110-675: The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (also known as QPAC ) is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre and is located on the corner of Melbourne Street and Grey Street in Brisbane 's South Bank precinct. Opened in 1985, it includes the Lyric Theatre, Concert Hall, Playhouse and Cremorne Theatre. QPAC was designed by local architect Robin Gibson in the mid-1970s, after State Cabinet formally recognised in 1972
220-501: A "stone wharf presumably used for landing the blocks of stone ferried across the river for the construction of buildings in the settlement". This was in the vicinity of Edward Street ferry terminal. Quarrying this volcanic rock formed part of the hard labour undertaken by the convicts of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement , which not only provided the convicts with the punishment of hard labour but also provided
330-670: A $ 45 million cultural complex as an election campaign measure. While the development of the Art Gallery had been progressing, Chalk, with the assistance of Under Treasurer Leo Hielscher , had covertly commissioned Robin Gibson to produce a master plan for an integrated complex of buildings which would form the Queensland Cultural Centre (QCC). The plan included an Art Gallery, Museum, Performing Arts Centre, State Library and an auditorium and restaurant. The devastating floods of January 1974 , which had further hastened
440-483: A common entrance on Melbourne Street with common and replicated foyers, bars, circulation spaces, and ancillary facilities. The Studio theatre, now the Cremorne, had a separate entrance and foyer on Stanley Street with its own discrete ancillary spaces. The Lyric Theatre, (2200 seats) was designed for large dramatic productions such as operas, operettas, musicals, ballets and dance performances. It had an orchestra pit,
550-557: A dry dock was opened in 1881, coal wharves and associated rail links were built, and South Brisbane railway station was established as the terminus for suburban and rural trains. By the end of the 19th century, the area had developed into a substantial urban settlement, with Stanley Street as a major retail centre and thoroughfare. In 1911, the Cremorne Theatre (then called the Cremorne Gardens) opened where
660-422: A formal investigation into a suitable site for an art gallery, led by Treasurer , Deputy Premier and Liberal Party Leader, Gordon Chalk . An expert committee, including Coordinator-General Charles Barton as chair, Under-Secretary of Works David Mercer and Assistant Under-Secretary Roman Pavlyshyn, considered 12 sites, including those from previous proposals. Three sites were shortlisted: The South Brisbane site
770-537: A gallery and performance hall at Gardens Point , to mark Queensland's centenary, was not realised; however, an extension to the State Library proceeded and included an exhibition hall and reading rooms. A proposal for a State Gallery and Centre for Allied Arts, on the former municipal markets site adjacent to the Roma Street railway station , formed part of a government backed plan for the redevelopment of
880-1041: A geological garden on Grey Street side (in 2014 the Energex Playasaurus Place). Stage Four included the State Library and adjacent Fountain restaurant and auditorium building (now The Edge) completed in 1988. As part of the construction of the QCC, several pieces of public art were commissioned from Australian artists. Five outdoor sculptures were purchased and installed in 1985, the largest commission of public sculpture at one time in Australia. Four were directly commissioned: Anthony Pryor's Approaching Equilibrium (Steel, painted. River plaza-upper deck); Leonard and Kathleen Shillam's Pelicans (Bronze. QAG Water Mall); Ante Dabro's Sisters (Bronze. Melbourne Street plaza) and Rob Robertson-Swann's Leviathan Play (Steel, painted. Melbourne Street plaza). Clement Meadmore's Offshoot (Aluminium, painted. Gallery plaza)
990-523: A natural tidal limit of only 16 km (10 mi). The current tidal limit now extends 85 km (53 mi) upstream due to continual channel dredging. The first bridge built across the Brisbane River was the original timber Victoria Bridge , opened in 1865 between Brisbane and South Brisbane. The current concrete Victoria Bridge is the 4th to be built on the site, the original bridge collapsed after marine borers weakened its timber piles, and
1100-465: A pedestrian walkway connected the gallery to the top of an amphitheatre leading to sculpture gardens along the river. The development of cultural institutions was reconsidered during 1974 and evolved into a much more ambitious project. In early November, Deputy Premier Sir Gordon Chalk (who had a genuine interest and commitment to the development of the arts in Queensland) announced a proposal for
1210-518: A public art gallery, library and dental hospital resulted only in the construction of the Brisbane Dental Hospital. Post-World War II plans to incorporate the art gallery into the extensions to the original Supreme Court Building did not come to fruition. The Queensland Art Gallery Act of 1959 paved the way for a new board of trustees to establish the gallery with public funds subsidized by the government. The proposal at that time, for
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#17327984451471320-561: A single multi-purpose hall, and the art gallery, extending from the museum to the riverfront, were oriented diagonally around the Melbourne Street axis to provide access from the Victoria Bridge. Pedestrian bridges provided access to the site via Melbourne Street and to South Brisbane Station via Gray Street. While maintaining the approved general arrangement of the individual buildings, the following changes were made to
1430-441: A somewhat reluctant guide, entered the river and sailed upstream as far as present-day Goodna . Oxley noted the abundant fish and tall pine trees . Early European explorers marvelled at the sheer natural beauty they witnessed while travelling up the lower reaches. Reports by early European explorers such as Allan Cunningham and Oxley indicate rainforest once fringed the Brisbane River and its major tributaries, especially on
