Back in the 1950’s the Queensland capital was thought of as an overgrown country town and helping to cast off this unstylish notion was the elusive Brisbane Bard.
The phantom poet wrote and left his verse in cafes all over the city, providing a snapshot of life in the city and his identity is still a mystery, even to this day.
Until now we have spent very little time in Brisbane which today is dashing, dapper and up-to-date
The descriptor of our snappy CBD 6th floor apartment omitted the fact it was located 30 metres directly above a freeway. But the double glazing was so effective we were completely unaware of the speedway below until we actually stepped out onto the balcony. Attempting breakfast on the verandah would have been like eating in Daniel Riccardo’s formula one pit stop.
From our balcony we could almost touch the newly installed walking bridge across the river which looked as if it was designed by John Bertram and the crew of Australia II. Only masts—no winged keels!
Over four days we took our senior’s Go card and travelled both up and down the Brisbane River on the City-Cats; took the city loop bus in both directions; ate at the Paragon fish restaurant at Eagle Pier and Italian along the Southbank and mangled with the crowds in the Queen St Mall.
Driving back up to Toowoomba we detoured to the Wivenhoe Dam which caused much havoc with its water releases during the 2011 Brisbane floods
And for something different today we drove from Toowoomba to Allora and Warwick; the former a village which was home to Mary Poppins author Pamela P L Travers at 61 HerbertSt.
Allora next week hosts an open and ‘drive-by’ garden show so today we did the lot as a simple drive by, also taking pictures of the classic Queensland architecture.
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