City Australia and Oceania
Brisbane
Brisbane is a big city in Australia, beside a wide river. Fast ferries zoom along the river, and koalas live in its parks.
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, in eastern Australia. An estimated 1,375,301 people lived in the City of Brisbane in mid-2025, and the wider Brisbane area about 2.7 million, the third-largest in Australia. It began in 1825 as a penal colony on a bend of the Brisbane River.
Brisbane, founded in 1825 as a penal settlement and a free town from 1842, became capital of the new colony of Queensland in 1859. Its city council has run one big local government area since 1925, now with about 1.38 million people; the Brisbane agglomeration is Australia's third.
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Discover Brisbane
Brisbane is a big city in Australia. It is the main city of the state of Queensland.
A wide river winds through it. Lots of bridges cross the river.
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, a state in eastern Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that 1,375,301 people lived in the City of Brisbane on 30 June 2025. The whole Brisbane agglomeration, with its suburbs, had 2,745,086, the third-most in Australia after Melbourne and Sydney.
Universalis says the city grew up on a bend of the Brisbane River's estuary, and that many bridges cross the river.
City Population's table of local government areas (ABS estimates) gives the City of Brisbane 885,787 people in 2001, 1,089,879 in 2011, 1,262,968 in 2021 and 1,375,301 on 30 June 2025. Its agglomeration table ranks Brisbane third (2,745,086), after Melbourne (5,328,274) and Sydney (5,219,674). Queensland had 5,669,764.
Universalis (Alain Huetz de Lemps) describes very spread-out suburbs where most people live in houses with gardens, on both sides of the river.
- Country
- Australia (capital of Queensland)
- People in the City of Brisbane (estimate, 30 June 2025)
- 1,375,301
- People in the Brisbane agglomeration (same date)
- 2,745,086 (third in Australia)
- Founded
- 1825, as a penal colony
Towers by the river
Look at all the tall towers! They stand beside the river.
Boats are tied up on the left. Two boats speed along and leave white trails in the water.
This photo was taken from Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park on 6 November 2020. Across the river, the city's towers rise into a clear blue sky. Many small boats are moored along the left bank, two boats leave white trails across the water, and green trees grow at the bottom right.
Wikidata places the Kangaroo Point Cliffs about 1.5 kilometers southeast of Brisbane City Hall.
Commons: 'Skylines of Brisbane from Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park, 2020', 6 November 2020, own work by Chris Olszewski (CC BY-SA 4.0). The file sits in the categories 'Skylines of Brisbane' and 'Brisbane Skytower'; Wikidata lists the Skytower as a skyscraper of 90 floors.
The Kangaroo Point Cliffs and the Story Bridge are both on the Queensland Heritage Register, Wikidata records.
- Photo
- the skyline seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park, 6 November 2020
- Kangaroo Point Cliffs
- about 1.5 km southeast of City Hall, on the Queensland Heritage Register
- Brisbane Skytower
- a 90-floor tower, filed with this photo on Commons
From penal colony to state capital
People lived around Brisbane for a very, very long time. Then a prison town was built by the river.
Later it became a free town, and then the main city of Queensland.
Brisbane City Council says the Traditional Custodians, First Nations people, lived in the area now called Moreton Bay more than 60,000 years ago. The city is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, an astronomer who was Governor of New South Wales when the region was first explored.
Universalis says Brisbane was founded in 1825 as a penal colony and became a free town in 1842. In 1859 it was separated from New South Wales and became the capital of the new colony of Queensland.
Council history: Brisbane was declared a municipality in 1859; its first council election, on 13 October 1859, had 37 candidates for 9 seats, and the builder John Petrie became the first mayor. On 1 October 1925, 20 local authorities and joint boards merged under the City of Brisbane Act 1924, and the council also took over the trams.
Universalis credits the city's growth to farming on the Moreton lands and the Darling Downs and to finds of coal (Ipswich), oil and natural gas.
- Penal colony, then a free town
- 1825; free from 1842
- Capital of the new colony of Queensland
- 1859
- One council for greater Brisbane
- 1 October 1925
CityCats, bridges and a metro
In Brisbane you can ride a fast ferry called a CityCat. You can ride a bus or a metro too.
Big bridges cross the river.
Brisbane City Council launched its first four CityCats, fast catamaran ferries, in November 1996. Cross-river bus services began in 1940, when the Story Bridge opened. Its last tram ran in April 1969, and buses took over.
