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:
- Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail (PDF - 5.6Mb) - with images and trail map
- Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail (Word - 190kb) - text only version - no images or trail map
How to use the Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail online map view and text view
Select an icon to read about about each artwork in the public art trail.
As an alternative to the online map view and brochure, toggle to the text view (toggle is above map) for artwork and location information.
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
Art trail - Cultural heritage accessible text view
| Artwork name | Location information | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lions | King George Square, Brisbane City |
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 |
| Major General Sir William Glasgow | Post Office Square, Brisbane City |
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 |
| Bishop Quinn | Old St Stephen's School, 249 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City |
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 |
| The Progress of Civilisation in the State of Queensland | City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane City |
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 | King George Square, Brisbane City |
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 | King George Square, Brisbane City |
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 |
| Petrie Tableau | King George Square, Brisbane City |
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 | Emma Miller Place, Brisbane City |
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 | Anzac Square, the western wall, Brisbane City |
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 | Anzac Square, Brisbane City |
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 | Anzac Square, Brisbane City |
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 | Anzac Square, Brisbane City |
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 | Anzac Square, Brisbane City |
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 | Anzac Square, Brisbane City |
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 |
| The Banker | Post Office Square, Brisbane City |
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 | The Manor Apartments (former CML Building) facade, 289-291 Queen Street, Brisbane City |
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 | MacArthur Chambers (former AMP Building), Corner Edward and Queen Streets, Brisbane City |
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 | General Post Office, Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City |
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 |
| River of Stone | St Stephen's Cathedral, 249 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City |
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 | St Stephen's Cathedral, 249 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City |
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 |