Overview
Brisbane has another tourist attraction, and lovers of giant sculptures shouting the city's name have reason to celebrate. A new Brisbane sign has popped up at the Cultural Centre Forecourt at South Bank, and this time it is here to stay.
Yes, a similar large set of letters adorned the same spot just one short year ago, when a who's who of international leadership descended upon Brisbane for the G20 Summit. Bringing all these global heavies to town might've shut down the streets, but it was the sign that really got Brisbanites excited. It was colourful, it towered over passersby, and it became an instant icon. It filled your social media feeds, and not just because you had your photo taken next to it.
And while that enthusiasm and delight resulted in the sign staying put long after Obama & Co. had gone home, it was taken away, letter by letter, in February. "It'll be back," the powers that be told us. Now, they've made good on that promise.
The new and improved structure is made from aluminium, making it sturdier, which is quite important given Brisbane's weather frequently alternates between streams of sunshine and thunderous storms. It has also been placed a little bit further away from QPAC, purely so that eager snappers don't have to stand in the road to take pictures of it. And, it's illuminated thanks to 11 LED strips, so it will light up the riverside day and night. Sure, it's not quite the same as the Hollywood sign, but it's close enough.