Travel Article: Brisbane - Where Climate and Culture Combine

Brisbane | Lodging in Brisbane | Queensland |


Brisbane

Brisbane - riverside parks, a cosmopolitan attitude, a city of beauty and warmth divinely placed between the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Encompassed by the sun this city of 1.6 million people offers locals and tourists the convenience of a metropolitan centre with the natural beauty of the east coast of Australia. The city's character - past, present and future - is entangled with the twisty Brisbane River, the river whose banks the city is built upon. As well as adding to the cities charm and beauty the snaking river also provides the city with a waterway that is utilized as a transport system.

History
As crime increased in England and as repeat offenders grew in Australia, the authorities became interested in settling new frontiers. It was decided that 3 self sufficient penal colonies for the incarceration of difficult prisoners, would be started on the eastern coast of Northern Australia.

One of these colonies, Moreton Bay, later to be named Brisbane, was established in 1824. It became notorious as a violent place - the cruelest penal colony of its time. In 1826 the colony was run by a brutal man named Patrick Logan. Logan set Brisbane on a course of growth and self sufficiency, but was infamous for the horrific way that he treated convicts.

Wanting a jail for the solitary confinement of his wards, Logan decided to build a windmill. In 1828, made out of brick, sweat and sandstone, Logan's windmill, "The Tower of Torture," stood guard overlooking the colony. However the windmill never harnessed the wind. (It was later discovered that the sails on the windmill were put on backwards.) Instead Logan installed a treadmill so the power generated to grind the corn was provided by the prisoners themselves. Normally twenty five people worked the treadmill. However as a punishment Logan would substantially decrease the number of men thus increasing the workload to unbearable levels for the prisoners left working the treadmill. At least one convict collapsed and and died while "on the job."

Whipping prisoners 100 or more times with the "cat of nines" was commonplace in the prison. (The "cat of nines" is a whip made with 9 long tendrils of leather with several knots tied strategically on each tendril. For added effect some of the 9 whips were dipped in wax and some in stinging salt water.) Prisoners were not allowed to be whipped more than 100 times per day. If a convict was sentenced to 300 lashings they would be given 100 lashes on three subsequent days. There is record of men who died on the whipping post, their torturers continuing to whip them even after they had expired. The suffering and degradation at Moreton Bay is legendary.

The deprivation Logan inflicted on his charges and Logan's subsequent murder are remembered in a haunting poem. This is part of Simon McDonald's version of the famous ballad.

For three long years I was beastly treated
And heavy irons on my legs I wore
My back from flogging was lacerated
And oft-times painted with crimson gore

Like the Egyptians and ancient Hebrews
We were oppressed under Logan's yoke
But a native black there lay in ambush
Did give this tyrant a mortal stroke.

The colony was abandoned in 1839 and free settlers began arriving in 1842. The settlers and the aboriginals had serious clashes. Eventually the aboriginals that had occupied this area for thousands of years were ousted from their homeland. After years of warring and with their numbers dwindling, the aboriginals were forced onto residential reserves.

Paradoxically out of this violent ruthless history grew the multi-ethnic freedom loving city of Brisbane.

Brisbane was part of New South Wales until 1859 when Queensland gained independence. By the 1880s Brisbane was booming. The economy was based on gold, agriculture and industry. Advances such electric lighting, public transport, water/sewer and health services gave Brisbane a higher standard of living and encouraged more growth. Brisbane became the capital city of Queensland.

Transportation
Brisbane is located slightly inland on the south eastern corner of Queensland. On Monday 31 July 1865, the first railway service was introduced into the area.. In 1875 railway service connected Brisbane to the gateway suburb Indooroopilly. As the railway grew, more areas became available for development and the population continued to escalate. Horse drawn tramways were introduced in 1885. The inaugural trip of the tramway did not proceed quite as planned. The tram was derailed en route with the opening ceremony officials aboard. However, after that rocky start the tramways were successful and in use until1969. (Horse power was replaced by electricity in 1898.)

Travel on the river is fast and well used. Public river transportation is provided by Inner City Ferries and the City Cats. Transit buses are also used in Brisbane. The Brisbane International Airport is located about 15 kilometers northeast of the city. Airport shuttles run regularly to and from the airport. There is also a network of bike paths available to run, walk or roll around the city.

Climate
The hot sunny summers and the mild winters give Brisbane an ideal climate. Brisbane is less humid in the tourist high season, the winter months of July, August and September.


Climate in Brisbane

City Centre
Located in a bend of the Brisbane River the city centre stretches upwards with its many skyscrapers. The area is punctuated by historical buildings and woven with lively cafes. Golden arrows point the way along a foot path for a city walking tour of Brisbane's historical buildings. These buildings include The Old Government House and Parliament House - buildings that date back to the1860s. The historically significant Old Windmill & Observatory was built in 1828 to grind grain for the convicts. It was refurbished and served as a signal post, a fire lookout, a museum and a meteorological observatory. The sandstone Treasury has been converted in the Conrad Treasury Casino. There are many other historic buildings in the city center as well as interesting stories from the early era of Brisbane's history.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary


Koala relaxing as he blends in with the tree.

Located 35 minutes south of the city centre, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a memorable destination. Opened in 1927 Lone Pine is the largest koala sanctuary in the world - featuring 130 of the loveable creatures. Although Koala cuddling is banned in some parts of Australia it is still an acceptable practice in Queensland. The cuddling time is monitored closely with each bear being handled a maximum of 30 minutes a day. Set on the river, the sanctuary is also home to several species of Australian flora and fauna. Visitors can see kangaroos, possums, wombats, emus and other species of birds. This 50 acre park also has some wonderful areas for hikers and picnickers to explore. Educational presentations on the flora and fauna are held throughout the day.

Mt Coot-tha Reserve
In the parkland just outside Brisbane the scenic lookout of Mt Coot-tha beckons. After travelling to the summit people are rewarded with a fabulous view. Brisbane lies at the foot of the mountain with the city center resting in a curve of the river. Tall office buildings and sandstone churches reach skyward. On a clear day Moreton and Stradbroke Islands can be seen in the distance. The Aboriginal Art Trail, one of the many hiking trails in the area, takes visitors past eight sites of aboriginal art. The Brisbane Botanical Garden, with 52 hectares of garden, features flora from the tropics, rain forests and arid environments as well as a Japanese garden. While visiting the gardens, the planetarium - the largest in Australia - can also be enjoyed.

South Bank Parklands
South Bank Parklands was the site of the 1988 World Expo. The Park is still vital and lovely as it has been redeveloped and rejuvenated over the years. Visitors can spend some time exploring Pauls Breaka Beach, this popular attraction is an artificial beach that is built to look like a tropical lagoon. A part of Stanley Street, an historic area, has been revitalized and holds cafes, shops and restaurants. Nearby the Imax theater showcases a variety of films. This entire area is within walking distance from the city centre.

Brisbane Forest Park


Hiking in the bush

On the outskirts of Brisbane, in part of the D'Aguilar Range, 285 sq km of natural bush land awaits the explorer. This popular recreational area is well used by the city residents. Many of the trails throughout the area are best accessed by car however there is some bus access to the park. Hiking, horseback riding, camping and cycling are all activities that take place in the reserve. At the entrance of the park there is an information centre with trail, camping and area data. Near the information center is Walk-About Creek, a centre that features a close up view of creatures including the platypus, fish, turtles, pythons, and lizards.

Brisbane | Lodging in Brisbane | Queensland |

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Brisbane - Where Climate and Culture Combine