The General explored Moreton Bay and sailed up the river to within 20kms of Brisbane’s current Central Business District. The General named the area Brisbane, after Thomas Brisbane who was then the Governor of New South Wales.

The European settlers arrived in 1824 after the construction of the first convict jail in Redcliffe. However, within the year, the convicts were moved to what is today, the site of the Business District. At this time, the state of Queensland had not been founded. Queensland was only proclaimed a state in 1859 and Brisbane was named its capital.

This caused an explosion in population and the ‘little’ town was soon housing almost 750,000 people. Naturally, trade and industry expanded and flourished and has continued to grow ever since.

The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane and in preparation; the city experienced a significant infrastructure change that boosted the city’s transportation and sporting facilities. This not only pleased the tourists, but also the locals who were left with a number of world class establishments. Today the city is extremely cosmopolitan with a rich historical and cultural heritage and an exciting and vibrant arts scene.