King George Square

Originally, Albert Street ran west from the Botanic Gardens as far as Ann Street and the original city markets. Market Square was located between Ann Street and Adelaide street, south of Albert Street. This became the site of the Brisbane City Hall, which was completed in 1930. The City Hall was set back from Albert Street and this widened area of Albert Street, and some land north of the street, was renamed Albert Square in honour of Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria.

The National Library of Australia holds photographs of Albert Square, which pre-date King George Square in its present form.{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23478002|title=Albert Street, showing the King George V monument and fountain before the City Hall, mountains beyond|website=nla.gov.au|access-date=15 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182940/http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23478002|archive-date=3 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23208124|title=King George V Square and Town Hall, Brisbane|website=nla.gov.au|access-date=15 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201205/http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23208124|archive-date=3 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}

When Albert Square was redeveloped into King George Square, the fountain at Albert Square was relocated to Wynnum.

In 1912, then Albert Square was the site of the 1912 Brisbane general strike. Over 15,000 trade unionists held a march in Market Square after being refused a permit to protest, on the orders of Commissioner Cahill, the police charged and attacked peaceful protesters, in what became known as 'Black Friday'.

Following the death of King George V in 1936, the square was widened to include the area which had been Albert Street, and renamed King George Square in honour of the King. The bronze Lion sculptures, which appear to guard the King George Square entrance to the Brisbane City Hall, were initially on large sandstone plinths, as part of the George V memorial, which was unveiled in 1938, as a tribute to the King from the citizens of Brisbane.

Vehicular traffic, including a trolley-bus route, operated through the square until 1969, when the roadway was closed to traffic. Buildings on the northern side of the square were acquired by the City Council including the Tivoli Theatre{{Cite web|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/53151|title=Tivoli Theatre and Roof Garden in Brisbane, AU - Cinema Treasures|website=cinematreasures.org|access-date=2020-01-07}} and the Hibernian Building and demolished{{Cite web|url=https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ_734710|title=Urban Improvement in Brisbane between the Wars An Architectural History of the Widening of Adelaide Street 1924 to 1931|last=East|first=John W.|date=2019|website=espace.library.uq.edu.au|access-date=2020-01-07}} and work commenced on the construction of the underground King George Square Car Park. At the time of the construction, the statues, including that of King George V and the brass lions, were relocated to their present positions in the square and, between the statues and King George Square, there is now a narrow laneway (replacing the former roadway) for the infrequent passage of Government vehicles (or work vehicles) to be driven to the front of the City Hall.

A round-shaped fountain, located in the centre of King George Square, was also demolished, and a rectangular-shaped fountain built. As a direct result of the 2005–07 drought, the water in the rectangular-shaped fountain was temporarily replaced by a special "Watersense garden" with drought-resistant plants.

There are statues of some famous Queenslanders in a special section of King George Square, which is called "Speakers' Corner". The statues are of Steele Rudd (1868–1935), Emma Miller (1839–1917), and Sir Charles Lilley (1830–1897). Bronze sculptures from the Expo '88 site have also been incorporated into the square's design.

In October 2009 the new King George Square was opened after 16 months redevelopment. The square's design is by UbrisJHD{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26243055-3102,00.html|title=King George Square revamp sparks mixed reaction|publisher=www.couriermail.com.au|author=Bruce McMahon|date=22 October 2009|access-date=13 November 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024095148/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26243055-3102,00.html|archive-date=24 October 2009|df=dmy-all}} selected in a national design competition.{{Cite web|title = King George Square revamp sparks mixed reaction|url = http://www.news.com.au/national/king-george-square-revamp-sparks-mixed-reaction/story-e6frfkp9-1225789569834|access-date = 14 May 2015}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The square redevelopment followed the conversion of the underground lower two levels of the King George Square Car Park into the King George Square busway station.

The redesign has been heavily criticised for excess surface heat, glare and its lack of grass and shade.Marissa Calligeros (26 October 2012). [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/king-george-square-too-hot-to-handle-20091026-hf07.html King George Square too hot to handle] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010164628/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/king-george-square-too-hot-to-handle-20091026-hf07.html |date=10 October 2012 }}. Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved on 17 December 2012.{{Cite web|title = King George Square designer wouldn't change a thing despite calls to bring back the grass|url = http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/city/king-george-square-designer-wouldnt-change-a-thing-despite-calls-to-bring-back-the-grass/story-fn8m0qb4-1226555307824|website = www.couriermail.com.au|access-date = 14 May 2015}}

Brisbane General Strike 1912.jpg|General Strike of 1912

StateLibQld 1 110780 Anzac Day procession through Albert Square, Brisbane, ca. 1937.jpg|Anzac Day procession through Albert Square, 1937

StateLibQld 1 103094 Eleanor Roosevelt in Brisbane, Queensland, 1943.jpg|Eleanor Roosevelt in King George Square during World War II, 1943

The Queen outside City Hall (8075899208).jpg|Elizabeth II during her 1954 royal tour

Pope John Paul II addressing the public, Brisbane City Hall, 25 November 1986.jpg|Pope John Paul II addressing the public, 1986

Brisbane Protest Sack Scomo! Fund Firies! Climate Action Now! (49361378476).jpg|Sack Scomo rally, 2019

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{{Commons category|King George Square}}

• [http://elibcat.library.brisbane.qld.gov.au/uhtbin/hyperion-image/BCC-T120-94615 Brisbane City Council e-Library Catalogue (elibcat)image BCC-T120-94615] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927221002/http://elibcat.library.brisbane.qld.gov.au/uhtbin/hyperion-image/BCC-T120-94615 |date=27 September 2007 }} 1994 aerial view of Brisbane City Hall and King George Square looking south along Albert Street. The photo also shows the round fountain in King George Square which was later demolished.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100503140618/http://edgeqld.org.au/blog/2010/04/30/the-2700-second-challenge/ 2700 Second Challenge workshop]
• [http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?client=firefox-a&hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103410509359102804612.000484cecc316561f1a9c&ll=-27.468333,153.024313&spn=0.000509,0.000968&t=f&z=20&ecpose=-27.46909166,153.02431302,83.12,-0.02,55.106,0&lci=org.wikipedia.en Google map]

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Category:Squares in Brisbane

Category:History of Brisbane

Category:1936 establishments in Australia

Category:Albert Street, Brisbane

Category:Ann Street, Brisbane

Category:Adelaide Street, Brisbane