St Lucia

Virtually encircled by the Brisbane River and golf courses, St Lucia is a delightful inner-western suburb of the Queensland capital.

Once an enclave of semi-rural, grand estates, St Lucia today, of course, is recognised throughout Australia as the principal seat of the University of Queensland. And it was quite the red letter day back in 1936 when, with suitable gravity, it was announced that: Queensland, after a long and patient wait, is now to have a university that will, by virtue of the originality and beauty of the design of its buildings, be one that will command respect and attention throughout the world.

Built mainly from Helidon freestone on a superb river site, the university is certainly a visually-stunning complex. Walkways flank both sides of the Brisbane River from St Lucia into the city and offer a relaxed platform from which visitors can get a feel of the heart of the Queensland capital. If the legs start to feel the pinch, you can always shorten the walk by hopping a CityCat from one of the ferry stops along the way to cruise for part of the journey.