South West Pacific Campaign Memorial

The South West Pacific Campaign Memorial is located on the Adelaide Street side of ANZAC Square. The memorial was unveiled on 29 August 1992 as a tribute from the Brisbane City Council. The unveiling coincided with the 50th Anniversary year of the Milne Bay and Kokoda Campaigns. Created by Artbusters, the statues of the memorial have been cast in bronze. It also includes a granite plinth, mosaic and brass infill.

The Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought from July 1942 to January 1943 between Japanese and Allied forces in what was then the Australian territory of New Guinea. The memorial depicts a wounded Australian soldier descending the Kokoda Trail assisted by a strong dependable Papua New Guinean leading him to safety. They are being passed by a fresh, determined soldier, resolute in the task ahead.

Australian allies fighting in this battle did an amazing job of defending the trail, as did the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels supporting them. 6000 Australian lives were lost in the campaign. With the Kokoda, and subsequent New Guinea campaigns, this was the first time that Australia's security had been threatened directly. In Australia for many years there was strong resentment towards the Japanese over the War, however, as time has passed today we share strong economic and friendly ties. Even this week, we had both Australian and Japanese prime ministers outlining a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation. We should move forward, but We Will Remember Them.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Dialogue

If you've ever been stuck for conversation, perhaps you would be wise to study the sculpture known as Dialogue located outside Macarthur Chambers on Queen Street. Made of cast bronze with a granite plate, it features two figures - a man and a woman - poised at a particular point of conversation. It was commissioned in 2004, and sculpted by Cezary Stulgis.


This would be one of the most prominent pieces of public art in the city. On the Post Office side of the street, it is across the road from one of Cezary's other works, the Overseer. Depending on the angle you view the piece, the conversation could be interpreted as many things: indifference by the man and defensive by the female; the woman waits, anticipating the conversation as the man prepares his seduction; or an air of misgiving hanging over both, that this may be the last dialogue they have.

I am rapidly becoming a fan of Cezary's work. I love the way he captures the human form, in all its frailty and magnificence. The beauty of the forms, in particularly the heads and faces, I find are done in such a way that I can admire the skill in which they have rendered, but to which I can apply my own interpretation. By this I mean that they are not so perfectly rendered that you only see one form. For me, I see many, and that's why I love these works.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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City Garden's Cafe

The City Garden's Cafe is located at the top of the City Botanic Gardens, near the Dragon Tree. It is open seven days a week between 8:00am and 4:00pm for breakfast, lunch and morning and afternoon tea. The cafe was formally the curators residence, built in 1903. This itself was a replacement for the original curators cottage which was washed awayin the 1893 floods. During world war two the building was used as a Ward room for the WRAN officers of HMAS Moreton.

In its present form, the City Gardens Cafe was opened on the 7th of September, 1989. This venue is available for functions and events seven days a week. This includes wedding receptions, engagement parties, bridal showers, post-christening celebrations, birthday parties and corporate events. The menus are quite varied and reasonably priced in the restaurant itself. They are also licensed, so you can have a wine, beer or spirits with your meal.


There is no denying that surrounded by manicured lawns and sub-tropical rainforest, City Gardens Cafe offers patrons a unique dining and function experience. You also get to dine with some of the local fauna, well, the sculpted kind anyway. The only word of warning I could offer is that on Public Holidays the surcharge, particularly at the kiosk, can be a bit of a sting. However, you could consider it part of the experience, and it has to be worth it for the views.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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QUT Gardens Theatre

The Queensland University of Technology Gardens Point campus is located on the Brisbane River in the Central Business District, next to the Botanic Gardens and Parliament House. If you travel down the pathway beside the campus as you come from George Street, you will hit the Gardens Theatre. Gardens Theatre is one of the premiere Brisbane venues for theatre and live performance, featuring professional theatre, comedy, children's theatre and student showcases. The foyer features panoramic views of the City Botanic Gardens, a sprung floor studio and a courtyard atrium in open surrounds. The venue accommodates around 400 people. The theatre is part of QUT's cultural precinct.

The theatre was formerly known as the Basil Jones Theatre, and was renovated with assistance from the Queensland Government. It was reopened as the Gardens Theatre in 1999. Since then, every year the theatre offers professional theatre seasons with a range of well known plays presented, often starring well known Australian and international actors.