1540-552: A stalls, two balconies and side aisles. The 1800-seat concert hall was intended for orchestral concerts, choral performances, chamber music, recitals, popular entertainment and ceremonies. A Klais Grand organ with 6500 pipes was installed in the stage area. Its "shoebox" shape, designed to enhance natural acoustics, included an orchestra pit, stalls, a single balcony, side galleries, and side aisles. The studio theatre seated up to 300 for dramatic performances and could be configured in 6 different ways, from conventional setups to theatre in
1650-478: A suitable new site for a convict settlement to be established. An entry in Oxley's diary on 19 November 1823 describes his surprise meeting with one of the shipwrecked men: By that time Pamphlett and Finnegan were living with natives near Bribie Island . Parsons, who had continued to travel north in search of Sydney, was picked up by Oxley on 11 September 1824. On 2 December 1823, Oxley and Stirling, with Finnegan as
1760-534: A timber getting mission to Illawarra, Thomas Pamphlett , John Finnegan , Richard Parsons and John Thompson were blown north by a storm. They went 21 days without water, continuing north in the belief they had been blown south, during which time Thompson died. They landed on Moreton Island on 16 April and made it to the mainland on the south of the Brisbane River. They immediately began trekking north in order to return to Sydney, still believing themselves to be somewhere south of Jervis Bay. Subsequently, they became
1870-410: A wide variety of performance including dance, musicals, theatre, opera, comedy and contemporary and classical music concerts featuring leading Queensland, Australian and international actors, dancers, musicians, artists and companies. In addition, QPAC co-produces and invests in some of Australia's most innovative and successful shows and free outdoor programs. In recent years, QPAC has presented some of
1980-600: Is a tidal estuary and the water is brackish from its mouth through the majority of the Brisbane metropolitan area westward to the Mount Crosby Weir . The river is wide and navigable throughout the Brisbane metropolitan area. The river travels 344 km (214 mi) from Mount Stanley. The river is dammed by the Wivenhoe Dam , forming Lake Wivenhoe , the main water supply for Brisbane. The waterway
2090-420: Is a habitat for the rare Queensland lungfish , Brisbane River cod (extinct), and bull sharks . Early travellers along the waterway admired the natural beauty, abundant fish and rich vegetation along its banks. From 1862 the Brisbane River has been dredged for navigation purposes. The river served as an important carriageway between Brisbane and Ipswich before a railway linking the towns was built in 1875. By
2200-895: Is a heritage-listed cultural centre on Grey Street in South Brisbane , Queensland , Australia. It is part of the South Bank precinct located on the Brisbane River , and was built from 1976 onwards, in time for the 1988 World's Fair . The centre comprises the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), the Queensland Museum , the State Library of Queensland (SLQ), the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and
2310-444: Is connected to the rest of the complex via a public plaza. The library's extensive renovation in 2006 included the addition of a fifth floor and significant changes to both the interior and exterior. A new entrance and circulation system were created. The stepped terraces were removed and replaced with a large addition facing the river. The new entrances to QAG and QM were designed by Gibson and completed in 2009. The new entrance to
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#17327984451472420-551: Is significant. Other major architectural projects include: Mayne Hall , University of Queensland (UQ) (1972), Central Library, UQ (1973) Library and Humanities building at Nathan Campus, Griffith University (1975), Post Office Square (1982), Queen Street Mall (1982), Wintergarden building (1984), Colonial Mutual Life (1984) and 111 George Street (1993). Over time, Gibson and his body of work has been highly acclaimed and recognised through numerous awards including: 1968 Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) Building of
2530-803: Is south of Avoca Vale , and the river then makes its way south past townships including Linville , Moore and Toogoolawah before being joined by the Stanley River , just south of Somerset Dam . The river runs from there into Lake Wivenhoe , created by the Wivenhoe Dam. Beyond the dam, the river meanders eastward, meeting the Bremer River near Ipswich , then making its way through Brisbane's western suburbs, including Jindalee , Indooroopilly and Toowong . The Brisbane River then flows past wharves including Pinkenba Wharf and Portside Wharf , past Bulwer Island and Luggage Point through
2640-598: Is the longest river in South East Queensland , Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane , before emptying into Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea . John Oxley , the first European to explore the river, named it after the Governor of New South Wales , Sir Thomas Brisbane in 1823. The penal colony of Moreton Bay later adopted the same name, eventually becoming the present city of Brisbane. The river
2750-412: Is the river's first underground crossing for road transport. The Moggill Ferry continues to provide a crossing for vehicles northeast of Ipswich . The Albert Bridge was the first railway crossing of the Brisbane River, opened in 1876. It was destroyed in the 1893 flood and replaced by a 2 span design that is flood tolerant. A second bridge was built adjacent to it, opened in 1957 in conjunction with
2860-530: The Darling Downs and Ipswich . As maritime trade expanded, shipyards and warehouses were gradually built along the river. Over time, a range of commercial, light industrial, and manufacturing activities also developed, as well as civic and residential uses. The area prospered in the 1880s and South Brisbane became a municipality (the Borough of South Brisbane ) in 1888. As part of the development boom,
