About Brisbane - History

History of Brisbane

A convict built windmill, later an observatory, built in 1828 still stands. The attached treadmill made the windmill useful both for grinding corn and for mass punishment. By 1840, all surviving convicts had returned to Sydney and, for white Australians at least, Brisbane became a free settlement.

Another building from this period is open to the public today. Newstead House, built in 1846, for a time served as an unofficial Government House.

In 1859, Brisbane was separated from New South Wales and Queensland was proclaimed a new colony by its first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen. From 1901, Queensland has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Two city administrations, six towns, 12 shires and four other authorities amalgamated to form Brisbane City Council on 1 October 1925 (Brisbane Day).

Many British, American and Australian troops were based in Brisbane and Pine Rivers in the Second World War. See Strathpine.net for some old photographs.

Trams were last used in Brisbane in 1969.

The flood of January 1974, caused by Cyclone Wanda, is remembered by many residents. 14,000 homes had to be evacuated, the Centenary Bridge at Jindalee was severely damaged by a runaway gravel barge and all air, road and rail communication with the outside world was cut off. Saturday 26th was the wettest day in Brisbane since 1887.

For those interested in Brisbane's history, heritage trails and BCC City Sights Tours. The National Trust of Queensland (3229 1788) also has information on historical places of interest in and around Brisbane.

Want more? Try these sites:

• Australia Day from Australia's Cultural Network
• Brisbane Stories - a project of the Brisbane City Council Cultural Services Section
• BRISbites: information bites about topics and resources in Brisbane's suburban history.  
• Government House includes history, role and functions of the Governor and much more
• The Stolen Generation Report from HREOC describes part of our history we cannot ignore.
• State Library of Queensland: John Oxley Library - Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Photographs available - Indigenous Resource Unit
• Early explorers' journeys along the Brisbane River, focusing particularly on the Centenary Suburbs area by Ed Parker
• "Moreton Bay People", including Peel Island's Quarantine and Leprosy Stations by Peter Ludlow
• Lighthouses of Queensland
• Search for Australian Place Names locate any town in Australia

More About Brisbane

Follow these links to history, maps, climate or other general information about Brisbane or use the links on the left to explore other sections of Brisbane City Life.