- South Bank Parklands, Brisbane
South Bank Parklands is a parkland which was opened to the public on
20 June ,1992 . The parkland is located inBrisbane ,Queensland ,Australia on the transformed site of Brisbane's World Expo 88.__TOC__
Overview
South Bank Parklands are located on the southern bank of the
Brisbane River , at South Bank, directly opposite the CBD. The parklands are connected to the Brisbane CBD by the Victoria Bridge at the northern end, — and theQueensland University of Technology andBrisbane City Botanic Gardens by the Goodwill Bridge at the southern end.There are numerous attractions at the parklands including the
Wheel of Brisbane , a swimming lagoon with sandy beaches, the South Bank Arbour [ [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/about_south_bank/things_to_do Things to Do - South Bank Corporation official website] ] [ [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/about_south_bank/history/master_plan_redevelopment Master Plan Development - South Bank Corporation official website] ] [ [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/24009/Arbour08.pdf South Bank Arbour (fact sheet) — South Bank Corporation official website] ] , rainforest walks, picnic areas and a picturesque riverfront promenade. Entertainment venues at South Bank Parklands include theQueensland Conservatorium Griffith University andSuncorp Piazza . South Bank Parklands are also home to the Lifestyle Markets on Fridays (5pm-10pm), Saturdays (11am-5pm) and Sundays (9am-5pm).9 million people visit South Bank Parklands each year.
Access and Transport
South Bank Parklands are close to:: Cultural Centre Busway Station — as well as close to the nearby South Brisbane railway Station:and to South Bank Busway Station — as well as close to the nearby South Bank railway Station
And there is a
CityCat wharf on theBrisbane River , near Victoria Bridge.Attractions
Wheel of Brisbane
The
Wheel of Brisbane was erected at the Parklands in August 2008 as a special 20th Anniversary of WorldExpo 88 and 150th Anniversary ofQueensland 1859-2009 initiative. It is 60 metres high and allows a panoramic view of the City and South Bank. It is a fifteen minute ride [ [http://www.wheelofbrisbane.com Wheel of Brisbane] ]The Board Walk, the Ship Inn and the Plough Inn
The Board Walk, located at the Parkland's southern entry, is from World
Expo '88 days where it was a popular eatery. It continues today with a variety of a la carte restaurants, and a French lebanese coffee house 'Chez Laila' amongst others.The
Ship Inn and thePlough Inn are two of the pre-Expo 18th century heritage listed Pubs at the Expo, which were also used as pubs during the Expo. Today they feature a modern menu, with traditional pub fare.Restaurants, Coffee Shops
South Bank is a restaurant and coffee shop mecca, with a strong cosmopolitan flavour from all over the world, reflecting the many different restaurants and establishments at World
Expo '88 .outh Bank Arbour
Replacing the earlier artificial water canal is the South Bank Arbour [ [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/about_south_bank/things_to_do Things to Do - South Bank Corporation official website] ] [ [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/about_south_bank/history/master_plan_redevelopment Master Plan Development - South Bank Corporation official website] ] [ [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/24009/Arbour08.pdf South Bank Arbour (fact sheet) — South Bank Corporation official website] ] , a natural purple bouganvillea-entwined walk that extends the length of the Parklands around an imaginative steel tendril support. The bouganvillea continue to grow along the supports, and flower all year round.
Streets Beach
A major feature within the parkland is its man-made beach, which is 2000 square metres of free-formed concrete surrounded by 4000 cubic metres of sand. The sand surrounding the beach is sourced from the Rous Channel in
Moreton Bay and every year the beach is topped up with an additional 70 tonnes to ensure that it is kept in pristine condition. Almost half of the lagoon area sits on reclaimed land that was once theBrisbane River .Streets Beach facts:
* Designed by: Desmond Brookes International
* Landscape Architect: Media 5
* Constructed by: Fletcher Jennings Construction and Water and Industrial Engineering
* Construction Commenced: February 1991
* Construction Completed: June 1992
* Awards:
** 1999 Moreton Bay region's cleanest beach in the Keep Australia Beautiful Council's Clean Beach Challenge.
** 2001 Environmental Protection Agency’s Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach Challenge, Friendliest Beach AwardThe beach area comprises a lagoon with enough water to fill five Olympic swimming pools, with sand beaches, palm trees, rocky creeks and subtropical trees and exotic plantings.The beach is patrolled seven days a week by lifeguards.
