Brisbane History, Published 10 May 2026
Life in Brisbane, 1862 — a wild view from the old windmill (aka the observatory tower) on Wickham Street!
A bit of an experiment with this post - the image you’re viewing is made from eight separate photos (taken in 1862) merged into a single panoramic scene. Using some clever computer tech, they’ve been stitched together and converted into a vertical view, giving you the perspective from the top of the Wickham Street windmill as it would have looked in 1862.
Instructions: Place your finger on the image, hold down, and scroll left or right to explore Brisbane.
Brisbane had roughly 6,000 people, mostly wooden buildings, dusty (or muddy) streets, and you’d wake to the sound of bullock teams rumbling down Queen Street. You could grab a fresh scone baked with flour that had just come off the ship, and dodge a few stray goats wandering through town. Old Government House had only just been completed - the Governor’s fancy new pad on the hill!
Fancy a night out? Head to the river to watch a paddle‑steamer arrive, with new immigrants stumbling off the boat looking equal parts excited and seasick. Or enjoy a quiet ale at one of the many pubs while debating how fast the colony was growing.
No traffic lights. No air‑con. No Uber. Just horses, hope, and the occasional flood or fire to keep things interesting.
Brisbane wasn’t polished… but she was full of character and even fuller of potential. From convict outpost to future Sunny Capital in record time - legends were being made in 1862!
Would you have survived 1860s Brisbane life? Leave a comment!
Original image(s) - Public Domain - With thanks to QUT / QLD State Archives for creating the original panoramic view - Digital Exif encoding by the Dave & Malou channel.
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