A bustling ferry once connected Queen Street to Russell Street in South Brisbane. This marks the beginning of our South Brisbane story. South Brisbane, a vibrant inner-city suburb, sits on the southern bank of the Brisbane River. It’s joined to the city center by the Victoria Bridge. The bridge links Queen Street to the South Brisbane bus interchange in Melbourne Street and the South Brisbane railway station.
South Brisbane’s history began in 1843 with the first land auction. The following year saw the construction of the first of many wharves. A ferry service, known as the “Time Killer”, transported people between Russell Street and Queen’s Wharf. Commercial buildings and hotels sprung up around Russell Street, with over 100 residences by the 1850s. Musgrave Park, initially the South Brisbane Recreation Reserve, was established in 1856.
The first permanent bridge connecting South Brisbane to the city center was completed in 1874. This led to more wharves being built. A dry dock followed in 1881. The railway arrived in 1884, initially for freight. A passenger line to South Brisbane station opened in 1891. South Brisbane officially became a municipality in 1888. Its impressive town hall was built at the corner of Vulture and Graham Streets. Sadly, just two years later, the 1893 floods devastated South Brisbane. The floodwaters reached as far south as Musgrave Park.
Despite the setback, South Brisbane continued to grow. Trams started operating in the late 1880s. Prestigious schools like Somerville House and Brisbane State High School later found homes in South Brisbane. South Brisbane was a hub of activity. It boasted baths, wharves, a fish market, and bustling ferries. The riverbank teemed with industry. Factories such as Humes Pipes and the Australian Glass Manufacturing operated near the river. The area was also home to iron foundries, a steel yard, a sawmill, and a tar distiller.
South Brisbane was absorbed into the greater Brisbane Council in 1925. The area underwent a major transformation in the 1980s. This was in preparation for the Commonwealth Games and World Expo 88. Cultural institutions like the Art Gallery, Performing Arts Complex, Museum, and State Library moved to new premises along South Bank. South Bank Parklands, with its man-made beach, opened in 1992. Today, South Brisbane stands as a testament to resilience. It has evolved from a port and industrial area to a dynamic cultural and residential precinct. It continues to be a vital and vibrant part of Brisbane’s story.