May 15 2008
Old Building Transformed
There are some buildings that just ooze history and character. Brisbane’s Powerhouse is one of those buildings, for me.
It used to be the city’s power station, and the integrity of the structure, both inside and out, has been maintained as much as possible.
Situated very close to the CBD, this structure remained unused for 30 years, until it was converted into an Arts Centre in 2000.
This building is now heritage listed and has been home to art displays, contemporary dance, theatre, music, and also has a bar, restaurant, and conference facilities.
When I was there a few weeks ago, I noticed that there was a wedding reception also being held there. It’s a perfect location - right on the Brisbane River, so would be very atmospheric.
Here is the entrance to the Powerhouse - it’s really blended the modern with the old.
On this particular day, the sun was shining and there were barely any clouds in the sky - I love the contrast between the sky and the bricks.
It was my mother’s birthday and we were going for an exploration walk along the river. So much construction has been happening along the riverbank over the past few years - apartment buildings everywhere. So, we decided to go check it out.
The Powerhouse has parks on either side - the large New Farm Park on one, and a smaller park (I don’t know its name) on the other.
The smaller park is very eccentric - there are signs all over the place which poke fun at convention. There’s one the shape and colour of a stop sign, but it says “GO” on it. The first time I saw it, it took me a few moments to realise what was ‘wrong’ with the sign!
There used to also be one that was bright yellow and had an upside down question mark on it. They’re fun to look at.
I’ve been to the Powerhouse for a few performances - music, comedy, and the Brisbane Writer’s Festival hold a few events there each year.
It’s also a great place on a Sunday afternoon - a live band always plays, and there’s a bar overlooking the river. A very relaxing place to just hang out.
Something else that’s great about this area is that every second Saturday there are Farmer’s Markets held there.
Homemade sweets, freshly baked bread, fruit, vegetables, spices… It’s all there! The markets open at 6am and finish at midday. I’ve never quite managed to get there at 6am, but it’s on my list of things to do…
All in all, this is a great place, and it’s wonderful to see historic buildings being transformed and used to their potential!