The lagoon contains chlorinated fresh water that is recirculated every six hours at up to 125 litres per second. Water for the beach is pumped through two large sand filters and chemically treated before being pumped back into the pools. Dredge pump and self-propelled sifting machines clean the adjoining pools.
Legacy from World Expo '88
There are numerous heritage buildings from the hosting of World Expo 88 at the Parklands, including the popular eateries the heritage-listed 18th century pubs the Ship Inn and the Plough Inn, the Expo-created Boardwalk, and the representation from the Kingdom of
Nepal theNepal Peace Pagoda .The Pagoda was originally located on the Expo site and was moved to its new South Bank Parklands riverfront location at the conclusion of the Expo after a successful government and private fundraising campaign to keep the Pagoda in Brisbane. With its traditional architecture, art work and first level meditation area, it is a popular part of one's visit to South Bank today.
pecial events
Celebrations for the 20 anniversary of World Expo '88 were held at South Bank Parklands during May, 2008. Celebrations included a charity dinner on Friday 9 May, and a community day of celebration on 10 May, with a special World Expo '88 retrospective exhibition hosted at the Nepal Peace Pagoda. [ [http://www.southbankcelebrates88.com.au/#Expo 88 South Bank celebrates 88] ] One can still view today a display of World Expo '88 memorabilia at the Pagoda's first level.
Photo Gallery
History of South Bank Parklands
South Bank was originally a meeting place for the traditional landowners, the Turrbal and Yuggera people and, in the early 1840s it became the central focus point of early European settlement. From the 1850s, South Bank Precinct was quickly established as the business centre of Brisbane. However, this was all disrupted in the 1893, when floods forced the central business district (CBD) to shift to the northern side of the river and attain higher ground. This is where the Brisbane CBD still stands today. This began the decline of South Bank, and the area became home to vaudeville theatres, derelict boarding houses, and light and heavy industry.
The 1970s marked the beginnings of a new era, with parkland reclaimed along the river bank, and the
Queensland Cultural Centre was built, including theQueensland Art Gallery , theQueensland Museum , theQueensland Performing Arts Centre andState Library of Queensland .In 1988, Brisbane held a successful World Exposition, following which the Government intended to develop the site for commercial interests. However, a public campaign successfully lobbied for the site to be redeveloped as parkland for the enjoyment of people in Brisbane. In 1989, the
South Bank Corporation , a Queensland Government statutory body, was established to oversee the development and management of the new South Bank Parklands.The original concept for South Bank Parklands
When South Bank Parklands were developed immediately following
Expo '88 , there were canals and bridges and launches. There were also a wildlife refuge calledGondwana Rainforest Sanctuary as well as a Butterfly House. In January, 1998, Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary was closed down and the animals relocated.The Butterfly House was later renamed as the Butterfly and Insect House. In April, 1998, the Butterfly and Insect House was renamed as South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary, with the introduction of other wildlife. In the latter half of 2005, the South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary was closed and dismantled and an office and retail store were built on the South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary's former location. Also gone from South Bank Parklands are the canals, bridges and launches.
Below are some photos taken of South Bank Parklands during the 1990's — so that changes to South Bank Parklands over the years can be seen, and the era compared with that of the present-day parklands.
References
# [http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au Visit South Bank]
# South Bank Corporation - History 2006, accessed at [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/about_us/history South Bank Corporation]
# Noble, 2001: "South Bank Dreaming", Louise Noble, 2001
# South Bank – Brisbane QLD, 2006 Accessed at [http://goaustralia.about.com/cs/qldsightseeing/a/southbank1.htm Go Australia]External links
* [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/about_south_bank/things_to_do Things to do] &mdash South Bank Corporation
* [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/about_south_bank/history/master_plan_redevelopment Master Plan Revelopment] — South Bank Corporation
* [http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/24009/Arbour08.pdf South Bank Arbour fact sheet] — South Bank Corporation
* [http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au Visit South Bank Parklands]
* [http://www.ourbrisbane.com/visitors/seeanddo/regions/river Discover the Brisbane River] - CityCat Guide, Our Brisbane, Brisbane City Council (includes information about South Bank Parklands)
* [http://getaway.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=17970 Tourist in Brisbane] - Getaway - Channel 9 network, Australia
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