotel

2007-05-15T23:15:00.000+10:00

The Inchcolm Hotel is a boutique hotel located at 73 Wickham Terrace. A part of the Quality Hotel chain, the hotel offers standard and deluxe suites, "Seasalt" restaurant, conference and function facilities, and a rooftop pool with views back down to the city. In 1999 The Inchcolm was transformed from a heritage listed medical chambers to its current reincarnation. There are 35 suites in the hotel, and these are unique in that they are named after significant people or places of interest in Queensland history.

Wickham Terrace is significant for its relationship to the medical profession. This particular site has been associated with the profession since the 1880's. The original building contained private consulting rooms and then became a private hospital. In 1930 the current building was created in Georgian Style. Internally the building was divided into suites of medical offices, accessed via a narrow central corridor on each level. These suites now form the basis of the hotel. In refurbishing the building as a hotel many of the original features were kept including the silky oak wall panelling and doors, the original brass fittings and the 1920s New York style cage lift which still services the hotel today.

I love the look and feel of this hotel. The red brick rendering, overall faced, and the lettering pronouncing the hotel all give it a certain charm which harks back to the 1930's. The lettering in particular is deceptive, grabbing your attention because it appears out of focus - even though it isn't. It must be a trick of the camera as well! Although I haven't had the pleasure of staying here, I think it would be a great place to take a break.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Westpac Bank Building

2007-05-14T22:02:00.000+10:00

On the corner of George Street and the Queen Street Mall at 33 Queen Street is the imposing Westpac Bank Building. Formerly the Bank of New South Wales Building, it is now home to a branch of the Westpac Bank. The six storey building houses not only the banking services, but a range of small to medium size business ranging from Realtors, Lawyers, Solicitors, Personnel Recruitment and Software companies throughout the Chambers.

The actual site of the building has been associated with banking since 1851. This building was constructed between 1928 to 1930 by Brisbane architects Hall and Devereux. Similar in style to the National Australia Bank down the street, the architecture is an an example of the neo-classical style used in other commercial and government buildings of similar scale and materials built during this period. The main facades comprise Helidon freestone as a stone facing on a base of Uralla polished granite. The facade also features four ionic columns which form a prominent and striking feature.

As a building on one of the main throughfares of the city, I imagine thousands of people walk past without giving this facade a second glance. After all, its a bank isn't it? Yet the building itself, and its architecture are so imposing and outstanding, that I find it amazing that you can walk passed without being overawed. Given the visual pollution of billboards and hoardings throwing glaring advertisements in garish colours at us, I love that a strong piece of architecture can remind us of where we've come from with the multi-cultural classical influences of our wonderful city in our historic buildings.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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City Roos

2007-05-13T21:19:00.000+10:00

On George Street, near the Queen Street Mall and opposite Brisbane Square you will find a collection of metallic sculptures known as the City Roos. As its associated plaque outlines, the sculptures are made from discarded scrapmetal from a cross-section of industries. Created by Christopher Trotter in 1999, the sculpture - as do many of his other works - takes a look at the creative and classic Australian culture of 'making do'. It also notes that the Roos symbolize the importance of sharing space and communication.

Christopher Trotter is a very active Brisbane artist. Born in 1967, his Curriculum Vitae highlights a sculptor with a voracious talent for working with discarded metal, creating all kinds of interesting art. As he outlines in his artist statement, "Time moves on, technology changes, shape changes as functions change. One thing remains constant - there will always be material to be recycled...". He has recycled the materials on display here to excellent effect.

I love, when doing research for this blog, to find information which goes beyond what it is that I've originally seen out on the streets. Christopher's web site is a fine example of this, taking you into the labyrinth of his work in a fun, interactive way. So not only do I have the delight of seeing my son and many other tourists enjoy the physical and whimsical nature of his sculpture, I get to enjoy a digital treat as well.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Shrine of Memories

2007-05-12T23:23:00.000+10:00

The Shrine of Memories is a memorial of the Second World War dedicated to various Queensland contingents of the armed forces. It is co-located with the Crypt in the subway underneath the ANZAC Square Shrine of Remembrance. There are Touch and Tell systems in place that explain the significance of Anzac Square to visitors. It is open Monday to Friday 9.00am - 2.15pm except on ANZAC Day when hours are extended.

Within the Shrine and Crypt there are Honour Rolls, Unit Plaques, a memorial mosaic and soils from official World War II cemeteries. The Crypt was established in 1930 to contain tributes for Australian and allied participants. In 1984 the Second World War Shrine of Memories was relocated to the enlarged crypt from its previous location as part of the Returned & Services League (RSL) State Branch headquarters at ANZAC House in Wickham Terrace. It had been established at the RSL Branch in 1959. The mosaic, designed by Don Ross, comprises over 140,000 small pieces of hand cut Venetian glass enamels and depicts what I consider is the release of the spirit of those who gave the supreme sacrifice in War.

