Accommodation in the Brisbane Region

The northernmost of Australia's state capitals, subtropical Brisbane is an attractive city lying 14km inland on the banks of the Brisbane River. It enjoys warm summers and clear mild winters. Although for many years Brisbane was a capital with the atmosphere of a large country town, the 1984 Common¬wealth Games and the 1988 World Expo helped to change that image. Visitors now find a modern and sophisticated city that is full of life and vitality.

Settled in 1825 by a detachment of 45 convicts and their guards, Brisbane was originally a penal settlement situated at Redcliffe, north of the city's current location. The move to Brisbane's current site beside the river was mainly due to a lack of fresh water, the failure of intro¬duced crops and unrest among the local Aboriginal people. The riverside position has since played a pivotal role in the life of the city. Paddlewheelers, yachts, floating restaurants, ferries, cruise boats and bridges can be seen from many vantage points on the river's picturesque banks.