City of Brisbane history

By Tim Lambert The Swan River Colony Perth was founded in 1829 largely because the British feared the French would establish a colony in Western Australia.

Free settlement didn't begin in the Brisbane region until 1842 because the Government initially wanted the jail kept isolated from the wider community.

1846 Newstead House is built

A short-lived rivalry for eminence with the town of Cleveland was ended when the latter’s wharves burned in 1854, allowing Brisbane to become the leading port.

Proclaimed a municipality in 1859, it became the capital of newly independent Queensland that same year.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Museum was founded in 1862.

Bowen Park opened in 1867.

The first railway station in Brisbane was Roma Street Station, which opened in 1876.

By the late 1880's Brisbane was the main centre of commerce and the capital of the colony of Queensland and it was beginning to develop its own distinctive architecture and culture.

A realignment of the divisions occurred on 14th October 1886 with the formation of the new Stephens Division, named after Thomas Blacket Stephens.

The commercial hub was South Brisbane, which started as South Ward in the early Brisbane Municipal Council (made up of only four wards), and the area did not become its own township until 1887 when the former South Ward amalgamated with the division of Woolloongabba.

1889 Customs House is built

The 4,391 pipes organ was built in 1891 by Henry Willis & Sons Organ Builders in Liverpool, UK, for the Brisbane Exhibition Building at Bowen Park.

By 1900 the population of Brisbane was about 130,000 and it continued to grow rapidly.

In 1909 architects Corrie, Atkinson and McLay designed the new town hall, but their contract was terminated when Brisbane property owners refused to sanction the £180 000 loan required for construction.

The first students were admitted in 1911.

The first foundation stone was laid on Saturday 3 February 1917 by Queensland Governor (Major Sir Hamilton J. Goold-Adams) in advance of the building's construction.

A second foundation stone was laid on 29 July 1920 by the Prince of Wales.

Brisbane Arcade opened in 1923.

These reception rooms are named for former local government areas subsumed into Greater Brisbane in 1925, such as the Sherwood Room, and the Ithaca Room.

1926 Brisbane Airport opens

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened in 1927.

The City Hall's first organ recital was held in 1929.

Brisbane City Hall was opened in 1930 by Queensland Governor (Sir John Goodwin). The building was officially opened on 8 April 1930 by Lord Mayor of Brisbane William Jolly.

Story Bridge opened in 1940.

However, in 1954, it was claimed that the original foundation stone was lost as it was believed to have been used as part of a building's foundations.

The City Hall was once the tallest building in Brisbane (see external links below for image from 1957). The building was designed by the firm Hall and Prentice, in association with four young New South Wales Architects: Bruce Dellit, Peter Kaad, Emil Sodersten and Noel Wilson.

St Andrews War Memorial Hospital was established in 1958.

In 1962 negotiations began for the acquisition of properties for demolition and the following year initial plans were drawn.

Griffith University was founded in Brisbane in 1971.

1973 Alma Park Zoo opens

King George Square was officially opened on 18 March 1975, as the forecourt to the City Hall.

Botanic Gardens opened in 1976.

Brisbane Planetarium opened in 1978.

The 1982 Commonwealth Games were hosted in Brisbane and the city received a massive infrastructure and sporting facilities boost as a result.

1986 Riverside Centre is built.

Meanwhile, the Myer Centre was built in 1988.

1989 Waterfront Place is built

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre opened in 1995.

Brisbane Museum opened in City Hall in 2003.

2005 Riparian Plaza is built

2006 The Aurora Tower is built.

The organ concert held on 14 November 2009 celebrated the 80th anniversary of the organ installation in the Brisbane City Hall and was the last organ recital before building restoration commenced.

The Brisbane City Hall was officially reopened to the public on Saturday, 6 April 2013 following a re-dedication ceremony and celebrations.

Further, its rapidly growing global reputation as a city of opportunity has been affirmed by its selection as the host of the G20 Leaders Summit in November 2014.