Australian Adventure, Week 2: July 31-August 6

Welcome back to the blog! We have had a great week getting settled into school, learning more about Brisbane, and exploring some of our favourite stores.

On Sunday we did the Great Brisbane Student Scavenger Hunt in Central Brisbane. It was organized in partnership with all the local universities as a way to introduce international students to Brisbane. We were given clues to find various stops throughout the downtown core. At each location we found a stand with a challenge and a prize. It was a neat way to find some hidden spots in the city, meet some other students, and win some cool prizes.

On Monday, we headed to Costco! Did you know your Costco membership works at any location in the world? We got gas, explored the store, and stopped at the food court. We found the prices to be very reasonable, and comparable to home, except for the produce. There was hardly any produce and the items they had were extremely expensive ($40 for blueberries!!). Chicken breast was a great price at $8.99/kg AUD and roast chicken for $6 AUD. We found some cool Australian items like TimTams, chicken salt, and cauliflower gnocchi. We are glad we went to check it out, but won’t be in any hurry to head back unless we are in the area.

Mid-week we didn’t do too much out of the ordinary. I was busy at school with lectures, seminars, and workshops. Webster watched some of the Commonwealth Games on TV and started physiotherapy for his knee with a golf specialist. On Wednesday, I found a TK Maxx (similar to Winners) and we spent an hour or so wondering around the store. It was funny to see similar stock from the stores at home.

On Thursday night we headed out to Eat Street. This is an old shipping yard that has turned into a night market with over fifty food stalls, live music, and games. We walked the grounds, listened to great music, and browsed through the stalls. We ended up having some Chinese food and a classic potato tornado!

On Friday, we took a nice walk through our neighbourhood exploring a river that runs through a few parks. It was an overcast day and about fifteen degrees celsius. We are living in the suburbs, but only a ten minute drive, or twenty minute bus ride into Central Brisbane.

Then in the evening, we headed to a MeetUp. Meetup is a social media platform for hosting and organizing in-person activities, gatherings, and events for people and communities of similar interests, hobbies, and professions. We met a group of people who were new to Brisbane for a drink in Southbank. While none of them are our new best friends, we were happy to chat with some new people.

On Saturday, we did two tours in Brisbane. Our first tour was with the Brisbane Greeters.

“One of the best ways to get to know Brisbane is through the eyes of a skilled and knowledgeable local. Our friendly Greeters are proud and passionate volunteers who are keen to share Brisbane's stories, show you some great spots and introduce you to our vibrant city.”

We spent a few hours walking the city, looking at old historical buildings, learning about the penal colony, and finding cool street art. We learned a lot about the history of the city. If you are interested in learning more, please see the bottom of this blog for a brief history of Brisbane.

Afterwards, we took a clock tower tour in Brisbane City Hall. The original elevator, clock, and bells, are used in the clock tower at City Hall. We had a great view of the city and the clocks from the inside.

Thanks for following along on our adventures this week! Next week, we have plans to visit a few beaches and go on two more city tours.

Brief History of Brisbane

Before European settlement in 1824, Aboriginal clans, namely Jagera and Turrbal, lived along the Brisbane River. It is not known how long they resided in this area but it is believed Aboriginal tenure in Australia dates back about 40,000 years.

The first convict jail was built in Redcliffe in 1824 and that was moved to the site of the present-day CBD in 1825. Officials believed the natural bend in the river provided an effective barrier against escape.

Civilian occupation of the area began in 1842, and by the late 1880s Brisbane became the main site for commerce, and the capital-to-be began to develop distinct architectural features and culture.

With an abundance of sunshine and laid-back lifestyle, Brisbane quickly drew people eager to settle in its environs. The city grew steadily over the years and a turning point in its advancement was during World War II when it housed the main allied headquarters in the South Pacific for Australian and American service personnel.

Today, Brisbane is an energetic and exciting city jam-packed with cultural experiences, adventurous outdoor activities, entertainment and shopping precincts and a laid-back vibe you won't see anywhere else. Further, its rapidly growing global reputation as a city of opportunity has been affirmed by its selection as the host of the 2032 Olympics.