History of Brisbane: Queensland's Capital
The history of Brisbane is one of pioneering explorers and settlers and their determination to run their own affairs locally. So my first photo is of the old Queensland Governor's Mansion. The history of the land goes back as far as the indigenous
people of Australia. The history of of Brisbane, however, began in 1825. While Captain Cook had sailed up most of the Queensland coast, naming many of the islands on the way, he never made it farther inland, but predicted that there would be a major river coming from the inland around Moreton Bay. Eventually the river was found by John Oxley and the site chosen for a new northern settlement.
Originally brisbane was founded as a penal colony for the less rehabilitated criminals of New South Wales but the prison only lasted 14 years before the land was sold for private
settlement. The new town was named after Thomas Brisbane who was governor of New South Wales at the time. This next photo is of Newstead, the oldest remaining building of a 'regular' settler.
Owing to the fertile land and easy access to the river for
transportation, the economy of Brisbane grew quickly, as did the desire to form a separate government that was more in touch
with the workings of the northern settlement. In 1851 citizens
started discussing separation, and in the famous laid-back Queensland style, eventually got around to getting independence from New South Wales eight years later. Queen Victoria gave her approval for a new state in 1859, and was rewarded with having the state named after her. The history of Brisbane now began a new course, as capital of the new state, which required revenues. The photo here is of the Old Customs House, where would we be without the tax collectors.
Through various land initiatives, crop expansion, and discovery of valuble mining metals the state of Queensland outgrew its population. The sudden demand for workers saw immigration become a major source of population increase, however, it also brought about a lot of conflict as the state had yet to prepare itself for the cultural clashes that would ensue. One of the defining moments of the young Queensland's history was the sheep shearers strike in 1891, which served to united multi-cultural labourers across Queensland and started a revolution of labour politics in the state. Sadly, when jobs started to decline and the Australian Federation enacted in 1901, all foreign workers were deported.
The photo above is also of one of the oldest buildings in Brisbane -- the Commissariat. Once a government storage depot, now a museum.
But the history of Brisbane is one of overcoming setbacks and Brisbane was officially proclaimed a city in 1902. The city and state continued to thrive on the sugar cane, mining, and wool industries and inhabitants started to spread farther into the outback. This presented the state with new problems as to how to maintain access to the farmers and miners who were in the interior. Queensland and Northern Territories Air Services (Qantas) was established to serve the remote communities of the Queensland outback. Another invention born from necessity was the Royal Flying Doctor service which began in 1928.
Queensland continued to grow; however, it failed to reach the
international status of Sydney and Melbourne and became considered a slightly strange state and Brisbane as a large boring country town, instead of an exciting major city (hence the ironic nickname of Bris-vegas).
Expo '88 changed all that. Held in Brisbane it began a new era of multi-culturalism, splendor, tourism, and introduced the city to the world. Many of the buildings that were built for Expo can still be seen and the increase in tourism has helped to increase the attractions the city holds. The history of Brisbane since that time has been steady transition to a truly international city, which still manages to maintain the laid-back sub-tropical atmosphere that originally attracted immigrants here. Over the recent years Queensland has led the way in attracting tourists and migrants from within Australia and you know if people within Australia want to be here then it's a place you can't afford to miss.
Return to Brisbane city from History of Brisbane
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Along with trying to find its cultural identity the new state hit some natural road blocks on the way. In one year alone there were two major fires and a flood (building the city on a flood plain is a problem Brisbane still faces today) that combined to completely destroy the downtown area. The state was also hit by man-made problems which threatened to destroy local flora and fauna. One of the biggest disasters was the introduction of cane toads to try and control sugar cane pests. Without natural predators the toads florished and started to encroach on native species habitats and food supply. The toads have continued to flourish and are still a problem in areas around the state.
Brisbane Pictures
