Why Brisbane Expo 1988 Means So Much to Me

It’s hard to believe that over 30 years have passed since Brisbane Expo 1988.

You see, Expo 88 is very special to me and my Bear, as it was an integral part of our courtship … which began 32 years ago today (11 December 1987)!

When season passes first became a “thing” – they were heavily discounted if you bought them early – I didn’t bother getting one, because I was:

• a) broke;
• and b) didn’t really have anybody to go with.

But then the hubster and I started going out at the end of 1987, and it turned out that he had a season pass. By that stage I was a little more financial, so I ended up getting one too, and we used to hang out there whenever we could.

Expo 88 was the ideal meeting place: in those days we lived on opposite sides of Brisbane (he was at Thornlands, I was at Chermside), and it was somewhere fun to go on dates that was central for both of us (and just across the river from where we worked). There was so much to see and do, that even over a six month period we didn’t see it all.

You could buy a souvenir “passport” and get it stamped by the exhibits (“pavilions”) you visited. I guess that was the 1988 equivalent of taking “selfies” wherever you went?!

Sometimes you could walk straight into a pavilion, other times you had to wait in a queue for an hour or more. I know there was one pavilion that was the crowd favourite, and always had a massive line-up – however we never bothered. For the life of me I can’t remember which one it was now!

Here are some of my other random memories from Brisbane Expo 1988:

• It was open from 10am – 10pm, 7 days a week.
• At the main entrance, a robot welcomed you by saying “Welcome to Expo 88” in a series of languages.

• A ride on the monorail (pictured below) was a great way to get a bird’s eye view of the Expo site.

• Everywhere you looked, there were amazing sculptures, as well as mime artists, stilt walkers and other street performers. So even while waiting in one of the inevitable queues, you were entertained.

• There was a stall that sold hot roasted peanuts in all different flavours – chilli, satay, savoury, sweet – needless to say we visited it regularly! I think it was located near the Primary Industries Pavilion.

• And the best way to get from the city centre across to the Expo site? A pedicab ride!

• One of the most popular attractions, The Munich Festhaus (German beer hall), was also chicken dance central 😉 .

• At the Aquacade, the diving show – which also featured synchronised swimming – was extremely popular.

• The official mascot of Expo 88 was a platypus called Expo Oz.

• And the main thoroughfare of Expo 88 hosted a street parade, each day and night.

• One of the buildings was sold after the Expo and relocated to Cleveland, and today houses a ballet school, a church, and a couple of other businesses – I often pass it on my morning walk (see below).

Expo 88 quickly became the pulsing heart of Brisbane, and I think it’s fair to say that when it closed it left more than a few residents in a deep depression.

However the legacy lingers on – you can still spot some of the sculptures around the city, and the Nepalese Pagoda is still a feature at South Bank.

I couldn’t tell you where or when any other World Expos have been held since then. It doesn’t really matter because I don’t think any of them could top Brisbane Expo 1988!

What is your standout memory of Expo 88?!