In July 1825, after an unsuccessful attempt to settle at Redcliff, a harsh penal colony was established on the present site of Brisbane, by order of the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane. In March 1826, Captain Patrick Logan was appointed the new commandant and during the next four years gained a reputation as the most cruel in the colony. An unflattering convict ballad, "Moreton Bay" was dedicated to Logan after his murder in 1830. Later an observatory, built in 1828, still stands. The attached treadmill made the windmill useful both for grinding corn and for mass punishment. By 1840, all surviving convicts had returned to Sydney and, for white Australians at least, Brisbane became a free settlement. When Queensland's first governor, Sir George Bowen, arrived in Brisbane on 10th December 1859, he went to live at "Adelaide House" which was leased by the Government as a temporary residence until a permanent Government House could be built. It was rented from Dr William Hobbs at a rental of £350 a year. Built by Andrew and John Petrie in 1853, it was a substantial two-storey building and thought to be the best house in Brisbane at the time Sir George and Lady Bowen lived there for two and a half years and it is remembered today as the place from which the establishment of the colony of Queensland was proclaimed. It is now known as the deanery at St. John's Anglican Cathedral. Works on a permanent Government House adjoining the botanical gardens on the Brisbane River began soon after Governor Bowen's
arrival in Queensland. The House was designed by the colonial architect, Charles Tiffin, and built at a cost of £12,000. It was completed and occupied in April 1862. Built in the classical revival style it was home to 11 of Queensland's Governors. It remained the official vice-regal residence until 1910 when it became the property of the newly established University of Queensland. It is presently the headquarters of the National Trust of Queensland. Another building from this period is open to the public today. Newstead House, built in 1846, for a time served as an unofficial Government House. In 1859, Brisbane was separated from New South Wales and Queensland was proclaimed a new colony by its first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen. From 1901, Queensland has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia. Two city administrations, six towns, 12 shires and four other authorities amalgamated to form Brisbane City Council on 1 October 1925 (Brisbane
Day). The flood of January 1974, caused by Cyclone Wanda, is remembered by many residents. 14,000 homes had to be evacuated, the Centenary Bridge at Jindalee was severely damaged by a runaway gravel barge and all air, road and rail communication with the outside world was cut off. Saturday 26th was the wettest day in Brisbane since 1887. For those interested in Brisbane's history, heritage trails and BCC City Sights Tours. The National Trust of Queensland (3229 1788) also has information on historical places of interest in and around Brisbane.
The State flag dates from the time when Queensland was a self-governing British colony with its own navy. In 1865, the Governor of Queensland was told by the Admiralty in London that the colony's vessels of war should fly the Blue Ensign, imposed with the colony's badge, on the stern, and a blue pennant at the masthead. Other vessels in the colony's services were to fly the same flag, but not the pennant. At the time, Queensland did not have such a badge but, in due course, the design of a proposed badge was submitted to London. In 1875 the Governor received from London drawings of the badges of several colonies which the Admiralty proposed to insert in the Admiralty Flag Book. He was asked to certify that the badge shown for the colony of Queensland was correct. The badge was composed of a representation of Queen Victoria's head, facing right, on a blue background,
encircled be a white band, with the word Queensland in the top. The Queensland Government thought it would be too difficult to adequately reproduce the head of the Queen on a flag so an alternative design, of a Royal Crown superimposed on a Maltese cross, was submitted to London. In 1876, the Governor was advised that the Admiralty had "approved of the device enclosed in your dispatch... as the future badge of the colony for insertion in... the Blue Ensign for use by government vessels". The Queensland Government encourages the flying of the State flag. Requests from schools and youth groups for free flags should be made through State Members of Parliament.
In July 1825, after an unsuccessful attempt to settle at Redcliff, a harsh penal colony was established on the present site of Brisbane, by order of the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane. In March 1826, Captain Patrick Logan was appointed the new commandant and during the next four years gained a reputation as the most cruel in the colony. An unflattering convict ballad, "Moreton Bay" was dedicated to Logan after his murder in 1830. Later an observatory, built in 1828, still stands. The attached treadmill made the windmill useful both for grinding corn and for mass punishment. By 1840, all surviving convicts had returned to Sydney and, for white Australians at least, Brisbane became a free settlement. When Queensland's first governor, Sir George Bowen, arrived in Brisbane on 10th December 1859, he went to live at "Adelaide House" which was leased by the Government as a temporary residence until a permanent Government House could be built. It was rented from Dr William Hobbs at a rental of £350 a year. Built by Andrew and John Petrie in 1853, it was a substantial two-storey building and thought to be the best house in Brisbane at the time Sir George and Lady Bowen lived there for two and a half years and it is remembered today as the place from which the establishment of the colony of Queensland was proclaimed. It is now known as the deanery at St. John's Anglican Cathedral. Works on a permanent Government House adjoining the botanical gardens on the Brisbane River began soon after Governor Bowen's
arrival in Queensland. The House was designed by the colonial architect, Charles Tiffin, and built at a cost of £12,000. It was completed and occupied in April 1862. Built in the classical revival style it was home to 11 of Queensland's Governors. It remained the official vice-regal residence until 1910 when it became the property of the newly established University of Queensland. It is presently the headquarters of the National Trust of Queensland. Another building from this period is open to the public today. Newstead House, built in 1846, for a time served as an unofficial Government House. In 1859, Brisbane was separated from New South Wales and Queensland was proclaimed a new colony by its first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen. From 1901, Queensland has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia. Two city administrations, six towns, 12 shires and four other authorities amalgamated to form Brisbane City Council on 1 October 1925 (Brisbane
Day). The flood of January 1974, caused by Cyclone Wanda, is remembered by many residents. 14,000 homes had to be evacuated, the Centenary Bridge at Jindalee was severely damaged by a runaway gravel barge and all air, road and rail communication with the outside world was cut off. Saturday 26th was the wettest day in Brisbane since 1887. For those interested in Brisbane's history, heritage trails and BCC City Sights Tours. The National Trust of Queensland (3229 1788) also has information on historical places of interest in and around Brisbane.
The State flag dates from the time when Queensland was a self-governing British colony with its own navy. In 1865, the Governor of Queensland was told by the Admiralty in London that the colony's vessels of war should fly the Blue Ensign, imposed with the colony's badge, on the stern, and a blue pennant at the masthead. Other vessels in the colony's services were to fly the same flag, but not the pennant. At the time, Queensland did not have such a badge but, in due course, the design of a proposed badge was submitted to London. In 1875 the Governor received from London drawings of the badges of several colonies which the Admiralty proposed to insert in the Admiralty Flag Book. He was asked to certify that the badge shown for the colony of Queensland was correct. The badge was composed of a representation of Queen Victoria's head, facing right, on a blue background,
encircled be a white band, with the word Queensland in the top. The Queensland Government thought it would be too difficult to adequately reproduce the head of the Queen on a flag so an alternative design, of a Royal Crown superimposed on a Maltese cross, was submitted to London. In 1876, the Governor was advised that the Admiralty had "approved of the device enclosed in your dispatch... as the future badge of the colony for insertion in... the Blue Ensign for use by government vessels". The Queensland Government encourages the flying of the State flag. Requests from schools and youth groups for free flags should be made through State Members of Parliament.