2970-551: The Port of Brisbane and into southern Bramble Bay an embayment of Moreton Bay . On the southern side of the river, opposite Gardens Point , are the Kangaroo Point Cliffs ; made from Triassic aged volcanic rock of rhyolite composition called Brisbane tuff . The Kangaroo Point Cliffs were created by a quarrying operation that, according to Allan Cunninghams' Field Book, was underway prior to 1829 when he observed
3080-559: The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). The original part was designed by Brisbane architects Robin Gibson and Partners and opened in 1985. The centre is surrounded by subtropical gardens and features cafes, restaurants, bookstores, and other public facilities. The southwestern portion of the centre was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on June 12, 2015. The Heritage Register includes
3190-550: The Queensland State Library , and the former Fountain Room Restaurant and Auditorium (1988), now State Library of Queensland's 'The Edge' (2015). The substantially-altered State Library and Gallery of Modern Art are part of the broader Cultural District, but are not heritage-listed. Prior to European settlement, the entire South Brisbane Peninsula was known as Kurilpa, an important gathering place for
3300-509: The Seventeen Mile Rocks were completely removed in 1965 after numerous partially successful attempts in the past. The northern river bank at the mouth of the river has undergone reclamation projects over the years, especially in the suburbs of Hamilton and Pinkenba . More recently, extensive facilities for the Port of Brisbane have been constructed on Fisherman's Island which has also seen significant land reclamation into
3410-730: The University of Queensland (UQ). After graduating in 1954, Gibson travelled through Europe and worked in London in the offices of architects, Sir Hugh Casson , Neville Conder, and James Cubitt and Partners. Returning to Brisbane in 1957, he set up an architectural practice commencing with residential projects, soon expanding into larger commercial, public and institutional work. Notable Queensland architects employed by his practice included Geoffrey Pie, Don Winsen, Peter Roy, Allan Kirkwood, Bruce Carlyle and Gabriel Poole . Robin Gibson & Partners' contribution to Queensland's built environment
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3520-496: The University of Queensland St Lucia campus), and the Jack Pesch Bridge between Indooroopilly and Chelmer . The Brisbane City Council has announced plans for a pedestrian and cycle only bridge between Kangaroo Point and the city. The Brisbane City Council has developed a network of riverwalk pavements along the banks of the Brisbane River. The Riverwalk runs along much of the Brisbane River foreshore throughout
3630-404: The capsize of the ferry Pearl (which struck the anchor chain of the government yacht Lucinda ) with the loss of around 40 lives. By 1928, due to the early settlement of Brisbane, the water quality had deteriorated to the point where several public baths had to cease sourcing water from the river. Yet even up to the 1930s, the water was said to be very clear, with reports of people seeing
3740-520: The 1880s, Brisbane had four theatres, of which the 2700-seat Opera House (later Her Majesty's Theatre ), built in 1888, was the most magnificent and prestigious. The Exhibition Building was one of the first buildings designed specifically for musical performances and contained a concert hall with a four-manual pipe organ. It became the centre for major musical events until the opening of the Brisbane City Hall in 1930. Throughout Australia in
3850-553: The 1980s buildings; the converted State Library of Queensland building and the newer Gallery of Modern Art are specifically excluded from heritage listing. The Queensland Cultural Centre is a sprawling, low-rise complex of four cultural facilities, associated ancillary facilities and spaces on the banks of the Brisbane River in South Brisbane. Set against the backdrop of the Taylor Range that surrounds Greater Brisbane,
3960-716: The 2007 RAIA National Award for Enduring Architecture . The design development, documentation, and multifaceted construction program for the entire complex were led by Roman Pavlyshyn, Director of Construction at the Ministry of Public Works. Pavlyshyn had previously overseen the site selection and managed the competition for the Queensland Art Gallery. The cultural centre was to continue the Department of Public Works' tradition of constructing buildings of high quality design, materials and construction throughout
4070-607: The Art Gallery was officially opened by Prime Minister Joh Bjelke-Petersen on June 21, 1982. A development plan for the largest component of the complex, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), built as Stage Two, was released in 1976. The project architect for the centre was Allan Kirkwood of Robin Gibson and Partners. Theater consultants Tom Brown and Peter Knowland, the Performing Arts Trust, and user committees were involved in
4180-405: The Brisbane River has been dredged for navigation purposes. Throughout much of the 20th century large quantities of sand and gravel were extracted from the estuary of the river. Since the rate of materials being deposited is not as high as that which was removed, the river has acted as a subaqueous mine . In 1865, water police were stationed on board Proserpine , a hulk moored at the mouth of
4290-408: The Brisbane River has the potential to be devastating, as documented in 1974, 2011 and 2022. For much of the river's length its banks are relatively high, but topped by a broad plain. The river's meandering course means that flood waters from upstream cannot be quickly discharged into Moreton Bay. Thus higher than normal flows cause river levels to rise rapidly and once the top of the banks are breached
4400-589: The Brisbane River was spiritually important and a vital food source for the Aboriginal people of the Turrbal people, primarily through fishing in the tidal sections downstream. Additionally, fishing and fire-stick farming took place in the upper reaches of the river where there was freshwater, in some seasons. Four European navigators , namely James Cook , Matthew Flinders , John Bingle and William Edwardson , all visited Moreton Bay but failed to discover
