Great Fire of Brisbane [SEP] point in time
Great fire of Brisbane
The Great fire of Brisbane was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of Brisbane in the Colony of Queensland (now a state of Australia) on 1 December 1864.
For two and a half hours the fire burned out of control in large parts of Brisbane's central business district with entire blocks being destroyed, mainly in Queen, Albert, George, and Elizabeth Streets. It consumed 50 houses, 2 banks, 3 hotels, 4 draperies, and many other businesses as well as
a "considerable amount of small houses". Considering the extent of the fire, casualties were very few; there was no loss of life, and four people were taken to hospital with injuries.
Background.
Two fires occurred in Brisbane in the same year before the Great Fire of Brisbane, the first occurred on 11 April 1864 in Queen Street where 14 buildings were burnt out. The second occurred only a few months before the Great Fire of Brisbane. The fire broke out around 1:00 am on 5 September 1864