George Seymour Owen’s (1844-1921) watercolours provide an accurate record of the early heritage of Brisbane and the Moreton Bay area. House under Bowen Terrace, Brisbane 1889 (illustrated) of a cottage in inner-city Bowen Terrace, is a detailed representation of a home in the young township of Brisbane.
The watercolour shows the unquarried cliff along which Bowen Terrace runs rising behind the cottage at the Petrie Bight Reach of the Brisbane River where the Story Bridge now connects Kangaroo Point with Petrie Bight, and the refurbished Howard Smith Wharves. Owen’s works are of considerable significance to Queensland as they are quite rare, amongst the earliest depictions of the Brisbane area at its time of settlement.
George Seymour Owen ‘House under Bowen Terrace’ 1889
George Seymour Owen, England/Australia 1844-1921 / House under Bowen Terrace, Brisbane 1889 / Watercolour over pencil on paper / 21 x 31.6cm (comp.) / Purchased 1999 with funds from Miss Betty Quelhurst through the QAG Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Bowen Terrace cliffs c.1868
Looking towards the Bowen Terrace cliffs, Petrie Bight c.1868 / 5201 / Image courtesy: Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
G P Wright Petrie’s Bight and wharves c.1874-79
G P Wright, Australia c.1815-1891 / The river – Petrie’s Bight and wharves (from ‘Brisbane illustrated’ portfolio) c.1874-79 / Albumen photograph on paper mounted on card / 21 x 27cm / Purchased 2005 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Bowen Terrace cliffs c.1880
Looking towards the Bowen Terrace cliffs, Petrie Bight c.1880s / Courtesy: Queensland University of Technology
Isaac Walter Jenner ‘Brisbane from Bowen Terrace, New Farm’ 1888
Isaac Walter Jenner, England/Australia 1836-1902 / Brisbane from Bowen Terrace, New Farm 1888 / Oil on board / 14.5 x 21.8cm / Acc. 1995.076 / Purchased 1995. QAG Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
In the late 1890s William Howard Smith and Sons Pty Ltd, an entrepreneurial shipping company moved from the Commercial Wharf on the town reach to below Bowen Terrace occupying the river frontage until the 1930s. Renamed and rebuilt as Brisbane Central Wharves, the wharves were expanded to provide relief work during the depression years and in conjunction with the construction of the Story Bridge — beginning 24 May 1935 and opening to traffic on 6 July 1940.
Inner-city Bowen Terrace, Petrie Bight Reach of the Brisbane River is a historically significant riverfront location. Today the Howard Smith Wharves celebrates its origins in the development of Brisbane and this waterfront history, having been revitalised into an entertainment precinct.
Bowen Terrace c.1910
Panorama showing the Howard Smith Wharves at Bowen Terrace, Petrie Bight c.1910 / 203526 / Image courtesy: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, BrisbanePetrie Bight looking over Kangaroo Point to the Merthyr reach of Brisbane c.1910 / 188671 / Image courtesy: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Brisbane
Panorama showing the Petrie Bight Reach of the Brisbane River c.1936 / 6377-0002-0001 / Image courtesy: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Brisbane
Bowen Terrace 1939
Petrie Bight Reach of the Brisbane River c.1939 / Story Bridge Construction Album 1931-1940 / 28452-0001-0273 / Image courtesy: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Brisbane
Geoffrey Powell ‘Construction of Story Bridge’ 1939
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art stands and recognise the creative contribution First Australians make to the art and culture of this country.