4510-456: The Brisbane River. In 1866, there was a breakwater built at the junction of the Bremer and Brisbane rivers that was designed to stop shingle from blocking the access to the Bremer's boat channel. The first pile light using kerosene was built in 1882. The steel framed light also served as an early port signal station . In February 1896, one of the river's worst disasters occurred with
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4620-548: The Brisbane river to date. These were seen by Liel Daniel. In 1823 John Oxley named the river after the Governor Thomas Brisbane while surveying the area to locate a new penal settlement. The name is of Scottish origin, dating from at least 1643, from their family lands at Rothiebrisbane, Aberdeenshire . This is the name now used by the Queensland Government. Maiwar is the name of
4730-669: The Department of Commercial and Industrial Development, helped the project gain momentum. After winning the December 7 election , the proposal was formally adopted by the Bjelke-Petersen government. Muir was appointed chairman of the planning committee and became the first chairman of the QCC Trust. Gibson's November 1974 master plan for the Cultural Centre differed significantly from his winning competition design for
4840-491: The Fisherman Islands, now known as the Port of Brisbane , located at the mouth of the river on Moreton Bay . There are 16 major bridges that cross the river. The Clem Jones Tunnel , opened in 2010, is the river's first underground crossing for road transport. The CityCat and KittyCat ferry services deliver passengers along the inner-city reaches of the river. There are only 20 bullsharks documented to be seen in
4950-459: The Gallery and gave Gibson an opportunity to further demonstrate his planning principles for downtown development. Stanley Street was to be rerouted under the Victoria Bridge to Peel Street, with the art gallery and museum occupying a large block. The design called for building forms with oblique angles to the street grid to accommodate major access points. The performing arts building, consisting of
5060-747: The QPAC First Nations Program which recognises the significant role First Nations Peoples have contributed and continue to contribute to Queensland’s historical, creative and cultural landscapes. QPAC is the performance home for Queensland's leading performing arts companies – Queensland Ballet , Queensland Theatre Company , Opera Queensland , Queensland Youth Orchestras and Queensland Symphony Orchestra . In addition, QPAC regularly hosts many of Australia's leading performing arts companies including The Australian Ballet , Sydney Dance Company , Australian Chamber Orchestra and Bangarra Dance Theatre . (Under Construction) In May 2018,
5170-458: The Queensland Art Gallery (QAG), Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Queensland Museum (QM), The Edge and central service facility, and connecting plazas and walkways form a coherent architectural form. The revised Queensland State Library (SLQ) building and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) at the western end of the complex are not considered cultural heritage and are not listed on the heritage register. The site, which extends 450 metres along
5280-412: The Queensland Art Gallery now stands, on Stanley Street , South Brisbane . It was used mostly for vaudeville , variety shows and for occasional drama productions. By mid-1952, the building was remodeled to be used as office and storage space for film rental companies. In 1954, it burnt down and was never rebuilt. The current Cremorne Theatre in the Queensland Cultural Centre was named in its honour. By
5390-467: The Queensland Government and QPAC announced funding had been secured for The New Performing Arts Venue to be located on the Playhouse Green, adjacent to the current complex. The new theatre was projected to be completed by late 2022, and planned to seat a minimum of 1,500 patrons. Groups with programs at QPAC include: Queensland Cultural Centre The Queensland Cultural Centre (QCC)
5500-526: The Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Art Gallery, but does not include the newer Queensland Gallery of Modern Art or the renovated State Library of Queensland. The Queensland Cultural Centre (QCC), located on the south bank of the Brisbane River across from the central business district, is the state's premier cultural facility and an important example of late 20th century modernist architecture . A landmark in
5610-585: The Queensland Treasury sought other ways to raise revenue. In response, Instant Scratch-Its and midweek lotteries were introduced in Queensland. This successful increase in gaming revenue allowed the QCC to be built at no additional cost to the state budget and without going into debt. The construction of the cultural centre was a complex undertaking and involved a multi-faceted program that spanned 11 years and involved thousands of workers, from
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#17327984451475720-492: The Queensland capital, but all failed. The construction of an art gallery and museum near the entrance to Government Domain on land granted in 1863 never materialized. In the 1890s, a major architectural competition was held for a museum and art gallery on land in Albert Park to meet the need for adequate space. In 1934, on a nearby site along Wickham Park and Turbot Street , an ambitious urban design proposal to incorporate
5830-459: The River. Past floods have resulted in both deepening and reduction in river depth, creation of new sand banks and shoals as well as increased transport of suspended sediment from upstream. Before the invention of modern dredging techniques the sediment deposited by flooding created hazards to ships navigating the river. Even medium-sized vessels no longer travel up the Brisbane River beyond
5940-667: The Roma Street area. Prepared by Bligh Jessup Bretnall & Partners in 1967, the project included a series of city blocks inspired by the redevelopment of vacant downtowns in Europe and new cities in America, and included a significant commercial component. The plan was abandoned in 1968 due to conflicting local and state interests and the lack of acceptable supply. The following year, the Treasury Department initiated