The Angel on the entrance wall to the Crypt represents the Angel of Peace. Entering this place is a very sombre and moving experience. It allows you to reflect on those who gave their lives, and that they not be forgotten. Over the course of writing this blog I have found that writing on the ANZAC tradition brings forth both emotions of regret at the wasted lives, but also pride that we honour those who defended hour nation and beliefs. We should strive not to make war, but to honour Peace throughout the world.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Plough Inn

2007-05-11T22:37:00.000+10:00

The Plough Inn is the main pub on Stanley Street Plaza at South Bank Parklands. The inn offers both a traditional pub atmosphere, with beer on tap, along with a steakhouse offering both snacks and meals. The view is excellent, across the beach, river and city and to Little Stanley Street. There is the capacity to cater for a variety of functions for up to 500 people. It is open from 11:00am until late daily.

This historic building was originally built as a hotel in 1885. It replaced a previous, less substantial structure on the site, which had functioned as the Plough Inn since 1864. It had its hey day through the tun of the century due its proximity to the South Brisbane wharves, ensuring its popularity amongst the sea going trade. It was also a significant meeting point for troops during World War II. In 1987 the building was modified to function as a tavern during Expo '88.

Today the pub is quite a popular meeting point and eatery, being a focal point for the many tourists who visit Southbank. By both night and day the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming, and the grub is good. It is very easy to sit at the entrance to the pub with a cool, refreshing drink and watch the world go by.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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A Bronzed Aussie and his Blue Heeler Dog

2007-05-10T21:44:00.000+10:00

In the grassed area near Picnic Island at South Bank Parklands stands the sculpture A Bronzed Aussie and his Blue Heeler Dog. This is near the Stanley Street entrance to the Parklands. The sculpture depicts the traditional image of a strong country male with his faithful dog at his side. The statue was commissioned in 1980's for the then new AMP Building in the CBD. This came about from a comment by Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen. At the official opening of the building she mentioned that the new building and the neighbouring building looked like 'a bronzed Aussie and his Blue Heeler dog.'

The associated plaque doesn't acknowledge who the sculptor is, and I haven't been able to find out from any follow up research. The statue was gifted to the South Bank corporation when the AMP Building foyer underwent refurbishment. The concept of the Bronzed Aussie is a national personification of the weather beaten but proudly strong Australian "battler". The bronzing comes from the constant sun endured by much outside work. The Blue Heeler is a faithful Australian cattle dog, portrayed here as loyally sitting by his master.

This really is an Australian sculpture. You don't get much more Aussie in representation than this, and the Queensland association is quite strong, as the sun burns brighter up here! The hands on hip defiant posture, the thick bushy moustache and the rolled up sleeves all show a man ready to work. It could be for shearing sheep, for herding cattle or for a session of fence fixin'. Regardless, our man is up to the task, and he'll knock down a cold beer afterwards. And all through it, his faithful Bluey will remain close by his side.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Dinosaur Garden

2007-05-09T21:48:00.000+10:00

The Dinosaur Garden is part of the Queensland Museum at Southbank. It is accessible from the Museum itself, or the footpath on Grey Street. The main features of the garden are the life-sized reconstructions of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Triceratops. The museum is generally open from 9:30am to 5:00pm daily. Admission is free except for special temporary exhibitions.

The exhibit features two of the most well known dinosaurs. Both are indicated as having lived in North America 65 million years ago. Tyrannosaurus is noted as being a giant bipedal carnivore, although less common than Triceratops. Triceratops is noted as a quadrupedal herbivore, and information is provided on its bony frill used for protection. It is postulated that this was used in its conflicts with other Triceratops or Tyrannosaurus. Although not native to Queensland they provide a great example of what dinosaurs could have been like. More information about Dinosaurs, with particular reference to Queensland species, can be found at the Queensland Museum Dinosaur web site.

How would you like to come across either of these beasties? I've seen Jurassic Park, and I'm sure glad that these types of dinosaurs don't still rule and roam the Earth. The chompers on the T-Rex would make short shrift of me. Of course, you can use these stories with your kids, and I'm fortunate because at the moment my three will believe anything! If you snap and growl and roar like a T-Rex you can chase them all around the garden. This is a great location to take the kids for a quick run through, and a welcome place to rest your feet after traversing the museum, and chasing the kids.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Myer Centre

2007-05-08T22:15:00.000+10:00

The Myer Centre is one of the premier shopping and entertainment centres in Brisbane. Located at 91 Queen Street and spanning from the Queen Street Mall through to Elizabeth Street it is a six floor shopping complex. The Centre is home to close to 170 stores, including the largest Myer department store in Queensland, as well as Target and Coles. It opened in March 1988. A full centre directory can be found on their web site. The centre is open most days with store trading mainly from 9:00am - 5:30pm and extended hours on Fridays.

