Aquarium Passage at Hemmant
Most people would regard theme parks and roller coasters as modern tourist attractions but over 115 years ago Brisbane had its own 19th century equivalent - the Queensport Aquarium at Hemmant.
The Aquarium opened on 7th August 1889 at the Queensport Aquarium Estate near the intersection of Gosport Street and Aquarium Avenue facing Aquarium Passage, which along with the avenue still retains the name.
By all accounts The Aquarium was "the place to be" in Brisbane back in the early 1890s with a rollercoaster, zoo, aquariums, fernery and concert hall seating 1400. It also served as an entertainment venue for musical performances, comedy acts and dancing and for sporting events including cricket.
The zoo housed tigers (named Sammy, Jimmy, Sir Roger and Dina!), lions, bears, cheetahs, monkeys, seals and snakes as well as the six fish tanks - hence the name "Aquarium".
The rollercoaster was known as a switchback railway and would have been similar to the rollercoaster at the Bondi Aquarium in Sydney which opened in 1887. There were at least two other switchback railways in Brisbane at that time - at the Town Hall Reserve (King George Square) and in the sports ground at Breakfast Creek. Sadly a resident, Stephen Popham from an early Hemmant family lost his life while riding on the Queensport switchback railway.
Passengers travelled to and from the Queensport Aquarium along the river on steamers which departed from the Customs House, Petrie Bight, or by train to Hemmant Station. There was often onboard entertainment during the cruise along the river and Brisbane residents even had their own early version of Riverfire when boats lined up to watch the descent of one of Australia's first hot air balloons in May 1891.
The Aquarium was actually very high-tech for its time and on 10th September 1889 was illuminated by electric light allowing it to open three evenings each week. Moonlight cruises were introduced, pyrotechnic displays delighted the crowds and the Aquarium also boasted a flying machine!
The Queensport Aquarium was very popular on annual staff picnic days and public holidays with extra attractions, events and transport services. The steamboats were often filled to capacity - even in the 19th century!
River transport was, in the days before the automobile, one of the main ways of getting around and the Aquarium Company owned several paddle steamers to ferry passengers around Brisbane and Redcliffe and for excursions into the bay.
The State Library of Queensland has a photo of the Aquarium's paddle steamer, the Natone carrying passengers along the Brisbane River on Press Club Picnic Day in 1892.
At the end of March 1892 during a fierce hail storm the switchback railway and some empty cages were blown into the river. Concerns about flooding in the Brisbane River were voiced but allayed when the river level receded after the storm.
Then almost a year later during the 1893 Brisbane floods the Aquarium was destroyed when the banks broke at Doboy Creek.
Fortunately most of the zoo animals were saved and found new homes but Brisbane's first theme park was lost forever.
The dance hall remained until 1901 but today nothing is left of Brisbane's favourite 19th century tourist attraction except the name. (The historic Queensport Tavern built in 1891 is of the same era but was moved from its former location at Lytton Road to its current site at 49 Gosport Road.)
