Population
Brisbane, with a population of 1.6 million people, is Australia’s third largest city after Sydney and Melbourne. Ours is a youthful city. The average age of Brisbane’s population is thirty-three years and twenty-one percent of the total population is under the age of fifteen. For more information about Brisbane’s population, link to the Brisbane City Council website.

Cultural diversity
The population is also culturally diverse. Currently over twenty-six percent of Brisbane’s population was born overseas. In 1996 over fifteen percent of the population spoke a language other than English at home with Cantonese, Italian, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Greek, Spanish, German, Tagalog (Filipino), Polish and Russian being some of the most commonly spoken languages.

It's easy to feel passionate about being in Brisbane. Whether you're just visiting, a life-long resident, or somewhere in between, this is your quick guide to Australia's fastest growing city.

Whether you want to discover more about Brisbane's unparalleled subtropical lifestyle, get quick facts and statistics, explore Brisbane's colourful history, or browse detailed maps of Brisbane's suburbs - we've put all the info in one place so you can find out what you need to know, fast.

Brisbane has a subtropical climate perfect for an outdoor lifestyle. With open parklands and public spaces, world class sporting facilities, cosmopolitan alfresco eateries and the great Brisbane River at its heart, ours is a city that is meant to be enjoyed outdoors.

Exploring Brisbane
Visitors and residents can get around the city in the sunshine with the Brisbane River's CityCats . Getting to work or exploring the river can be an enjoyable adventure when you travel along the Brisbane river on high speed catamarans.

Exploring Brisbane's heart is easy. The compact city centre is situated on a single bend of the river, and museums, galleries and heritage buildings are all easily accessible. For a change of pace you can take a river cruise, or perhaps visit one of the wildlife sanctuaries located around the greater Brisbane area.

The hilly streets of Brisbane's inner city suburbs make interesting exploring. Here you'll see examples of Queensland's distinctive architectural style. Many original Queenslander cottages have been renovated to their former glory. After you've built up an appetite walking the hills and terraces, enjoy a coffee or a meal at one of the many inner suburban restaurants and cafes.

Nightlife
Brisbane's warm evenings are perfect for enjoying the diversity of city nightlife. Live music clubs, bars and discos to suit all tastes can be found across the city. Some of the most popular spots are located in the Riverside quarter, at Caxton Street, and in Fortitude Valley. The Treasury Casino, located in the beautifully restored Treasury Building at the top of Queen Street, is another popular night time venue.
The coast

Less than half an hour from the city centre is Moreton Bay and its islands. Here you can enjoy a variety of water sports in a quiet beachside village environment. If you're hankering for surf, the famous beaches and resorts of the Sunshine and Gold Coasts are just over one hour's drive away. The hot summers and clear mild winters make them ideal destinations for visitors all year long.