Brisbane Arcade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brisbane Arcade |
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The Brisbane Arcade viewed from its gallery level in 2016
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| Location | 160 Queen Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1923 - 1924 |
| Architect | Richard Gailey, Junior |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Brisbane Arcade | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600058 |
| Significant period | 1924 (fabric) |
| Significant components | gallery, shop/s |
| Builders | J & E L Rees, Forsyth & Speering |
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The Brisbane Arcade is a special shopping arcade located in the heart of Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It connects two main streets: Queen Street and Adelaide Street. This beautiful building was designed by Richard Gailey, Junior and built between 1923 and 1924. It is now protected as a heritage-listed site, meaning it's an important part of history.
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A Look Back in Time
The Brisbane Arcade first opened its doors in March 1924. It was built for Dr James Mayne and his sister Mary Emelia Mayne. They spent a lot of money on it – about £70,000, which was a huge sum back then! Their father, Patrick Mayne, had bought the land many years earlier, in the 1850s.
The arcade was designed to be a pathway for people to walk between Queen and Adelaide Streets. It also had many shops and offices. There were 20 shops on the ground floor and another 20 on the first floor. Offices were also located on the first floor.
When it first opened, the shops in Brisbane Arcade sold fancy items like silks, ladies' fashion, and beautiful floral art. It quickly became a place to find luxury goods.
The Mayne Family's Gift
After Dr James Mayne passed away in 1939 and Mary Mayne in 1940, the Brisbane Arcade became part of their family's estate. This means that the money earned from the arcade now helps the University of Queensland. Specifically, it supports the University of Queensland School of Medicine, which is now called the University of Queensland Mayne Medical School in their honour. A group of people called a board of trustees manages the arcade to make sure this continues.
An Art Gallery Underground
For a few years, from 1952 to 1957, something interesting was hidden under the Brisbane Arcade. It was the Johnstone Gallery, an art gallery that opened in a former bomb shelter! It later moved to a different location.
What the Arcade Looks Like
The Brisbane Arcade is a three-storey building with a similar look on both the Queen Street and Adelaide Street sides. Both ends have brick walls with fancy cement decorations. They also feature simple Classical designs.
The Queen Street side has triangular shapes, called pediments, at the very top. These are above the windows at each end. There are also pilasters (flat columns) and cantilevered balconies with pretty wrought iron railings. The windows are made of timber and open onto these balconies.
The Adelaide Street side looks similar but has arched windows on the top floor. It also has balconies on the first floor.
Inside the Arcade
The main entrance to the arcade is in the middle of both sides. The arcade itself is mostly two storeys high, connecting the taller three-storey sections at each end.
Inside, there's a large open space that runs the whole length of the arcade. A walkway crosses this space, leading to galleries on each side. You can reach the upper level by using the stairs at each end, which still have their original terrazzo (a type of floor made of chips of marble or other materials).
The roof of the arcade is made of lightweight steel, and natural light comes in through windows high up on the sides, called clerestory windows.
Art and Shops Today
The Brisbane Arcade is also home to a special piece of art called "Mirage" by Swiss-Israeli artist Gidon Graetz. This artwork was added when Brisbane hosted World Expo '88.
Today, the Brisbane Arcade is still a popular place for unique and fancy shops. You can find fashion, jewellery, and other special businesses there.
Why Brisbane Arcade is Special
The Brisbane Arcade is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's a very important building.
- It shows us what a purpose-built shopping arcade from the 1920s looked like in a city centre.
- People in Brisbane value its beautiful design, the materials used, and the amazing craftsmanship. This includes its main inside area and the outside parts that face the streets. It adds a lot to the look of Queen Street and Adelaide Street.
Gallery
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Entering the arcade, 2014
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Gidon Graetz' work 'Mirage' at the centre of the Arcade, 2008
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Roses Cafe at the Gallery level of the Arcade, 2008
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Eleanora Brisbane at Room with Roses, Brisbane Arcade, 2016
