Brisbane - Australia, Queensland capital

Brisbane - Australia, Queensland capital overview

Brisbane geographic(al) coordinates: 27*27S/153*04E
Brisbane population 1,225,724 (2004)

Brisbane is Queensland capital. Brisbane, located in Queensland on the east central shore of the Pacific, is an energetic city and port which is much favored by visitors. Brisbane is Australia's third largest city and an administrative, commercial, industrial, and cultural center.

It has shipyards, oil refineries, food-processing plants, textile mills, automobile and telecommunications plants, and railroad workshops. But in recent years tourism and commercial expansion have dominated the city's development. Extensive suburban growth has accompanied the city's rapid increase in population.

Brisbane - Australia, Queensland capital history

The area was settled in 1824 as a penal colony, and the city was named in 1834 for Sir Thomas Brisbane, governor of New South Wales. In 1925 the Greater Brisbane Act unified the administration of 19 formerly separate localities. Brisbane is the seat of the Univ. of Queensland (1909), a national art gallery (1895), a museum (1871), and a performing arts complex.

Brisbane - Australia, Queensland capital main attractions

Start the day at Southbank Parklands on the Brisbane River where attractions include a beach, restaurants and entertainment. The markets held on several days of the week present local arts and craft. Adjacent to the parklands, the Queensland Cultural Centre incorporates the Performing Arts Complex, the Queensland Museum, the Library and the Art Gallery. Nestled between the Gold Coast to the south and the Sunshine Coast to the north, laid-back Brisbane makes the most of its magnificent beaches, offering an ideal blend of Aussie ease and urban energy. Wander in the lush Botanical Gardens, shop in the Queen Street Mall, or enjoy the countless cafes and restaurants along the banks of the Brisbane River.