George Street is a major street located in the Brisbane CBD in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
George Street | |
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| George Street from Queen Street intersection | |
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  George Street | |
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| General information | |
| Type | Street |
| Location | Brisbane |
Geography
editGeorge Street extends from the Queensland University of Technology's Garden Point campus and City Botanic Gardens at its south-east end (27°28′32″S 153°01′41″E / 27.4756°S 153.0281°E), through the commercial centre of Brisbane (Queen Street and Queen Street Mall), through to Roma Street railway station at its north-west end (27°28′00″S 153°01′11″E / 27.4667°S 153.0196°E).[1]
The State Parliament House building for the state of Queensland and Brisbane Square, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law and the State Law Building are found on the street. Queens Gardens, Treasury Building, Lands Administration Building and The Mansions are all located on George Street. Other office towers built on George Street include 111 George Street, 275 George Street and 400 George Street. At the northern end is the Roma Street railway station.
History
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George Street as well as Queen Street, Wickham Street and the area known as Petrie Bight were unsealed and often dusty before 1899.[2] In 1897, the North Brisbane Council held an election on whether a loan should be raised so the streets could be woodblocked. Agreement was given after a close decision by only a third of registered voters, however the results were limited as the surface was very slippery during the rain and buckled during heavy rains.[2]
The first private residence in Brisbane, a weatherboard, low-ceilinged cottage, was built on George Street.[3] The building remained intact into the 1880s but like similar early houses in the central business district they have been demolished and the land redeveloped.[3]
In 1867, the Menzies Private Hotel was established at 28 George Street (corner of Margaret Street and adjacent to the Queensland Club).[4] It was refurbished and re-opened as the Kingsley Private Hotel in July 1922.[5] It has since been demolished.
The Bellevue Hotel opened on the western corner of George and Alice Streets c. 1885. It served for many years as Brisbane's premier hotel. Without any prior public announcement, the Queensland Government demolished the building overnight on 20 April 1979.[6]
In 1911, Queensland belatedly established its first university, the University of Queensland, in the Old Government House at the end of George Street.[7] By the late 1930s, the university outgrew this site, moving its main campus to St Lucia after World War II.[8]
On Friday 17 July 1970, a faulty fuse in a traffic light created a spark that ignited a leaking gas pipe running through the basements of several George Street buildings (between Queen Street and Adelaide Street) which caused a series of explosions, killing one woman and injuring 38 other people. The damage to buildings in George Street and neighbouring streets as well as roads and other infrastructure was estimated at $500,000.[9][10][11][12]
Heritage sites
editGeorge Street has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- 2 George Street: the former Brisbane Central Technical College[13]
- 2 George Street: Old Government House[14]
- 19 George Street: Queensland Club[15]
- 40 George Street: The Mansions[16]
- 68 George Street: Harris Terrace[17]
- 110 George Street and 84 William Street: the former Queensland Government Printing Office[18]
- 142 George Street: Lands Administration Building[19] and its First World War Honour Board[20]
- 144 George Street: Queens Gardens[21]
- 171 George Street: Family Services Building[22]
- 175 George Street: Treasury Hotel[23]
- 179–191 George Street (with frontages to Elizabeth Street): Hunters Buildings: Treasury Chambers, St Francis House, & Symons Building[24]
- 331 & 333 George Street: BAFS Building[25]
- 414 George Street: McDonnell & East Ltd Building[26]
- 468–482 George Street: Transcontinental Hotel[27]
- Sections of Albert St, George St, William St, North Quay, Queen's Wharf Rd: Early Streets of Brisbane[28]
- 69 Alice Street: Parliament House (also faces onto George Street)[29]
Queen's Wharf development
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The Queen's Wharf development of an entertainment precinct will be bounded by Queen Street, George Street, Alice Street and the Brisbane River (including all of William Street).[30] All of the non-heritage buildings on the site will be demolished.
Gallery
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State Law Building
George Street façade -
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The Mansions
George Street façade -
George Street entrance to the Queensland University of Technology Gardens Point campus. The City Botanic Gardens are at the left, and Parliament House is at the right -
Law Courts Complex, George Street, façade -
George Street City Roos sculptures (opposite Brisbane Square) -
Map of Brisbane CBD.
Major intersections
editThis article contains a bulleted list or table of intersections which should be presented in a properly formatted junction table. (December 2021) |
See also
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- Daniel Marquis, who operated a photographic studio at 82 George St.
- Brisbane Quarter, mixed use development at 300 George Street.
References
edit- ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ a b Hacker, D. R. (1999). Petries Bight: a Slice of Brisbane History. Bowen Hills, Queensland: Queensland Women's Historical Association Inc. p. 52. ISBN 0-9590271-8-1.
- ^ a b Hogan, Janet (1982). Living History of Brisbane. Spring Hill, Queensland: Boolarang Publications. p. 26. ISBN 0-908175-41-8.
- ^ "MENZIES' HOTEL". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 662. Queensland, Australia. 12 April 1924. p. 4. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Menzies Renamed". The Brisbane Courier. No. 20, 101. Queensland, Australia. 24 June 1922. p. 15. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Heritage lost - gone but not forgotten". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ "History of UQ". University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ Readshaw, Grahame; Ronald Wood (1987). Looking up looking back at old Brisbane. Bowen Hills, Queensland: Boolarong Publications. p. 62. ISBN 0-86439-032-7.
- ^ "GAS EXPLOSIONS ROCK CITY BLOCK". The Canberra Times. Vol. 44, no. 12, 677. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 July 1970. p. 1. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Girl dies in chain of gas main explosions". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 20 July 1970. p. 6. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Faulty fuse blamed for gas blast". The Canberra Times. Vol. 44, no. 12, 678. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 July 1970. p. 3. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "FROM the VAULT: Deadly Gas Leak on George Street 1970". Queensland Police Museum. 25 July 2023. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ "Brisbane Central Technical College (former) (entry 601728)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Old Government House (entry 600118)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Queensland Club (entry 600113)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "The Mansions (entry 600119)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Harris Terrace (entry 600121)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Government Printing Office (former) (entry 600114)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Land Administration Building (entry 600123)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "First World War Honour Board (entry 600117)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Queens Gardens (entry 600112)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Family Services Building (entry 600111)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Treasury Hotel (entry 600115)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Treasury Chambers & St Francis House & Symons Building (entry 600116)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "BAFS Building (entry 601825)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "McDonnell & East Ltd Building (entry 600120)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Transcontinental Hotel (entry 600122)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Early Streets of Brisbane (entry 700011)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Parliament House (entry 600069)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Map of Queen's Wharf development precinct in Brisbane CBD". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
External links
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Media related to George Street, Brisbane at Wikimedia Commons