Brisbane's Quirky Suburban Secrets
Updated: Oct 12, 2025
Brisbane has all kinds of quirky secrets strewn throughout suburbia that a majority of local residents don't even know are there.
It's these quirks that bring a little more meaning and wonder to the things we see in our day to day lives. Not everything we do has to be planned and prepared. There are so many little treasures in this city that might just simply be stumbled upon. Little things like the 12 quirky suburban secrets revealed below.
Standing the test of time, Brisbane's heritage listed air raid shelter in Newstead is one of the few remaining remnants of the impact World War II had on the civilian population of this city...more
Scattered across Brisbane, these tiny libraries go unnoticed by the many passers-by as they sit unassumingly out in the open, just waiting for people to have a look at the gorgeous little selection of books within...more
Tucked away behind Suncorp Stadium is heritage-listed Christ Church whose tiny adjacent graveyard is all that remains of Brisbane's first cemetery for free settlers and adjacent is the beautiful Afghan Memorial Garden.. more
This beautiful arch in Bowen Hills is all that remains of the once booming Cloudland Dance Hall until it was destroyed illegally creating a public outcry for the loss of not just a building but of a place where reality could be escaped and nights could be danced away...more
Situated atop of Corinda Hill, this picturesque burial ground of the Francis family overlooks panoramic views of the district with the last internment in 1966...more
With a history of social whirlwind, this 1860s-build acquired its reputation through the large family that resided there and its lush renovations as well as its royal guests including the future king of England, George V...more
Remnants from the past of an era left behind, a small remainder of Brisbane's old tram lines run along Old Cleveland Rd with the preserved red post of stop number 26 marking what was once the old tram stop...more
Built in 1886, this beautifully traditional joss house hidden away in the back streets of Breakfast Creek commemorates Brisbane's burgeoning Cantonese community and is one of the few survivors of the many built...more
Having replaced James Campbell's timber mill after a devastating fire destroyed the factory in 1931, these apartments located in New Farm are situated on land with a history as contagious as Spanish Mission architecture was in the 30s...more
Originally a gravity-fuelled water reservoir, this quirky house was successfully transformed into a residential home by Robert Riddel architecture after being sold to a private buyer with an impressive vision...more
A spot for simple reflection, this hardy hand-crafted memorial seat set under the shade of a Jacaranda tree is one of Brisbane's less obvious but beautifully personal reminders of those lost in World War II... more
A Brisbane sculptor has transformed his yard into an enchanting park that is open to the public to enjoy with bubbling streams, a fairy house, outdoor furniture, paved pathways and bridges ... more
By Ruby Bakewell-Doran