Aside from shops, the Myer Centre also is home to an eight screen cinema complex on the top level. Underneath the centre is four levels of car parking, and the Queen Street Bus Station is located on the lower ground level. A major food court is also contained on the lower levels, and coffee shops and eateries are interspersed amongst the specialty shops on most levels. If you can't find something to suit your tastes in either food, goods or fashion, then you're not trying hard enough.

There are two other things I like about the Myer Centre, and they relate to history. Architecturally, the facades of the buildings facing the Queen Street Mall, all date back to the turn of the century. The former Myer store used to be directly opposite the current location, and those facades have similar architecture. The second piece of history is personal. I remember coming to Brisbane in the 90's, and one of the highlights for me was going to what was then known as "Tops", a kids entertainment area on the highest level, and riding the dragon rollercoaster. Sadly, this was all removed when it became unprofitable, although interestingly enough in this case, the dragon has been up for sale!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Streets Beach

2007-05-07T21:56:00.000+10:00

Streets Beach is the current name for the South Bank Parklands Beach. Completed in June 1992, this man made swimming beach is one of the major features of the parklands. The beach areas main feature is a lagoon containing chlorinated fresh water, with enough water to fill five Olympic swimming pools. Surrounding this are sand beaches, palm trees, rocky creeks and subtropical trees and exotic plantings. Streets Beach is the venue of some of the biggest events held in the parklands, with the annual New Year’s Eve Party at South Bank being a primary example. The beach area was designed by Desmond Brookes International.

The beach is incredibly popular during the summer months. Lifeguards are on duty all year, with extended hours during summer. At the moment for April through August, the beach is patrolled from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Access to the Parklands is free, as is using the beach, although you may have to pay for a locker to store beach going items. At the moment, it isn't too busy, but the unseasonally warm weather we have been having certainly had a lot of people swimming today.

How lucky are we to have a swimming beach of this quality in the middle of the city? I believe it is quite rare to have this type of facility freely available to the public. I love that you can come down here and have a dip in such a great location and with such fantastic surrounds. Even the new Aquativity water area is next door. Streets Ice Cream currently have the naming rights for the beach, which is also great because you are guaranteed to be able to get ice-creams all year round. MMMmmm Magnums. The map reference below shows just how significant the beach is within the parkland.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Fern Gully Roma Street Parkland

2007-05-06T21:34:00.000+10:00

Roma Street Parkland contains a cornucopia of greenery, and even with the current drought conditions continues to provide a green haven in the city. Part of the park I enjoy visiting is Fern Gully, amidst the Forest Walk precinct of the parkland. Located on the northern tip of the parkland, it can be accessed from the parking area at College Close.

Fern Gully is an integral part of the subtropical Forest. The gully includes a circuitous walk which runs along the side of a man made creek. Various species of tree fern line the banks, and the gully attracts a menagerie of bird life who use the forest for nesting and the stream for water and preening. The stream through Fern Gully originates in a spring adjacent to the bridge and the start of the boardwalk. The stream is also met from water cascading down from Angiopteris Ravine, where are what are known as King Ferms (Angiopteris evecta) provide more sheltered cover.

Like the South Bank Parklands Rainforest Walk, this walk offers a great place for kids to explore. The walkway above Fern Gully gives a fantastic aspect to the gully because as you meander along the paths you move from the rainforest floor through the canopy to over and above the entire area. They have also incorporated sandstone rock faces to hide the not so obvious roadway which is close by. The only thing you have to be careful of is letting your kids go into the stream!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Mirage

2007-05-05T20:48:00.000+10:00

Mirage is a sculpture located in the middle of the Brisbane Arcade, a shopping galleria which runs from Queen Street Mall through to Adelaide Street. At over 2.5 metres tall and made of stainless steel, the sculpture dominates the main thoroughfare through the arcade. It was designed by Swiss based Israeli sculptor Gidon Graetz.

This is another of the sculptures which was originally commissioned for World Expo 88. It was originally loaned for Expo by Mr. & Mrs. Morgan Adams Jr., of Los Angeles, U.S.A., in association with Galerie Lopes, Zurich, Switzerland. After the Expo it was purchased by Brisbane City Council and the Mayne Estate, and relocated here to Brisbane Arcade. World Expo 88 was host to one of the most prestigious international open-air sculpture collections in the world, with a total collection cost of some $25 million Australian dollars. Many of the works are now on display in various locations in many of Brisbane's popular parks, footpaths and near public buildings and arcades. You can even do a tourist walk which takes in some of these around Brisbane, if you so choose.