The new Brisbane Metro's M2 service launched in January 2025 and its M1 service in June 2025. Brisbane Airport lies about 13 kilometers northeast of City Hall.
Council history: trams until April 1969 (replaced by 700 buses); the Riverside Expressway opened in 1975; the Eleanor Schonell Bridge (2006) was Australia's first dedicated bus, cycle and pedestrian bridge at the time; the Legacy Way tunnel was completed in 2015; the Kangaroo Point Bridge opened in December 2024.
Wikidata: Story Bridge opened 6 July 1940, 777 m long; Brisbane Airport 13.3 km NE of City Hall.
- First CityCats (fast catamaran ferries)
- November 1996
- Story Bridge
- opened 6 July 1940; 777 m long
- Brisbane Metro
- M2 from January 2025, M1 from June 2025
Warm and wet summers
Brisbane has hot summers and mild winters.
More rain falls in summer than in winter.
Universalis calls Brisbane's climate subtropical: mild in winter, hot and humid in summer. The World Meteorological Organization's averages give January days an average high of about 30 °C, while July nights average about 10 °C.
About 1,007 millimeters of rain fall in a year. January is the wettest month, with about 154 millimeters, and July the driest, with about 24.
WMO World Weather Information Service, Brisbane (temperatures 1999–2015, rainfall 1999–2016): average highs from 21.8 °C in July to 30.2 °C in January; average lows from 10.1 °C in July to 21.5 °C in January. Rainfall totals 1,006.9 mm, from 153.9 mm in January to 23.7 mm in July, on about 82 days a year with at least 1 mm.
Universalis notes that the warm climate lets tropical plants grow beside plants from temperate countries.
- January, average high (WMO, 1999–2015)
- 30.2 °C
- July, average low (same table)
- 10.1 °C
- Rainfall in a year (WMO, 1999–2016)
- 1,006.9 mm
Koalas, frogs and the 2032 Games
Brisbane's special animals are the koala and the tree frog. Koalas live in its parks and even in some backyards!
In 2032, Brisbane will hold the Olympic Games.
Brisbane's animal emblems are the koala and the tree frog. The council says koalas live in open forest and woodland all over Brisbane and can be spotted in parks and backyards, and tree frogs sing their 'rain song' in backyards.
Brisbane hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and World Expo '88. In July 2021 it was announced as the host city for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Council emblems: koala and tree frog; red poinsettia chosen in 1930, and the native Brisbane wattle added after community consultation in 2023. The 1930s brought City Hall (opened April 1930), the New Farm Powerhouse and the Walter Taylor Bridge.
Universalis lists varied industries around the city (machinery, cars, shipyards, paper, cement, textiles) and says the oldest part, the City, holds administrative buildings, banks, shops, cinemas and theaters.
- Animal emblems
- the koala and the tree frog
- Floral emblems
- red poinsettia (1930) and Brisbane wattle (2023)
- 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- host city announced July 2021
Brisbane on the map
Find Australia on the globe. Brisbane is on its east side, close to the Pacific Ocean.
Brisbane lies at about 27.5° south, on the Brisbane River in eastern Australia. Measured from City Hall, the Story Bridge is about 1.3 kilometers east-northeast, South Bank Parklands about 1.1 kilometers south and the Kangaroo Point Cliffs about 1.5 kilometers southeast.
Universalis says the Gold Coast is about 80 kilometers to the southeast.
Brisbane lies at about 27.45° S and 153.03° E. From Brisbane City Hall (Wikidata points): Brisbane Skytower 0.59 km ESE, South Bank Parklands 1.11 km S, Story Bridge 1.28 km ENE, Kangaroo Point Cliffs 1.47 km SE, Brisbane Airport 13.3 km NE.
Universalis: the river port stretches along the estuary, and Greater Brisbane takes in coastal resorts on both sides of the river mouth.
- Latitude
- about 27.5° south
- Longitude
- about 153.0° east
- Gold Coast
- about 80 km to the southeast
Amazing facts
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Brisbane's special animals are the koala and the tree frog!
Brisbane City Council chose the koala and the tree frog as the city's animal emblems. Tree frogs are known for their 'rain song'.
Council: animal emblems koala and tree frog; floral emblems red poinsettia (1930) and Brisbane wattle (2023).
