Anzac Square

The basics

Most travelers visit Anzac Square independently. You can enjoy the parkland and its shady trees without knowing what the statues and memorials represent, but there's a lot of history represented. Groups depicted include women, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islanders, while conflicts remembered date back to the South African Boer Wars. You'll find memorial plaques and multimedia in the Memorial Galleries, plus interactive displays on the wars they commemorate, with a focus on Queensland’s and Queenslanders’ roles.

Things to know before you go

• Anzac Square will interest history buffs, architecture fans, Queenslanders, and those whose families served in World War I or II.

• Allow anywhere from a 5-minute stroll to a 1.5-hour learning experience, depending on your interest levels.

• The only food and drink you can bring into the galleries is bottled water. There are no cloakrooms.

• Find free Wi-Fi in the Memorial Galleries.

• The Memorial Galleries are fully wheelchair accessible, while the parklands have smooth, wide, made paths. There are wheelchair-friendly bathrooms in Brisbane Central Station, across the road.

How to get there

Anzac Square lies in the heart of downtown Brisbane, across from the Ann Street entrance to Brisbane Central Station and less than a 5-minute walk from the Riverside Ferry Terminal on Queen Street. There’s expensive paid parking at No. 1 Anzac Square—enter from Adelaide Street.

When to get there

You can visit Anzac Square at any time of day or night, but the galleries are open from mid-morning to mid-afternoon Sunday through Friday and closed on Saturdays and public holidays. On Anzac Day (April 25), they are open from very early morning through mid-afternoon, when Anzac Square hosts memorials, including a dawn service and a veterans parade on Anzac Day. Arrive early to watch.

Who are the Anzacs?

Anzac Day (also written ANZAC Day) commemorates the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), a joint force of Australian and New Zealand soldiers who landed on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, 1915. Some 60,000 Australians would fight in this losing World War I campaign, with 18,000 wounded and around 8,700 killed. New Zealanders and Australians use Anzac Day to honor their armed forces and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.