6050-532: The Stage One parking lot, had four floors open to the public, while the top two floors were for offices, laboratories, the library, and artifact storage. The second floor was intended for a variety of uses, including lecture halls, back of house, preparation areas, and workshops. On levels 2 through 4, collections were displayed in galleries located on either side of a central circulation core with corridors, stairs, elevators, and escalators. The outdoor area contained
6160-414: The State Library of Queensland, the Queensland Museum, and the Queensland Art Gallery, so that all of these facilities would be in close proximity to each other and would also be easily accessible to Brisbane central business district . In April 1973, Robin Gibson and Partners Architects won a two-stage competition to design the new Queensland Art Gallery in South Brisbane with a sophisticated design that
6270-520: The Year award, Kenmore Church; 1982 RAIA Sir Zelman Cowen Award (for public buildings) for Queensland Art Gallery; 1982 RAIA Canberra Medallion for the Belconnen Library , ACT; 1982 Queenslander of the Year ; 1983 Order of Australia ; 1986 Honorary Doctorate, Griffith University; 1988 Advance Australia Award ; 1989 RAIA Gold Medal for outstanding performance and contributions; 2000, and
6380-668: The Yuggera/ Jagera people . The tip of the South Brisbane Peninsula was a traditional river crossing. After the establishment of the Moreton Bay Penal settlement in 1825, convicts cleared the river flats to grow crops for the settlement and in the 1830s timber was exported from the south bank to Sydney . From the 1840s, South Brisbane emerged as one of the most important locations for port activity in Queensland, initially aided by direct access to
6490-410: The addition of a new Gallery of Modern Art and public plaza; the major redevelopment of the State Library of Queensland , including the addition of a fifth floor; a new entrance to the Queensland Art Gallery , and refurbishment of the Queensland Museum and QPAC. At the northwest end of the complex is the Gallery of Modern Art, completed in 2006, which houses Queensland's growing art collection and
6600-474: The art gallery provided alternative access from Peel Street and included partial roofing of the courtyard, a new staircase, and an elevator. At the museum, in addition to the new entrance at the east end of the museum, a café was added at the west end, internal circulation was reconfigured, and a new entrance on Gray Street was created to provide access to the Sciencentre, which was moved from George Street to
6710-431: The bay. Early rivers crossings were made using small oared boat ferries , beginning in 1843, followed by steam ferries. In 1865 the first Victoria Bridge , later destroyed in a flood, was built across the river. Professor Hawken of the University of Queensland undertook a study in 1914 to identify the future crossing points for the river. Historically, the Brisbane River contained upstream bars and shallows and had
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#17327984451476820-413: The broader floodplains such as St Lucia and Seventeen Mile Rocks . The coastal lowlands were extensively vegetated with Melaleuca woodlands in low lying, poorly drained coastal areas. When first described by Europeans, the lower reaches of the Brisbane River were fringed by a mosaic of open forest, closed forest and rainforest. In the same year of 1823, the river was named after Sir Thomas Brisbane ,
6930-557: The buildings within the complex to varying degrees. The most significant of these changes were the Playhouse addition to the QPAC and the multi-million dollar Millennium Arts Project, which included a renovation of the entire complex. The QPAC was well utilized from the beginning, and the need for a mid-sized theatre was soon recognised. Plans for Stage Five, a 750-850 seat Playhouse theatre designed by Gibson, were developed with input from
7040-488: The city reach, and dredging of the upper reaches has ceased, allowing the river to recover substantially from the fine silt dislodged by gravel and sand extraction. Significant floods have occurred several times since the European settlement of Brisbane. There have been 12 Major flood peaks (over 3.5m) recorded at the Brisbane gauge since records began in 1841, including: Post construction of Wivenhoe Dam Flooding along
7150-473: The cliffs was deposited in the Triassic period about 220 million years ago. They currently form the banks of the Brisbane River. A number of the reaches of the Brisbane River are named, including the following listed below (from upstream to downstream), together with their location relative to tributaries of the river and river crossings : The following major tributaries flow into the Brisbane River from
7260-495: The decline of South Brisbane, provided a timely opportunity to use more space adjacent to the river, through resumptions of flood-prone land. When the proposal was submitted to Cabinet by Chalk in late November, it was initially opposed by Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen . However, the support of Brisbane's Lord Mayor, Clem Jones , (who gifted council-owned allotments on what became the QPAC site); influential public servants Hielscher, Pavlyshyn; Mercer, and Sir David Muir, Director of
7370-549: The design office to the on-site laborers. Pavlyshyn managed Phases One, Two and Three through completion and the start of Phase Four before retiring in July 1985. With so many contractors and suppliers involved, quality control was a critical factor in a successful outcome. For example, the consistent quality of the concrete finish was achieved by securing a guaranteed supply of the principal materials, South Australian white cement, Stradbroke Island sand and Pine River aggregates, for
7480-567: The development and design of the centre. Completed in November 1984 by contractors Barclay Bros Pty Ltd, a concert for workers and the first public performance were held in December ahead of the official opening by the Duke and Duchess of Kent on 20 April 1985. The centre included three venues, each specifically designed for certain types of performances. The Lyric Theatre and Concert Hall shared
