Brisbane is the capital of the Australian state of Queensland and the country’s third-largest city, built along the Brisbane River in the country’s subtropical southeast. Founded in 1824 as a penal settlement and opened to free settlers in 1842, it has grown into a major city that is scheduled to host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games.

Where Is Brisbane Located?

Brisbane lies in southeastern Queensland, built along the winding Brisbane River a short distance inland from Moreton Bay on Australia’s eastern coast, and serves as the state capital.^[1]

A Brief History of Brisbane

The site was first settled in 1824 as a penal colony at Moreton Bay under explorer John Oxley, named for Sir Thomas Brisbane, then governor of New South Wales, since Queensland did not become a separate colony until 1859. The penal settlement closed and the area opened to free settlers in 1842, after which Brisbane grew steadily as the commercial and administrative center of what became the colony, and later the state, of Queensland.

World Expo and the Olympics

Brisbane hosted World Expo 88, a world’s fair that reshaped the South Bank area along the river into one of the city’s main cultural and recreational precincts, and the city is scheduled to host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games, the third time Australia will have hosted the Games.

Brisbane Today

Brisbane’s subtropical climate, riverside setting, and growing skyline have made it one of Australia’s fastest-growing major cities, with an economy built on finance, education, and resources-sector services for the broader state of Queensland.

The Story Bridge

Brisbane’s most recognizable landmark is the Story Bridge, a steel cantilever bridge completed in 1940 that spans the Brisbane River and remains one of the largest bridges of its type in the world. Lit nightly and the centerpiece of the city’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display, the bridge is also used for a commercial bridge-climb experience and is widely regarded as the single most photographed structure in Brisbane.

What Is Brisbane Known For?

Brisbane is known for its riverside South Bank precinct, its warm subtropical climate, and increasingly for its role as a growing events and sporting city ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

Why Brisbane Matters

Brisbane matters as the capital and economic hub of Queensland, as a city whose penal-colony origins gave way to rapid twentieth-century growth, and as Australia’s next Olympic host city.

Key Takeaways

• Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and Australia’s third-largest city, founded in 1824 as a penal settlement.
• It opened to free settlers in 1842 and grew into Queensland’s commercial and administrative center.
• Brisbane hosted World Expo 88, reshaping its South Bank riverside precinct.
• The Story Bridge, completed in 1940, is Brisbane’s most recognizable landmark.
• Brisbane is scheduled to host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games.

Sources

• Brisbane City Council | official website | brisbane.qld.gov.au

Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed October 21, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue