Walking through Brisbane’s past with QIA special heritage tour
The Queensland Irish Association is joining forces with the Royal Historical Society of Queensland for a special heritage walk exploring the story of Brisbane’s earliest days.
QIA members are invited to take part in an exclusive Queen’s Wharf Precinct Heritage Tour on Tuesday, 18 August, discovering the historic buildings, people and events that shaped the city from its colonial beginnings.
Led by the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, the two-hour guided walk will take participants through one of Brisbane’s most historically significant precincts — the area where the city first began.
Starting and finishing at the Commissariat Store Museum, the tour will explore 11 heritage buildings and sites, revealing stories from Brisbane’s convict era, colonial government, commerce and community life.
Among the highlights are the Commissariat Store, one of Brisbane’s oldest surviving buildings; the DPI Building; the site of Pettigrew’s Sawmill, once one of the city’s major industries; Parliament House; the Queensland Club; the Treasury Building; and other important landmarks.
For QIA members, the tour provides a fascinating opportunity to look at Brisbane’s history through a different lens.
Irish immigrants were among the convicts, labourers, merchants, politicians, public servants and community leaders who helped build colonial Brisbane. Many of the buildings and institutions around Queen’s Wharf have links to the Irish story of Queensland, from the early convict period through to the influence of Irish politicians, professionals and business people.
The Royal Historical Society of Queensland, founded in 1913, has played a vital role in preserving and sharing Queensland’s history, and this partnership with the Queensland Irish Association continues the QIA’s commitment to celebrating and promoting the heritage of Irish Queenslanders.
The tour will involve approximately three kilometres of walking, so participants are encouraged to wear comfortable footwear and bring water. Sun protection, including hats, sunscreen and suitable clothing, is recommended.
A ticket for the precinct tour also includes entry to the Commissariat Store Museum, allowing visitors to explore one of Brisbane’s most important historical collections before or after the walk.
This promises to be an enjoyable and informative outing for QIA members — a chance to discover the stories hidden behind familiar Brisbane landmarks and to walk in the footsteps of those who helped build the city we know today.
Queen’s Wharf Precinct Tour
Date: Tuesday, 18 August
Tickets: $20 includes museum entry, pay on the day.
RSVP: by Sunday, 16 August to mary@queenslandirish.com.au