7590-461: The duration of the project and the strict control of colour and mix for each contract. The program began with the construction of the Art Gallery, the most developed building design. The first phase also included underground parking for the gallery and museum, and the central services building at the corner of Gray and Peel streets. Contractor Graham Evans & Co. began construction in March 1977 and
7700-798: The existing layout could be reconfigured and the built environment reshaped. Construction of the Sydney Opera House began in 1959; preliminary investigations for the Adelaide Festival Centre began in 1964; the National Gallery of Australia was established in 1967; the first phase of the Victorian Arts Centre, the National Gallery of Victoria, was completed in 1969; and the Civic Centre in Perth
7810-491: The first floor of the museum in 2009. In 2009, QPAC was renovated to meet safety standards and improve access. A drop-off area was installed along Gray Street to replace the drop-off tunnel that closed in 2001. Changes to the circulation area included the installation of elevators and the replacement and realignment of stairs. The lobby bookstore was replaced with a bar, and other bars and lobbies were renovated, removing salmon-coloured trim in higher-traffic areas. Brown carpeting
7920-472: The first known Europeans to discover the river, stumbling across it somewhere near the entrance. They walked upstream along its banks for nearly a month before making their first crossing at Canoe Reach, the junction of Oxley Creek. It was here they stole a small canoe left by the Turrbal people of the region. John Oxley was Surveyor General of New South Wales when, in the same year and under orders from Governor Brisbane, he sailed into Moreton Bay looking for
8030-479: The first pilots were commissioned to guide ships entering from Moreton Bay and another service for those travelling upstream. Flying boats used the waters of the river in Pinkenba , to take-off for domestic and international destinations in the 1930s. The river depth was progressively increased and narrow points widened to allow larger vessels into the river and further upstream. For navigation and safety reasons
8140-496: The floodwaters can spread over wide areas of the city. There has been much dredging and widening work done over the years to allow ships to transport cargo to and from Brisbane the river is no longer dredged. The river served as an important carriageway between Brisbane and Ipswich before a railway linking the towns was built in 1875. By early 1825 buoys were being laid along the South Passage and shortly after that
8250-478: The history of the arts in Queensland and the development of the state, this ambitious complex was designed for the people of Queensland between 1976 and 1998 by renowned architect Robin Gibson in collaboration with the Queensland Department of Public Works . The Cultural Centre includes the Queensland Art Gallery (1982), the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (1984), the Queensland Museum (1986),
8360-417: The lack of adequate cultural facilities in Queensland increased in the 1960s as public awareness of the importance of the arts to the cultural health of the community grew. At that time, Queensland's major cultural institutions were located in buildings and sites in Brisbane that did not meet their current or future needs. The first purpose-built museum opened on William Street in 1879, but proved inadequate from
8470-462: The late 1920s, water quality in the river had significantly deteriorated. Multiple major floods occurred in 1893. In 1974, the most damaging flood on record occurred, causing the 66,000-tonne vessel Robert Miller (largest ship ever built on the river) to break free from its mooring. Other major floods occurred in January 2011 and February 2022 . Extensive port facilities have been constructed on
8580-415: The late 1960s, much of South Brisbane, especially along the river, was in economic decline due to the reorientation of economic activity and transport networks. Shipyards, stores, and rail sidings were closed and subsequently demolished as shipping increasingly moved downriver. The decline of such a centrally located area in the capital provided an opportunity for extensive urban renewal. Pressure to address
8690-521: The need for a new Queensland Art Gallery and a new major performing arts centre, in addition to a new location for the Queensland Museum and State Library . It was opened by the Duke of Kent in 1985. Although originally opened as the Queensland Performing Arts Complex, after years of resisting the popular mis-naming of the building, it was officially changed to the “Queensland Performing Arts Centre” and all signage
8800-607: The new City Hall was completed in 1930, the Concert Hall at the Museum building was remodeled to house the art gallery. Until the opening of the Queensland Cultural Centre, there were no government-run performing arts facilities in Queensland. Most music and theatre performances were initially held in local venues such as art schools, churches, or town halls, which had varying degrees of suitability. Purpose-built facilities were limited and were constructed only in larger centres. By
8910-457: The north; Breakfast Creek , Moggill Creek and the Stanley River . On the southside Bulimba Creek , Norman Creek , Oxley Creek , Bremer River and Lockyer Creek waterways enter the Brisbane River. The following smaller creeks also flow into the river; Cressbrook Creek, Cooyar Creek, Cubberla Creek, Black Snake Creek, Wolston Creek, Woogaroo Creek, Goodna Creek, Six Mile Creek, Pullen Pullen Creek and Kholo Creek. Before European settlement,
9020-487: The northern part of the Brisbane CBD with the south bank of the river next to GOMA and close to SLQ, QAG and the Museum. The Edge, operated and managed by SLQ, reopened in 2010 as a new facility with workshops, creative activity spaces, events and exhibitions. The sunken restaurant floor was filled in and new elevators were installed. Extensive changes were made to the interior design and finishes. The auditorium floor
