Brisbane, Queensland
An Antipodean travel company serving World Travellers since 1983
History
and the area has traditionally been inhabited by ‘s indigenous people, and more specifically the Jagera people, with a history of continued habitation in , and Queensland dating back roughly 60,000 years, when Aboriginal Australians are thought to have arrived on the continent. Southeast Queensland’s Indigenous people, like the rest of lived in a nomadic hunter gatherer society, with different areas of the area yielding different valuable resources. One example is the Stephens area, being valuable for different woods, such as ironbark, stringy bark, and tallow wood, or Mt Gravatt, rich in Echidnas harvested for their quills, which could be used in sewing cloaks and clothing. First contact with Europeans in Queensland was in fact the first ever contact between Europeans and Aboriginal Australians, with Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon making first contact as early as the year 1606. Further contact between the two people would not come till much later however, with the first substantial engagement not occurring till after the establishment of the penal settlement around 1825. Relations between settlers and the indigenous people were strained, with the encroaches of the settlers outwards from the colony often met with reprisals. Once the colony opened up to free settlement in addition to convicts, the colony swelled even in size, with the colonists making an even more concerted claim upon the region. These early years saw large numbers of German settlers in particular, with a colonization effort from Prussian ‘Uckermark’, as well as other states being attracted by land grants and wage guarantees offered by the early colonial government.
At this point in history much of the Queensland region was integrated into the greater British colony of New South Wales, which spanned across every major state and territory in both countries, save for Western or the ‘Swan River Colony’ as it was known at the time. As the mid 19th century progressed many of these territories opted to separate from New South Wales and become their own self governing states, Queensland was one of these states, becoming formally independent in the year 1859, with being named as . ‘s economy boomed in the later 19th century, which like New South Wales and Victoria, experienced a boom due to successive gold rushes, which brought an accompanying influx of migrants which aided in the growth of the state. The end of the century came with a disaster however, with the bursting its banks with heavy floods in 1893, destroying large parts of the and leaving huge numbers of people homeless. The 20th Century saw the growth of eclipse its large country town heritage as it grew into a proper, with large infrastructure works and urban renewal projects radically reshaping the ‘s built heritage. The also came to international note after serving as the allied southwest pacific headquarters during World War II, headed by the famous U.S. General Douglas MacArthur. Today continues to grow, and at the fastest rate of any Australian capital, with continual development work thus far meeting the demands of the growing population of .
is the natural start point for for many Queensland tours, whether you’re heading on to an outback adventure, or venturing up along the with the state’s famous white sand beaches along the way. With this in mind a is a good way to begin, or finish up your journey, with the affording travellers a variety of speeds depending on your interests and time. As for itself, some of the more popular areas to visit would be , or . is just on the north side of the Story Bridge, and is where you can find much of ‘s entertainment and food scene, its proximity to the CBD in particular makes it a great place to around, ducking into cafes and experiencing some of ‘s laneway culture. As its name suggests, is located on the of the , just opposite from ‘s CBD. The area is known for its upscale dining, as well as its cultural venues, which include the convention and exhibition centre, the Queensland Cultural Centre, and the Maritime museum. The parklands are another highlight, which features a stunning modern design created for the World Expo 1988. Alternatively, for a closer brush with nature you could pay a visit to the , where you can see ‘s fluffiest mascots up close and personal, as well as wombats, platypuses, crocodiles are more.
Venturing slightly farther from the , it may be worth taking a of , with its incredible rolling sand dunes and crystal clear waters. This is a fantastic spot to see some of ‘s marine wildlife, with the in particular being a hotspot for huge varieties of fish, coral and colourful sea life. Heading further afield to the north of , a out to the is a great way to experience the fresh seaside life that characterizes many of Queensland’s towns. With seaside towns like Noosa, Mooloolaba, or Caloundra being popular holiday spots for residents coming from . Just a little further inland is the , which are full of amazing sights are charming towns, such as the Glasshouse Mountains, Maleny, or Montville. Further north, past the is the largest of the world’s sand islands, . Inscribed as a world heritage site since 1992, is home to a huge number of birds, amphibians and reptiles, even playing host to the occasional saltwater crocodile. It also contains over 100 freshwater lakes, which contain some of the cleanest fresh water found anywhere on earth. Alternatively, heading in the other direction, south from , you can visit one of Queensland’s most famous tourist destinations, the world famous . A to the will pretty much guarantee you’ll have a , with the seaside breeze and the relaxed atmosphere perfect for a fun getaway. For the more courageous amongst you, you could even book a and go for a , though it’s never quite as easy as you’d think! Alternatively, head into and enjoy the town’s central entertainment, and cultural district. Odyssey visits as part of our small group of Queensland, which begins and ends its circuit at . One of the best ways to experience what has to offer is with a small group . Odyssey specialises in this kind of , offering and engaged, and intimate to ideal for seniors, solo travellers, or couples heading to and Queensland.
