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.
![](/system/files/styles/wide/private/object-images/2004.195_002_4.jpg?itok=oSfdmkwg)
![Artwork Brisbane this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache over pencil on wove paper, created in 1842-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1-0113_001_8.jpg?itok=xG8_RnM9)
Brisbane c.1852
- MARTENS, Conrad - Creator
![Artwork Brisbane this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1855-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1998.177_001_3.jpg?itok=dOWFkvqV)
Brisbane 1855
- MARTENS, Conrad - Creator
![Artwork Fortitude Valley this artwork made of Pencil on cream wove paper, created in 1858-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-0272E_001_3.jpg?itok=LiaXBoaq)
Fortitude Valley 1858
- DIGGLES, Silvester - Creator
![Artwork Brisbane this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1866-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2020.320_001_3.jpg?itok=uYn7EALi)
Brisbane 1866
- BUVELOT, Louis - Creator
![Artwork Sidney House this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1890-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2005.046_001_3.jpg?itok=3pQWDpKm)
Sidney House 1890
- CAMPBELL, John - Creator
![Artwork Mount Coot-tha this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache over pencil on wove paper, created in 1887-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1-0115_001_8.jpg?itok=9j1mm10O)
Mount Coot-tha c.1892
- RAYMENT, Robert S. - Creator
![Artwork Under the jacaranda this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1903-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1-0063_004_4.jpg?itok=P7SpulWF)
Under the jacaranda 1903
- RIVERS, R. Godfrey - Creator
![Artwork (Brisbane panorama) this artwork made of Gelatin silver photograph on paper, created in 1910-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2004.195_002_4.jpg?itok=GIqzcWNv)
(Brisbane panorama) 1910
- UNKNOWN - Creator
![QAGOMA Artwork Brisbane street this artwork made of Watercolour and pencil on paper on cardboard, created in 1910-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1998.082_001_3.jpg?itok=nfrYEH8e)
Brisbane street c.1912
- LAHEY, Vida - Creator
![Lloyd Rees/Copyright Agency Artwork Brisbane street this artwork made of Pencil on sketch paper, created in 1914-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2014.176b_001_0.jpg?itok=cye_63wA)
Brisbane street c.1914-17
- REES, Lloyd - Creator
![Lloyd Rees/Copyright Agency Artwork River bank at Yeerongpilly this artwork made of Pencil on paper, created in 1910-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2012.618_001.jpg?itok=bqDeCFln)
River bank at Yeerongpilly c.1915
- REES, Lloyd - Creator
![Lloyd Rees, 1917/Copyright Agency, 211. Artwork St. Brigid's, Red Hill this artwork made of Pen and ink on wove paper on card, created in 1917-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1983.158.004_002_0.jpg?itok=zAv2op6Y)
St. Brigid's, Red Hill 1917
- REES, Lloyd - Creator
![Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online](/sites/default/files/styles/large/filesqagoma/assets/image-pending.jpg?itok=SDhxQrcw)
(Brisbane scene) 1918
- SALVANA, John - Creator
![Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online](/sites/default/files/styles/large/filesqagoma/assets/image-pending.jpg?itok=SDhxQrcw)
Brisbane Cathedral 1920
- TRAILL, Jessie - Creator
![William Bustard Estate Artwork Evening light this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1927-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2018.125_001.jpg?itok=0BTp3FkR)
Evening light 1927
- BUSTARD, William - Creator
![Artwork The old Windmill this artwork made of Etching on smooth wove paper, created in 1925-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/2023-12/2-0086_001.jpg?itok=ybGzxpWe)
The old Windmill c.1930
- PERCY, W.S. - Creator
![William Bustard Estate Artwork Brisbane townscape this artwork made of Oil on board, created in 1928-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2018.126_001.jpg?itok=6_LwB8S3)
Brisbane townscape 1928
- BUSTARD, William - Creator
![Artwork Suburban street, Nundah this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1930-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2012.229_001_3.jpg?itok=uZ_6akQj)
Suburban street, Nundah c.1930s
- GRANT, W.G. - Creator
![William Bustard Estate Artwork Customs House, Brisbane this artwork made of Colour linocut on wove paper, created in 1931-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-1016_001.jpg?itok=TuxhcMzW)
