View from City Hall

At 92m, City Hall in Brisbane used to be the tallest building in town until the 1960s. Now it's completely dwarfed by the huge towers that are going up in the CBD but it's still fun (and free) to go up to the clock tower in an ancient manual-operated lift. You get a different perspective on the city from up there. This is looking north-west with Albert Street on the right, Roma Street train station and Roma Street parklands.

Cranes Everywhere

Brisbane is in the middle of a building boom with cranes everywhere. This is the the junction of Adelaide and George streets on the site of the old law courts. They are building a high-rise luxury hotel - work has just finished on the 7-level basement. It looks like there was a recent break-in to the site and someone took the machinery for a bit of a joyride costing $100K worth of damage... but things appear to be back on track now. Enjoy the rare expanse of sky while you can!

Aussie

 

I've been trying to snap one of these posters for the past couple of weeks but Brisbane City Council have been very quick to remove them.

Click here for more info...

Hard Boiled Egg

 The wheel was yellow in the middle and white around the outside last night. I told my daughter it was just like an egg and to which she gave me a look like "that's stretching it a bit". Then we arrived at our destination visiting friends staying at Casino Towers with this amazing view and -hey presto- check out the reflection in the river!

Gelato in Albert Street

Happily for the ice cream shops in this part of the world, it's never too cold for gelato or ice cream.

At the law courts on a sunny Sunday morning...

Those Victorians Knew How To Build A Fancy Roof

This is the roof of Brisbane's Customs House. According to their website, it is a fine example of Victorian Free Classical architecture. I love it.  Nothing wrong with a bit of fancy embellishment in my book.

Masonic Temple, Ann Street

Completed in 1930, this impressive sandstone building sits on Ann Street. Being a Masonic Temple it has an air of mystery about it but if you check out the leaflets in the doorway, they give free tours, Monday to Friday at 2pm. Provided you perform the correct under-the-knee handshake.

PJ's Roast Inn

If you like your lunch old school - and by that I mean things like hot roast meat rolls or a big banana smoothie - then this take-away place is going to float your boat. Not a balsamic reduction or mini herb in sight... or, if I may speak London for a mo, it's not "poncey".  It does a roaring lunchtime trade on Adelaide street with punters of all ages and walks of life.

Burning an Eternal Flame

 

The Shrine of Remembrance is mounted at the top of Anzac Square.

I was right behind you and it was far too humid for a long sleeved shirt!

For readers who are familiar with the blogger 'Z' from Z Captures, you'll recognise this at once as I have completely ripped off his idea! He has a whole series of shots of the back of people in New York called 

"I was right behind you".

One of these things is not like the others.

Retail Therapy, Queen Street Mall

High Rise Reflections

Part of Weekend Reflections.

Adelaide Street Looking South

1,2,3 What Are We Fighting For?

It's probably a bit old now but while I was on my little blogging holiday in October, Brisbane had it's very own 'Occupy' folk. They camped out in Post Office Square (pictured) for about 4 weeks until they were moved on by the council (there were a few scuffles which was quite exciting). Then they went to Queen's Park for a night or two and now it looks like the full time camp-out has stopped in favour of "flash mob occupations". I think this is because numbers are down and the few committed Occupiers in the area have to make ends meet so they have to go to work. My own opinion is that they needed to have more leadership and a set of attainable goals. But I am all for it... at least they care about what is going on in the world.

One of their recent events (according to their Facebook page) was a Flash Mob Occupation BBQ down at Orleigh Park by the river. Which would have been nice. Hey! Just because they want an end to Corporate Greed doesn't mean they have to live in a gutter and eat scraps, ok?

More wine anyone?

In the style of Z

I am follower of a blogger named "Z" in New York who you may already be familiar with. He's started posting some exciting photos of people in the street under the tag "Chaos and Dynamism of NYC". The photos are close range, shooting from the hip with lots of contrast and saturation. I tried to give it a go, choosing Queen Street and Albert Street in hope of some crowds but there just seemed to be nobody about. This picture was the best of the bunch I took. It was really hard! I haven't quite managed the Hitchcock-esque technicolor look but I'll keep working on that one. Anyway - to check out what I am trying to get at, see here.

City Branch

If you've ever been to the junction of Eagle Street and Creek Street, right in the heart of Brisbane's skyscraper area, you'll notice some gigantic old fig trees in the middle of the intersection. Read all about them in the very excellent Your Brisbane Past and Present here.

I love the texture of these old aerial roots. They are sent down from the branches until they end up planting themselves in the ground forming gnarly twisted curtains. The contrast to the cars, buildings and construction that surround the trees on all sides is striking.

Beer Garden in King George Square

As promised, here's the beer garden ready and waiting for customers!
Hmmm. It must be beer o'clock by now, surely?

Speigeltent in King George Square

 King George Square doesn't have too many redeeming features these days since the unveiling of the giant concrete slab. As part of the Brisbane Festival, this beautiful Speigeltent is currently sitting in the middle of it at the moment making it look infinitely better. Inside there is a plenty of comedy, cabaret and music. Outside, you can enjoy a beer in the beer garden (I'll show you that tomorrow).

See what's on at the Speigeltent here.