Sketching Chinatown with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers

Chinatown Mall was officially opened by Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson on 29 January 1987, the first day of the Year of the Rabbit. The Mall was designed by architects and engineers from Guangzhou, and was intended to reflect Tang architecture.

In 1996 part of Jackie Chan's First Strike was shot in the Mall. The scene featured a car chase and an explosion. The Mall's pagoda was destroyed and subsequently rebuilt.

SKETCHING AT CITY HALL

City Hall in Brisbane is an amazing heritage listed building, full of grace and history. It was built between 1920 and 1930.

Some Historical Facts

• one of the most expensive Australian buildings (it cost around a million pounds)
• ranked as the second largest construction of its time, only outdone by the Sydney Harbour Bridge
• the first major Australian concrete 'column and beam' building constructed 

BRISBANE URBAN SKETCHERS

Designed by architectural firm, Hall and Prentice, City Hall has a great circular hall and corridors surounded by offices and function venues. The main entrance from King George Square is emphasised by imposing Corinthian columns that are nearly 14 metres high.  The building has a clock tower rising 92 metres above the ground.  One of the main building features is its grand marble staircase.

The Main Auditorium is City Hall's single largest space. The copper dome over the room is the largest in Australia, spanning 31 metres in diameter. The dome is supported on a brick base that allows the interior of the Main Auditorium to be unobscured by columns.

City Hall workers tried to use locally-sourced materials and were proud to handcraft the finer details of the building. The artistry and craftsmanship of the City Hall architecture draws thousands of interstate and overseas guests to the building each year.

ON AIR!! Brisbane Urban Sketchers on the Great South East TV Show (video)

A huge thank you to Blair Allsop, Brisbane Greeter, and presenter for the show, Carole Horne producer, and the wonderful cameraman "Punk"  Their segment on the Brisbane Urban Sketchers is a huge boost to the group, and it was beautifully done.
Thank you so much to Harry Ting for videoing the show. (Video is copyright to Channel Seven Network.)  You can see the video HERE

Three of my sketchers were featured in the segment..

Customs House from Captain Burke Park - Kangaroo Point.

Maritime Museum Southbank

Bulimba Ferry Terminal.

Tomorrow Night is the night!!!! BRISBANE URBAN SKETCHERS WILL BE ON AIR!!

 WATCH Qld's Channel Seven The Great South East at 5.30 pm 21st October!  (Sunday night)
To see the preview look HERE 

Urban Sketchers

Brisbane Urban Sketchers is the local chapter of a world-wide phenomenon. It started in America in 2009 and has since spread to cities across the world.


The idea, is for like-minded artistic people to attend pre-arranged ‘meets’ once a week in their city and sketch what they see. Brisbane’s group includes people of all ages, all artistic abilities and from all walks of life. They post their collective sketches on-line for the world to see. 


Brisbane Urban Sketchers invite new members – even beginners who’ve never picked up a pencil or paintbrush before. 

Sketching n King George Square 09/09/14

SKETCHING THE MANSIONS in GEORGE STREET - BRISBANE URBAN SKETCHERS

The Mansions is a row of six terrace houses located on the corner of George Street and Margaret Street in Brisbane. They were designed by G.H.M. Addison, and constructed by RE Burton in 1889. Dr. Lilian Violet Cooper, who was Queensland's first female doctor and Australia's first female surgeon, was one of the earliest residents.. They were built during the Victorian era  for residential use. After World War I the building became a rooming house.

The Mansions were very nearly demolished in 1974, luckily the plan was delayed, and the Mansions were eventually renovated from 1982-1984.