Queen Street, Brisbane

27°28′4.74″S 153°1′38.54″E

Queen Street, Brisbane Queensland
View from Queen Street Mall
General information
Type	Street
Major junctions
West end	Victoria Bridge, North Quay
	George Street, Albert Street, Edward Street, Creek Street, Adelaide Street
East end	Ann Street
Location(s)
LGA(s)	City of Brisbane
Restrictions
General	Partially pedestrianised
Highway system
Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in Queensland

Queen Street is the main street of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia. It is named after Queen Victoria.

The western part of the street is covered by a new plaza at the base of Brisbane Square and underneath part of the western half is the Queen Street bus station.

Queen Street is heavily built up with arcades, shops, hotels, offices and apartment high-rises such as MacArthur Central, Brisbane Square, Central Plaza, Aurora Tower, Treasury Casino, Wintergarden, Broadway on the Mall, The Myer Centre and QueensPlaza. Queen Street is also the location of Brisbane's General Post Office.

Geography

Map of Brisbane CBD

Queen Street is the city's central road, partly covered by a pedestrian mall called the Queen Street Mall. It ends at the Victoria Bridge and is bounded by two of the Brisbane River's central reaches. Uptown at the top of the mall is George Street.

The next street parallel to the south is Elizabeth Street, while Adelaide Street is the next parallel street to the north.

History

Great fire of Brisbane

Queen Street in 1889

Manor Apartments

Queen Street, Brisbane, ca. 1935

Queen Street, Brisbane, with decorations for the royal visit in 1954

Before 1842 and free settlement, Queen Street was originally a track leading from the main section of the early Moreton Bay Penal Colony, crossing a stream known as Wheat Creek with a deviation going up to the Windmill. In early 1840, a surveyor named Dixon drew up a survey for the central Brisbane streets with all streets 66 feet (20 metres) wide. Changes were then made to this plan with square blocks flattened into a rectangular grid with streets becoming 1.4 chains (27 metres). On Governor Gipps' visit to Brisbane Town in March 1842, Gipps remarked that Brisbane Town was "simply an ordinary provincial settlement", which would need no grand avenues. As a result, Gipps moved the planned width of Queen Street, along with other streets, back to 66 feet (20 metres), arguing that this change would mean that buildings could be kept out of the sun.

Later, there was compromise with the main street that would be known as Queen Street, with the western boundary's width changed to 1.2 chains (24 metres).^[1]

The first sitting of Legislative Assembly of Queensland in May 1860 occurred in the old converted convict barracks on Queen Street.^[2]

In 1864, there were two significant fires along the street.^[3] The September 1864 fire started in the Little Wonder store on Edward Street^[4] which destroyed 14 shops in Queen Street. This event later became known as Bulcock's Fire. On 1 December 1864, the Great Fire of Brisbane started within the cellar of a Queen Street drapery store which burnt down buildings bordering Queen Street, as well as Albert Street, Edward Street, George Street and Elizabeth Street.^[5] Brisbane Courier described the fire as "the whole of the business premises and private residences...were, in a couple of hours, reduced to a heap of ruins".^[6]

On 9 December 1882, a demonstration of electricity was conducted with eight arc lights along Queen Street.^[7] Power was supplied by a 10 hp generator driven by a small engine in a foundry in Adelaide Street. This was Australia's first recorded use of electricity for public purposes.^[7]

In 1885, Poul C. Poulsen opened his photographic studio at 7 Queen Street.^[8] Ada Driver trained at Poulson’s studio before opening her own photographic studio, ‘Ada Driver’s Studio’, at 51 Queen street in 1906.^[9][10]

In 1902, part of Queen Street was not paved or sealed although stormwater drainage was well maintained.^[11]

Queen Street is historically significant as it contains MacArthur Central, the building in which the American General Douglas MacArthur had his South West Pacific headquarters (from July 1942 to November 1944) during World War II and directed the Allied Forces campaign.^[12][13] The former AMP building was later renamed MacArthur Central as a tribute to General MacArthur.

Tram services along Queen Street were converted to buses on 14 April 1969.^[14]

In 1981, the part of the street between Albert Street and Edward Street was closed to traffic.^[15] This section was opened as the Queen Street Mall in 1982, in time for the Commonwealth Games.^[16] Later, the section between Albert Street and George Street was converted into an extension of the pedestrian mall, timed to coincide with Brisbane's Expo '88.^[16]

A number of buildings were demolished on Queen Street in the 1980s, including Her Majesty's Theatre, the Wintergarden cinema and the Odeon cinema as the mall development proceeded.

