Brisbane is the state capital of Queensland. Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia and most populous city of Queensland. It is situated on the Brisbane River on low-lying Floodplain between Moreton Bay and the Great Dividing Range in south-eastern Queensland. The local indigenous people knew the area as Mian-jin, meaning 'place shaped as a spike'.[3]  The city is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, the Governor of New South Wales from 1821 - 1825. The settlement grew from a penal colony established at his direction in 1824 at Redcliffe, 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) to the north. The colony moved to the current location of the Brisbane CBD in 1825, and free settlers were permitted from 1842. It was chosen as the capital when Queensland was proclaimed a separate colony in 1859.
A large portion of Brisbane is controlled by the Brisbane City Council and also covers parts of several adjoining local government areas. In 1925, the City of Brisbane Act was passed by the Queensland Government, abolishing 20 local government authorities in the city and forming the largest local authority in Australia, covering 1,200 square kilometres (463.3 sq mi).[4] The city played a central role in the Allied campaign during World War II as the South West Pacific headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur. More recently, Brisbane hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games, 1988 World's Fair (Expo '88), and 2001 Goodwill Games. Come to Brisbane and you'll discover a region that's not only filled with energy, you'll also find it's filled with endless things to do. Sophisticated and progressive, dynamic and diverse, Brisbane delivers on all fronts. Visitors and locals alike delight in the very best in food, wine, arts, entertainment and major sporting events, all surrounded by a unique environment of relaxed sub-tropical flair. There's exciting shopping, a buzzing nighttime scene, and no end to the range of outdoor adventures on offer, such as sailing, surfing, hot-air ballooning and 4WD excursions. You'll also find this region to be a hotbed of creative free thinking, with local artists, musicians, writers, jewelers and fashion designers all making their name on the international stage. At the same time, this is a place without pretension, a city with its feet planted firmly on the ground. And that's exactly what so many people love about Brisbane. From the sun and sand drenched islands in the east, to its cool and crisp mountain rainforests in the west - and all the attractions of a vibrant, modern city in between - Brisbane offers the best of both worlds. |
