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Brisbane: THEN

The Queensland Art Gallery first opened (as the Queensland National Art Gallery) in 1895 — in one room of Brisbane's then Town Hall. The rich and complex history of the land on which QAGOMA now stands, in Meanjin (Brisbane), stretches back thousands of years under the custodianship of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples. The works listed below capture only a very recent set of colonial perspectives — views of Brisbane that contemporary artists increasingly seek to challenge, disrupt and give nuance to.

These works capture a 100-year snapshot of Brisbane, from the 1850s to the 1950s. For more contemporary depictions of the River City, visit Brisbane: Now.
 

Unknown / Queensland Australia / (Brisbane panorama) 1910 / Gelatin silver photograph on paper / 23.5 x 120.1cm (sight) / Gift of Garry Menzies through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program / Collection: QAGOMA

 

Artwork Brisbane this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache over pencil on wove paper, created in 1842-01-01

Brisbane c.1852
Artwork Brisbane this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1855-01-01

Brisbane 1855
Artwork Fortitude Valley this artwork made of Pencil on cream wove paper, created in 1858-01-01

Fortitude Valley 1858
Artwork View of Brisbane (in 1851) this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache over pencil on wove paper, created in 1862-01-01

View of Brisbane (in 1851) 1862
Artwork Brisbane this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1866-01-01

Brisbane 1866
Artwork (Woman, baby and three children in front of Brisbane shingle-roofed house) this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper mounted on card

(Woman, baby and three children in front of Brisbane shingle-roofed house) c.1870s
Artwork Marino Lodge, Oxley-Ipswich Road, Queensland, April 1873 this artwork made of Pencil on paper adhered to backing board, created in 1873-01-01

Marino Lodge, Oxley-Ipswich Road, Queensland, April 1873 1873
Artwork The river - Petrie's Bight and wharves (from 'Brisbane illustrated' portfolio) this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper mounted on card, created in 1874-01-01

The river - Petrie's Bight and wharves (from 'Brisbane illustrated' portfolio) c.1874-79
Artwork The Lands Office (from 'Brisbane illustrated' portfolio) this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper mounted on card, created in 1874-01-01

The Lands Office (from 'Brisbane illustrated' portfolio) c.1874-79
Artwork White ibis (Threskiornis strictipennis) this artwork made of Lithograph, hand-coloured on paper, created in 1870-01-01

White ibis (Threskiornis strictipennis) c.1875
Artwork Hamilton Reach, Brisbane this artwork made of Oil on wood panel, created in 1885-01-01

Hamilton Reach, Brisbane 1885
Artwork Houses of Parliament, Brisbane this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on wove paper, created in 1885-01-01

Houses of Parliament, Brisbane 1885
Artwork (Coal wharves, South Brisbane) this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1892-01-01

(Coal wharves, South Brisbane) 1892
Artwork Botanical Gardens, Brisbane (from 'Coloured Shell Series: Queensland Views') this artwork made of Postcard: Colour lithograph on paper, created in 1890-01-01

Botanical Gardens, Brisbane (from 'Coloured Shell Series: Queensland Views') 1890s
Artwork View from signal tower looking south this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1885-01-01

View from signal tower looking south c.1890
Artwork Sidney House this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1890-01-01

Sidney House 1890
Artwork (Architect's drawing of Exhibition Building, Gregory Terrace) this artwork made of Pen, ink and gouache on light-brown heavy smooth paper, created in 1880-01-01

(Architect's drawing of Exhibition Building, Gregory Terrace) c.1890
Artwork St. Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane this artwork made of Watercolour on wove paper, created in 1892-01-01

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane 1892
Artwork Mount Coot-tha this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache over pencil on wove paper, created in 1887-01-01

Mount Coot-tha c.1892
Artwork Brisbane River, view up the river opposite the Hamilton Hotel this artwork made of Oil on cardboard, created in 1894-01-01

Brisbane River, view up the river opposite the Hamilton Hotel 1894
Artwork Botanical gardens under flood this artwork made of Albumen photograph on paper, created in 1893-01-01

Botanical gardens under flood 1893 (inscr. 1894)
Artwork Brisbane River, from North Quay looking towards Toowong this artwork made of Oil on cardboard, created in 1894-01-01

Brisbane River, from North Quay looking towards Toowong 1894
Artwork Brisbane River, Bulimba Reach this artwork made of Oil on cardboard, created in 1894-01-01

