George Street, Brisbane

George Street Queensland

George Street from Queen Street intersection
Coordinates	27°28′14″S 153°01′23″E / 27.470453°S 153.023058°E / -27.470453; 153.023058Coordinates: 27°28′14″S 153°01′23″E / 27.470453°S 153.023058°E / -27.470453; 153.023058
General information
Type	Street
Location	Brisbane

George Street is a main street located in the Brisbane CBD in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A major thoroughfare, George Street connects to the Queensland University of Technology as well as the state Botanical Gardens, to the commercial centre of Brisbane, Queen Street and Queen Street Mall.

The State Parliament House building for the state of Queensland and Brisbane Square, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law and the State Law Building are found on the street. Queens Gardens, Treasury Building, Lands Administration Building and The Mansions are all located on George Street. Other office towers built on George Street include 111 George Street, 275 George Street and 400 George Street. At the northern end is the Roma Street railway station.

History

George Street in 1889.

George Street as well as Queen Street, Wickham Street and the area known as Petrie Bight were unsealed and often dusty before 1899.^[1] In 1897, the North Brisbane Council held an election on whether a loan should be raised so the streets could be woodblocked. Agreement was given after a close decision by only a third of registered voters, however the results were limited as the surface was very slippery during the rain and buckled during heavy rains.^[1]

The first private residence in Brisbane, a weatherboard, low-ceilinged cottage, was built on George Street.^[2] The building remained intact into the 1880s but like similar early houses in the central business district they have been demolished and the land redeveloped.^[2]

In 1911, Queensland belatedly established its first university in the Old Government House at the end of George Street.^[3] By the late 1930s the university outgrew this site, moving its main campus to St Lucia.^[4]

Heritage sites

George Street has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

2 George Street: the former Brisbane Central Technical College^[5]
2 George Street: Old Government House^[6]
19 George Street: Queensland Club^[7]
40 George Street: The Mansions^[8]
68 George Street: Harris Terrace^[9]
110 George Street and 84 William Street: the former Government Printing Office^[10]
142 George Street: Lands Administration Building^[11] and its First World War Honour Board^[12]
144 George Street: Queens Gardens^[13]
171 George Street: Family Services Building^[14]
175 George Street: Treasury Hotel^[15]
179 - 191 George Street (with frontages to Elizabeth Street): Hunters Buildings: Treasury Chambers, St Francis House, & Symons Building^[16]
331 & 333 George Street: BAFS Building^[17]
414 George Street: McDonnell & East Ltd Building^[18]
468-482 George Street: Transcontinental Hotel^[19]
Sections of Albert St, George St, William St, North Quay, Queen's Wharf Rd: Early Streets of Brisbane^[20]
69 Alice Street: Parliament House (also faces onto George Street)^[21]

Lost heritage

Main article: Bellevue Hotel, Brisbane

Bellevue Hotel, 1933

The Bellevue Hotel stood on the western corner of George and Alice Streets. Built in c. 1885, it served for many years as Brisbane's premier hotel. Without any prior public announcement, the Queensland Government demolished the building overnight on 20 April 1979.^[22]

Gallery

State Law Building
George Street façade
Brisbane Square
Parliament House and The Mansions
George Street façade
The Mansions
George Street façade
George Street entrance to the Queensland University of Technology Gardens Point campus. The City Botanic Gardens are at the left, and Parliament House is at the right
Law Courts Complex, George Street, façade
George Street City Roos sculptures (opposite Brisbane Square)
Map of Brisbane CBD.