Brisbane, Australia is best known as the capital of Queensland. This charming city is the third most populated in all of Australia. It has beautiful weather and a culture that is pure Australian. Brisbane has a rich and full history that contributes to the amazing city it has become.
The history of Brisbane began with the aboriginal tribes. It was a mecca for these people due to its plenty of food like fish, shellfish, and crab. The area had rainforest and plenty of water from the Brisbane River. The Brisbane river is very unique. It curves and runs throughout the city.
Brisbane was first colonized by the British as a jail for convicts sent from Sidney. Brisbane was seen as an ideal penal location due to the protection of the Brisbane river. However, it didn’t take long for the British to see what a beautiful area Brisbane was. It had magnificent fishing, timber, and an abundance of farming.
Thomas Brisbane, the governor of New South Wales, petitioned the British to end the jailing of inmates in Brisbane. He wanted to make a new city. The British agreed and Thomas Brisbane officially named the area Brisbane.
The area finally allowed free settlement in the area, and Brisbane grew steadily. Brisbane became a cultural area. Several beautiful historic buildings were erected and commerce was booming. The University of Queensland was founded in Brisbane. In 1909 its first students were admitted into the school.
Brisbane became the home site of the allied headquarters during World War II. American and Australia service people lived in Brisbane boosting its population even higher.
Unfortunately, flooding has also played a major role in Brisbane history. Some seriously floods have happened throughout the years that have caused fatalities and some extensive damage. One main flood happened in 1893. A tropical cyclone caused the river to flood the city. 11 people lost their lives in this flood and almost 200 were hospitalized.
Brisbane got another boost in the 1980’s when it hosted the Commonwealth Games and the Expo 88. Visitors came from all over the world to see Brisbane. Brisbane also had to become much more modern, constructing new facilities and buildings for the festivities.
Today, Brisbane is a very popular and exciting city. It has an abundance of activities and cultural events to take part in. The sun shines over 280 days a year, making Brisbane an ideal tourist destination.
