Today we went for a photo shoot with our camera club into the city to photograph buildings and monuments. We took the Colonial Heritage Walk so most of our shots were of old buildings. Compared to other parts of the world Brisbane is a young town. The first settlement started in 1823 so naturally our old buildings are not that old.
We started in Brisbane Square outside the 'Treasury Casino", which used to be the Treasury Building. It was built in 3 stages between 1883 and 1928. It was designed by J J Clark in a neo-italianate design.
Just across the street and through Queens Gardens is the Casino Hotel in the "Lands Administration Building" which used to be the government "Executive Building" designed by Thomas Pye and built in 1898-99.
We continued down George St past many more interesting buildings, too many for one post. This building is "The Mansions" designed by G H M Addison and built in1889 in the style of Victorian Terrace houses. They are important because there were very few built in Brisbane.
At the top end of George St is Queensland's Parliament House.designed by Charles Tiffin and built in stages between 1865-1889 in a French Renaissance Style.
A little further on is Old Government House situated opposite the Botanic Gardens and on the campus of Queensland's University of Technology". It was constructed between 1860-62 as the home of Queensland's governors until 1910 when it became part of Queensland University until 1972. It became the first heritage listed building in Qld in 1978. In 2002 Qld Uni of Technology became the custodians and it is now a museum and used for functions. Behind the old house you can see one of the many modern buildings of the university's Gardens Campus.
It was the Science Building and we went in to see this amazing digital aquarium where many varieties of tropical fish and mammals were swimming. If you could be quick enough to press the screen on a moving animal it would give you information about it.
The Commissariat Stores is the oldest occupied building in Queensland. Built by convicts in 1829. It is now the home of The Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
