Sketching Chinatown with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers

Chinatown Mall was officially opened by Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson on 29 January 1987, the first day of the Year of the Rabbit. The Mall was designed by architects and engineers from Guangzhou, and was intended to reflect Tang architecture.

In 1996 part of Jackie Chan's First Strike was shot in the Mall. The scene featured a car chase and an explosion. The Mall's pagoda was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt.

Sketching at City Hall with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers

City Hall in Brisbane is an amazing heritage listed building, full of grace and history. It was built between 1920 and 1930.

Some Historical Facts

• one of the most expensive Australian buildings (it cost around a million pounds)
• ranked as the second largest construction of its time, only outdone by the Sydney Harbour Bridge
• the first major Australian concrete 'column and beam' building constructed 

Brisbane Urban Sketchers

Designed by architectural firm, Hall and Prentice, City Hall has a great circular hall and corridors surounded by offices and function venues. The main entrance from King George Square is emphasised by imposing Corinthian columns that are nearly 14 metres high.  The building has a clock tower rising 92 metres above the ground.  One of the main building features is its grand marble staircase.

The Main Auditorium is City Hall's single largest space. The copper dome over the room is the largest in Australia, spanning 31 metres in diameter. The dome is supported on a brick base that allows the interior of the Main Auditorium to be unobscured by columns.

City Hall workers tried to use locally-sourced materials and were proud to handcraft the finer details of the building. The artistry and craftsmanship of the City Hall architecture draws thousands of interstate and overseas guests to the building each year.

Sketching the sculptures in King George Square

Sketching the Mansions on George Street

The Mansions is a row of six terrace houses located on the corner of George Street and Margaret Street in Brisbane. They were designed by G.H.M. Addison, and constructed by RE Burton in 1889. Dr. Lilian Violet Cooper, who was Queensland's first female doctor and Australia's first female surgeon, was one of the earliest residents.. They were built during the Victorian era  for residential use. After World War I the building became a rooming house.

The Mansions were very nearly demolished in 1974, luckily the plan was delayed, and the Mansions were eventually renovated from 1982-1984.