DISCOVER BRISBANE
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, as well as the third largest city in Australia. It is set close to the Pacific Ocean, and is situated beside the Brisbane River on plains between Moreton Bay and the Great Dividing Range in south-eastern Queensland.
The city is named in honour of Sir Thomas Brisbane who was Governor of New South Wales from 1821 - 1825. The original settlement grew from a harsh penal colony established at his direction in 1824 at Redcliffe, 28km to the north. The colony was moved to what is now the location of the Brisbane CBD in 1825, and free settlers were permitted from 1842. It was chosen as the capital when Queensland was proclaimed a separate colony, in 1859.
The city developed slowly until after World War II, when it played a central role in the Allied campaign as the South West Pacific headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur.
More recently, Brisbane hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games, the 1988 World's Fair (Expo '88), and the 2001 Goodwill Games.
 CLIMATE OF BRISBANE
Brisbane has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and dry, mild winters. From late Spring through to early Autumn, thunderstorms are common over the greater Brisbane area, with the more severe events accompanied by large damaging hail stones, torrential rain and destructive winds.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Brisbane has a thriving live music scene, as well as theatres and museums within the city, South Bank, the South Bank Parklands and Brisbane suburbs. It is the birthplace of internationally acclaimed singers, music bands, authors, actors, artists, sculptors and fashion designers. Many of Brisbane's singers and musicians (both popular and classical) have performed overseas, and have received international awards and recognition.
Along with Beijing, Berlin, Birmingham and Marseille, Brisbane was nominated as one of the Top 5 International Music Hotspots by Billboard in 2007. There are also popular entertainment pubs and clubs within both the City and Fortitude Valley.
ANNUAL EVENTS IN BRISBANE
Major cultural events include the Ekka (the Royal Queensland Show) which is held each year in August, at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Riverfestival (which includes Riverfire), is held each year in September at South Bank Parklands and surrounding areas; Warana, (meaning Blue Skies), was a former spring festival which began in 1961 and was held in September each year. Run as a celebration of Brisbane, Warana was similar in many ways to Melbourne's Moomba festival. Warana was changed, in 1996, to a biennial Brisbane Festival.
The Paniyiri festival at Musgrave Park (corner of Russell and Edmonstone Streets, South Brisbane) an annual Greek cultural festival held on the first weekend in May. Also in Musgrave Park the Brisbane Medieval Fayre and Tournament is held each June.
The Valley Fiesta is an annual three-day event organised by the Valley Chamber of Commerce. It was launched by Brisbane Marketing in 2002 as a way to promote Fortitude Valley further as a hub for arts and youth culture. It features free live music, market stalls, food and drink from many local restaurants and cafés, and other entertainment.
TOURISM AND RECREATION
Popular recreational areas include the South Bank Parklands, the Roma Street Parkland (which has an outdoor amphitheatre), the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens (a colonial era botanic gardens founded in 1855 in the Brisbane CBD), and the Mount Coot-tha state forest (which includes a lookout over the city), the Brisbane Botanic Gardens (contemporary botanical gardens) which includes the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium and the "Tsuki-yama-chisen" Japanese Garden, as well as Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Brisbane Forest Park, the rock-climbing cliffs which are located at the southern approach to the Story Bridge at Kangaroo Point, and the more than 27 km of bicycle pathways which line both sides of the river east and west of the city centre.
Another new Brisbane attraction is the Story Bridge Adventure Climb. The Story Bridge is one of only three legally climbable bridges in the world. The latest addition to Brisbane tourism is the $750 million Portside Wharf.
SPORT IN BRISBANE
Brisbane has teams in all interstate competitions including:
| Sport |
Team Name |
| Australian rules football |
Brisbane Lions |
| Basketball |
Brisbane Bullets |
| Cricket |
Queensland Bulls |
| Football (soccer) |
Queensland Roar |
| Gridiron |
Queensland Sundevils |
| Hockey |
Queensland Blades |
| Ice Hockey |
Brisbane Blue Tongues |
| Netball |
Queensland Firebirds |
| Rugby League |
Queensland
Brisbane Broncos |
| Rugby Union |
Queensland Reds
Ballymore Tornadoes |
| Surf Lifesaving |
Queensland Marlins |
With the closure of the Milton Tennis grounds in 1994, Brisbane was without a major tennis facility until recently. In 2005, a new A$65 million tennis stadium, to be located in the suburb of Tennyson was approved by the State Government and in conjunction with Mirvac constructions is to be constructed starting in May 2006, with a completion date scheduled for December 2008.
Brisbane has hosted several major sporting events including the 1982 Commonwealth Games and the 2001 Goodwill Games.
Brisbane also hosted events during the 1987 Rugby World Cup, 1992 Cricket World Cup, 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2003 Rugby World Cup and will host the Grand Final of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
Former Premier Peter Beattie has announced plans for Brisbane to bid for the 2020 or 2024 Olympic Games.
From Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia
 BRISBANE TOURS, TRAVEL & ACTIVITIES
BRISBANE HOTELS, RESORTS & ACCOMMODATION
HOME •
AUSTRALIA •
DISCOVER •
Queensland •
Brisbane •
Discover Brisbane
|
Looking for something specific?
 
|
DISCOVER AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA TOURS & TRAVEL
DISCOVER AUSTRALIA:
QUEENSLAND:
BRISBANE:
Discover Brisbane,
City Hall,
Queensland Museum,
Roma Street Parkland,
