The City

Welcome to Meanjin

Queensland’s capital Brisbane (known as Meanjin to the Traditional Custodians of the land), and Australia’s fastest-growing capital city, is a vibrant hub of innovation and endless opportunities. Offering an unparalleled blend of cutting-edge research, world-class event facilities, and a welcoming subtropical climate, Brisbane sets the stage for unforgettable events. TIME Magazine, Frommers and the New York Times have all named Brisbane one of the top places in the world to visit. Named host city of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane continues to shine on the global stage.

Brisbane is a popular tourist destination. Major landmarks and attractions include South Bank Parklands, the City Botanic Gardens, King George Square and City Hall, the Story Bridge, the Mount Coot-tha Botanic gardens and Lookout and the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

The City Botanic Gardens were originally established in 1825 as a farm for the Moreton Bay penal settlement and were planted by convicts in 1825 with food crops to feed the prison colony. In 1855, several acres was declared a Botanic Reserve under Superintendent Walter Hill, a position he held until 1881. Some trees planted in the Gardens were among the first of their species to be planted in Australia, including the Jacaranda and poinciana.

In the 21st century The Queensland Cultural Centre was expanded, with the completion of the State Library and the Gallery of Modern Art in 2006, and the Kurilpa Bridge in 2009, the world’s largest hybrid tensegrity bridge. Brisbane also hosted major international events including the final Goodwill Games in 2001, the Rugby League World Cup final in 2008 and again in 2017, as well as the 2014 G20 Brisbane summit.

Brisbane View

Image: Aerial view of the Brisbane Eye.

Explore Brisbane


Culture

Brisbane is home to several art galleries, the largest of which are the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), which is the largest modern art gallery in Australia. GOMA holds the Asia Pacific Triennial (APT) which focuses on contemporary art from the Asia and Pacific in a variety of media from painting to video work. In addition, its size enables the gallery to exhibit particularly large shows.

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) at South Bank, consists of the lyric theatre, the Concert Hall, the Cremorne Theatre, and the Playhouse Theatre and is home to the Queensland Ballet, Opera Queensland, the Queensland Theatre Company, and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Numerous choirs present performances across the city annually. These choirs include the Brisbane Chorale, Queensland Choir, Brisbane Chamber Choir, Canticum Chamber Choir, Brisbane Concert Choir, Imogen Children’s chorale, and Brisbane Birralee Voices.

For a comprehensive guide to museums, galleries, and unique tours in Brisbane, check out the following resources:

culture

Image: Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in sunset, with lighting up the building.


Demographics

Brisbane’s Greater Capital City Statistical Area includes the Local Government Areas of City of Brisbane, City of Ipswich, City of Moreton Bay, Logan City, and Redland City, as well as parts of Lockyer Valley Region, Scenic Rim Region, and Somerset Region, which form a continuous metropolitan area. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that the population of Greater Brisbane is 2,706,966 as of June 2023, making it the third-largest city in Australia.

The 2021 census showed that 20.7% of Brisbane’s inhabitants were born overseas and 25.2% of inhabitants has at least one parent born overseas. Brisbane has the 26th largest immigrant population among world metropolitan areas. Of inhabitants born outside of Australia, the six most prevalent countries of birth were New Zealand, England, India, Mainland China, Philippians, and South Africa.

demographics

Image: Lights of Brisbane city and surrounds at dusk


Cuisine

Brisbane's cuisine derives from mainstream Australian culture and many cuisines of international origin. Major influences from Asia, Europe, and America reflect the city’s ethnic diversity, though Brisbane is represented by a wide range of other ethnic influences.

Brisbane’s culinary scene is often described as more casual with an emphasis on outdoor dining. Café culture is prominent, with Australian-style brunch being particularly common. Roof-top bars are also an iconic establishment of the city, as well as its street food scene with food trucks and pop-up bars common.

Brisbane is home to over 6,000 restaurants and dining establishments, with outdoor dining featuring prominently. Moreton Bay Bugs, less commonly known as flathead lobsters, are an ingredient named for the Brisbane region and which feature commonly in the city’s cuisine.

Some additional foods that are native to Brisbane: Macadamia, Lemon Scented Myrtle, Australian Finger Lime, Bunya Nut, Cinnamon Myrtle, Davidson’s Plum, Riberry, Small-Leaved Tamarind, Midgen Berry, and Moreton Bay Rock Oyster.

For those interested in exploring more about where to eat and find exclusive dining experiences in Brisbane, check out these articles:

cuisine

Image: Beach dinner at sunset. Tangalooma, Brisbane.


Geography

The city of Brisbane is hilly. The urban areas, including the central business district, are partially elevated by spurs of the Herbert Taylor Range, such as the summit of Mount Coot-tha, reaching up to 300 meters (980 ft) and Enoggera Hill. The D’Aguilar National Park, encompassing the D’Aguilar Range, bounds the north-west of Brisbane’s built-up area, and contains the taller peaks of Mount Nebo, Camp Mountain, Mount Pleasant, Mount Glorious, Mount Samson and Mount Mee. Other prominent rises in Brisbane are Mount Gravatt, Toohey Mountain, Mount Petrie, Highgate Hill, Mount Ommaney, Stephens Mountain, and Whites Hill, which are dotted across the city.

Brisbane is home to numerous bird species, with common species including rainbow lorikeets, kookaburras, galahs, Australian white ibises, Australian brushturkeys, Torresian crows, Australian magpies, and noisy miners. Common reptiles include common garden skinks, Australian water dragons, bearded dragons, and blue-tongued lizards.

With regards to climate, Brisbane has a humid subtropical climate. With hot, wet summers and moderately drier, mild winters. Brisbane experiences an annual mean minimum of 16.6 °C (62 °F) and a mean maximum of 26.6 °C (80 °F), making it Australia's second-hottest capital city after Darwin. Seasonality is not pronounced, and average maximum temperatures of above 26 °C (79 °F) persist from October through to April.

In August, Brisbane, Australia enjoys mild winter weather, with average temperatures around 16°C. Daily highs typically reach about 21°C, while nighttime lows dip to approximately 11°C. This period also sees relatively low rainfall, averaging around 43 mm, making it one of the drier months.

geography

Image: Looking down toward the city from the Mount Coot-tha summit lookout