Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail
Meander through the city's historic plazas and squares to find artworks and memorials that celebrate Brisbane's history.
About the trail
The Cultural Heritage Trail explores Brisbane's story through a mix of historic and contemporary artworks and monuments.
One of the overarching themes of the trail is commemoration and remembrance, whether it's a tribute to influential people, places or events that helped to shape our city.
The trail also showcases the works of some of Brisbane’s most famous sculptors, including Leonard Shillam and Daphne Mayo.
Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail map
The 1.3-kilometre walk commences at King George Square and finishes at St Stephen's Cathedral on Elizabeth Street.
Points of interest
The Progress of Civilisation in the State of Queensland, Daphne Mayo (1930) Brisbane
Artwork number: 1
Location: City Hall, King George Square
Artist: Daphne Mayo
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Sandstone
Date of installation: 1930
Speakers Corner: Emma Miller, Sire Charles Lilley, Steele Rudd, Artbusters (1993) Brisbane
Artwork number: 2
Location: King George Square
Artist: Artbusters
Description of artwork: Speakers Corner depicts three important figures in Queensland's history - Emma Miller, Sir Charles Lilley and Steele Rudd.
Materials: Bronze
Date of installation: 1993
King George V Memorial, E.F. Kohler, R. Summerhayes and E.S. Taylor (1938) Brisbane
Artwork number: 3
Location: King George Square
Artist: E.F. Kohler, R. Summerhayes and E.S. Taylor
Description of artwork: The design of the King George V bronze equestrian statue with its two lions, was the result of an Australian wide competition.
Materials: Bronze
Date of installation: 1938
Lions, E.F. Kohler, R. Summerhayes and E.S. Taylor (1938) Brisbane
Artwork number: 4
Location: King George Square
Artist: E.F. Kohler, R. Summerhayes and E.S. Taylor
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Bronze
Date of installation: 1938
Petrie Tableau, Stephen Walker (1988) Brisbane
Artwork number: 5
Location: King George Square
Artist: Stephen Walker
Description of artwork: The Petrie Tableau was commissioned and created as a way to acknowledgethe pioneer families of Brisbane.
Materials: Bronze
Date of installation: 1988
Resilience - Women's Suffrage Memorial, Cida de Aragon in collaboration with Steffen Lehmann (2007-2008) Brisbane
Artwork number: 6
Location: Emma Miller Place
Artist: Cida de Aragon in collaboration with Steffen Lehmann
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Concrete, metal and glass
Date of installation: 2007-2008
Queensland Women's War Memorial, Daphne Mayo (1932) Brisbane
Artwork number: 7
Location: Anzac Square, the western wall
Artist: Daphne Mayo
Description of artwork: The Women's War Memorial depicts a solemn procession of the infantry and their horse-drawn guns, beautifully carved in Helidon sandstone.
Materials: Helidon Sandstone
Date of installation: 1932
Vietnam War 1962 - 1973, Dorothea Saaghy (1988) Brisbane
Artwork number: 8
Location: Anzac Square
Artist: Dorothea Saaghy
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Bronze
Date of installation: 1988
Korea - Malaya - Borneo - 1948 - 1966 Memorial, Rhyl Hinwood (1966) Brisbane
Artwork number: 9
Location: Anzac Square
Artist: Rhyl Hinwood
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Bronze figures, granite plinth
Date of installation: 1966
South West Pacific Campaign Memorial, Artbusters (1992) Brisbane
Artwork number: 10
Location: Anzac Square
Artist: Artbusters
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Bronze figures, granite plinth with mosaic and brass infill
Date of installation: 1992
World War II Memorial, Artbusters (1992) Brisbane
Artwork number: 11
Location: Anzac Square
Artist: Artbusters
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Bronze figures, granite plinth, mosaic and bronze inlays
Date of installation: 1992
South African War Memorial, James Watts (1919) Brisbane
Artwork number: 12
Location: Anzac Square
Artist: James Watts
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Bronze, sandstone pedestal
Date of installation: 1919
Major General Sir William Glasgow, Daphne Mayo (1966) Brisbane
Artwork number: 13
Location: Post Office Square
Artist: Daphne Mayo
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Bronze with marble plinth
Date of installation: 1966
The Banker, Leonard Shillam (1970) Brisbane
Artwork number: 14
Location: Post Office Square
Artist: Leonard Shillam
Description of artwork: 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".
Materials: Cast aluminimum
Date of installation: 1970
Former Colonial Mutual Life (CML) building sculptures, LJ Harvey (1930-1931) Brisbane
Artwork number: 15
Location: The Manor Apartments (former CML Building) facade, 289-291 Queen Street
Artist: LJ Harvey (Sculptor)
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Benedict stone
Date of installation: 1930-1931
Strength, Plenty, Production and Growth, L.J Harvey and Fred Gowan (1934) Brisbane
Artwork number: 16
Location: Corner Edward and Queen Streets, MacArthur Chambers (former AMP Building)
Artist: L.J Harvey (created scale model), Fred Gowan (carved sculpture)
Description of artwork: 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'.
Materials: Sicilian marble
Date of installation: 1934
Paw paw and mango tree relief panels, LJ Harvey (1909) Brisbane
Artwork number: 17
Location: General Post Office, Elizabeth Street
Artist: LJ Harvey
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Helidon Sandstone
Date of installation: 1909
Bishop Quinn, Archille Simonetti (1892) Brisbane
Artwork number: 18
Location: 249 Elizabeth St, old St Stephen's School
Artist: Archille Simonetti
Description of artwork: This sculpture by Achille Simonetti commemorates Bishop Quinn, Brisbane's first Catholic Bishop.
Materials: Marble
Date of installation: 1892
River of Stone, Rhyl Hinwood and Scott Harrower (2005) Brisbane
Artwork number: 19
Location: 249 Elizabeth Street, St Stephen's Cathedral
Artist: Rhyl Hinwood (stone carving), Scott Harrower (mosaic inlays)
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Sandstone, relief and mosaic
Date of installation: 2005
Empire Stakes, Judy Watson (2003) Brisbane
Artwork number: 20
Location: St Stephen's Cathedral
Artist: Judy Watson
Description of artwork: 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.
Materials: Ironbark and steel plates
Date of installation: 2003
Download the trail guide to discover more about the artworks on the Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail.
