Brisbane City Hall

1930 neoclassical landmark with a free observation tower and city museum

Brisbane City Hall on King George Square is one of the finest municipal buildings in Australia — a grand 1930 neoclassical structure with a 91-metre clock tower that still defines the city centre skyline from certain angles. The building is free to enter, and it is worth going inside to see the ornate auditorium and the Museum of Brisbane on the ground floor, which covers the city's history through rotating exhibitions.

The observation tower is the best value in Brisbane: a free lift ride takes you to the top for unobstructed views over the CBD and across to Mount Coot-tha. Timed entry tickets are required and can be booked on site or in advance online. The tower opens daily and the queues are manageable outside of school holidays.

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A story
City Hall's clock tower was the tallest structure in Brisbane from its opening in 1930 until 1962, when the new T&G building overtook it. The bell in the tower weighs four tonnes and was cast in England. During World War II the hall served as a transit point for Australian and American troops, and General Douglas MacArthur used Brisbane as his headquarters for the Pacific campaign.