This is a striking work, and to me it looks like a large musical note, or the beginning of a tear drop welling from a crying eye. Although, like any mirage, viewed from a different vantage point, it is never as clear as first glance.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Port Office Hotel

2007-05-04T22:52:00.000+10:00

The Port Office Hotel is a restaurant and bar complex located at the corner of Margaret and Edward Streets. It consists of the restaurant F!X, several bars, a nightclub, a Boardroom, a private wine room and also includes function facilities to cater for corporate events or weddings. Open most days from 11:30am until late, the most active nights are Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Port Office Hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Brisbane. The building served as the place for accommodation of the officials engaged in shipping activities in the original port. Initially known as the Shamrock Hotel, it began operation in May of 1864. It has been rebuilt and refurbished a number of times since its early days, with the latest major refurbishment done in 2000. Internally some of the early timber doors, architraves, and skirtings survive but otherwise the majority including has been altered in various refurbishments. It is a heritage listed building.

Having eaten at the F!X restaurant I can recommend eating there. As a place to relax, the Marble Bar provides a great location to put up your feet and watch the world go by as you have a drink. Upstairs in the Velvet Room you can either enjoy the nightclub, or hang out on the veranda overlooking the street. Overall, if you're looking for a place to hang out and chill, you can't go too wrong heading here.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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MacArthur Museum

2007-05-03T23:02:00.000+10:00

The MacArthur Museum is located on the 8th Floor of MacArthur Chambers, which can be found just down from the corner of Queens Street and Edward Street. The museum is dedicated to honouring the story of General Douglas MacArthur and the Headquarters Allied Forces South West Pacific Area during 1942–1944. This was a pivotal point in the Second World War. The building was used because of its central location and reinforced concrete roof. The museum is open Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 10:00am to 3:00pm, and can be visited with a small admission charge.

There has been much written about Macarthur and his command during World War II. It was on July 20, 1942 that the Southwest Pacific Area headquarters was moved to Brisbane. MacArthur had been appointed Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the are, and to remove all ambiguity the then Australian Prime Minister John Curtin put MacArthur in command of the Australian military as well. The museum focuses on Macarthur's time in Brisbane, highlighting not only the man, but how the War affected the city, the people at the time, and the interactions with the large influx of American military.

For some time I was unable to easily locate the museum, largely due to the reduced opening hours. This doesn't negate the fact that the museum provides a great reference point for a significant time in Brisbane's history. It is incredible that 60 years on a location in what is effectively a commercial building has still been maintained in such a dedicated fashion. It reminds us of our history through not only the stories of the times, but also in the heritage of the building itself. It also gives us an historical awareness of how successful the allied coalition in the area was.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Naldham House

2007-05-02T20:54:00.000+10:00

Naldham House is located at 193 Mary Street, at the intersection of Mary Street and Felix Street. Currently home to the Brisbane Polo Club who began operating from the building in 1990, the building has a long history, originally being part of the maritime community. Naldham House was built in the late 1870s with major extensions in 1889 and served for almost a century as a shipping office. In 1988 major external and internal alternations were carried out in converting the building into premises for the polo club.

The site where Naldham House stands, adjacent to the Brisbane River, was acquired by the Australasian Steam Navigation Company (ASN) in March 1852. In 1864 a two storey office building was erected, and was extended during the intervening years to 1888, when renovations began creating the building in its current form. The name Naldham House came about in 1915 when the building was taken over by McDonald Hamilton - Naldham being a contraction of the two names. For many years the port trade played a significant factor in the economic success of the shipping companies, and they dominated much of the Brisbane River waterfront.

The building itself exudes English colonial style. The building forms a thin rectangle with the visually dominant tower being located at the north-eastern end. I love how the stark white rendering has been maintained, and the architectural integrity has been kept intact. You can take a virtual tour of the insides of the building, and here you can see the definite formal British club influence of the renovations.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Eagle Street Pier

2007-05-01T20:53:00.000+10:00

Eagle Street Pier is a retail and restaurant precinct located on Eagle Street and lining the Brisbane River. Most restaurants allow diners to have fantastic views of the river from Garden's Point through to the Story Bridge. Some of the premier dining establishments are located here, including Cha Cha Char, Pier Nine, Il Centro, and Vino's.

Not only are there the fine dining restaurants, there are a number of other retailers who offer either cafe style dining, like the Coffee Club, or fast food outlets like McDonalds. Basically, you have almost anything you could ask for covered. Parking is available on-site, and the precinct is easily accessible by both ferry and bus services. On top of the dining, Eagle Street Pier also hosts weekend craft markets, and has areas for entertainment such as musicians.

Eagle Street Pier is a must for tourists to Brisbane. At least one meal should be had within the precinct, as there are such great restaurants there. There is no denying that the views are spectacular, and you will spend as much time enjoying the scenery as you will your meals. Once your done you can hop on a City Cat or Ferry or jump on the Kookaburra Queens for a trip up or down the river.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Albert Street Literary Trail

2007-04-30T22:26:00.000+10:00

In September 1996 Brisbane City Council commissioned a series of 32 plaques as part of the completion of the Albert Street urban refurbishment. On these plaques the Albert Street Literary Trail was born. Quotes about Brisbane from 32 Queensland writers were chosen for the plaques. Running all the way down Albert Street, from King George Square to the City Botanic Gardens, the authors represented include Steele Rudd, Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker), Thea Astley, and David Malouf amongst others. A Map and list of all authors is available on the Archived Web Site, and there is also a guide available from the Museum of Brisbane.

