Tags
Anzac Square, Botanical Gardens, Brisbane, Brisbane arcade, Brisbane city hall, Brisbane River, City Hall, Government house, Greeters. Brisbane Greeters, King George Square, Photography, Queesland University of Technology, QUT, travel
After over 20 years of living in Brisbane I thought it was time that I learned some more about my city. Although I have been in to the city many times I have never actually taken the time to explore it.
So, I booked a tour with Brisbane Greeters. It was by accident that I recently learnt of this wonderful program here in Brisbane. I contacted them and organized to do a walking tour of Brisbane precinct. I met with my guide Bruce, at King George Square outside Brisbane city hall. I was excited to do this tour however I was not prepared for how good it was.
Lucky me, I was the only “tourist” for this guided tour of our city. We started our tour in the square discussing Bruce’s plans for the tour. He made some suggestions and then with my input he customised the tour to fully suit me. Bruce gave me a brief overview of the history of Brisbane before we headed off.
We started our tour in the City Hall. City Hall is considered to be one of Brisbane’s finest buildings. The building has been used for royal receptions, pageants, orchestral concerts, civic greetings, flower shows, school graduations and political meetings.
City Hall does offer its own guided tours of this lovely building so my visit with Bruce was certainly enough to whet my appetite to return one day for a tour. In the meantime, from Bruce, I learned that the white marble staircase in the entrance is made using marble from Carrara in Italy, the bell tower was inspired by St Mark’s in Venice and the dome was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.
From the city hall we walked over to the Brisbane Arcade which is a heritage listed shopping arcade and was built in 1923. Definitely one of if not the nicest shopping arcade in Brisbane consisting of beautifully designed shops offering high-end jewellery, clothing, antiques and much more.
Our tour continued up Queen St to North Quay to the heritage listed Treasury building, which now houses Brisbane’s Casino.
The tour included many of Brisbane’s original buildings – the commissary which is home to the Royal Historical Society of Brisbane, and Old Government house which is located on the grounds of Queensland University of Technology at Gardens Point.
The QUT campus is home to public arts venues, museums, top fitness facilities, and our state-of-the-art Science and Engineering Centre.
We stopped at the Pantry café on campus for our well-earned lunch and coffee. After our small rest we headed off through the botanical gardens which is on the river and which Qut is attached to.
We had many stops along the way to our destination of St Stephens Cathedral the heritage listed cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the city of Brisbane.
I learned from Bruce that part of the stone used in the construction of this magnificent building was taken from Kangaroo point just across the river.
Bruce’s wealth of information was fantastic. He is very passionate about Brisbane and was so informative the entire time.
I have been on many walking tours around the world but this would definitely be the best guided walking tour I have ever done, and, it was free. Bruce informed me that there are many cities around the world offering this personalized free service.
I later googled Greeters Organisation and discovered there are in excess of 90 cities world-wide offering this fabulous service including several cities in Italy.
What a fabulous tour to do:-) I have heard about it and seen snipits of it on The Great South East. We definately need to know more about our own backyard. Xx
Thanks Leah. It is a fabulous program and well worth it xxx
Glad you enjoyed it Lyn. Brisbane really is a wonderful city. Great Photos.
Thanks Bruce. I really did enjoy it. I plan to write about it in our 5w newsletter. Have a great day and thanks for your comment Lyn
Once again fantastic information. I had no idea this was available and will certainly be going on a tour. Your photos are just so wonderful thank you for bringing our city to us. xxx
Thank you Donna for your generous comment. It really was a great tour xx
Great information and wonderful insight into the city and its heritage buildings . Might be useful for the upcoming 5W gathering participants.
Thank you Donna for your generous comment. It really was a great tour xx
Thanks Gail. I was thinking that I might write a story for the next 5w newsletter
We live in a really beautiful city. We are very lucky. Must do that tour..Kay
Thank you Donna for your generous comment. It really was a great tour xx
Yes Kay. It often takes things like this to open our eyes
Brisbane is a beautiful city. How lucky you were to gave your own guide.
Yes I was lucky Deb. I also thought of you when we were in Brisbane arcade
Sounds like an interesting tour – and a piece of Italy right there in your own hometown city hall.
Yes I just had to throw in the bit about italy
Very nice buildings. But those terrible high-rises around them should be scaled down, if not knocked dow,n to keep the old buildings from being dwarfed adn preserve the skyline. That’s what makes Italian towns look good. Imagine high rises in the middle of Florence or even Lucca!
Yes Francis. All in the name of progress