Queen Street Mall facts for kids
The Queen Street Mall is a popular shopping street in the heart of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's a special street where only people can walk, not cars. The mall stretches for about 500 meters (about 1,640 feet) between George Street and Edward Street.
This busy area has more than 700 shops and six large shopping centers. It covers a huge area of over 40,000 square meters (about 430,000 square feet). Every year, more than 26 million people visit the Queen Street Mall. It was created to bring more people to the city center of Brisbane.
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History of the Queen Street Mall
The idea for the Queen Street Mall came from an architect named Robin Gibson (architect). The street was closed to cars in 1981. The first part of the walking mall opened in 1982. This was just in time for the Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane.
At first, only the section of Queen Street between Albert Street and Edward Street became a walking area. Then, in 1988, it was made even longer. The mall was extended to include the part of Queen Street between Albert Street and George Street. This happened around the same time as Brisbane's big event, Expo '88.
In 1999, the mall got a big update that cost $25 million. During this update, the old terracotta tiles on the ground were replaced with new granite stones. The part of the mall near Albert Street was updated again in 2007. In 2009, the Brisbane City Council announced plans to improve Burnett Lane. This is a narrow path next to the mall that would become part of the mall area.
What happened in 2013?
On March 8, 2013, there was an incident at the mall. A person caused a situation that lasted about 90 minutes. Police were able to safely end the situation.
What Can You Find at the Mall?
The Queen Street Mall is home to many different shopping centers. Some of the main ones include:
- Wintergarden (opened in 1982)
- The Myer Centre (opened in 1988)
- Broadway on the Mall (opened in 1989)
- Queens Plaza (opened in 2005)
- Brisbane Arcade (opened in 1923)
- Q&A Building
- Queen Adelaide Building
- Tattersall's Arcade
In the middle of the mall, where Queen Street and Albert Street meet, there is a tall steel structure. It stands about 15 meters (50 feet) high and helps provide shade and shelter from the weather. Near the George Street end of the mall, you'll find a stage. This stage is used for music, fashion shows, and other performances. It has a roof that is about 11 meters (36 feet) high.
Right underneath the Queen Street Mall is the Queen Street Bus Station. This makes it easy for people to get to and from the mall using public transport.
When the mall was first built, many old and important building fronts were kept. This helped the mall keep a feeling of the past, even with all the new shops.
Shopping Centers at the Mall
The Queen Street Mall has several important shopping centers. These include the Wintergarden, The Myer Centre, Broadway on the Mall, and the fancy Queens Plaza. QueensPlaza is at the northern end of the mall and opened in two parts, in 2005 and 2008.
The Wintergarden is a shopping center with three levels. It has over 70 special stores, including a gym and a bowling alley. In 2009, it was announced that the Wintergarden would get a big update costing A$100 million. The goal was to make it one of the best shopping places in Brisbane's city center again.
The Myer Centre is the biggest shopping center in Brisbane's city center. It has almost 200 stores spread across 6 floors. This includes Queensland's largest department store, Myer, as well as Target and Birch Carroll and Coyle cinemas.
Broadway on the Mall is a four-level shopping center with about 60 stores. It closed in August 2013 for updates and was expected to take about 18 months to finish.
QueensPlaza is known as Brisbane's most high-end shopping center. It has about 80 stores on three levels. This includes Australia's largest David Jones department store in one location.
There are also smaller shopping centers and arcades on the Queen Street Mall. These include the historic Brisbane Arcade, the Q&A Building, and the old Tattersall's Arcade.
Recent Updates and Changes
In 1999, the mall changed its look. The old terracotta tile paths were replaced with grey slate tiles. New art was added, and new trees and plants were put in with benches for people to sit on.
In 2006, the area where George Street meets the mall also got an update with the opening of Brisbane Square. This area also got the same grey slate tiles. In 2008, the mall was extended along Albert Street to the corner of Albert Street and Adelaide Street.
In 2009, the Brisbane City Council shared plans to improve Burnett Lane. This narrow path next to the mall would become part of the Queen Street Mall area. The idea was to create a lively area with small bars and restaurants.
Images for kids
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Queen Street Mall in 2021
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Queen Street Mall
