General Post Office

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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Post Office Square

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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Gardens on Buildings

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!)

The Banker

The Banker is a 15-metre high aluminum mural signifying the role of banking in supporting industry. It was installed on the Post Office Square facade of the Westpac Bank at 260 Queen Street in 1970, and still is a striking monument today. Leonard Shillam began the work in 1969 with the medium used being painted plaster and wire. On the same wall inside the building there is a smaller Shillam sculpture signifying the city and communications.

Leonard (Len) George Shillam was born in Brisbane on 15 August 1915. Together with his wife Kathleen, their dedication to art was total. They helped establish the Queensland Society of Sculptors, and undertook teachings and educational seminars on art on numerous occasions. Len undertook many public commissions between 1949 and into the early 1990s, and must be seen as one of Queensland’s most experienced public artists. Len died on 1 September 2005, and Dorothy Hartnett wrote a fitting tribute to her friend in one of the local papers. The State Library of Queensland also has an excellent collection on their works entitled The Len and Kath Shillam Papers.

Little did I realise the significance of Len and his wife when I first came upon this sculpture. I think its best for the artist to speak for himself when describing his work:

To me sculpture has always been a kind of parallel creation, which reflects, but does not copy or reproduce, the creations we see in the natural world around us. It does not detract in any way from the wonder of the world we live in, but adds something to it which emanates from the artist himself, or herself.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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