The Story Behind Brisbane
June 14th, 2010 by Kathy Smith, under Vacations. No Comments
Prior to European settlement in 1824, Brisbane was home to the Jagera and Turrbal Aboriginal clans. The initial settlement in the Brisbane region was formed in Redcliff, Moreton Bay, and north of where the city of Brisbane is presently. This was the initial desire of Surveyor General John Oxley when he was surveying the region on board his ship the ‘Mermaid’ in late 1823. The ship was anchored off Bribie Island when the crew noticed a group of Aborigines and one who seemed larger sized than the rest on the shore. This was an ex-convict named Thomas Pamphlett, one among four men who had left Sydney early that year on an ill-fated journey to sail south in order to purchase Cedar wood. Pamphlett and another comrade survivor, Finnegan, had been living with the Aboriginals for many months until they were noticed. They told Oxley that there was a massive river in the vicinity and interested Oxley set off in a whaleboat to investigate, with a small crew and Finnegan as a guide. He found the river the next day and named it in attribution of the Governor of New South Wales at the time, Sir Thomas Brisbane. He thought the red cliffs at the north of the river was the most ideal location for a new penal settlement, however in 1825, less than a year after the convicts arrived the Redcliffe site was deserted mainly because Brisbane had a more dependable water supply and was surrounded by a bend in the river, suggesting escape was a lot more complicated.
The penal colony in Brisbane ran for the next seventeen years taking solely the most resilient prisoners from Sydney. The site was abandoned in 1839 after struggling at the hands of crooked wardens.
In 1842 the Moreton Bay area was thrown open to free settlers, marking the onset of Brisbane’s climb to eminence. Huge wealth flowed into the area from the new agricultural and gold mining experiences in Darling Downs and grand homes, including, Palma Rosa at Hamilton (Brisbane’s oldest surviving residence) were manufactured and the population grew from 829 in 1846 to more than 6,000 by 1859, when Queensland officially separated from New South Wales.
By 1888, evidence of most convict occupation in the city had diminished and in its place stood buildings such as Government House and Customs House, grand buildings that still stand proudly today and show the strength of Brisbane’s growing economy.
The danger of Japanese invasion, during World War II, changed a lot of areas of Brisbane into military camps and thousands of American servicemen were stationed here elevating the population to over 750,000. City services strained to meet the requirements of the surplus population and tensions mounted between Australians and American soldiers, erupting famously on 26th November 1942 in the street fight known as ‘Battle of Brisbane’.
After the war Brisbane benefited by the boom years having elevated industrial activity and population levels. There was a primary focus on progressing infrastructure around the city, including roads and sewerage systems. In 1974, floods distressed Brisbane with an estimated $300 million worth of damage, but Brisbane recovered enough to host the 1982 Commonwealth Games and the World Expo in 1988. These events brought new sports and cultural facilities to the city and a renewed identity.
For the greatest deals and a wide selections of hotels in brisbane, go to brisbaneinformation.com.au. Whether you are looking for a brisbane accomodation or local information, you will find what you need here.
