The heritage-listed University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus was designed by Queensland State Government architects Hennessy, Hennessy and Co.
They drew inspiration from European quadrangles of monasteries and universities for their design of the Great Court.
The centrepiece of the Great Court, the Forgan Smith Building, was the first to begin construction when the University relocated to the suburb of St Lucia from Old Government House in Brisbane’s Central Business District.
The foundation stone was laid by Queensland Premier the Hon. William Forgan Smith on 6 March 1937, with construction beginning the following year.
While sandstone was a popular material for monumental buildings at the time, what made the Great Court unique was the deliberate choice to use multiple colours and shades of the Helidon freestone.
This results in a patchwork-like effect of purples, lavenders, creams and browns that look especially attractive after rain.
The ground floor of the Great Court is surrounded by colonnades with carvings on the walls and columns.
These carvings include depictions of historical scenes, figures of flora and fauna, and statues of famous scholars and writers.
The precinct played an important role in World War II, when the Allied Land Forces in the South West Pacific, led by General Sir Thomas Blamey, used the Forgan Smith Building as their headquarters.
A bronze plaque commemorating this period can be found in the Forgan Smith tower.
The Great Court took more than 40 years to complete, and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2002.
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