At the time, the quotes were chosen with the the contribution of the then Griffith University's Queensland Studies Centre . They assisted in selecting a cross section of authors and quotes for the trail. All are Queensland writers and most are from Brisbane. The plaques themselves were illustrated by artist Brona Keenan in collaboration with graphic designers Dot Dash and the Brisbane City Council's Urban Design Unit. They are cast in bronze.

If you search the Brisbane City Council's Public Artworks Database for "Albert Street Literary Trail" you can see digital photos of each of the actual plaques, as there are far too many to cover off in just this one post. Better yet, rather than look at pictures on the web, why not wander down to Albert Street and check out the plaques for yourself. Although not all are in the best condition, on most you can still enjoy the quotes. There's a range of coffee shops and restaurants where after you've chosen your favourite quote, you can sit down and read the book it comes from!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Trains 4 U at Roma Street Parkland

2007-04-29T21:00:00.000+10:00

The Roma Street Parkland is a sub-tropical garden covering 16 hectares. When you have kids, particularly young children, trying to entice them to walk around the Parkland after they've played in the parks there can be quite difficult. That is where the Trains 4 U service can come in handy. The trackless train runs a circuitous route around the parkland, with stops at the Carriage Shed, and at the playground behind the Spectacle Garden.

The 1.3km round trip takes around 15 minutes to complete. A synchronised commentary runs throughout, outlining the various sites and garden precincts of the Parkland as you traverse the route. It runs weekdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm, with extended hours on weekends, 10:00am to 4:00pm, weather permitting. For a family, 2 adults and 2 kids and a baby in our case, the fare runs to just under $20. Trains 4 U also caters for birthday parties (2-6yrs), corporate events and weddings.

There seem to be two trains available, the Jelly Bean Express or Lollipop Express. Both are easily seen and colourful, which makes them a big target for the whole "Can we go on the train, Dad?" calls from the kids. To rest your feet and stop the kids yelling its worth it!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Busking in the Queen Street Mall

2007-04-28T23:04:00.000+10:00

On any given day as you wander down Queen Street Mall, you can find street performers sharing their talents with tourists, visitors and shoppers. Busking is alive and well within the city. Saturdays seem to be draw a reasonable number, and they are dotted throughout. They range in variety from musicians, such as the blind saxophonist, aboriginal didgeridoo players and the seminal guitarists, through to mime artists, balloon artists and street artists sharing their wares. Most derive their income from using their talents, and some are very good.

To busk in Brisbane, particularly in the Mall or at Southbank, you need to get a busking license. Brisbane Marketing provide a fact sheet on how to go about getting the required permit. Auditions are held quarterly, and there are no limit to the number of permits, but you do need to meet their criteria. Busking is defined as playing a musical instrument and/or singing, conjuring, juggling, mime, mimicry, dance, puppetry, performance art, recitation and other appropriate theatrical and visual forms.

There is an excellent article on Buskers in the Mall by Hideki Kubo. He includes recordings of the various performers, including "Mark" who plays Charlie Chaplin and has been doing such here for 9 years. He is particularly good with kids, and spent a few minutes cleaning up my boy with a feather duster after he put some money in the slot. Hideki has also interviewed is Mister Balloons, David Pearson, another long time performer. The balloon sculptures he comes up with in extra quick time are quite amazing. How lucky are we that for the cost of an Aussie gold coin, we can get some great live performance which brings smiles to all.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Riverside Expressway

2007-04-27T22:47:00.000+10:00

The Riverside Expressway is part of the Brisbane road network which runs from the end of the Pacific Motorway to Coronation Drive, hugging the Brisbane River and CBD. Construction began in late 1968 on the North bank of the Brisbane River with final completion in 1975. It is six lanes wide, with three lanes in each direction and ramps entering and exiting the Brisbane CBD. Up to 150,000 cars use the Expressway each workday.

Part of the Expressway includes the Captain Cook Bridge. This section was officially opened to traffic on 26 February 1973. With the high traffic flows it is the second busiest bridge in Australia after the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Both the Bridge and Expressway were refurbished in 2006, however, the discovery of hairline fractures in parts meant sections of the expressway were closed, causing traffic chaos across the city. Many people didn't realise how much we relied on this significant piece of infrastructure until its access to us was removed. Today you can even watch a web cam of traffic on the Expressway to esnure you don't get it any traffic snarls.