I've been asked before what kind of theatres Brisbane has, and my immediate reaction had been to mention the Lyric Theatre, which is part of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. As I've wandered around the city, I've found other locations for performance, like the Gardens Theatre, where you can go and get your theatre fix. The great thing about this theatre is that not only will you get professional plays, you also have a venue for up and coming performances which you don't necessarily get elsewhere.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Equilibrium

Keeping with the vein of the Law Courts, at the entrance to the Commonwealth Law Courts at 119 North Quay is the sculpture Equilibrium. Created by Akio Makigawa, the sculpture stands several meters tall. According to the sculptor, the focus is on the symbols of justice, the sword and the scales. The tall triangular form is the sword and is made of stainless steel. The white marble form at the top represents the scales and are symbolic of the equilibrium of good and evil.

Akio Makigawa was born in Japan in 1948 and came to Australia in 1974, studying in Perth. He moved to Melbourne in 1981 and using this as his base, he became a leading Australian sculptor, with commissioned works in most states. After a severe illness, he passed away in late 1999. He has both written about and been the subject of a number of books on his works.

I felt that the light when I took these shots was perfect. The moon had caused its own backdrop in the late afternoon light, and the different designs of each of the nearby buildings provided an excellent juxtaposition to the sculpture. The two materials of the sculpture itself also provide a fascinating contrast between the steel and the marble. Its also made me realise that I need to go into the courts on a day not on the weekend, as the inside foyer looks magnificent.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Law Courts Complex

The Supreme and District Courts are part of the The Law Courts Complex located at 304 George Street. Standing in the courtyard and facing the building you see the Supreme Court on your left and the District Court on your right. You notice the overwhelming greenery and gardens in the courtyard, in addition to three stone pillars which feature the Queensland coat of arms and a series of plaques that trace the creation of the Supreme Court.

Just to the left of the courtyard is the imposing sculpture of Themis, Greek goddess of justice. In Greek mythology, Themis was the daughter of Uranus and Gaia (Sky and Earth). Historically a goddess of order and assemblies, the word 'themis' has now come to mean ‘law’ in Greek, which explains the statue's relevance to the operation of justice today. Themis is the work of Greek sculptor Maria I. Papaconstantinou. The bronze casting of the statue was taken from a mould of the original sculpture on the Greek island of Chios and transported complete to Australia.

There is an excellent article on Themis and her Themes which was presented by The Hon Paul de Jersey AC, Chief Justice of Queensland, at a fine arts lunch in 2001. As he opened, "Study of the law is unlikely to inspire aesthetic delight...", but with law courts like these, and the associated artworks and sculpture utilised in the building and its surrounds, in Brisbane we truly have the counterpoint to the often dry life of the Law.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Hotel Orient

On the corner of Queen and Ann Streets at one of the main roadway entrances to the CBD is the Orient Hotel. Located at 560 Queen Street, the building was originally erected as the Excelsior Hotel in two stages during 1875 and 1884. The Orient is one of a handful of surviving 19th century hotels in central Brisbane. The Hotel has experienced a number of refurbishments over the years, but the basic three story structure has remained over almost the past 100 years.

Today, the hotel has basic accommodation on the top floors, but its main attraction is its public bar and restaurant food. There is casual dining on the street level, with sit down lunch time and evening meals on the first floor. They also have poker machines and a TAB section for those gamblers amongst us. Bands play on Friday and Saturday night, and Thursday night is the night for discounted drinks.

Its great that the Orient is one of the few old pubs to have survived the development frenzy and midnight demolitions that claimed so many heritage buildings in the city centre during the 1970's and 80's. People often associate the building as a much smaller version of the flatiron building, although that isn't that peculiar to triangular blocks of land. I've eaten, drunk and gambled here a few times and always found it quite pleasant.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Pride

On the corner of Albert and Charlotte Streets outside the Sebel hotel is the sculpture Pride. The work was commissioned by the Mirvac Group, as a gift to the city and was unveiled in 1999. It is made of stainless steel, and was sculpted by Grant Lehmann. Standing 3.4 metres tall, the sculpture has 598 panels fixed to a network of underlying framework by 2562 rivets.

