Facts about Brisbane
Archerfield Airport (in Brisbane's southern suburbs) acts as a general aviation airport.
At the 2006 census, the population of Brisbane was 1,763,131, making it the third largest city in Australia, or 138th largest in the world, according to World Gazetteer.
Blue-collar industries, including petroleum refining, stevedoring, paper milling, metalworking and QR railway workshops, tend to be located on the lower reaches of the Brisbane River and in new industrial zones on the urban fringe.
Brisbane recorded the largest growth rate of all capital cities in the last Census, with an annual growth rate of 2.2 percent.
Brisbane has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and dry, mild winters.
The City of Brisbane is divided into 26 wards, with each ward electing a councilor as their community representative.
The Lord Mayor of Brisbane and Councilors are elected every four years by popular vote, in which all residents must participate.
Brisbane staged the successful Commonwealth Games during 1982, and World's Fair (known locally as Expo '88) during 1988.
More recently, Brisbane hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games, 1988 World's Fair (Expo '88), and the 2001 Goodwill Games.
An extensive network of pedestrian and cyclist pathways have been created along the banks of the Brisbane River to form a Riverwalk network.
The city is named in honor of Sir Thomas Brisbane, the Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825.
Tourism is an important part of the Brisbane economy, both in its own right and as a gateway to other areas of Queensland.
Brisbane is one of the major business areas in Australia, and is the hub of numerous rail lines and highways, which bring produce from an extensive agricultural hinterland.
Brisbane City Council had an annual budget, in 2005, of approximately $1.6 billion, and an asset base of $13 billion.
The Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) is held in July and August in a variety of venues around Brisbane including the Regent Cinema in Queen Street Mall.
The 2006 census showed that 1.7 percent of Brisbane's population were of indigenous origin and 21.7 percent were born overseas.
German missionaries settled at Zions Hill, Nundah, as early as 1837, five years before Brisbane was officially declared a free settlement.
Built with Brisbane tuff from the nearby Kangaroo Point Cliffs and sandstone from a quarry near today's Albion Park Racecourse, it is now the home of the Royal Historical Society of Brisbane.
Free settlers entered the area over the following five years and by the end of 1840, Robert Dixon began work on the first plan of Brisbane Town in anticipation of future development.
The Port of Brisbane, on the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, can accommodate ships of up to 34,000 tons, and exports container freight, sugar, grain, coal, and bulk liquids.
The lower population density reflects the fact that most of Brisbane's housing stock consists of detached houses, although the construction of apartments has increased the density of the city and inner city neighborhoods.
The government has invested in several biotechnology and research facilities at several universities in Brisbane.
The Windmill in Wickham Park and the Old Commissariat Store on William Street are considered to be the oldest surviving buildings in Brisbane.
Brisbane has a range of retail precincts, both in the central business district and in the suburbs.
Other universities which have campuses in Brisbane include the Australian Catholic University, Central Queensland University, James Cook University, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and the University of Southern Queensland.
Brisbane was inhabited before European settlement by the Turrbal people whose ancestors migrated to the region from across the Torres Strait.
Brisbane Airport (IATA code: BNE) is the city's main airport, the third busiest in Australia after Sydney Airport and Melbourne Airport respectively.
Over 20 small municipalities and shires were amalgamated in 1925, to form the City of Brisbane, which is governed by the Brisbane City Council.
In 1996, the annual festival was changed to a biennial Brisbane Festival.
The Brisbane Medieval Fayre and Tournament is held each June in Musgrave Park.
The Paniyiri festival at Musgrave Park (corner of Russell and Edmondstone Streets, South Brisbane) is an annual Greek cultural festival held on the first weekend in May.
The Brisbane metropolitan area now covers parts of several adjoining local government areas including Moreton Bay, Ipswich City, Logan City, and Redland Shire.
Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia and the most populous city of Queensland, of which it is the capital.
The Queen St Mall has restaurants, cinemas, souvenir outlets, and shopping centers, including: Wintergarden, Broadway on the Mall, QueensPlaza, Brisbane Arcade, and The Myer Centre.
Queensland was proclaimed a separate colony on June 6, 1859, with Brisbane chosen as its capital, although it was not incorporated as a city until 1902.
Brisbane is described as sophisticated and progressive, dynamic and diverse.
The city's early name, Edenglassie, was changed to honor Sir Thomas Brisbane, the Governor of New South Wales from 1821–1825.
The Bridge to Brisbane fun run has become a major annual charity event for Brisbane.
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Brisbane Forest Park, located in the city, are popular tourist destinations alongside the Story Bridge adventure climb and Portside Wharf.
The Powerhouse complex, Twelfth Night Theatre, and Brisbane Arts Theatre also stage productions throughout the year.
Run as a celebration of Brisbane, Warana was similar to Melbourne's Moomba festival.
The Brisbane River has created a barrier to some road transport routes.
Water storage, treatment, and delivery for Brisbane is handled by SEQ Water, which sells on to Brisbane Water for distribution to the greater Brisbane area.
The island nation was initially a site for penal colonies in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with Brisbane's creation taking place for the same purpose in 1825.
Brisbane has a lower inner city population density than Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, although constant population growth is closing that gap.
Australia as a whole, and Brisbane included, has developed a robust economy and peaceful way of life.
The Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm and the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts on Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley also feature diverse programs featuring exhibitions and festivals of visual art, music, and dance.
Major cultural events in Brisbane include the Ekka (the Royal Queensland Show), held each August, and the Riverfestival, held each September at South Bank Parklands and surrounding areas.