Most people may think "What's with putting a road on a tourism and travel blog?" The fact is, this 3km stretch of road is one of the most travelled in the whole State. If you come to Brisbane from South, West or North, chances are you will use all or part of it. It offers spectacular views of the city and the river, as well as across to Southbank. It is an engineering marvel, and even aesthetically it adds a visual dimension to the city from above as it wraps and snakes its way along the river, its tendrils reaching into the city. To me, its creation was all part of when the city grew up.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Net

2007-04-26T23:17:00.000+10:00

Net is a stainless steel sculpture which adorns an outside wall at the entrance to the Neville Bonner Building at 75 William St. As part of a public art commission in 1998, the artist Barbara Heath has again demonstrated her significant jewellery skills by creating this large interlinked set of rings. These form the shape of an elongated cylinder running down the side of the building.

The Neville Bonner Building recognises the contribution to Australian public life of former Senator, Neville Bonner, AO. It is a permanent reminder of Mr Bonner's distinguished career and contribution to Queensland and Australia. Neville Bonner was the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to the Parliament of Australia. In reading reviews at the time, my interpretation is that this sculpture refers to related themes of the area's original indigenous inhabitants including interconnectedness with the land and river, and their associated fishing practices, hence "net".

Barbara is certainly active throughout the Brisbane artistic community with both her work as sculptor and jeweller. I find it refreshing that not only does she do great work which earns her an income, but that she actively pursues public art and design projects. This, to me, allows her to give back to the community and allows us all to appreciate her craft. I've also had the pleasure of being in communication with one of her colleagues Malcolm Enright who has provided valuable insight into her work, as well as providing further resources on the wonderful city that we live in.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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ANZAC Day

2007-04-25T22:15:00.000+10:00

Australia and New Zealand commemorate ANZAC Day on the 25th of April every year. The day was marked initially to remember members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who landed at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. That tradition has been extended and the commemorations recognise World War II veterans and returned servicemen and women from the conflicts in Malaya, Indonesia, Korea and Vietnam, veterans from allied countries and other peacekeepers. In Brisbane thousands lined the streets today to watch and honour those and their kin recognise the day.

The ANZAC tradition recognises the ideals of courage, endurance and mateship. Courage, in that many of the young men sent to fight at Gallipoli knew they would face certain death. Endurance, in that the conditions found at the site were atrocious, yet still they soldiered on. Mateship, standing by their friends and comrades, through thick and thin and all hardships and pleasures. I have said before that although I've never served, I respect what the ANZAC represents, these attributes and also in particular the statement "Lest We Forget". To me, this means that we should never wish to make war, lest we forget the sacrifice of those who have gone before. War is such a terrible thing.

Today I took my eldest boys to watch the 10:00am march in the city centre. We watched the F-18's fly over, and sat amongst the many onlookers watching past and present servicemen parade. We also went to the ANZAC Memorial at ANZAC Square. There were representatives from Army, Navy and Airforce, along with horses and various military vehicles. It was easy to applaud these dedicated men and woman whose service means so much to our country. I am amazed at how much pride I feel watching these people enjoy and be lauded for their efforts. All are there to recognise and remember the fallen.

The Ode of Remembrance states this best.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Festival Hall Walk of Fame

2007-04-24T20:59:00.000+10:00

For nearly 50 years Festival Hall in Brisbane hosted a showcase of international and local performers and activities. At 4,000 seats it accommodated most large concerts during its era. This ranged from perhaps the most renowned performance, the Beatles on 29-30 June 1964, through to the final major gig there, that of Michael Franti on August 9th, 2003. Located within the foyer of Festival Towers, an apartment complex built over the site, the Festival Hall Walk of Fame commemorates the history of the site.

The display in the entry lobby consists of a wall-mounted installation of backlit panels. The entry display is to the Beatles, with the main display incorporating original seatbacks from Festival Hall, with images of performers and other significant figures in the Festival Hall history. Not only are concert performers featured, the venue was used for Wrestling, Ballet, Political Debate and Boxing, particularly as a venue during the Commonwealth Games. There are also concert ticket stubs replicated throughout.

You only need to search Google to find reference to the vast number of performers who played there. From Johny O'Keefe, Billy Thorpe, Frank Zappa, the Bee Gees, the Police, Duran Duran, Powerderfinger and Silverchair to sparsely name a few, it was the city venue to play. There is nothing which has come close to replacing it as the smaller venues in the Valley, whilst intimate, can't hold big acts, and the large stadium venues are purely for the likes of Robbie Williams. However, at the moment the music scene is going right off in Brisbane so they're all still coming! Hopefully all artists can visit this walk and realise the path trodden by so many other greats to get here.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Queensland Womens War Memorial

2007-04-23T23:05:00.000+10:00

In this ANZAC week, its appropriate to recognise another of the features of ANZAC Square. The Queensland Women's War Memorial is located on the western wall of the Square, below the Shrine of Remembrance. It was unveiled in 1932 as an initiative of the then Brisbane Women's Club and funded by public subscription.