One of the things which has intrigued me in researching this sculpture is that the associated plaque references the web site "grantlehmannsculptures.com". I can't locate this site at all, and even on the Wayback machine, there isn't any reference. I find it strange that you'd put the details of your site there and then not have an actual site! The other dilemma is whether this sculptor Grant Lehmann is the same Grant Lehmann who has worked recently on Hollywood film productions here in Brisbane as a special effects sculptor.

Aside from the intrigue of the sculptor, the sculpture itself is visually stunning. The height and polished stainless steel make it stand out from some distance. I love the reflective nature of the panels, and this is one of those works of art where as the photographer you can try to take shots which show your own reflection, albeit minimalistically. Another thing I found amusing was that you can easily walk between the legs and not bang your head (I'm easliy amused)! You will also notice that the Traffic Signal Box Art behind it actually depicts the sculpture on TSB: B0211. Two pieces of art for the free price of one.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Thomas Joseph Byrnes

Thomas Joseph Byrnes was an early prominent Queenslander, being Premier of the State in 1898. Born in 1860 into a large, impoverished Irish Catholic family , he excelled at school, and studied arts and law at Melbourne University in Victoria graduating in 1884. Shortly after, he returned to Brisbane where he began a successful practice. He soon turned to politics, and was appointed as attorney-general of Queensland in March 1893.

On the 13th April, 1898, Byrnes became Premier of Queensland. Allegedly he had far more electoral appeal than any of his undistinguished older colleagues who, despite their covert dislike for him, had to accept their youngest member as leader. Unfortunately, he succumbed to a sudden attack of measles followed by pneumonia on 27 September 1898 after only 5 months in office. He was seen to be constituting a more progressive form of government than Queensland had yet seen, though in concrete terms his five months premiership had accomplished little. His popular policies and well-publicized defence of Queensland interests contributed to the enormous public distress, with large crowds attending his state funeral.

In Brisbane, a Byrnes Memorial Fund was established and this £2,000 bronze statue was erected, originally in Petrie Bight at the junction of Boundary and Wickham Streets, and then transferred to where it now resides in Centenary Place. It was sculpted by Sir Bertram Macenall. This is considered of historical significance as Brisbane's first statue. I love that people of this calibre are recognised, even if he was a politician. He is another example of how people can rise above others perceived lowly expectations.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Batman Building

When you're a kid, its easy to delight in the absurdity of what adults say, and take what they say as the truth. As a father, I am guilty of this with my kids. That's why this little divergence I feel is relevant. This building is what we know as the Batman building in our family. I'm sure I'm not unique with this. Why Batman you ask? Well, when Batman fights the evils of the city, and when he's away from Gotham visiting Brisbane, he still needs a place to work from. Hence, the Batman building.

The building is actually the State Law Building, located at 50 Ann Street, on the corner of George and Ann Streets. Appropriately, with its association with Batman, it is part of the law precinct with offices of the Queensland Department of Justice housed inside. Designed by Sipen Rojnavibul, the State Law Building was a refurbishment of Comalco House, a 25 storey commercial building designed by Conrad, Gargett and Partners Pty Ltd in 1977. In 1993,a process of upgrading services and amenities, including plant facilities, as well as giving the building a new identity was undertaken. It was then that they came up with the idea and benefit of concealing the plant facilities with a new Gotham City style "crown" which has become an iconic element in Brisbane's skyline.

The building is considered one of Brisbane's skyscrapers. It stands at 128 metres with the new structure on top. My kids are now convinced that this is where Batman lives. At night, they look out for the Bat Signal. I can't help but sing, "Na na, Na na, Na na, Na na, Bat Man" when I see it.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Platypus Chair

Just in from the Alice and Edward Street entrance to the City Botanic Gardens you will find what I've dubbed The Platypus Chair. It is probably what you would more likely term as a seat, sculpted in a bidirectional fashion with one side facing the river, and the other back into the gardens. On the arm rest between the two seats is the platypus, quite happily there to make your acquaintance. I unfortunately am unable to find any reference as to who sculpted this, or why it was placed here other than for its great aesthetic value.

