ANZAC Square

ANZAC Square is a war memorial and public park in central Brisbane, Queensland. It commemorates Australian and New Zealand Army Corps personnel who served in conflicts. The square sits adjacent to Central railway station and forms part of the city's formal civic landscape. Established in the early twentieth century, it represents Queensland's principal memorial to the fallen of the First World War and subsequent military engagements. Sunday–Friday 10:00–16:00; Saturday closed; Anzac Day 05:30–15:00; all other public holidays closed. These are the published hours for Anzac Square Memorial Galleries. The galleries will also be closed on Monday 5 October 2026 for the King’s Birthday public holiday.

The square contains the Shrine of Remembrance, a cenotaph structure with eternal flame. Subterranean elements include a memorial gallery and museum space. The park features formal landscaping with pathways, lawns, and commemorative plantings. Stone memorials and honour rolls record names of service personnel. The architectural ensemble reflects inter-war commemorative design traditions. Visitors should consult the Brisbane City Council website for current interpretive offerings or ceremonial programs that may supplement the permanent memorial installations. These are the published hours for Anzac Square Memorial Galleries. The galleries will also be closed on Monday 5 October 2026 for the King’s Birthday public holiday.

A respectful visit to ANZAC Square requires approximately thirty to sixty minutes for the external memorial precinct. Those wishing to examine the Shrine of Remembrance closely, read inscriptions, and contemplate the site may allocate additional time. The subterranean gallery, when accessible, extends duration accordingly. The compact urban location suits brief visits integrated into broader central Brisbane exploration. Many visitors combine the square with nearby Queen Street Mall, City Hall, or Botanic Gardens itineraries. Free admission. All entrances and visitor areas within the Memorial Galleries are wheelchair accessible. An accessible passenger drop-off and pick-up zone is on Adelaide Street, on the left immediately after Anzac Square.

ANZAC Square operates as an outdoor public space with daytime accessibility typical of municipal parks. The square holds particular significance on ANZAC Day, 25 April, when dawn and commemorative services attract substantial attendance. Remembrance Day, 11 November, also generates ceremonial activity. Visitors seeking contemplative atmosphere may prefer non-ceremonial periods. Sunday–Friday 10:00–16:00; Saturday closed; Anzac Day 05:30–15:00; all other public holidays closed. All entrances and visitor areas within the Memorial Galleries are wheelchair accessible. An accessible passenger drop-off and pick-up zone is on Adelaide Street, on the left immediately after Anzac Square.

ANZAC Square functions as a public memorial and park without admission charge for external precinct access. Visitors should verify current status through official Brisbane City Council channels before planning dedicated visits to interior exhibition spaces. No advance booking requirement is documented for general memorial visitation. Free admission. All entrances and visitor areas within the Memorial Galleries are wheelchair accessible. An accessible passenger drop-off and pick-up zone is on Adelaide Street, on the left immediately after Anzac Square. Certified guide, hearing and assistance dogs displaying identification on their coat or harness are welcome.

ANZAC Square occupies a highly accessible central location between Ann Street and Adelaide Street, immediately beside Central railway station. The station provides suburban rail, bus, and future cross-river rail connectivity. Multiple bus routes service adjacent streets. Pedestrian access from surrounding streets occurs via formal pathways. The Memorial Galleries are at 285 Ann Street. Central Station’s Ann Street entrance is directly opposite; the pedestrian rail tunnel links the station with the parkland and provides an entrance to the galleries. The free City Loop and Spring Hill Loop buses stop at Central Station. Riverside Ferry Terminal and Eagle Street Pier Ferry Terminal are the named nearby ferry stops. The other gallery entrance is through the double brass doors beneath the Shrine of Remembrance.

The square's proximity to Central railway station generates significant pedestrian through-traffic and occasional congestion. Commuter movement patterns differ from contemplative memorial visitation; visitors should remain aware of surrounding foot traffic. The eternal flame and memorial elements require respectful conduct; recreational activities inappropriate to commemorative space should be avoided. Subterranean gallery access may involve stairs, presenting mobility considerations. All entrances and visitor areas within the Memorial Galleries are wheelchair accessible. Certified guide, hearing and assistance dogs displaying identification on their coat or harness are welcome. It is Queensland’s principal war memorial and commemorates Australian conflicts and peacekeeping service from the Boer War to the present.

Visitors should exercise discretion and respect during ceremonial occasions or when individuals are engaged in private remembrance. The architectural qualities of the Shrine of Remembrance and surrounding stonework offer documentary and artistic photographic subjects. Tripod use in high-traffic areas adjacent to the station may present practical difficulties. It is Queensland’s principal war memorial and commemorates Australian conflicts and peacekeeping service from the Boer War to the present. Construction took place in 1929–1930; the first event was held on 24 May 1930, and construction was completed in late October 1930.