Customs House, Brisbane 1931
- BUSTARD, William - Creator
![© QAGOMA Artwork Wintry sunshine this artwork made of Oil on canvas on board, created in 1931-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2022.001_001.jpg?itok=fd9dEEuL)
Wintry sunshine 1931-32
- LAHEY, Vida - Creator
![Artwork City Hall tower this artwork made of Drypoint on cream wove paper, created in 1932-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-1517B_001_3.jpg?itok=HyR7Oapq)
City Hall tower 1932
- SHELDON, Vincent - Creator
![Artwork Brisbane River this artwork made of Drypoint on cream wove paper, created in 1932-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-0238_001_3.jpg?itok=U_Ldwt6C)
Brisbane River 1932
- SHELDON, Vincent - Creator
![Artwork Edward Street, Brisbane this artwork made of Drypoint on light brown wove paper, created in 1933-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-1519_001_3.jpg?itok=Aqku_a9j)
Edward Street, Brisbane 1933
- SHELDON, Vincent - Creator
![Artwork Girls' Grammar School this artwork made of Drypoint on thick cream wove paper, created in 1936-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-1526B_001_3.jpg?itok=loiT5vZV)
Girls' Grammar School 1936
- SHELDON, Vincent - Creator
![Artwork Girls' Grammar School this artwork made of Drypoint on thick, rough, cream, handmade, wove paper, created in 1936-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-1526A_001_3.jpg?itok=pJvN7rhi)
Girls' Grammar School 1936
- SHELDON, Vincent - Creator
![Artwork Queen Street, Brisbane this artwork made of Drypoint on cream handmade wove paper, created in 1936-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-1547_001_3.jpg?itok=PI3MQ1sF)
Queen Street, Brisbane 1936
- SHELDON, Vincent - Creator
![Artwork Fig tree, Eagle Street this artwork made of Drypoint on cream, handmade, wove paper, created in 1936-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-1522A_001_3.jpg?itok=FZMaeOXC)
Fig tree, Eagle Street 1936
- SHELDON, Vincent - Creator
![William Bustard Estate Artwork Summer haze this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1937-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/1-0306_001_3.jpg?itok=nJwkTRSZ)
Summer haze 1937
- BUSTARD, William - Creator
![Artwork Newstead this artwork made of Drypoint on cream wove paper, created in 1939-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2-1538_001_3.jpg?itok=5MPtq7LE)
Newstead 1939
- SHELDON, Vincent - Creator
![The artist Artwork Brisbane street scene this artwork made of Watercolour and ink on paper, created in 1944-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2002.017_001_3.jpg?itok=K9KItwTO)
Brisbane street scene c.1945
- HOPE, Laurence - Creator
![Artwork Back of house, Nundah this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1945-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2012.208_001_3.jpg?itok=etZVIOJs)
Back of house, Nundah c.1945-50
- GRANT, W.G. - Creator
![© Vincent Brown Estate Artwork Royal Exchange Hotel this artwork made of Oil on composition board, created in 1948-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-06/1-0446_002.jpg?itok=W9trotbt)
Royal Exchange Hotel 1948
- BROWN, Vincent - Creator
![Joy Roggenkamp Estate Artwork Church at Sandgate this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache on buff wove paper, created in 1944-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2013.070_001.jpg?itok=Q5fR5tOi)
Church at Sandgate c.1949
- ROGGENKAMP, Joy - Creator
![Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency Artwork Barnes Auto, Brisbane this artwork made of Oil and enamel on cardboard, created in 1952-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2008.039_002_0.jpg?itok=57QKzGRY)
Barnes Auto, Brisbane 1952
- BLACKMAN, Charles - Creator
![Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency Artwork Stradbroke ferry this artwork made of Enamel and tempera on heavy cardboard, created in 1952-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2016.212_001_0.jpg?itok=yHZXSA93)
Stradbroke ferry 1952
- BLACKMAN, Charles - Creator
![Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency Artwork City lights this artwork made of Oil and enamel on cardboard, created in 1952-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2005.089_002_0.jpg?itok=UiHzuUxI)
City lights 1952
- BLACKMAN, Charles - Creator
![Estate of the artist Artwork Brisbane outskirts this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1959-01-01](/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2005.113_001_3.jpg?itok=ANI_vnlc)
Brisbane outskirts 1959
- GIBBS, C.G. - Creator