Page 230 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

228  QUEENSLAND

Charles Tiffin, who won an
architectural competition.
Begun in 1865, it was completed
in 1868. Tiffin added features
more suited to Queensland’s
tropical climate, such as shady
colonnades, shutters and an
arched roof which is made from
Mount Isa copper (see p261).
Other notable features are the
cedar staircases and the intricate
gold leaf detailing on the
Council Chamber ceilings.
The building is still used for
The restored colonial Commissariat Store Museum its original purpose and the
public is permitted to watch
1General Post 3Commissariat when parliament is sitting.
Office Store Museum Unlike other state parliaments,
consisting of an Upper and
261 Queen St. Tel 13 13 18. £ 115 William St. Tel (07) 3221 4198. Lower House, Queensland has
Brisbane Central. @ Free Loop. g £ South Brisbane, Central. @ Free only one parliamentary body.
Eagle St Pier, Riverside. Open 7am– Loop. g North Quay. Open 10am–
6pm Mon–Fri, 10am–1:30pm Sat. 7 4pm Tue–Fri. Closed Good Fri, Parliament House is also
Easter Sun, 25 & 26 Dec. & 7 notable as being the first
Built between 1871 and ∑ commissariatstore.org.au legislative building in the British
1879, this attractive Neo-Classical Empire to be lit by electricity.
building was erected to house The Commissariat Stores,
the city’s first official postal constructed by convict labour
service. It replaced the barracks in 1829, is the only surviving
for female convicts previously on building from Brisbane’s penal
the site. The building continues colony days open to the public.
to operate as central Brisbane’s Having been restored in 2000,
main post office. it is now open to visitors and
Post Office Square, opposite houses the Royal Historical
the General Post Office, is a Society of Queensland.
pleasant place to relax, while Interior of the Assembly Chamber in
looking out over the landscaped Parliament House
greenery and fountains of 4Parliament House
Anzac Square. 5Brisbane City
Cnr George and Alice sts. Tel (07) 3553 Botanic Gardens
6000. £ Brisbane Central. @ 40,
2Cathedral of Free Loop. g Gardens Point. Alice St. Tel (07) 3403 8888. £ Brisbane
St Stephen Open 9am– 4:15pm Mon–Fri (on Central. @ Free Loop. g Edward St.
sitting days); govt-issued ID required.
Open 24 hours. 7 8 Guided walks:
249 Elizabeth St. Tel (07) 3324 3030. Closed public hols. 7 8 free; call 11am & 1pm Mon–Sat (free).
£ Brisbane Central. @ Free Loop. (07) 3553 6470 for times and details. ∑ brisbane.qld.gov.au
g Eagle St Pier. Open 8am–6pm ∑ parliament.qld.gov.au
Mon–Fri, 7am–6pm Sat–Sun. Brisbane’s first Botanic Gardens
7 8 10:30am Mon–Fri, by appt Sun. Queensland’s Parliament on the Brisbane River are the
∑ cathedralofststephen.org.au House was designed in French second oldest botanic gardens
Renaissance style by architect in Australia. Their peaceful loca-
Early settlers provided the funds
for this lovely English Gothic-
style Catholic cathedral,
designed by noted colonial
architect Benjamin Backhouse
and completed in 1874. The
main façade features restored
twin spires on each side of the
elaborate stained-glass windows.
Next door is St Stephen’s
Chapel, the original cathedral.
It was designed by A W Pugin,
an English architect who also
worked on London’s Houses
of Parliament. Mangrove boardwalk in the Botanic Gardens
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p486 and pp512–14