Sketching in Fortitude Valley

First sketch is of the amazing Police Station. Designed by Raymond Clare Nowland, an architect in the Department of Public Works (DPW), the Fortitude Valley Police Station was constructed during an intensive public works building program undertaken by the Forgan Smith Labor Government in Queensland during the 1930s to counter the effects of the Great Depression.

Second sketch is an archway adjacent to the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. 

Wordsmiths cafe St Lucia UQ

Sketching at Wordies this morning, and I chose to sketch over a "failed" sketch I started last Tuesday.  Failed, because I got the proportions of the building wrong right at the beginning of the sketch, so decided today to incorporate the wonderful sandstone sculptures created by Rhyl Hinwood (1996) into the sketch.  What do you think?  The crow posed for me for his sketch..

Stanley Street Brisbane

Wonderful morning sketching at South bank with the Brisbane City Sketchers.   The sun was shining and with good company, it was a lovely adventure.

I chose to sketch two historic buildings, The Allgas Building, and the Plough Inn.  Both built in the late 1800s both have history.

The ALLGAS BUILDINGwas built in 1885 which was called Caledonian House.  It was built  for the drapery and outfitting firm of Allan & Stark, and named Caledonian House Along with a number of prominent South Brisbane firms, Allan & Stark moved across the river to higher ground after the disastrous floods of 1893

The PLOUGH INN  was built in 1864 by publican Daniel Costigan, an Irish Publican.  The Plough Innis significant historically as a rare surviving remnant of the commercial and shipping heart of South Brisbane in the late 19th century.

Note the Unicycle above the square..  Artist John Underwood, made 175 fibreglass and wire 

"Human factor" sculptures for Expo '88 

There are 3 that I know of left in the city, the others were repurposed or sold to international visitors.

 This building boasts of two ghosts.  One of a publicans wife, who was throttled and thrown over the upper floor balcony for supplementing their income in the red light rooms on the second floor, the other a poor wee girl who was drowned in the basement during the 1893 floods.  You can still hear her voice calling for her mummy..

Both buildings in 1987

Woolstores Teneriffe

I went sketching with the Brisbane City Sketchers this morning in Teneriffe.  We chose o sketch the Winchcombe Carson Woolstore.  Awesome building.  The first Winchcombe Carson building is the oldest extant woolstore in the Teneriffe precinct. 

Customs House Dome

Sketching with the Brisbane City Sketchers on a cool, windy, wet day.  We were at Hobbs park 480 Queen Street, which is a semi rooftop park named after one Dr Hobbs, who resided across the road.

From the park is a good view of Customs House.  Today it was too wet to sit out in the open, so I only got to sketch  a portion of the building. 

The blue sky was wishful thinking. :-)

Bulimba Brisbane Qld

I had a lovely day today, with fellow Urban Sketcher Sid from Cairns.  We haunted Bulimba, sketching the Golf Course,  a house built in 1927, and a quick sketch before a very late lunch..

City Sketching

Autumn/Fall is really here.  Quite cool for this sun-lover.  I left in anticipation of a lovely sunny day in a light three quarter sleeved shirt, to met by very fresh winds in the city.  What to do?  Hole up in a cafe of course.  We sat in Merlo cafe.  They have big glassed windows, perfect for sketching..

Still using my handmade sketchbook.  I really love the Saunders Waterford paper, so must order more before I finish this book.

Treasury Hotel Courtyard

The Treasury Building was erected in three stages between 1886 and 1928.  The Treasury Building, a four-storied masonry perimeter block, occupies an entire city block bounded by Queen, George, Elizabeth and William Streets. It is built to the property alignment around a large central courtyard  It forms the northern edge of the group of important public buildings surrounding Queens Gardens.

The building was occupied by Government officials until 1989, when it was sold to the Treasury Casino.

 I am loving sketching in my handmade sketchbook.  

South Brisbane

I had fun today with a friend wandering around South Brisbane and sketching.  My first sketch is of the Fish lane Entrance, from the Cultural Centre Busway, and my second sketch is the giant cicada below..

Regent Theatre brisbane

The Regent Theatre in Brisbane was constructed as the first and only American-style Picture Palace to be built in Queensland. ... The Regent Building comprises part of the original Regent Theatre complex constructed on land between Queen Street and Elizabeth Street, between 1928 and 1929.
The picture palaces were built to imitate Hollywood's Golden Era and were designed to function as a cinema and theatre.

Queen Street is Brisbanes oldest street. The  Street began as little more than a track leading from the main part of the early Moreton Bay Penal Colony, running northward, crossing the watercourse then known as Wheat Creek, with a deviation leading up to the Windmill.

Brisbane's recorded history dates from 1799, when Matthew Flinders explored Moreton Bay on an expedition from Port Jackson, although the region had long been occupied by the Jagera and Turrbal aboriginal tribes. The town was conceived initially as a penal colony for British convicts sent from Sydney.   A permanent settlement in the region was not founded until 1823, when New South Wales Governor Thomas Brisbane was petitioned by free settlers in Sydney to send their worst convicts elsewhere and the area chosen became the city of Brisbane. 

Queen Street  is around 205 years old..

I am still using my beloved handmade sketchbook, that I made.  Loving Saunders Waterford paper (hp)  

BRISBANE CITY SKETCHERS

My Bakery Lane Brisbane

I had a lovely morning with the Brisbane City Sketchers, listening to Jazz taking in all the amazing aromas from the eateries in the Lane, and the ambiance.  Bakery Lane is named after the bakery that operated here in days gone by. 

Brisbane lane-ways became derelict places and dangerous, so the Brisbane City Council devised a plan to clean them up.  There are eight  that i know of now that are fabulous places to go for boutique shopping and awesoem food.

Sketched in my handmade 7.5 x 8 inch sketchbook. Loving Saunders Waterford paper. Lamy pen and watercolour

 Pick the artists

Brisbane Synagogue

Wonderful morning this morning sketching the Brisbane Synagogue in Margaret Street  

The Synagogue was designed by Arthur Morry and built from 1885 to 1886 by Arthur Midson. 
The Brisbane Hebrew Congregation is the largest Jewish organisation in Queensland and its Synagogue is the oldest in Queensland.

 

 I do wish I had taken a photo of this window.

Sketching in the City

Maritime Museum, Memorial Park, Kangaroo Point Cliffs.  Such great places to sketch, so much history.