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Brisbane

Travoley
Brisbane
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Brisbane Travel Guide

  • About Brisbane
Dominated by the mighty Brisbane River, Queensland’s vibrant capital, Brisbane, is a laid-back city with a cheeky attitude.Thanks to its balmy climate and rich cultural scene, ‘Brisvegas’, as locals have it, is as popular with Australians as it is with international travellers, which makes it a pleasingly cosmopolitan place to visit.One of Australia’s oldest cities, pre-colonial Brisbane was known to the Turrbal and Jagera people as Mian-jin (‘the place shaped like spike’) due to its unique geography.Today, the city is still growing, and is thought to be the fastest expanding Australian conurbation on the East Coast. Less frenetic than Sydney but more vibrant than Adelaide, Brisbane boasts a bustling cultural scene and plenty of picturesque suburbs. The centre, dominated by the business district, is peppered with parks, nearly all of which are crammed with sunbathing locals on the weekends.The South Bank is particularly loved thanks to the presence of the South Bank Parklands, which is home to Streets Beach, a public swimming area and a rabbit warren of quaint streets. Nearby is the striking glass and steel Museum of Modern Art, which is worth visiting for the architecture alone, and the magnificent Maritime Museum.For boutique shopping, Paddington and Rosalie are key areas, particularly around LaTrobe Terrace. Some great fashion stores can be found in Fortitude Valley, while Stones Corner has a number of factory outlets.Wonderful though Brisbane is, it’s the surrounding countryside that is the real icing on the cake. Barren peaks, a protected forest and a koala sanctuary are all within striking distance, as is the magnificent Queensland coastline – including Moreton Bay where the English cartographer, Captain Flinders, first came ashore.If that’s not enough, the city is also the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the famous Australia Zoo, so skip onto Sydney if you like, but you’ll only be cheating yourself.
  • Brisbane History
The first European explorer to reach Brisbane was Captain Matthew Finders in 1799. Brisbane grew to life just over 20 years later when a convict colony was established overlooking Moreton Bay in 1823. Called Redcliffe, it swiftly gained a reputation for being a place where the punishments were particularly harsh, and as a result, many of the worst convicts sent to Sydney were moved on to what would become Brisbane.Thanks to its regular rainfall and teeming seas, the area was opened up to free settlers in 1842, marking the proper start of the city. Despite protests from the indigenous Turrbul and Jagera people, settlers cleared forest and established farms, paving the way for the city itself. A boost came in 1859 when Queensland was declared separate from New South Wales and Brisbane named the capital.With Brisbane’s new status came accelerated development, and the city gained its first electric street lamps in 1882, followed by a railway terminus in 1879. Next it built its own immigration centre in 1887 and with that, a corresponding expansion of the city population. Finally, in 1902, Brisbane was given its charter and officially became a city.Despite the auspicious start to the 20th century, WWI saw many of the local men travel abroad to fight, with thousands killed at Gallipoli. During WWII, the city also became a hub for Allied troops fighting in the South Pacific, with many government buildings turned over to the soldiers. It wasn’t all smooth sailing however, and in 1942, riots broke out that left one Australian soldier dead.In the post-war years, Brisbane continued to grow, with many of the Allied soldiers who served there during the war choosing to remain.The 1960s saw the modernisation of public transport and sewerage, enabling the city to grow even further. However, the flood defence system built at this time was found tragically lacking in 2011 when thousands of homes were flooded and 35 residents were left dead.Today, Brisbane remains one of the fastest growing cities in Australia – and one of the most popular with tourists.
  • Weather in Brisbane
Brisbane has a humid subtropical climate which promises plenty of sunshine year round, making it a city worth visiting any time of year.Spring (September to November) starts off warm and dry with temperatures hovering around 19°C (66°F) in September. This is a good time to visit as flights are usually cheaper. The Brisbane Festival also takes place in September and the city comes to life with everything from circus to cabaret to comedy.Summer (December to February) is hot and wet. Average temperatures range from 29.4°C (85°F) to over 30.3°C (86.5°F).Autumn (March to May) starts of wet but as temperatures start to decline, rainfall becomes less too.Winter (June to August) is pleasantly dry and warm, though you may need a sweater at night. With temperatures hovering around 15°C (59°F), this is a good time to visit Brisbane and enjoy its bustling cultural scene.

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