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Brisbane is named after a man who studied the stars.
Brisbane is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, an astronomer who was Governor of New South Wales when the region was first explored.
Council: named for Sir Thomas Brisbane, astronomer and Governor of New South Wales when Surveyor General John Oxley first explored the region.
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Brisbane's fast river ferries are called CityCats.
The first four CityCats, fast catamaran ferries, were launched in November 1996.
Council history: the first fleet of 4 high-speed catamarans, the CityCats, launched in November 1996.
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In 2032, the Olympic Games will come to Brisbane!
In July 2021, Brisbane was announced as the host city for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Council: Brisbane was officially announced as Host City for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in July 2021; it hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1982.
Words to know
- penal colony
- a settlement where prisoners were sent to live and work
- estuary
- the wide mouth of a river, where it meets the sea
- catamaran
- a boat with two side-by-side hulls
- subtropical
- a warm climate found next to the tropics, with mild winters
- emblem
- a picture, plant or animal chosen to stand for a place
- agglomeration
- a city together with the built-up suburbs around it
Discovery challenge
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Brisbane is a city in which country?
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, a state of which country?
Brisbane became the capital of the colony of Queensland in 1859. Which country is it in today?
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Canada
Show the answer
Australia
Australia!
Australia.
Australia.
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What are Brisbane's fast river ferries called?
What are the fast catamaran ferries launched in Brisbane in 1996 called?
Which ferries did Brisbane City Council launch as a fleet of four high-speed catamarans in November 1996?
- CityCats
- Sea Dogs
- River Birds
Show the answer
CityCats
CityCats!
CityCats.
The CityCats.
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Which animal is one of Brisbane's special animals?
Which animal is one of Brisbane's two animal emblems, with the tree frog?
Brisbane City Council's animal emblems are the tree frog and which mammal?
- The kangaroo
- The koala
- The wombat
Show the answer
The koala
The koala!
The koala.
The koala.
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Which big sports event will Brisbane hold in 2032?
In July 2021, Brisbane was named host city for which 2032 event?
Brisbane hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1982. Which Games will it host in 2032?
- The Olympic and Paralympic Games
- The Winter Olympics
- The Football World Cup
Show the answer
The Olympic and Paralympic Games
The Olympic Games!
The Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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Brisbane is named after a man who studied what?
Sir Thomas Brisbane, who gave the city its name, was known for studying what?
Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales, was also a noted what?
- Stars (he was an astronomer)
- Rocks
- Insects
Show the answer
Stars (he was an astronomer)
The stars!
The stars: he was an astronomer.
An astronomer.
Nearby places
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Natural wonder
K'gari
K'gari, off the coast of Queensland in Australia, is the largest sand island in the world. Sand dunes rise up to about 250 meters, rainforest grows right on the sand, and about half of the world's perched dune lakes sparkle among the dunes. Once called Fraser Island, it was officially renamed K'gari, the Butchulla people's name for it, in 2023.
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Landmark
Siding Spring Observatory
Siding Spring Observatory sits on Mount Woorut in New South Wales, Australia, next to Warrumbungle National Park. The Australian National University chose the site in 1962 for its dark, cloudless skies. Today it is home to many telescopes, including the Anglo-Australian Telescope, the largest optical telescope in Australia.
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Natural wonder
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range runs through Australia's Eastern Highlands, which stretch along most of the east coast. It divides rivers that flow inland from rivers that flow to the Pacific Ocean or Bass Strait.
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Landmark
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel arch bridge across Sydney Harbour in Australia. Its arch spans 503 meters, and the top of the arch is 134 meters above the sea. Work began in 1923, and the bridge opened on 19 March 1932. It carries cars, trains, bicycles and people walking.
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Landmark
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House stands on a point of land in Sydney Harbour, Australia. Danish architect Jørn Utzon won a competition to design it in 1957, building began in 1959, and it opened on October 20, 1973. Its shell-shaped roofs are covered in more than a million tiles.
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City
Sydney
Sydney is Australia's largest city and the capital of the state of New South Wales. It surrounds Port Jackson, a harbor of countless bays, on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The British set up a convict colony here in 1788. Today the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and its beaches are world famous, and about 5.45 million people lived in Greater Sydney in 2023.
