Brisbane 3 of 4

Continuing on the tour we walked through the art gallery where modern artworks were displayed. We witnessed a group of pre-school children touring the artworks in a novel way. Three sets of sextuplet-strollers ferried 18 children quietly and sedately throughout the exhibition. What a great idea! The kids seemed to enjoy their excursion and were a hit with other tourists.

Our guide then took us into a public free zone down in the basement of City Hall where we learnt that this area was used as a sanctuary for providing respite care for returning soldiers and signing up quarters for recruits during WW2. The Red Cross handed out food and clothing parcel to soldiers, repaired damaged uniforms and provided cups of tea and a listening ear to the troops. Graffiti evidence of the soldiers presence was discovered during 2012 when renovation builders uncovered an old toilet wall where soldiers had recorded their names, serial numbers and comments. One incredible fact we learnt was that history researchers have discovered that every soldiers who recorded his name on this section of the wall returned safely to Australia or America. (some signatures were from American soldiers on RNR in Australia. We thought this was an incredible piece of war trivia. We also learnt that between 2010 and 2013 City hall was closed for vital restoration of its deep foundation pylons which were disintegrating from concrete cancer. It is amazing that this huge, heavy 2 storey building had not collapsed since the cement mixture used in the 1920's was made up of salt-ridden concrete which was 600 times weaker than what is used today. Every pylon had to be replaced at a cost of $250 million dollars. Other councils may have decided to demolish the building and rebuild as a considerably substantially cheaper option but Brisbane City Council made the harder choice to preserve this historic building. They are applauded for this today by all Brisbanites. The whole timber floor of the Concert Hall auditorium had to be removed in order for the piers to be replaced. One positive outcome was that a massive industrial kitchen was added in the basement space so that now City Hall can cater for large and small parties requiring catering services. This in itself has provided employment for many citizens and it is also an income source for the council.