Sketching with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers in Cathedral Square - Anne Street

It was 32 degrees Celsius in the city today, but the Brisbane Urban Sketchers braved the heat and went sketching.  Seven of us descended on St John's Cathedral and Cathedral Square.

First sketch was of a. Sculpture El Emigrante by World Lebanese Cultural Union (2010)

The inscription reads..... "Le Imigrante - a statue, erected in memory of the Lebanese settlers, who 140 years ago established a presence in Australia."

I was sketching this amazing tree, from Cathedral Square, when around 500 people people descended on the park, milling around and standing between me and the tree. It turned out there was a fire drill and that was their meeting point. So I gave up.

Sketching St Martin War Memorial Hospital - Anne Street - Brisbane

My warm up from the Adore Cafe whilst waiting for the group to arrive.

Sketching New Farm Park with the Brisbane Urban Sketchers Tuesday 4th 2014

 

New Farm Park..

The land that the park now stands on was originally a farm, built to supply food for the recently founded convict settlement on the Brisbane River. A racecourse was built on the site in 1846, which operated until 1913, when the land for the park was acquired by the Brisbane City Council. Area 15 hectares (37 acres)

The area was dotted by lagoons and waterholes which the Aboriginals named Binkin-ba, meaning "place of the land tortoise"

Because of World War I the official opening of the park, which was conducted by Hamilton Goold-Adams, was delayed until July 1919 - The rotunda was built in 1915. It was part of the formal park. Work began by the Brisbane City Council in 1914. Other facilities included a croquet lawn, picnic areas, cricket wickets, tennis courts and football grounds.

The park is now a beautiful area, with jacaranda trees, Poinciana Trees, Cassia Trees. Magnificent rose gardens too.