Koalas and Kangaroos and Kookaburras, oh my!

Brisbane, with a population of 2.4 million, is the capital of the state of Queensland. Two indigenous Australian peoples, the Jagera and the Turbal, had lived in the area for as long as 32,000 years. They called the land around the river, Mian-jin, meaning "place shaped as a spike".  In 1824 a settlement for secondary offenders from the penal colony of Sydney was located on the Brisbane river.  In 1838 non-convicts began to settle, and in the 1850s the region became independent from New South Wales.  This photo was taken from the top of Mt. Coot-tha, the highest hill around the city standing at just under 1,000 ft.

Every port is different.  Brisbane spans several curves of the Brisbane River several miles inland from its mouth in Moreton Bay, where we docked.  The complimentary shuttle buses took 45 minutes to get through a heavily industrial area to the CBD (central business district).  Because the city is built around the bends of the river, it is very prone to flooding and has sustained major damage as a result in 1893, 1974, and 2011.  

Our guide told us there are 16 bridges across the river.  Most are for vehicular use, three are railway and two are pedestrian. 

The flooding problems have prompted a style of architecture known as Queenslander.  Here are a couple of examples--though a little hard to see, the lower level construction is on stumps or stilts screened in for ascetics, but open to aid in ventilation during the hot and humid summer months and to allow for possible flooding of the river.  Prominent front steps and a large primary gable, sometimes with secondary gables is also a part of the style.  

Construction is of timber with a corrugated iron roof.  A large veranda which accommodates a table for dining or daybed for sleeping are also characteristic.

In the 1960's, many of these Queenslander homes were considered old-fashioned and were demolished to make way for newer construction.  In later years, it was recognized that these homes were an important part of the history of the region, so laws were passed to protect them.  Now, they can't be completely torn down--at least the facade must be preserved.  This Queenslander has been kept in place while high-rises have gone up around it, but it's been lifted to put a commercial structure below it.  

As a tribute to the monarchy, the streets in the CBD are named for members of the royal family with the female names on North-South running streets and the males names running perpendicular to them.  

We saw several pieces of whimsical public art on the sidewalks around town.  This was our favorite and we enjoyed the nearby sign in relation to these found-metal kangaroos.

I thought it a perfect segway to this "share the branch" picture from the best part of today's excursion.  It was to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary which started operating in 1927 with two Koalas--Jack and Jill.  There are now 130 koalas as well as other indigenous Australian animals.

Who doesn't love koalas??  What a thrill it was for me to get to see them!  They are as adorable in real life as they look in photographs.  Their diet consists mainly of eucalyptus leaves which have very little nutrition.  It is probably the reason Koalas sleep for 20 hours a day.  I saw several wake enough to reposition themselves in the branches of their trees looking for comfort while assuring that they didn't fall while sleeping.

There were over a hundred kangaroos resting in the shade on this very hot and humid day.  I didn't see any of the size I expected of adults, but there must have been some elsewhere.

A few of the little ones ventured out to areas where they could be hand fed by their adoring public.  When walking, they use their tail and front paws like a tripod to support them while they move both hind legs forward at once.  I petted a little one and its fur was short, but soft.

Wallabies are the smaller cousins of kangaroos.

The flightless emus were also roaming freely.  They had feeding stations on poles at just the right height.

These smaller flying birds were in large cages.  Starting in the upper-left corner and going clockwise, they are: the Tawny Frogmouth, Bush Thick-knee or Bush Stone-curlew, the Kookaburra, and the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.

The Duckbilled Platypus was in a large water tank in a darkened house.  The still photos were just a blur, so this is a screen capture that has been lightened and enhanced.  I know it's hard to figure out what you're seeing, but it's the best I can do.

We saw a couple of Tasmanian devils curled up in the hollow of a log.  We just saw snout and paws--maybe you can figure out how they fit together to make two animals.


It was so exciting to me to be able to see animals that I had learned about as a small child, but never thought I'd have a chance to get so close to.

As we drove back through Brisbane at the end of our time at the Koala sanctuary, we stopped for a 5-minute photo op on Kangaroo Point.  There is a great view of the city from a pull-out on the left side of the road.  Just as we pulled to a stop, David and I looked out our window on the right side of the bus to see the Brisbane Temple.  I hopped out to take pictures and enjoy being on the grounds of the temple, but being on the opposite side of the road and not near a cross-walk, I had to take my life in my hands to cross two lanes of traffic.  I just walked the length of the building, snapped a few pictures, then headed back to the bus.  As I waited for a break in traffic, I saw the bus start to pull ahead.  Fortunately, the rest of the passengers and David told the driver that I wasn't back yet, so he stopped.  I got the usual razzing for being the last one on the bus, but it was worth it.

On our way back to the bus, David saw this sign and thought of his friends currently involved in the Utah state legislative process.  Take it for what it's worth folks.