Brisbane River, Bulimba Reach 1894
Artwork Brisbane River, Garden Reach from near dry dock looking down river this artwork made of Oil on cardboard, created in 1894-01-01

Brisbane River, Garden Reach from near dry dock looking down river 1894
Artwork A busy corner of the Brisbane River this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1897-01-01

A busy corner of the Brisbane River 1897
Artwork Queensland natives, the Currigee Oyster Company's Station, Stradbroke Island, Moreton Bay this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1897-01-01

Queensland natives, the Currigee Oyster Company's Station, Stradbroke Island, Moreton Bay 1897
Artwork Evening (Mt Coot-tha from Dutton Park) this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1898-01-01

Evening (Mt Coot-tha from Dutton Park) 1898
Artwork (Redcliffe Jetty and Sutton's Beach) this artwork made of Oil on board, created in 1899-01-01

(Redcliffe Jetty and Sutton's Beach) 1899
Artwork Pineapple plantation, Nundah, near Brisbane this artwork made of Postcard: Black and white print on paper, created in 1895-01-01

Pineapple plantation, Nundah, near Brisbane c.1900
Artwork Botanical Gardens, Brisbane, from Parliament House this artwork made of Postcard: Tinted print on paper, created in 1895-01-01

Botanical Gardens, Brisbane, from Parliament House c.1900
Artwork Rainy weather, Boggy Creek, Brisbane this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache on thin wove paper, created in 1890-01-01

Rainy weather, Boggy Creek, Brisbane c.1900
Artwork Under the jacaranda this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1903-01-01

Under the jacaranda 1903
Artwork (Brisbane panorama) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1910-01-01

(Brisbane panorama) 1910
Artwork Brisbane street this artwork made of Watercolour and pencil on paper on cardboard, created in 1910-01-01

Brisbane street c.1912
Artwork Brisbane street this artwork made of Pencil on sketch paper, created in 1914-01-01

Brisbane street c.1914-17
Artwork River bank at Yeerongpilly this artwork made of Pencil on paper, created in 1910-01-01

River bank at Yeerongpilly c.1915
Artwork The carters' rest, Eagle Street this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1913-01-01

The carters' rest, Eagle Street 1913
Artwork Tram on Brisbane street; City street this artwork made of Pencil on paper, created in 1914-01-01

Tram on Brisbane street; City street 1914
Artwork St. Brigid's, Red Hill this artwork made of Pen and ink on wove paper on card, created in 1917-01-01

St. Brigid's, Red Hill 1917
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

(Brisbane scene) 1918
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Brisbane Cathedral 1920
Artwork Morning light, Brisbane River this artwork made of Oil on three-ply board, created in 1925-01-01

Morning light, Brisbane River c.1925-30
Artwork Evening light this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1927-01-01

Evening light 1927
Artwork The Brisbane at Fernvale this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1926-01-01

The Brisbane at Fernvale 1926
Artwork (Landscape with Brisbane River) this artwork made of Watercolour on wove paper, created in 1926-01-01

(Landscape with Brisbane River) 1926
Artwork The old Windmill this artwork made of Etching on smooth wove paper, created in 1925-01-01

The old Windmill c.1930
Artwork Brisbane townscape this artwork made of Oil on board, created in 1928-01-01

Brisbane townscape 1928
Artwork Suburban street, Nundah this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1930-01-01

Suburban street, Nundah c.1930s
Artwork Sultry noon [Central Station, Brisbane] this artwork made of Oil on canvas on plywood, created in 1931-01-01

Sultry noon [Central Station, Brisbane] 1931
Artwork Customs House, Brisbane this artwork made of Colour linocut on wove paper, created in 1931-01-01

Customs House, Brisbane 1931
Artwork Camping at Red Hill (Queensland) this artwork made of Monotype with added ink and watercolour, created in 1931-01-01

Camping at Red Hill (Queensland) c.1931
Artwork Wintry sunshine this artwork made of Oil on canvas on board, created in 1931-01-01

Wintry sunshine 1931-32
Artwork City Hall tower this artwork made of Drypoint on cream wove paper, created in 1932-01-01

City Hall tower 1932
Artwork Brisbane River this artwork made of Drypoint on cream wove paper, created in 1932-01-01

Brisbane River 1932
Artwork Edward Street, Brisbane this artwork made of Drypoint on light brown wove paper, created in 1933-01-01

Edward Street, Brisbane 1933
Artwork (Entrance to Girls' Grammar School, Brisbane) this artwork made of Pencil on wove paper on wove paper, created in 1935-01-01

