Brisbane Arcade is a heritage-listed shopping arcade in the Brisbane CBD that opened in 1924 and links Queen Street Mall with Adelaide Street. Inside are more than 40 independent shops, from jewellery and hats to chocolate and tea, under a steel-framed roof that lets in daylight.
It costs nothing to wander through, which makes it an easy rainy-day stop or a quiet shortcut between the mall and Adelaide Street.
The history of Brisbane Arcade
The arcade was built in 1923 and 1924 for Dr James Mayne and his sister Mary Emelia Mayne. It was designed by architect Richard Gailey Jnr, and two builders worked on it: J and E L Rees built the Queen Street end and Forsyth and Speering the Adelaide Street end.
Brisbane Arcade has been on the Queensland Heritage Register since 21 October 1992. Profits still go to the University of Queensland’s medical school and to medical research, through trusts set up by the Mayne family.
The Queensland Heritage Register entry (number 600058) covers the arcade, which runs right through the block from Queen Street to Adelaide Street. Brisbane Open House calls it Brisbane’s oldest and grandest shopping arcade.
What to look for inside
Look up first. Exposed steel roof trusses and clerestory windows bring natural light into the arcade, and the stairs to the upper level are terrazzo. Carved balustrades and dado panelling run along the gallery level above.
Both street ends have a central entry with a classical brick facade, three storeys high, with wrought iron balcony railings above the shopfronts.
Some of the ground-floor shopfronts were originally polished timber with leadlight windows, and some were later replaced with marble and other materials. The leadlight windows are still worth finding.
How to see Brisbane Arcade in 20 minutes
Enter from either end, because the arcade is a straight pedestrian thoroughfare between Queen Street Mall and Adelaide Street. Walk the ground level first, then take the stairs to the gallery level and look back down over the balustrades to the terrazzo floor below.
Finish with a coffee or high tea, or pick up a small gift, and then continue to the other street. It fits neatly into a lap of the CBD that takes in the mall, City Hall and the Botanic Gardens.
Shops and cafes in Brisbane Arcade
The arcade lists more than 40 independent retailers across the ground and gallery levels. You will find jewellery, fashion, bespoke millinery, accessories, beauty, artisan chocolate, footwear and gift boutiques, plus repair services for watches, hats, jewellery and pens.
There is also a cafe, and high tea and other dining are on offer. It is a better place to browse than to do a big shop, because each store is small and specialised.
Planning your visit
- How long: 15 minutes to walk through and look up; an hour if you browse the shops or stop for tea.
- Cost: free to enter. Shops and cafes are extra.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 9 am to 5 pm, Friday 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Individual shops keep their own hours. The arcade has closed for Anzac Day, so check ahead on public holidays.
- Best time: daytime, when the shops are most likely to be open.
- Accessibility: the arcade is listed as wheelchair accessible.
Getting there and parking
The arcade is at 160 Queen Street Mall, Brisbane City, between Queen Street Mall and Adelaide Street. It is in the CBD, so the easiest way is on foot from anywhere in the mall, and it is a short walk from Central Station, with bus stops nearby on Adelaide Street. Plan a public transport trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.
The arcade’s website does not list parking, so use a public CBD car park or arrive by train or bus. The arcade’s own site is brisbanearcade.com.au. Details can change, so check before you go.
Nearby
- Queen Street Mall – the main shopping strip the arcade opens onto.
- Brisbane City Hall – clock tower and history in the CBD.
- State Library of Queensland – a free cultural stop across the river.
- Old Government House – Queensland’s old Government House at Gardens Point.
- Brisbane City Botanic Gardens – green space at the end of the CBD.
- Anzac Square, Brisbane – shrine and memorial galleries nearby.
Browse more history and landmarks or everything in Brisbane.
You might also like
- Regent Theatre (Brisbane City)
- Treasury Building (Brisbane City)
- Spring Hill (Brisbane)
Quick answers
Is Brisbane Arcade free to enter?
Yes. You can walk through for free. Shops and the cafe charge for what you buy.
Where is Brisbane Arcade?
At 160 Queen Street Mall, Brisbane City, linking Queen Street Mall with Adelaide Street.
What are the opening hours of Brisbane Arcade?
Monday to Thursday 9 am to 5 pm, Friday 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Each shop sets its own hours, so check before a special trip.
When was Brisbane Arcade built?
It was built in 1923 and 1924 and has been heritage listed since 1992.
What shops are in Brisbane Arcade?
More than 40 independent retailers sell jewellery, fashion, hats, accessories, beauty products, chocolate, footwear and gifts, with watch, hat and pen repairs too.
Is Brisbane Arcade wheelchair accessible?
Yes, it is listed as wheelchair accessible.
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