South Bank Parklands, Brisbane
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(photo taken during 2005)
South Bank Parklands, is a parkland opened to the public on 20 June 1992 located in Brisbane, Australia on the old site of Expo '88.
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[edit] South Bank Parklands
South Bank Parklands are on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, at South Bank, directly opposite the CBD, at the northern end of the suburb of South Brisbane.
The parklands are connected to the Brisbane CBD by the Victoria Bridge at the northern end — and connected to both the Queensland University of Technology and the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens by the Goodwill Bridge at the southern end.
The parklands have extensive gardens and water features, as well as an arbour which stretches from the Queensland Performing Arts Centre to the Goodwill Bridge.
The parklands are home to many restaurants, shops, play areas, picnic areas, a cinema, and an artificial beach, as well as the Royal Brisbane International College.
Entertainment venues at South Bank Parklands include the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and Suncorp Piazza.
The parklands feature an outdoor market on Fridays (5pm-10pm), Saturdays (11am-5pm) and Sundays (9am-5pm).
Around 11 million people visit South Bank each year, with approximately 98% of Brisbane residents having visited the parkland at some point.
The South Bank Parklands are close to:
- Cultural Centre Busway Station — as well as close to the nearby South Brisbane Station
- and to South Bank Busway Station — as well as close to the nearby South Bank Station
And there is a CityCat wharf on the Brisbane River, near Victoria Bridge.
[edit] The South Bank Parklands Beach
(photo taken during 2005)
(photo taken during 2005)
A major features within the parkland is its man-made beach, which is 2000 square metres of free-formed concrete surrounded by 4000 cubic metres of sand. The sand surrounding the beach is sourced from the Rous Channel in Moreton Bay and every year the beach is topped up with an additional 70 tonnes to ensure that it is kept in pristine condition. Almost half of the lagoon area sits on reclaimed land that was once the Brisbane River.
South Bank Beach facts:
- Designed by: Desmond Brookes International
- Landscape Architect: Media 5
- Constructed by: Fletcher Jennings Construction and Water and Industrial Engineering
- Construction Commenced: February 1991
- Construction Completed: April 1992
- Awards:
- 1999 Moreton Bay region's cleanest beach in the Keep Australia Beautiful Council's Clean Beach Challenge.
- 2001 Environmental Protection Agency’s Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach Challenge, Friendliest Beach Award
The beach area comprises a lagoon with enough water to fill five Olympic swimming pools, with sand beaches, palm trees, rocky creeks and subtropical trees and exotic plantings. The beach is patrolled seven days a week by lifeguards.
The lagoon contains chlorinated fresh water that is recirculated every six hours at up to 125 litres per second. Water for the beach is pumped through two large sand filters and chemically treated before being pumped back into the pools. Dredge pump and self-propelled sifting machines clean the adjoining pools.
[edit] Photos of South Bank Parklands
 South Bank Parklands Arbour — (photo taken during 2005) |
 Entrance to South Bank Parklands — (photo taken during 2005) |
 Arbour at South Bank Parklands — (photo taken during 2005) |
 South Bank Parklands Arbour walkway — (photo taken during 2005) |
 South Bank Parklands — (photo taken during 2005) |
 Southbank Arbour at night |
 Lagoon in the evening |
 View of South Bank Parklands from across the Brisbane River |
[edit] The history of South Bank Parklands
South bank was originally a meeting place for the traditional landowners, the Turrbal and Yuggera people and, in the early 1840s it became the central focus point of early European settlement. From the 1850s, South Bank Precinct was quickly established as the business centre of Brisbane. However, this was all disrupted in the 1893, when floods forced the central business district (CBD) to shift to the Northern side of the river and attain higher ground. This is where the Brisbane CBD still stands today. This began the decline of South Bank, which was accelerated at the end of World War II.
The 1970’s marked the beginnings of a new era, and the Queensland Cultural Centre was built, including the Queensland Art Gallery, the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and State Library of Queensland.
In 1988 Brisbane held a successful World Exposition, following which the Government intended to develop the site for commercial interests. However, a public campaign successfully lobbied for the site to be redeveloped as parkland for the enjoyment of people in Brisbane. In 1989, the South Bank Corporation, a Queensland Government statutory body, was established to oversee the development and management of the new South Bank Parklands.
[edit] The original concept for South Bank Parklands
at South Bank Parklands
When South Bank Parklands were developed immediately following Expo '88, there were canals and bridges and launches. There were also a wildlife refuge called Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary as well as a Butterfly House. In January, 1998, Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary was closed down and the animals relocated.
The Butterfly House was later renamed as the Butterfly and Insect House. In April, 1998, the Butterfly and Insect House was renamed as South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary, with the introduction of other wildlife. In the latter half of 2005, the South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary was closed and dismantled and an office and retail store were built on the South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary's former location. Also gone from the South Bank Parklands are the canals, bridges and launches.
Below are some photos taken of South Bank Parklands during the 1990's, so that changes to the parklands over the years can be seen, and the era compared with that of the present-day parklands.
 Pathway adjacent to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre's Cremorne Theatre, leading to the South Bank Parklands — (photo taken during the 1990s) |
 Fountains at the South Bank entrance to South Bank Parklands — (photo taken during the 1990s) |
 At the entrance to South Bank Parklands — (photo taken during the 1990s) |
 Building at the South Bank entrance to the South Bank Parklands |
[edit] Reference
- ↑ South Bank Arbour
- South Bank Corp - History 2006, accessed at South Bank Corporation
- Noble, 2001: South Bank Dreaming, Louise Noble, 2001
- South Bank – Brisbane QLD, 2006 Accessed at Go Australia
[edit] Busway stations information for South Bank Parklands
- ↑ Cultural Centre Busway Station map - (at weastern end of South Bank Parklands) - includes showing surrounding area - pdf file
- ↑ South Bank Busway Station map - (at eastern end of South Bank Parklands) - includes showing surrounding area - pdf file
[edit] External links
- History of South Bank, pdf download
- South Bank Parklands
- Discover the Brisbane River - CityCat Guide, Our Brisbane, Brisbane City Council (includes information about South Bank Parklands)
- Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary, South Bank Parklands - Paul Mooney Fine Arts Brisbane
- Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary, South Bank Parklands - Guymer Bailey - Architects (also shows a canal at South Bank Parklands)
- Tourist in Brisbane - Getaway - Channel 9 network, Australia
