Brisbane’s South Bank Cultural Precinct is a wonderful place to visit with children, as there are lots of different galleries, museums and spaces to explore. You can easily spend a whole day there.
One of our favourite hangouts around South Bank is The Corner. It’s the State Library of Queensland’s free creative and reading area for children under 8 years and their carers, with a rotating theme every 3 months or so. It’s similar in concept to the Play Pod at the State Library of Victoria.
They currently offer three bookable sessions daily, full of stories, songs and awesome resources to inspire play. But if you just want to stop by, you can drop in anytime between 10am and 3pm every day to explore The Corner’s browsing collection of books – no bookings required.
The Corner is set up in the sunken back corner of the library. There are books to read, dress ups…
…online games…
…shadow puppets…
…craft activities…
….and even a cosy cubby.
Every day there is an artsworker-led activity but really it’s an area for free play.
For adults there’s plenty of seating within the sunken space and free wifi.
In the opposite corner of the library, separate to The Corner, is an area set up with Imagination Playground foam pieces. These blue foam parts encourage creative construction play and can be found in different play spaces around the world.
The State Library of Queensland also run regular children and family programming, including storytime – view the schedule here.
The Corner is a wonderful child-friendly space in Brisbane’s CBD and a cool place (literally and figuratively) to chill out when you’re in the city.
If you’re peckish the Library Cafe is just outside the door, across the plaza is the excellent Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art with a rotating Children’s Gallery exhibition, the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
Further along the Brisbane River is South Bank Parklands, the city’s favourite water playground, an award-winning playground and with lots of other activities to enjoy.
Click here for more places to go with kids in Brisbane
HOT Tips:
- Bookings are required for any of the 3 daily sessions.
- The Parlour is open 10am and 3pm for book browsing – no booking required.
- Paid parking available at various nearby carparks. Closest carpark is Stanley St Carpark, flat fee of $16.
- Cultural Precinct Busway Station in Melbourne Street.
- The CityCat and City Ferry terminals are located at South Bank 1 CityCat terminal.
- Nearest train station is South Brisbane Station, corner of Melbourne and Grey Streets.
