Today our friends, Joan and Norm, asked us to meet them in the city as they had to come in from the country town of Esk for an appointment. We had lunch and then visited the newly renovated City Hall and its Museum.
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| Brisbane City Hall |
We entered the City Hall's impressive foyer with its marble staircases on both sides. However we went by lift to the 3rd floor where the Museum is located. It is possible to go on a tour to up the clock tower but we would have to wait over an hour so we gave that a miss.
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| Norm and TOH |
The two exhibitions on now are 'Light Fantastic: Expo 88 Parades Rewired' and 'The River'.
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| TOH and Joan walking from one gallery to another past a rest area. |
We have known Joan and Norm for 50 years. .Joan and I taught together in Papua/New Guinea and we have kept in contact ever since by attending concerts together or visiting museums and galleries.
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| Amazing panorama photos span 150 years of our city's growth. |
There were paintings, photos, models and videos showing the history of Brisbane and our relationship with the river.
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| Models of a few of the floats in the parades. |
In 1988 Brisbane hosted the World Expo. The rest of the country laughed at us because we had always been thought of as a 'hick' town. However, the Expo committee did a fabulous job and not only impressed the rest of Australia but the international visitors too. The 'Light Fantastic' exhibit is to celebrate 25 years since Expo put Brisbane on the map. The exhibit concentrates on the work that went into designing the characters and floats that went into the Lunchtime and night "Light Fantastic" parades. It was too difficult to photograph all the models, photos, memorabilia and videos. We visited Expo regularly every week because our girls were in one of the marching bands that were in the parades and the following show. They worked hard but enjoyed themselves and we were very proud of them. See pics of them on
TOH's blog here
that stair case is amazing and oh so beautiful. i would like to see the panorama art, and i like that little dragon from the floats...
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a wonderful museum and place to visit. I think it is so cool you still are in touch with so many people from your youth...so often isn't the case.
ReplyDeletethe city hall is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWould love seeing that building up close and personal.
ReplyDeletewow! the city hall is just lovely.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing, dear diane.
wishing you a nice weekend~
big hugs!
Would love to have seen that parade with all those creative floats.
ReplyDeleteNever miss a chance to meet friends again - and what a good place to explore with them.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a grand building.
ReplyDeleteTo have a personal friend for fifty years is quite amazing.
The lunch wasn't bad either.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you could visit with friends in such elegant surroundings. It sounds as if Brisbane has come a long way in 25 years.
ReplyDeleteOh My Gosh---that marble is fabulous... Wow--I love that place... Nice museum also. It's great how the Expo put Brisbane on the map!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed being with your good friends.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy
What an impressive building ! You see the English architecture !
ReplyDeleteDiane, what a nice visit with your friends. The museum is beautiful. And I love the cute models of the floats. The Light Fantastic exhibit sounds wonderful, nice to put Brisbane on the map. Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteI fondly remember Expo,thanks for the info about the exhibit. We haven't visited the new City Hall yet, but hope to soon!
ReplyDeleteFancy having a friend for 50 years! The closest I can come to that is a friend since 1971 which is ... mmm ... 42 years. Blimey, did not realise that. I stay with her in Melbourne over an extended June long-weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe town hall looks wonderful Diane, would love to glimpse those panorama photos. You got us all thinking about our longest known friend..I think for me it's thirty one years.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to visit that exhibition myself!
ReplyDeleteDavid is singing the expo 88 theme tune in my ear as I write this: l
"Let's make it great in 88"
Must get in to see the "new" city hall. The dome is supposed to be fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive staircase. The museum is beautiful too. I'm glad the Expo in the 80's put Brisbane on the map and love the way you always showcase your beautiful and clean city. Great too, that you met up with the friends of so many years (note I don't say "old friends" LOL!) I just LOVE the age I am now - and the fact that Grant and I have relationships with friends whom we've known for forty-plus years already. Hope you're having a great weekend, Diane. Jo
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder of Expo. I enjoyed going to it when it was on.
ReplyDeleteI've always been impressed with the Brisbane city hall from right back when I was a little girl small enough for my Dad to lift me up onto the lions out the front to sit on their backs ... before Clem's hole.
looks like a very fun outing! and how wonderful to keep in touch with old friends!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful space -- the staircase is majestic. Our parents still lived in Eastern Washington (State) in the early 70s when the Expo was held in Spokane Washington. We visited a couple of times and they went oftener. -- Very similar to Brisbane since Seattle on the West Coast of the State is the "big city" and Seattle people tend to think everyone in the Eastern part of the state are 'hicks". But the organizers did it beautifully, the Expo was well received internationally and I think Spokane still has some of the structures that were built for it.
ReplyDeleteDiane I am looking forward to visiting the renewed City Hall. I remember when it was the tallest building you could see from near St Bridgis Church at Red Hill. My old primary school used to hold their fancy dress ball and concert and as I was in the fife band remember standing up on the large stage. That will be something to revisit once home.
ReplyDeleteAlicia