9130-487: The plan of the complex: the orthogonal realignment of the individual buildings, the doubling of the multi-purpose hall to provide separate spaces for musical and theatrical performances, the extension of an existing Stanley Street detour upstream to Peel Street and under the Victoria Bridge, which was bridged by a wide plaza as the forecourt of the Gallery. Robin Gibson (1930-2014) attended Yeronga State School and Brisbane State High School before studying architecture at
9240-423: The postwar period, major arts development projects were undertaken by governments at all levels, including stand-alone and integrated projects for institutions such as libraries, theatres, and art galleries. The sites for such projects were often in centrally located areas where previous uses and activities were in decline or had become redundant. This type of urban renewal provided a blank slate for development, where
9350-478: The proposed Queensland Cultural Centre . The jets pushed the floodlit river water up to 75 m (246 ft) in the air. The floating fountain sank late on the 31 December 1984. 1987 was proclaimed the "Year of the River" by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane at the time, Sallyanne Atkinson . Over the 20th century, enough obstacles, sand and gravel had been removed from the river that its channel depth increased
9460-498: The purpose by Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane. Gray also transferred the soldiers and convicts from the First Settlement at Redcliffe at this time. The first small private wharves were built on the river in about 1848. and the once popular, shark-proof river baths were first built in 1857 at Kangaroo Point. By 1850, nearly all the prime alluvial lands in the Brisbane River valley had been taken up by settlers. From 1862
9570-601: The quadruplication of the railway between Roma Street and Corinda . The Merivale Bridge , opened in 1978, connects the South Brisbane railway system to the City. Four bridges have been built that cater for pedestrians and bicycles, being the Goodwill Bridge and Kurilpa Bridge in the City area, the Eleanor Schonell Bridge between Dutton Park and St Lucia (which also caters for public buses to
9680-577: The ranges east of Kingaroy . The two branches merge into a single watercourse south of Mount Stanley. Using an alternative modern definition, the source is located at the top of Fig Tree Gully in the Bunya Mountains , which are the headwaters of the river's longest tributary Cooyar Creek. Water from the highest point in the catchment has fallen on the Bunya Mountains, 992m above sea level. The junction of Cooyar Creek and Brisbane River
9790-519: The river bed 5 to 6 m (16 to 20 ft) below the surface. Swimming was once popular at Oxley Point under the Walter Taylor Bridge . In the middle tidal reaches in more recent times, visibility has been about 0.2 m (8 in). As Brisbane grew, the condition of the river worsened until at its worst it was no more than an open sewer and waste dump. The banks were cleared of timber and introduced animals and plants rapidly changed
9900-461: The river in the Turrbal language (the language of an Aboriginal group native to the Brisbane area). The name is also used for the inner-western state electorate of Maiwar . According to Archibald Meston and Tom Petrie in 1901, the Aboriginal people of the Brisbane area did not have a single name for the river, but rather they named individual reaches and bends. The Brisbane River East and West branches traditionally have their headwaters in
10010-565: The river's ecology to its detriment. On 25 March 1941, a USA goodwill flotilla arrived in the city docking at wharves along the River and built Naval Base Brisbane . The largest ship built on the river was the Robert Miller . Construction was near complete when the 66,000 tonne vessel became un-moored in the 1974 Brisbane flood . In 1977, Queen Elizabeth II switched on the Jubilee Fountain positioned in front of
10120-477: The river, is bounded by Gray, Peel, and Russell Streets and bisected by Melbourne Street, a major thoroughfare connecting South Brisbane to the CBD on the north shore via the Victoria Bridge. Throughout the site, the centre's components are connected by subway tunnels, outdoor plazas, elevated covered walkways, and a spine bridge over Melbourne Street. Brisbane River The Brisbane River ( Turrbal : Maiwar )
10230-659: The river. In 2014, the Australian Institute of Architects applied to give the Queensland Cultural Centre heritage status to protect it from proposals by the Newman government to add high-rise buildings to the site. The application attracted 1254 public submissions (a record for the heritage register). On June 12, 2015, the Queensland Cultural Centre was awarded heritage status. However, the Queensland Heritage Register listing only includes
10340-571: The river. The exploration by Flinders took place during his expedition from Port Jackson north to Hervey Bay in 1799. He spent a total of 15 days in the area, touching down at Woody Point and several other spots, but failed to discover the mouth of the river although there were suspicions of its existence. This is consistent with accounts of many other rivers along the east coast of Australia, which could not be found by seaward exploration but were discovered by inland travellers. On 21 March 1823, four ticket-of-leave convicts sailing south from Sydney on
10450-542: The round. It had a stalls and balcony level with an internal connection to the other two theatres. The Queensland Museum (Stage Three), which opened in 1986, was connected to the Art Gallery by a covered walkway and to the Performing Arts Complex by a pedestrian bridge over Melbourne Street. The entrance on the Melbourne Street side was accessible from the street and the pedestrian bridge over Melbourne Street. The six-story museum building, constructed over
10560-502: The same committees and consultants as Stage Two. Completed in 1998 and added to the east end of the QPAC, the Playhouse had a stalls, balcony, centre platform, and balcony boxes for patron seating. It had a separate entrance off Russell Street and was separated from the rest of the complex by the loading dock. The Playhouse was renovated between 2011-12. The key features of the Millennium Arts Project (2002-2009) were:
