Bygone Brisbane: Its History, Your Heritage

Abstract

Heritage has captured the imagination of generations of Brisbane's residents. The decision to demolish the iconic Bellevue Hotel in 1979 is widely regarded as emblematic of the corruption and arrogance of Joh Bjelke-Petersen's government. The destruction of koala habitat for a new highway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast was similarly a touchstone for criticism of Wayne Goss's administration in 1995. Communities’ emotional attachments to their histories and environment remain at the forefront of protests in the state today, with widespread concern that over-development in suburbs such as Woolloongabba and West End will destroy unique communities and heritage precincts. Facebook pages such as Lost Brisbane are enormously popular, as people seek to renew memories and reconnect with their suburbs’ histories. The book Bygone Brisbane is at the heart of this ongoing public enthusiasm for heritage and history, and investigates the fraught relationship between our communities, histories and lived environments.