Heritage listings

There are many heritage-listed buildings in Queen Street, including:

• 21 Queen Street: Treasury Building^[17]
• 33 Queen Street: Bank of New South Wales Building^[18]
• 43 Queen Street: Trustees Chambers^[19]
• 62 Queen Street: Colonial Mutual Chambers^[20]
• 86 Queen Street: Palings Building (also known as City International Duty Free)^[21]
• 110 Queen Street: Allan and Stark Building (also known as former Myer Store)^[22][23]
• 114 Queen Street: Gardams Building^[24]
• 116 Queen Street: Hardy Brothers Building^[25]
• 120 Queen Street: Edwards and Chapman Building^[26]
• 160 Queen Street: Brisbane Arcade^[27]
• 167 Queen Street: Regent Theatre^[28]
• 180 Queen Street: National Australia Bank (180 Queen Street)^[29]
• 196 Queen Street: Finney Isles & Co Building^[30]
• 229 Queen Street: MacArthur Chambers^[31]
• 270 Queen Street: Sir William Glasgow Memorial^[32]
• 289 Queen Street: Newspaper House (now the Manor Apartment Hotel)^[33]
• 299 Queen Street: National Mutual Life Building^[34]
• 308 Queen Street: National Australia Bank (308 Queen Street)^[35] and its First World War Honour Board^[36] (separate listings)
• 424–426 Queen Street: Queensland Country Life Building facade^[37]
• 427 Queen Street: former Brisbane Customs House^[38]
• 443–501 Queen Street: Petrie Bight Retaining Wall^[39]
• 560 Queen Street: Orient Hotel^[40]

The present Hungry Jacks fast food restaurant occupies Beak House, a listed building previously owned by a farming and investment company. The present McDonald's restaurant is located directly opposite in the building formerly occupied by Jo Jo's Restaurant.

Major intersections

• North Quay / William Street
• George Street
• Albert Street
• Edward Street
• Creek Street
• Wharf Street / Eagle Street
• Adelaide Street
• Ann Street

See also

• Road transport in Brisbane

References

1. "Queensland Place Histories: Queen Street, Brisbane". Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
2. Armstrong, Lyn (1997), "'A somewhat rash experiment':Queensland Parliament as a microcosm of society", in Shaw, Barry (ed.), Brisbane:Corridors of Power, Papers, vol. 15, Brisbane: Brisbane History Group Inc, p. 54, ISBN 0-9586469-1-0
3. Laverty, John (2009). The Making of a Metropolis: Brisbane 1823–1925. Salisbury, Queensland: Boolarong Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-9751793-5-2.
4. "Fire in Edward-Sreet". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 5 September 1864. p. 2. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
5. Queensland State Archives | 1860 – Fiery beginnings Archived 27 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Queensland State Archives.
6. "The Great Fire of Brisbane, 1864". Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
7. Dunn, Col (1985). The History of Electricity in Queensland. Bundaberg: Col Dunn. p. 21. ISBN 0-9589229-0-X.
8. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Early Queensland photography - Poulsen Studios". Blog. State Library of Queensland. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
9. "Driver, Ada Annie". AWR. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
10. "DRIVER, ADA (G)". Photoria. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
11. Cole, John R. (1984). Shaping a city. Albion, Queensland: William Brooks Queensland. p. 32. ISBN 0-85568-619-7.
12. "General Headquarters (GHQ), South West Pacific Area, Queen Street, Brisbane". Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
13. "MacArthur's War Chambers, Brisbane". Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
14. Cole, John R. (1984). Shaping a city. Albion, Queensland: William Brooks Queensland. p. 270. ISBN 0-85568-619-7.
15. "'Flashback' – Queen St Closure". BTQ7 News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021.
16. "Queen Street Mall's 30-year evolution". Brisbanetimes.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
17. "Treasury Building (entry 600143)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
18. "Westpac Bank Building (entry 600154)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
19. "ANZ Bank (entry 600157)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
20. "62 Queen Street (entry 600160)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
21. "City International Duty Free (entry 600161)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
22. "Myer Store (former) [incorporating Miss Brisbane 600136] (entry 600162)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
23. "Building - Miss Brisbane [incorporated in Myer Store (former) see 600162] (entry 600136)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
24. "Gardams (entry 600137)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
25. "Hardy Brothers (entry 600138)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
26. "Sportsgirl (entry 600139)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
27. "Brisbane Arcade (entry 600058)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
28. "Regent Building (entry 600140)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
29. "National Australia Bank (entry 600141)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
30. "David Jones (entry 600142)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
31. "MacArthur Chambers (entry 600147)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
32. "Sir William Glasgow Memorial (entry 602439)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
33. "Newspaper House (entry 600150)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
34. "Custom Credit House (entry 600151)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
35. "National Australia Bank (entry 600153)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
36. "First World War Honour Board (entry 600152)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
37. "Former Queensland Country Life Building facade (entry 600158)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
38. "Brisbane Customs House (former) (entry 600156)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
39. "Petrie Bight Retaining Wall (entry 600159)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
40. "Orient Hotel (entry 602122)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.

External links

• Media related to Queen Street, Brisbane at Wikimedia Commons