The platypus is an iconic Australian animal. A mammal, its bizarre duck-billed head, furred body and webbed feet made British naturalists at first think it was a hoax when originally presented. In fact, in 1799 British scientist, Dr George Shaw initial reaction to this original specimen was such that he even took a pair of scissors to the pelt, expecting to find stitches attaching the bill to the skin. Aboriginal people have many different names for the animal, including "boondaburra", "mallingong" and "tambreet".

On a hot day in the gardens, its a great place to take a rest. There is a water bubbler next to the chair, and as you can see, variance on the way you can sit in the seat - particularly if you're a kid! Brisbane and its surrounds have such wonderful parks that a day out exploring on the weekend will always find many and varied treats.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Confluence

In the George Street forecourt of the Brisbane Magistrates Court is the large sculpture Confluence by Daniel Templeman. The courts are located at 363 George Street. It was commissioned as part of the Art Built-In programme in 2004. Made of plate aluminium and concrete, the sculpture is definitely a striking part of the entrance to the complex. It measures 65 metres in length.

Daniel Templeman is a Brisbane born artist, who has been steadily exhibiting around Brisbane since graduating in 1999. This was his first public art commission. Of the work, he has described it as representative of a "notion associated with the judicial experience; that life presents obstacles which are either seen as overwhelming or resolvable. The work begins with a sense of calm, building up intensity towards the 'obstacle' before penetrating it and returning to the 'resolved' state."

I love the lines on this sculpture, and I love the description. When you study the work it is obvious what Daniel was trying to achieve. The rolling wave of metal bursting through the so called obstacle before reaching its resolution is brilliant. It also makes a great resting place for weary feet when you've been wandering around the city on a warm Saturday afternoon!



Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Palace Backpackers Hostel

Located on the corner of Ann and Edward Street, at 308 Edward Street, is the Palace Backpackers Hostel. One of the primary backpacker facilities in Brisbane, With a variety of accommodation from single and double rooms through to dormitory facilities, their is catering for many tastes, although if you go, you have to have a backpack (not suitcases!) There are a wide variety of shared facilities including: laundry; kitchen; BBQ area; TV and communal rooms; telephones; Internet; and licensed travel agent.

Formerly known as The People's Palace it was built in 1910-11 for the Salvation Army as a temperance hotel. It was designed by the Salvation Army's architect Colonel Saunders (no, not the Chicken Colonel!) Built near Central Railway Station, the hotel contained 130 rooms and provided inexpensive "working class" accommodation for travellers. This continues to this day, although I don't believe the temperance movement is too active there any more. Imagine if alcohol, gambling or `other evils' were not permitted on the premises these days!

The building still holds a strong cultural impact within the city. It is representative of federation style, and the cast iron balustrades are almost unique within the city. It even has the original lift beside the entry foyer. It really is a fantastic place for visitors to the city as well, as it is close to everything. If I were a backpacker this would be high on my choices of places to stay.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Robert Burns' Statue

At the request of a Scottish colleague, I ventured up to Centenary Place. Bounded by Ann, Boundary, Wickham and Gotha Street, the park is at the North-Eastern edge of the City. The reason for this was to investigate the large statue of Robert Burns, the world famous Scottish Poet and lyricist. He wanted to know when and why it was placed there. The statue itself is nearly 80 years old, and was erected by the Burns Club in 1929.

In her work, Civilising the City: Literary Societies and Clubs in Brisbane during the 1880s and 1890s, Leanne Day writes of the establishment and activities of the Scottish Societies in Brisbane. The Brisbane Burns Club was a men’s club. The general aim was to provide a facility for Scottish people to come together to enjoy, and importantly, to share their culture with the wider community. In her paper she notes: In 1888, the President of the Brisbane Burns Club, Alderman Galloway, contacted the President of the Queensland Scottish Association, Sir Thomas McIlwraith, to suggest their organisations combine forces (and funds) to erect a statue of Robert Burns in Brisbane... It was not until 1929 that the statue was finally erected in Centenary
Place and was dedicated to Brisbane by the Burns Club.


Not only does the pedestal hold the immortal bard, but also images of his life are etched into it as well. Unfortunately, some undesirables have currently graffitied the base, which hopefully will be cleaned up soon. The Scottish Clans of Brisbane have recently had their Burns' Nights. Burns' Night is celebrated on 25 January with Burns' Suppers around the world. I hope they had an enjoyable time!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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