The Optimist

Brisbane, the capital city of the state of Queensland is situated in the southeast corner of Queensland, Australia. Brisbane City is built on either side of the Brisbane River and the eastern suburbs are along the shores of Moreton Bay, to the north is the Sunshine Coast and to the south is the Gold Coast. The greater Brisbane region lies on the coastal plain east of the Great Dividing Range. There are numerous large hills in the greater Brisbane region with Mount Coot-tha providing an excellent vantage point from which to view the city. The fast developing Central Business District of Brisbane is situated in a curve of the Brisbane river. Many historic sandstone buildings have been preserved, but the majority of the central business district now consists of high rise buildings. Brisbane city is very pedestrian & bike friendly. Excellent transport is available via fast Catamarans on the river. There are several parks around the city. Roma Street Parklands the Botanical Gardens and South Bank Parklands are well worth a visit.
Brisbane, although it has a population of a million and a half, has quite a different atmosphere from the larger capital cities, Sydney and Melbourne. It was founded in July 1825 as a penal settlement, on the orders of the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane, and it soon gained a reputation as one of the harshest of such settlements. By 1840, however, with all the convicts withdrawn, Brisbane had become a city for free settlers. When Queensland was separated from New South Wales and became a colony in its own right, Brisbane became its capital.