Page 225 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

QUEENSLAND  223

BRISBANE

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and, with a population
of over 2.3 million, ranks third in size in Australia after
Sydney and Melbourne. Situated on the Brisbane River
and surrounded by misty blue hills, the city is known for
its scenic beauty, balmy climate and friendly atmosphere.
Its tropical vegetation is a great attraction, particularly the
bougainvillea, poinciana and fragrant frangipani.

In 1823, the Governor of New South several distinct communities as well as
Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane, decided that the central area. The city’s growth was
some of the more intractable convicts in rapid and, in 1859, when Queensland
the Sydney penal settlement needed became a self-governing colony, Brisbane
more secure incarceration. The explorer was duly named as the state capital.
John Oxley was dispatched to investigate As Queensland’s natural resources,
Moreton Bay, noted by Captain Cook on including coal, silver, lead and zinc, were
his journey up the east coast 50 years developed, so its major city flourished.
earlier. Oxley landed at Redcliffe and Brisbane’s status as a truly modern city,
thought he had stumbled across a however, is relatively recent, beginning
tropical paradise. He was soon with a mining boom in the 1960s.
disappointed and it was decided to move Hosting the Commonwealth Games
the colony inland up the Brisbane River. in 1982 and the 1988 World Expo were
This was mainly due to Brisbane’s more also milestones, bringing thousands
reliable water supply and the fact that of visitors to the city. Today, Brisbane
the river had a bend in it, which made is a cosmopolitan place boasting some
escape more difficult for the convicts. superb restaurants, streetside cafés
Free settlers began arriving in 1837, and a lively arts scene centred around
although they were not permitted to its vibrant cultural precinct, as well as
move closer than 80 km (50 miles) to the an impressive year-round schedule of
famously harsh penal settlement. This set festivals. Yet amid all the high-rises and
a pattern of decentralization which is still modernity, pockets of traditional wooden
evident today: Brisbane consists of cottages with verandas can still be found.

The Streets Beach swimming lagoon on Brisbane’s South Bank with the city’s high-rise skyline as a backdrop
Brisbane’s River Street Pier area by night