War / Memorials & Statues, Published 1 March 2026
The statue of Lady Diamantina Bowen at Old Government House isn’t just a beautiful bronze, it’s a love letter to Queensland’s very first “First Lady” and a reminder of the deep ties between Brisbane…
The statue of Lady Diamantina Bowen at Old Government House isn’t just a beautiful bronze, it’s a love letter to Queensland’s very first “First Lady” and a reminder of the deep ties between Brisbane and its Greek community. Originally commissioned in 1989 and sculpted by Phillip Piperides, the statue spent two decades at the Greek Orthodox Community of St George before being gifted to QUT in 2009. Now she stands gracefully on the Lady Bowen Lawn, right beside the place she once called home.
Lady Diamantina herself had a story worthy of a period drama. Born Contessa Diamantina Roma in the Ionian Islands, she arrived in Brisbane in 1859 alongside her husband, Sir George Bowen, the colony’s first Governor. Elegant, educated, and endlessly admired, she quickly became one of the most beloved figures in early Queensland society.
Her legacy still echoes across the state. She championed social welfare, helped establish Queensland’s first maternity hospital, supported orphaned children, and even oversaw the gardens of Old Government House herself. She also holds a quirky place in history - in 1864 she turned the first sod for Queensland’s very first railway line using a silver spade and a cedar wheelbarrow. Iconic behaviour!
And if you think you’ve never heard of her, think again. Roma, Roma Street, the Diamantina River, Countess Street, all named in her honour. Lady Bowen didn’t just leave her mark on Queensland’s history; she left it on the map.
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