Designed and sculpted by renowned local sculptress Daphne Mayo, it has two significant components. The most obvious of these is
bas relief in Helidon sandstone depicting a number of soldiers and horsemen with horse drawn guns in a military procession. This is highlighted with the inscription above which reads: "Erected by the Women of Queensland in memory of those who lost their lives through The Great War 1914-1918". The commemorative lettering surrounds a bronze laurel wreath. The second component is the drinking fountain which is made of bronze and sandstone. The interesting element of the fountain are the sculpted dolphins which hold it in place.

With work which has recently been undertaken at the square this area has been given a renewed lease of life. The detail of the relief is quite amazing, and shows the sculptor near the heights of her talent. Originally the memorial was to be just to servicewomen, however in 1929 the Women's Club decided to extend it to all the State's war dead. A truly fitting tribute.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Spectacle Garden

2007-04-22T21:05:00.000+10:00

The Spectacle Garden is one of the precincts of the Roma Street Parkland. Located in the centre of the parkland, it offers a collection of colorful and unique flowering and foliage plants, selected from throughout the sub-tropical world. These are displayed in a number of specialised theme gardens.

This is the horticultural heart of the Parkland. These shots are predominantly from the area around the Concentric Garden. The stainless steel sculpture Concentric Intersection by Wendy Mills forms the focus of a lot of annual flowering plants, although the drought continues to have an effect on what can be displayed. The Spectacle Garden features several themed gardens including the Topiary Maze Garden, Lilly Pilly Garden, Traditional Brisbane Garden, a wall of Epiphytes and an extensive collection of herbs.

One of the great things about the Internet is that you can do a virtual tour of the garden online. Modelling the The Spectacle Garden Walk, the virtual tour takes visitors on a visual trail of the areas. I'd encourage anyone who's not from the area to get online and have a look, but if you're a Brisbanite or tourist you should go there in person yourself.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Echoes from the North

2007-04-21T10:47:00.000+10:00

On the footpath outside Queens Plaza on Edward Street is the sculpture Echoes from the North. Commissioned in 2004, the sculpture was created during 2004-05 by prominent Victorian sculptor Augustine Dall'Ava. Consisting of three distinct pieces, the bold colours used add a colourful impact to the street scape. The associated plaque outlines that "the form and highly reflective metallic colours are visual signifiers associated with Brisbane and the natural environment of the state of Queensland."

Augustine Dall'Ava was born in France in 1950 before being brought to Australia at a young age. In the early 70's he did a Diploma of Fine Art in Sculpture and in 1994 received his Master of Fine Arts. He has held various lecturer positions at prominent Victorian Universities. He has had numerous solo and joint exhibitions, and has a strong reputation as a published author. He has also won various awards for his work.

In one particular review of his work I read, he notes that "I fight gravity tooth and nail...". This is quite symbolic of this work, with the perched cube and crescent flame on two of the pieces looking precariously placed. I like how the reflected colours of this piece change depending on the sunlight. In the middle of the day they are bright and effusive. As evening comes they take on a more sombre hue.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Jade Buddha

2007-04-20T22:44:00.000+10:00

Jade Buddha is a bar and casual dining restaurant located at Eagle Street Pier. Open from 11:30am until late each day, it offers restaurant food with a pan-Asian flair, along with casual drinking in the Jade Lounge. Their menu offers a range of options. Outside views encompass the Brisbane River, whilst inside, the design and decoration features sculpture and decoration befitting Feng shui principles. There is even a large golden Buddha to greet you. Formerly City Rowers, the venue had a significant overhaul in 2005. They have a varied array of activities on each week, including Speed Dating, Buddha Night and themed menus.

Above Jade Buddha is the Shadow Lounge, which offers a unique, intimate, club-like venue with open views over the river. The main focus is cocktails and champagne, with a wide array of exotic concoctions available. The seating is definitely casual, and if you're lucky you can get into one of the deep sofa chairs which are just great to melt into. The venue is also available for corporate and private functions. Go to their web site if you want to see it in all its glory.

As part of one of the premier dining areas of Brisbane, Jade Buddha is perhaps better visited at lunch time rather than dinner, particularly on Friday or Saturdays. That's when the party crowd is out and about, so your more likely to experience surly bouncers and drunken party-goers. Depending on what scene your into, this can either be really cool, or a bit disappointing. As I'm getting older, I'm more accustomed to a relaxed drink rather than po-go slam dancing like I used to when I was young. The Shadow Lounge upstairs is particularly good for that relaxed drink!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Broadway on the Mall

2007-04-19T22:51:00.000+10:00

Broadway on the Mall is located at 170 Queen Street Mall. The centre holds many specialty shops over four levels, with a focus on fashion and bridal. There is also a large Harvey Norman electrical retailers store, as well as a a food court on the basement level. There are a number of cafes and restaurants spread across the levels. It spans from the Mall through to Adelaide Street. Natural sunlight helps light the centre via the large overhead glass atrium. It is open every day with normal Brisbane shopping hours, generally from 9:00am through to 5:00pm.

