Water, Gas and Electricity, Published 7 January 2026
Brisbane wasn’t always the bright, buzzing city we know today. Back in the 1840s, nights were truly dark, lit only by candles or the soft glow of oil lamps.
Everything changed in the 1860s and 1870s when Brisbane kicked off its big “glow up.” Gas lighting arrived as part of a wave of new infrastructure, finally giving the city a warm nighttime sparkle. Suddenly, evening strolls were less “hope for the best” and more “look at us, we can see where we’re going.”
With the rollout of Brisbane’s new gas network, the Newstead Gasworks came to life as the industrial heart of the city’s gas supply. Built in the late 1800s, it quickly became one of Brisbane’s most important utilities, pumping gas across the city for decades. One of the iconic iron gas holder frames still stands today, transformed from gritty industry into a heritage landmark now surrounded by restaurants, apartments, and weekend markets. It’s one of those rare places where you can literally see Brisbane’s past and present in the same glance.
By the late 1800s, gaslight had become part of the city’s personality - warm, flickering, and a little bit romantic. Electricity eventually took over in the early 1900s, but the gaslight era left its mark. Even now, Brisbane’s night-time glow carries a little echo of those first flames.
Photo Credits: Lamplighter, Public Domain. View of Kyabra Street looking towards the gasometer in Newstead, State Library of Queensland, Public Domain. All other photos: Dave & Malou Channel
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