Christmas in Brisbane

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 Myer Centre

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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Broadway on the Mall

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.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Rankins on the mall Newsagency

When people talk about a meeting place in the City, they generally arrange to meet up at the intersection of Queen and Albert Streets, smack bang in the middle of the Queens Street Mall. You might say "Meet me outside Hungry Jack's", but you're more likely to say "Meet me in front of Rankins". Rankins Newsagency has been a mainstay of the Mall since it first opened in 1982. Originally, located in the section between Edward and Albert Street, they have changed location 3 times to their present position.

If you check their web site, you find that the original owner has been there for 25 years plus. Quite an effort in the retail game! They are open 7 days a week, generally from 6:00am through to Midnight. Aside from newspapers and magazines, they also sell lollies and chocolate bars, transport tickets, lotto tickets and phone cards. Their position is on one of the prime pieces of real estate in Brisbane, with a huge pedestrian traffic flow which passes each day. With the refurbishment in 1999, the area is also well shaded with the large overhead glass panel.

My sister told me that I should write about some of the more cultural aspects, and the type of people around the city. When you stand in the middle of the mall you see all types. Today, there was a bit of a Goth and Emo convention going on, which was pretty cool. My son is quite social, and there's nothing funnier than watching kids dressed in black sulking, trying to ignore a kid who keeps coming up to them and saying "Hello! How are ya?"

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

Brisbane Arcade

Brisbane Arcade is located at 160 Queen Street Mall in the Central Business District. It houses stores which sell award-winning fashion, fine jewellery, bridal accessories, homewares and antiques, along with having some fantastic cafes. This happens to be all in the one elegant, heritage shopping galleria. It covers three levels: basement; ground; and balcony. It spans from the Mall through to Adelaide Street.

The Brisbane Arcade was built in 1923 for Dr James Mayne, and his sister Miss Mary Emelia Mayne, part of the infamous Mayne family. The site was previously occupied by the family home. The Arcade was designed by Richard Gailey (Junior), who is regarded as one of Queensland’s most prolific and important earlier architects. Despite the infamy and enormous wealth of their father, these children were quite philanthropic in donating back to Brisbane. The Arcade continues to be operated today by the Trustees of the estate of Dr James O’Neil Mayne and the estate of Miss Mary Emelia Mayne. The brother and sister were two principal benefactors of the Queensland University, enabling relocation to the St Lucia campus. Operating proceeds from Brisbane Arcade are for the direct benefit of the Medical School of the University.

Like many sights within Brisbane, with your dose of shopping you can also get a dose of history. In this case it is both unique and fascinating on both fronts. The shopping in this mall is upmarket, and most stores are incredibly well presented and sophisticated. The architecture within the mall is spectacular. The history is also enthralling. The Mayne family amassed incredible wealth, but the deathbed confessions of murder by their main patriarch, Patrick Mayne, brought into question the original source of the wealth. However, the children in their own rights did not deserve the disapproval and disdain they received due to the actions of their father.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Queens Plaza

Queens Plaza, a major shopping area within the Central Business District, has frontages on Adelaide Street, Queen Street Mall, and Edward Street. Open most days from 9:00am to 5:30pm, the plaza hosts a number of specialty shops, a food court, and its main retail tenant, David Jones. The centre is managed by Gandel, a major retail leasing company in Australia.

Other than David Jones, Queen's Plaza hosts a range of top flight stores, including Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. Food is available at the basement food court, and the supermarket chain Coles has also opened in the basement area. Car parking is available under the building. Further expansion is planned later this year.

If you want up-market shopping this is one of the premier shopping areas in downtown Brisbane. Every store is well presented, and although my wife would definitely tell you I'm no fashion guru, I do know there is a lot of good stuff and high class fashion available here. It also is gonna cost you! The marketing blurb perhaps explains it best: QueensPlaza is Brisbane's centre of stylish elegance, with a glowing pearl-like appearance that allows each beautiful store to shine.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

John Mills Himself

John Mills was a successful Brisbane printer, who traded from Adelaide Street as Mills and Green, printers and stationers, in the early 1900's. After a dissolution of his partnership, from 1909 Mills was trading as John Mills Himself, hence the title on this building.

During the First World War his business expanded, with a warehouse established at Newstead. In 1919 he erected this premises at 40 Charlotte Street which was designed by Brisbane architect John Henry Burley of Queen Street. By the 1920s the business was well established, attracting clients such as Steele Rudd. After his death, the business was conducted by his sons, John and Sam, and remained in the family until the 1980s. Now it is the home of Archives Fine Books.

At least the building has retained part of its association with the printing business. If you are up for a good long browse, this location is an easy place to get lost in. As they promote, they claim to have 1,000,000 books. Selling predominantly second hand and antiquarian books they do have quite a vast catalogue. They can purchase and search for books worldwide on your behalf, and also do appraisal and repairs of books. I have had occasion to wander in and use serendipity myself!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.

The Queen Street Mall

The Queen Street Mall is a pedestrian thoroughfare which runs through the centre of Brisbane, from Edward Street to George Street. Spanning two city blocks and around half a kilometre, the Mall is the premier shopping precinct within the Central Business District. These three photos show shots as you progress up the mall, beginning at Edward Street.

There are many iconic shops located throughout the Mall, and a raft of shopping locations. If you want to shop in Brisbane this is where you go. It is also a common meeting place, with many people meeting where Albert Street would cross the Mall at the Hungry Jacks or Rankins Newsagent. Although most of the mall is open space, there is a large overhead panel at this location, which it makes it good for shade from the sun and cover from the rain.


As I continued up the Mall today taking these shots, I was amazed at how much greenery is around in the city. There are a number of large trees, and many raised garden beds. There's also ample seating so you can sit and wait and people watch. At the top end of the mall a performance stage often showcases bands, street performance and street theatre and surprisingly or not, it usually is quite good. Whenever an Australian Idol comes to town its always packed!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

Click Here for the Google Map Reference for this post.