As I wandered around, I became enraptured by Winnie Bridal, on the top level. If you were planning a wedding in Brisbane, this looks like it would be a great place to get ideas. Its on the very top level, with a wide bay window displaying the various available dresses. Designs are by Winnie Yeung, a French trained Haute Couturier who has won multiple Fashion Awards, and has established herself as a Hall Of Fame Fashion Designer in Australia.

If I go here, because I'm a bit of a nerd, I go to Harvey Norman mainly to see what's the latest and greatest in computers and TVs. If you want to see big screens, and all you've got time for in your busy schedule is city shopping, this is a good place to get an idea. Its also slightly nerdy fun to ride up and down the escalators. It seems it was designed so that if you want to look around you got fed upwards, ever upwards, and then to escape you have to wind your way down past everything. Brilliant marketing and design.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Aurora - Queensland Country Life Building Facade

2007-04-18T23:14:00.000+10:00

The Aurora Tower at 420 Queen Street is currently the tallest building in Brisbane. With 69 floors and at an overall height of 207 metres it is visible from many suburbs outside the CBD. It comprises 18 penthouses, 54 skyhomes (two storey luxury apartments) and 408 apartments. There's also a recreation deck with pool, spa, gym, sauna, and mini cinema. Centrally located, if you were into inner-city living it would be a great place to live. Aurora Tower was opened on May 5, 2006.

The interesting thing about this building was the inclusion of the facade from the old Queensland Country Life Building. At 432-440 Queen Street, it has been incorporated, as you can see, into the fascia of the Aurora Tower. This dates back to 1888-89. In the late Victorian style, it is an example of Richard Gailey's work, a prominent architect of the time. Note the well maintained and restored rendering, Corinthian columns and intricate cornice work which has been done.

This is a fantastic example of how the old and the new can be brought together. We have a great new building, providing residential accommodation and many high technology components befitting a building of the 2000's. Juxtaposed with this is architecture from more than a century prior, showing the intricacies and engineering skills of craftsmen without any of the benefits of modern technology and design. Its brilliant, and another reason why it is so great to live here.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Visitor Information Centre

2007-04-17T21:34:00.000+10:00

The Brisbane Visitor Information Centre is located in the lower Queen Street Mall, between Edward and Albert Street. The centre is open everyday from 9:00am, generally to around 5:00pm. It is open until 7:00pm on Fridays. It features a wealth of information about what's on in and around Brisbane, and features booking desks, interactive touch screens, brochure and map racks, automatic tellers, as well as a transport information window for local transport schedules and ticket purchases.

The Visitor Information Centre is run by Brisbane Marketing with the assistance of Brisbane City Council. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, even with the large influx of tourists which are generally found there each day. There were over 4 million domestic visitors to the Brisbane region last year, and around 800,000 internationals, so having a centrally located information hub is incredibly important. You can see why it is so busy!

This is really a fantastic resource not only for tourists but for the people of Brisbane as well. You can find out so much here. They have a booking centre for travel and tourism bookings, and I really love how they've set up the interactive touch screens. Its like a big computer screen on glass, which you just touch to browse around with. Very cool, and if I can get the hang of it even with my latest lack of affinity with computing technology, then anyone can.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Gardens on Buildings

2007-04-16T23:01:00.000+10:00

One thing which has fascinated me about Brisbane is the number of buildings which are covered in plant greenery. Even in this age of drought and water restrictions, around the city there are a number of buildings where even palm trees are the norm. I've tried to capture this to some degree in this post, when as I was walking down Adelaide Street, I came across two such instances. This is by no means unique, and I must stress that for any visitor to Brisbane, if you look around, you will see greenery everywhere.

The first of these is what appears to be a small plantation of bamboo which masks the Zen Bar at Post Office Square. If you ever have the opportunity to eat here, and they do fantastic Asian food, you get a wonderful view of both the park and what appears to be an Asian garden outside the window, rather than your standard streetscape. This is at 215 Adelaide Street.

Further up the road towards Wharf Street, one of the office buildings is quite literally covered. The three tiered balcony at the base of the building is currently covered in overflowing garden beds, interspersed with large palms and other trees growing up through the concrete. On each of the central balconies all the way up the spine of the building it is like an urban oasis. Colourful flowering plants reach to the edge and beyond each balcony. This is so much better than a drab grey building or shiny steel modern monstrosity! With our sub-tropical climate, even in drought these areas seem to continue to flourish. I love it!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post. (The Zen Bar, for want of something different!)