Expo '88

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Expo '88 Globe Logo
Expo '88 Globe Logo

Expo '88 was a World's Fair held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia over a six month period between 30 April 1988 and 30 October 1988. The theme of the Expo was "Leisure in the Age of Technology", and the mascot for Expo was a Platypus named "Expo Oz".[1] The AU$625 million fair was the largest event of the 1988 Bicentennial celebrations of the British settlement of Australia.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Construction

The Expo was situated on the South Bank of the Brisbane River, opposite the city's CBD. For many years this area, mainly industrial, had been largely derelict. The creation of Expo, along with the, then, recent construction of the Queensland Cultural Centre, helped to revive the area.

Two thousand kilometres of telephone wire was used in the construction of the site and AU$25 million was spent on commissioning, purchasing and loaning some 100 works of sculpture for the Exposition. Massive sun-sails graced the Exposition site, giving shade from the Queensland sun. These became an iconic feature of the Exposition and the South Brisbane skyline, and were removed at its conclusion.

A monorail was constructed for Expo '88 to take visitors quickly around the Expo site. Costing AU$12 million, it consisted of 2 stations at either end of the site, 2.3 kilometres of track and 4 nine-carriage trains. The route included going through the Queensland Pavilion, across the Pacific Lagoon and beside the Brisbane River. The system was able to carry 44,000 passengers per day. Following Expo, part of the monorail joined the existing Sea World monorail system.

[edit] The Fair

Expo '88 — as seen from the Brisbane River
Expo '88 — as seen from the Brisbane River

The exposition was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 30 April 1988 to much fanfare. The fair attracted more than 18 million visitors, including staff and VIPs, more than double the predicted 7.8 million, and was considered a turning point in the history of Brisbane, which had recently successfully hosted the XIIth Commonwealth Games in 1982.

The Commissioner General for Expo '88 was Sir Edward Williams KCMG, KCB. Sir Edward was also the Chairman for the XIIth Commonwealth Games. Sir Edward's second in command was the Chairman of the Exposition Authority was former State Government Minister, the Hon Sir Llewellyn Edwards, AC.

[edit] Pavilions

1988 USSR commemorative stamp
1988 USSR commemorative stamp

Despite late entrants into the Exposition due to domestic political measures, the Exposition attracted some 80 pavilions, from 52 governments, of which 36 were from international-level. Other exhibitors included the six Australian states, the United Nations, the Vatican, three American states, one Japanese prefecture, and one Japanese city. The most expensive pavilion was Japan ($26AUD million), followed by the Queensland pavilion and the Australia pavilion.

[edit] Entertainment

John Farnham was a regular visitor and performed frequently. The exposition averaged 100,000 visitors a day, with highest day of attendance being 184,000 visitors on 29 October 1988 - the last day before the Closing Ceremony.

At the Closing Ceremony of Expo '88 there were fireworks and a concert and rides everywhere, with the famous Australian pop-folk band, The Seekers, singing one of their most famous songs "The Carnival Is Over" at the very end of the celebrations, in what has become an Australian tradition. As Judith Durham was not available to join the other Seekers for the Expo '88 Closing Ceremony celebrations, popular Australian soprano Julie Anthony joined the group as the lead vocalist in her stead.

[edit] Legacy

Nepalese Pavilion in South Bank Parklands.
Nepalese Pavilion in South Bank Parklands.

After the end of Expo '88, various contingency plans were mooted as to possible future developments. One proposal was for a 'second' CBD-area to be developed, however this proposal was rejected. A second proposal, incorporating extensive parklands, boutique retail, as well as low-medium residential development, was later accepted, and four years after the closure of Expo 88, the site was reopened as the South Bank Parklands.

The only remaining traces of the Exposition on the former site are the Nepalese Pavilion, a traditional three-storey hand-made wooden replica of a famous Pagoda in Kathmandu, the board walk at the South end of the parklands, and two (since renovated) Pubs.

On 30 April 2004, sixteen years after the Expo's official opening, a commemorative foundation for the Exposition was launched, named Foundation Expo '88.

[edit] The Skyneedle

The Skyneedle (or "Night Companion") is 88 metres high and beams light skywards with a visibility of more than 60 kilometres during special events.

The Skyneedle, which was originally built for World Expo'88, was to be relocated to Tokyo Disneyland after Expo'88. Hairdresser and local celebrity Stefan bought the rights and moved it 500 metres from its original location at South Bank to his corporate headquarters in South Brisbane, where it remains a prominent Brisbane landmark.

[edit] Sculpture park

During Expo the park was filled with 90 sculptures, one of the largest and most prestigous displays the country had ever hosted.[3] Sixteen pieces were commissioned for the event, while others were on loan. Some of the works that were for sale have been purchased by the Brisbane City Council and are on display at various places in the city today.

[edit] 20 Anniversary celebrations

Celebrations for the 20 anniversary of Expo '88 were held at South Bank Parklands during May, 2008. Celebrations included a charity dinner on Friday 9 May, and a community day of celebration on 10 May.[4]

[edit] Gallery

Expo '88 — showing a globe of the world

Expo '88 at night — showing the 88-metre high Skyneedle

The Skyneedle at Expo '88

The Skyneedle at Expo'88

Seoul Olympics Mascot at the Korean Pavilion

British Pavilion

Entertainment at the British Pavilion

Map of the UK at the British Pavilion

Suit of Armour at the British Pavilion

Another suit of Armour at the British Pavilion

Statue at the Greek Pavilion

Statue at the Greek Pavilion

Minotaur at the Greek pavilion

Large Bell at the Hungarian Pavilion

Bells at the Hungarian Pavilion

Inside the Hungarian Pavilion

Canadian Pavilion and Expo Monorail

French Pavilion

German Pavilion

Soviet Pavilion

Spanish Pavilion

Walking among the pavilions at Expo '88

The "Bounty" water show at Expo '88

Entertaining the people at Expo '88

[edit] References

  1. ^ Foundation Expo '88
  2. ^ About World Expo '88. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  3. ^ Bacon, Phillip; World Expo 88 (1988). Sculpture : the World Expo 88 collection. Brisbane, Australia: Philip Bacon Galleries, 5. ISBN 0731627636. 
  4. ^ 88 South Bank celebrates 88

[edit] External links

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Preceded by
Expo 86		 World Expositions
1988		 Succeeded by
Expo '92