Brisbane River at night
In 2008 I took a trip to Brisbane with my wife to celebrate our birthdays. I did not keep a daily diary on this trip (or if I did, I've lost it). This account was written in 2019 from memory and piecing together clues from my photos.
We arrived in Brisbane in the late afternoon, and went straight to our hotel, the Hilton on Elizabeth Street. We had a dinner booked at Joseph Alexander's Restaurant in Milton (since closed down; it was on the corner of Coronation Drive and Park Road). To get there, we walked west along the northern shore of the Brisbane River, enjoying the night air along the waterfront.
Brisbane River at night |
The dinner was marvellous, and I remember being very full afterwards. We walked back along the river to the centre of the city, passing the Treasury Casino and the open square in front of it along the way, which was busy with people.
The weather was hot. We went out for a walk northwards to the Eagle Street Riverside area, where there was a street market on. We had breakfast at the Pig 'n' Whistle English Pub, and went on to browse around the market for a while.
 Eagle Street Riverside market |
We walked over the river to Southbank, past the Southbank Lagoon beach.
 Southbank Lagoon beach |
And to the Queensland Museum, where we spent the afternoon inside out of the heat.
 Muttaburrasaurus skeleton, Queensland Museum |
Back in the city we checked out some of the shops and arcades, including the lovely Victorian era Brisbane Arcade. And then took some night photos in the square in front of the casino, where light shows were making interesting colours with the sculptures in the square.
 Treasury Casino at night |
Today we went for a walk through the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, and along the river front, where there were mangroves.
 Mangrove roots in the Botanic Gardens |
We walked around to the Queensland State Parliament House, where we did a guided tour of the building. We got to see function rooms, the library, and the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council chambers, even though Queensland abolished the Legislative Council (the upper house) in 1922.
 Queensland Parliament House |
Next we toured St John's Cathedral.
 St John's Cathedral |
On the way back to our hotel we passed through the ANZAC Memorial and Square.
 ANZAC Memorial |
We had some dinner and then ventured back out to take photos in the night, of ANZAC Square and the City Hall.
 ANZAC Memorial at night |
We went to the Brisbane City Hall, and took a guided tour there, seeing a lot of old historical things. The tour included a trip up the tall clock tower, and the opportunity to see the inside of the giant clock face.
 Brisbane City Hall, from inside the clock tower |
We flew home on this day.
