South Bank Parklands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Bank Parklands |
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Northern end with Wheel of Brisbane, 2010
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| Location | Queensland, Australia |
| Nearest city | Brisbane |
| Area | 17.5 hectares (0.068 sq mi) |
| Operated by | Brisbane City Council |
| Open | 5:00 am - midnight |
| Status | Open all year |
| Parking | 800 spaces |
| Public transit access | Train, bus and ferry |
The South Bank Parklands are a huge park area in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. They are located at South Bank, right on the Brisbane River. This amazing park was built on the land where Brisbane held World Expo 88 in 1988. The park officially opened to the public on June 20, 1992.
The parklands are on the southern side of the Brisbane River, directly across from the City. You can easily reach the park from the City by crossing the Victoria Bridge. At the southern end, the Goodwill Bridge connects the park to Gardens Point.
South Bank Parklands has many cool features. You'll find rainforest areas, grassy spots, and open plazas. There's a riverfront path, the famous Streets Beach, the Grand Arbour, and the Courier Mail Piazza. You can also see the Nepalese Peace Pagoda and ride the Wheel of Brisbane. The park is full of restaurants, shops, and fountains. It's also home to the Queensland Conservatorium, a music school.
South Bank and its parklands are a very important cultural spot in Brisbane. They often host big festivals and events. About 11 million people visit South Bank Parklands every year!
Contents
History of South Bank Parklands
South Bank was originally a special meeting place for the local Aboriginal people, the Turrbal and Yuggera people. In the early 1840s, it became the main center for early European settlers. By the 1850s, South Bank was a busy business hub in Brisbane.
However, everything changed after the 1893 Brisbane floods. The city's main business area had to move to higher ground on the northern side of the river. This is where Brisbane's city center is today. After this, South Bank became less important. It turned into an area with old theaters, rundown boarding houses, and factories.
A new era for South Bank began in the 1970s. Parkland was created along the river, and the Queensland Cultural Centre was built. This center includes important places like the Queensland Art Gallery, the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and the State Library of Queensland. Today, it also has the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.
In 1988, Brisbane hosted a very successful event called World Expo 88. After the Expo, the government wanted to build shops and offices on the site. But people in Brisbane wanted the area to be a park for everyone to enjoy. They campaigned, and their efforts worked! In 1989, the South Bank Corporation was set up. This group was in charge of developing and managing the new South Bank Parklands.
In 1998, big changes were announced for the park. These included building the Goodwill Bridge, improving Grey Street, creating the Grand Arbour, and making it easier to get around by removing old canals and pathways.
Getting to South Bank Parklands
Walking and Cycling
You can walk or cycle to South Bank Parklands from many directions.
- From South Bank itself, you can use Vulture Street, Little Stanley Street, and the Cultural Forecourt.
- From the City, you can walk across the Victoria Bridge.
- From Gardens Point, use the Goodwill Bridge.
- From Kangaroo Point, you can take the Riverwalk.
If you're cycling, there are bike racks at the Visitors Centre, Suncorp Piazza, The Boardwalk, Clem Jones Promenade, and Little Stanley Street.
Public Transport
South Bank Parklands is easy to reach by public transport.
- It's a short walk from the Cultural Centre busway station and the South Bank busway station.
- It's also close to the South Brisbane railway station and South Bank railway station.
- There are three CityCat ferry stops on the Brisbane River near the Victoria Bridge.
Fun Things to See and Do
The Arbour
The Arbour is a beautiful walkway made of 443 curving steel columns. These columns are covered in bougainvillea flowers, which bloom all year round. The Arbour is about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) long and is a popular path for people walking through the park.
Courier Mail Piazza
The Courier Mail Piazza is an outdoor theater where many community events are held. It can seat 2,158 people. When there are no events, the Piazza shows news and sports on two big screens.
Wheel of Brisbane
The Wheel of Brisbane is a giant Ferris wheel that stands 60 meters (197 feet) tall. It was put up in August 2008 to celebrate 20 years since World Expo 88. It also marked 150 years since Queensland was founded. The wheel has 42 gondolas, and a ride lasts about 15 minutes. From the top, you get amazing views of the South Bank Parklands, the Brisbane River, and the City.
Markets
The Young Designers Market happens on the first Sunday of every month. Here, you can find cool clothes and accessories made by talented young designers from Brisbane.
Nepal Peace Pagoda
The Nepalese Peace Pagoda was first built for the Expo 88 event. After the Expo, people wanted to keep it in Brisbane. Thanks to a successful fundraising effort, it was moved to its current spot by the river in South Bank Parklands. With its traditional design, artwork, and a meditation area on the first level, it's a very popular place to visit.
Restaurants and Cafés
South Bank is a great place to eat in Brisbane, with many restaurants and cafés inside the parklands. You can find places like Ahmet's, Café San Marco, Mado, and The Plough Inn. Right by Streets Beach, there's the South Bank Surf Club, which serves seafood in a relaxed setting. Next to it is Live Fire Steak Bar, an outdoor restaurant with modern style.
Streets Beach
One of the most famous parts of the park is its man-made beach, called Streets Beach. It has 2,000 square meters of concrete shaped like a beach, surrounded by 4,000 cubic meters of sand. The sand comes from Moreton Bay, and about 70 tonnes are added each year to keep it looking perfect. Almost half of this beach area is built on land that used to be part of the Brisbane River.
The beach uses chlorinated fresh water that is cleaned and reused every six hours. The water goes through big sand filters and is treated before being pumped back into the pools. The beach has won awards for being clean and friendly. It has a lagoon big enough to fill five Olympic swimming pools, with sandy areas, palm trees, and tropical plants.
The beach is named after its sponsor, Streets Ice Cream. It used to be called Kodak Beach. Lifeguards patrol the beach all year round to keep everyone safe.
Past Attractions
Our World Environment
This was a walk-through attraction that showed a recreation of Mawson's Huts. It closed in 1994.
South Ships
These were boats that traveled along canals in the park. They stopped running in 1997, and the canals were removed as part of the 1998 park changes.
Festivals and Events
The South Bank Parklands host many yearly cultural events and festivals. These include the Australia Day Festival, Riverfire, and New Year's Eve celebrations. In 2009, more than half a million people came to South Bank Parklands to watch Riverfire.
Awards and Recognition
In 2009, as part of the Q150 celebrations (which marked 150 years of Queensland), South Bank Parklands was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland. This recognized its importance as a special "location" in the state.
Facilities for Visitors
Parking
The Parklands Underground Carpark has over 800 parking spaces for cars. You can get into the carpark from Tribune Street or Glenelg Street, which are off Little Stanley Street.
Bathrooms and Showers
Showers are available in Stanley Street Plaza. There are also five different bathroom facilities located throughout the park.
Internet Access
You can get free internet access in the park area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is a time limit of five hours, and the speed is up to 512 kbps.
Original Concept of the Park
When South Bank Parklands was first developed after World Expo 88, it had canals, bridges, and even boats. There was also a wildlife refuge called Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary and a Butterfly House. In January 1998, the Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary closed, and its animals were moved.
The Butterfly House was later renamed the Butterfly and Insect House. In April 1998, it became the South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary, with more types of wildlife. In late 2005, the South Bank Wildlife Sanctuary closed down, and an office and shop were built where it used to be. The canals, bridges, and boats from the original park design are also gone now. Visitors used to be able to rent golf carts to tour the park, but this service was also removed.
Images for kids
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The Nepalese Peace Pagoda at night