(Entrance to Girls' Grammar School, Brisbane) c.1935
Artwork Girls' Grammar School this artwork made of Drypoint on thick cream wove paper, created in 1936-01-01

Girls' Grammar School 1936
Artwork Girls' Grammar School this artwork made of Drypoint on thick, rough, cream, handmade, wove paper, created in 1936-01-01

Girls' Grammar School 1936
Artwork Queen Street, Brisbane this artwork made of Drypoint on cream handmade wove paper, created in 1936-01-01

Queen Street, Brisbane 1936
Artwork Fig tree, Eagle Street this artwork made of Drypoint on cream, handmade, wove paper, created in 1936-01-01

Fig tree, Eagle Street 1936
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

A corner of Brisbane 1937
Artwork Summer haze this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1937-01-01

Summer haze 1937
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

(Portrait of flat mate, Spring Hill) 1939, printed 2005
Artwork Newstead this artwork made of Drypoint on cream wove paper, created in 1939-01-01

Newstead 1939
Artwork Anzac Square this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1940-01-01

Anzac Square c.1940-45, printed 1992
Artwork (Brisbane River, Indooroopilly) this artwork made of Oil on board, created in 1940-01-01

(Brisbane River, Indooroopilly) c.1940s
Artwork (Brisbane River, view to Graceville church) this artwork made of Oil on board, created in 1940-01-01

(Brisbane River, view to Graceville church) c.1940s
Artwork Fishing boats, North Quay this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on wove handmade paper, created in 1936-01-01

Fishing boats, North Quay c.1941
Artwork St. John's Cathedral, Brisbane this artwork made of Oil on plywood, created in 1941-01-01

St. John's Cathedral, Brisbane 1941
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Boat anchorage, Breakfast Creek 1945
Artwork Brisbane street scene this artwork made of Watercolour and ink on paper, created in 1944-01-01

Brisbane street scene c.1945
Artwork Back of house, Nundah this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1945-01-01

Back of house, Nundah c.1945-50
Artwork Old boatshed, West End, Brisbane this artwork made of Oil on board, created in 1946-01-01

Old boatshed, West End, Brisbane 1946
Artwork Royal Exchange Hotel this artwork made of Oil on composition board, created in 1948-01-01

Royal Exchange Hotel 1948
Artwork Church at Sandgate this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache on buff wove paper, created in 1944-01-01

Church at Sandgate c.1949
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Brisbane River - House on the hill c.1950
Artwork Barnes Auto, Brisbane this artwork made of Oil and enamel on cardboard, created in 1952-01-01

Barnes Auto, Brisbane 1952
Artwork Stradbroke ferry this artwork made of Enamel and tempera on heavy cardboard, created in 1952-01-01

Stradbroke ferry 1952
Artwork City lights this artwork made of Oil and enamel on cardboard, created in 1952-01-01

City lights 1952
Artwork Queen Street [Brisbane (from George Street, looking north)] this artwork made of Oil on canvas on composition board, created in 1959-01-01

Queen Street [Brisbane (from George Street, looking north)] 1959
Artwork (Boats on the Brisbane River) this artwork made of Watercolour and Indian ink on paper, created in 1959-01-01

(Boats on the Brisbane River) 1959
Artwork Brisbane outskirts this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01

Brisbane outskirts 1959

 

Detail view of a textile work with plants and the Brisbane river embroidered onto it
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

Brisbane: NOW

Read digital story
A black-and-white photograph of a bridge mid-construction
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

RIVER CITY: Bridges of Brisbane

Read
A detail view of an oil painting depicting Brisbane city in the 1930s.
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

STORIES: Streets of your town

Read
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

Explore the story

An oil painting of a landscape with a winding river
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

Brisbane: THEN

Read digital story
Detail view of a textile work with plants and the Brisbane river embroidered onto it
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

Brisbane: NOW

Read digital story
A black-and-white photograph of a bridge mid-construction
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

RIVER CITY: Bridges of Brisbane

Read
A black-and-white photo of a timber house, in front of which a person hangs washing on a Hill's Hoist-style washing line
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

SUBURBIA: A reorganised forest

Read digital story
A detail view of an oil painting depicting Brisbane city in the 1930s.
BRISBANE IN PICTURES

STORIES: Streets of your town

Read
The cover of a magazine called The Queenslander depicts a large jacaranda tree in bloom.
UNDER THE JACARANDA

Brisbane’s first jacaranda

Read ESSAY

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