Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail

The Cultural Heritage Trail is a 1.3 kilometre walk through the city's historic plazas and squares, with a focus on artworks and memorials that commemorate Brisbane's history. The trail commences at King George Square and finishes at St Stephen's Cathedral on Elizabeth Street. It is a mix of historic, heritage-listed and contemporary artworks and monuments, each contributing to Brisbane's story. 

Download the public art trail map brochure in your preferred format:

How to use the Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail online map and table

Select an icon to read about about each artwork in the public art trail.

As an alternative to the online map and brochure, you can view the table for artwork and location information.

You can view all artworks in this trail in the 'Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail' album in Council's Flickr account. 

Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail map and table

This table provides information about the artworks along the Cultutal Heritage Public Art Trail including number, title, location, artist, description, materials and installation date.

Number Title Location Artist Description Materials Installation date
1 The Progress of Civilisation in the State of Queensland City Hall, King George Square Daphne Mayo The central figure in the classic design is robed to represent the state who sends her explorers, industrialists and artists throughout the land. The displaced Aboriginal people are depicted as fleeing. Sandstone 1930
2 Speakers Corner: Emma Miller, Sire Charles Lilley, Steele Rudd King George Square Artbusters Speakers Corner depicts three important figures in Queensland's history - Emma Miller, Sir Charles Lilley and Steele Rudd. Bronze 1993
3 King George V Memorial King George Square E.F. Kohler, R. Summerhayes and E.S. Taylor The design of the King George V bronze equestrian statue with its two lions, was the result of an Australian wide competition. Bronze 1938
4 Lions King George Square E.F. Kohler, R. Summerhayes and E.S. Taylor The lions are of the type described as 'lion couchant', lying down with the head raised. The lion is a common symbol in heraldry and is particularly prominent in British heraldry. Bronze 1938
5 Petrie Tableau King George Square Stephen Walker The Petrie Tableau was commissioned and created as a way to acknowledge the pioneer families of Brisbane. Bronze 1988
6 Resilience – Women's Suffrage Memorial Emma Miller Place Cida de Aragon in collaboration with Steffen Lehmann This abstract work graphically describes the quest to be recognised as equal. It was installed in 2007 in recognition of the 100 year anniversary of women’s right to vote in Queensland. Concrete, metal and glass 2007-2008
7 Queensland Women’s War Memorial Anzac Square, the western wall Daphne Mayo The Women’s War Memorial depicts a solemn procession of the infantry and their horse-drawn guns, beautifully carved in Helidon sandstone. Helidon Sandstone 1932
8 Vietnam War 1962-1973 Anzac Square Dorothea Saaghy The sculpture depicts an act of mercy performed many times during the Vietnam War - an Australian soldier directing a medical helicopter to descend and tend to his wounded mate. Bronze 1988
9 Korea - Malaya - Borneo - 1948-1966 Memorial Anzac Square Rhyl Hinwood This memorial depicts an Australian soldier from the Malaya and Borneo wars standing alongside an Australian soldier from the Korean Campaign, with an arm outstretched welcoming peace and friendship. Bronze figures, granite plinth 1966
10 South West Pacific Campaign Memorial Anzac Square Artbusters The memorial is a tribute from Brisbane City Council to those soldiers who fought at Milne Bay and in the Kokoda Campaigns and was unveiled during the 50th anniversary year.  Bronze figures, granite plinth with mosaic and brass infill 1992
11 World War II Memorial Anzac Square Artbusters The memorial depicts a wounded Australian soldier being assisted by a nursing sister - a scene typical of all theatres of war and exemplifying the involvement of all Australian servicemen and women in World War II. Bronze figures, granite plinth, mosaic and bronze inlays 1992
12 South African War Memorial Anzac Square James Watts The memorial featuring a Boer War soldier on horseback was first erected in Turbot Street below King Edward Park in 1919 and moved to Anzac Square in 1938/39. Bronze, sandstone pedestal 1919
13 Major General Sir William Glasgow Post Office Square Daphne Mayo  This naturalistic bronze figure depicts one of Queensland’s most distinguished First World War officers. Major General Sir William Glasgow served in Egypt and Gallipoli with the Australian Light Horse Regiment. Bronze with marble plinth 1966
14 The Banker Post Office Square Leonard Shillam According to Judith McKay’s, Brisbane Sculpture Guide: A Walk Around Public Sculpture in the City , "The Doric columns and entablature over the money-changer refer to the stability and antiquity of banking”. Cast aluminium 1970
15 Former Colonial Mutual Life (CML) building sculptures The Manor Apartments (former CML Building) facade, 289-291 Queen Street  L. J. Harvey (Sculptor) The former Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society (CML) building was opened in 1931. It is one of Brisbane’s finest examples of Art Deco architecture. Gargoyles, lions, friezes, shields and Romanesque detailing were included in the design to embellish the front of the building. Benedict stone 1930-1931
16 Strength, Plenty, Production and Growth Corner Edward and Queen Streets, MacArthur Chambers (former AMP Building)  L. J. Harvey (created scale model), Fred Gowan (carved sculpture) One of the building’s features is the sculpture located above the portico. The sculpture by Fred Gowan is made from Sicilian marble and is said to represent ‘strength, plenty, production and growth.’ Sicilian marble 1934
17 Paw paw and mango tree relief panels General Post Office, Elizabeth Street LJ Harvey The paw paw and mango tree relief panels, designed by Louis J. Harvey, are considered to be reflective of the Arts and Crafts movement that occurred at the turn of the century.  Helidon Sandstone 1909
18 Bishop Quinn 249 Elizabeth St, old St Stephen’s School  Archille Simonetti This sculpture by Achille Simonetti commemorates Bishop Quinn, Brisbane’s first Catholic Bishop. Marble 1892
19 River of Stone 249 Elizabeth Street, St Stephen’s Cathedral Rhyl Hinwood (stone carving), Scott Harrower (mosaic inlays) The work provides a narrative for the cathedral’s patron, St Stephen. Words from the Bible’s Acts of the Apostles have been selectively carved into the stone. Sandstone, relief and mosaic 2005
20 Empire Stakes St Stephen’s Cathedral Judy Watson Empire Stakes is a sculpture by Aboriginal artist, Judy Watson. The series of stakes represent the original ironbark posts that were placed one square mile from Brisbane’s settlement in 1852.  Ironbark and steel plates 2003

Artwork gallery

You can view the in the slideshow below or in Council's Flickr account. You can also view artworks in Council's other public art trails in the 'Public Art Trails' collection.

Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail

 

Last updated: 9 January 2023
Topics: public art

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