10670-502: The second was destroyed in the 1893 flood . As of 2012 the Brisbane River is crossed by 16 major bridges (counting the new second Gateway, now Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge), including the historic 1940 Story Bridge and the tolled Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges . There are two other major bridges upstream (west) of Brisbane, on the D'Aguilar Highway and the Brisbane Valley Highway . The Clem Jones Tunnel , opened in 2010,
10780-577: The settlement with a useful building material. Many of the early buildings including the Commissariat Store, Brisbane were built by convicts using tuff from this quarry. After the penal settlement was closed, the Petrie family leased the cliffs and quarried the tuff for use in their construction projects, but ultimately quarrying this material became uneconomic without the free labour of the convicts. The volcanic rock Ignimbrite which formed
10890-538: The start. It was converted to the Public Library of Queensland (the State Library from 1971) in 1900–02, after the 1889 Exhibition Building at Bowen Hills was converted for use as a Museum in 1900. From 1895, the Queensland Art Gallery was housed in the Brisbane Town Hall, moving in 1905 to a purpose designed room on the third floor in the new Executive Building overlooking George Street . When
11000-567: The state. The funding of the QCC came entirely from the government-owned Golden Casket . The revenue derived from the Golden Casket was effectively "freed up" from health funding after Medicare was introduced by the Whitlam government . Annual revenues of $ 4 million at the time were to fund construction of the QCC over 10 years. By the early 1980s, the effects of inflation had driven costs up to $ 175 million. Under Hielscher's leadership,
11110-586: The then Governor of New South Wales . Upon the establishment of a local settlement in 1824, other explorers such as Allan Cunningham, Patrick Logan and Major Edmund Lockyer made expeditions and surveys further upstream, and, in May 1825, the Moreton Bay penal colony at Redcliffe under the command of Heny Miller relocated to North Quay . The entrance to the Brisbane River was surveyed and marked with buoys in May 1825 by Pilot John M Gray sent from Sydney for
11220-414: The tidal flow and tidal range upstream. On 9 August 2020, it was discovered that Google Maps accidentally changed the Brisbane River name to Ithaca Creek after a complaint that Ithaca Creek was incorrectly named Brisbane River. The Brisbane River floods frequently, although the occurrence and magnitude of flooding has diminished following the construction of the Wivenhoe Dam on the upper reaches of
11330-643: The world's leading artists and companies in the QPAC International Series including Paris Opera Ballet in 2020, Bolshoi Ballet in 2019, La Scala Theatre Ballet in 2018, The Royal Ballet in 2017, Bolshoi Ballet in 2013, Hamburg Ballet , Hamburg State Opera and Hamburg Philharmonic in 2012 and American Ballet Theatre in 2014. QPAC produces the Out of the Box Festival for children 8 years and under, and Clancestry program, as part of
11440-442: Was also developed in the 1960s. In Queensland in the 1930s, there was an earlier phase of civic buildings (primarily town halls and council chambers) that often included spaces for arts and cultural activities. In the early 1950s, architect and urban planner Karl Langer designed town centres for larger regional centres such as Mackay , Toowoomba and Kingaroy . Several attempts were made to build stately cultural institutions in
11550-720: Was altered to match. Opening with only 3 stages, the Lyric Theatre, the Concert Hall and the Cremorne Theatre, the Centre was designed with expansion in mind. In 1998 the Playhouse was opened, ending the original extension plans. A fifth and final theatre (seating 1500–1700) was announced in late May 2018 with a budget of $ 125 million. It was under construction as of 2018. In 2017, QPAC hosted more than 1.3 million visitors to more than 1,200 performances. Each year QPAC hosts over 1,200 performances across its four theatres and outdoor spaces. The centre's versatile venues accommodate
11660-464: Was an existing work. Other public artworks commissioned at the time of construction are located at QPAC: Lawrence Daws ' large interior mural, Pacific Nexus and Robert Woodward's Cascade Court Fountain . With the exception of the Fountain restaurant (now The Edge), each of the buildings in the QCC has retained its original use. Subsequent alterations to accommodate changing needs have altered
11770-534: Was considered superior in its simplicity and presentation. While this design was never realised, the art gallery built as part of the cultural centre was very similar in many ways, including the material palette and modernist design details inspired by the Oakland Museum in California in 1969. The original design occupied the block bounded by Melbourne, Grey, Stanley and Peel Streets. Over Stanley Street,
11880-518: Was installed and the red marble trim in the bars was replaced with black in the Lyric Theatre foyer and white in the Concert Hall foyer. Many seats were also replaced in the Lyric and Concert Hall. The Cremorne Theatre remains largely unchanged. On 4 October 2009, Premier Anna Bligh officially opened the Kurilpa Bridge , a pedestrian and bicycle bridge, across the Brisbane River, connecting
11990-432: Was preferred as it was considered the most advantageous to the city and the most architecturally appropriate. The recommendation was accepted and work began on a design. In 1972, the Queensland Government decided to build a new Queensland Art Gallery as part of the project. Later, during 1974, the government decided to build a comprehensive Queensland Cultural Centre that would include the Queensland Performing Arts Centre,
12100-476: Was replaced and new openings were created on the rear and side facades. The exterior structure was altered on the first floor with changes to the entrance and loading dock, which was made obsolete by changes to the entrance to the SLQ parking lot. The largest change to the exterior façade was cosmetic and included the enclosure of the open porch with prefabricated steel windows to create work and meeting spaces adjacent to
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