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Landmark
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum in Sydney is the nation's first museum, set up in 1827. It stands opposite Hyde Park and holds more than 22 million specimens and objects, from animals and minerals to cultural collections. Its first permanent building opened in 1857, and more wings have been added ever since.
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Natural wonder
Ball's Pyramid
Ball's Pyramid is a steep, narrow rock rising straight out of the Tasman Sea, south of Lord Howe Island in Australia. It is the worn-down remnant of an old volcano, and it is where the Lord Howe Island stick insect, feared extinct, was found again.
Explore next
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Country
Australia
Australia is a country and the smallest continent, surrounded by ocean in the Southern Hemisphere. Much of its middle is dry and flat, most people live near the coast, and its animals include kangaroos, koalas and the platypus, a mammal that lays eggs.
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City
Sydney
Sydney is Australia's largest city and the capital of the state of New South Wales. It surrounds Port Jackson, a harbor of countless bays, on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The British set up a convict colony here in 1788. Today the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and its beaches are world famous, and about 5.45 million people lived in Greater Sydney in 2023.
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City
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria and Australia's second-largest city, on the Yarra River near Port Phillip Bay. It began in 1835, grew fast in the gold rush of the 1850s, and today has one of the world's biggest tram networks. About 5.4 million people lived in Greater Melbourne in 2025.
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City
Canberra
Canberra is the capital of Australia. Instead of growing slowly, it was planned: in 1912 Walter Burley Griffin, a city planner from Chicago, won a competition to design it, and the city was named in 1913. Its center is a lake made by damming a river, and Parliament House is built into a hill with grass on its roof.
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City
Port Moresby
Port Moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea, on the south coast of the island of New Guinea. Traders and missionaries came to the area, home of the Motu people, from 1874. The city has grown very fast: the 2024 census counted 756,754 people in its National Capital District.
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City
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia. About 1.49 million people lived in Greater Adelaide in mid-2025. Founded in 1837, it was laid out on a plan by Colonel William Light, with a grid of streets ringed by green Park Lands, on the land of the Kaurna people.
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City
Alofi
Alofi is the capital of Niue, a raised coral island in the Pacific Ocean. It is made up of two villages, Alofi North and Alofi South, by Alofi Bay. A census in 2022 counted 606 people in Alofi.
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City
Christchurch
Christchurch is the main city of New Zealand's South Island. Universalis says English settlers founded it in 1850 on the wide Canterbury Plains, a few kilometers from the east coast. Its port, Lyttelton, lies beyond the Port Hills. About 407,800 people lived in the Christchurch urban area in mid-2025.
For parents & teachers
What children will learn
- Locate Brisbane on Australia's east coast, on the Brisbane River.
- Tell the difference between a city council area and the wider built-up area around it.
- Read a climate table and find the wettest and driest months.
- Put the main steps of a city's history in order on a timeline.
Recommended ages: 3 to 17 · About 15 minutes
Talk about it
- Brisbane's river is crossed by many bridges and ferries. How do people cross rivers near you?
- Brisbane chose a koala and a tree frog as emblems. Which animal or plant would you choose for your town, and why?
- Brisbane will host the 2032 Games. What does a city need to get ready for so many visitors?
Try at home or in class
- Climate chart: plot Brisbane's monthly rainfall and find the wettest month.
- Emblem design: draw an emblem for your own town with one animal and one plant.
- Boat test: fold a paper boat and a two-hulled paper catamaran and see which floats more steadily in a tub.
Key vocabulary: penal colony, estuary, catamaran, subtropical, emblem, agglomeration
Where these facts come from
- Wikidata , Wikimedia Foundation (CC0 1.0)
- Natural Earth vector data , Natural Earth (NACIS) (Public domain)
- Australia: Local Government Areas , City Population (Thomas Brinkhoff), from the Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australia: Agglomerations (significant urban areas) , City Population (Thomas Brinkhoff), from the Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Brisbane , Encyclopaedia Universalis (Alain Huetz de Lemps)
- Council history , Brisbane City Council
- Brisbane: climatological information , World Meteorological Organization, World Weather Information Service (Australia)
- File:Skyline of Brisbane from Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park, Nov 2020, 05.jpg (Chris Olszewski, 6 November 2020) , Wikimedia Commons
- Wikimedia Commons , Wikimedia Foundation (Per file (public domain, CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA); see each media record)
Checked, not yet human-reviewed. Last updated November 1, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.