Jacob's Ladder is a landmark in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, Australia. It is a long pedestrian staircase that extends from

Edward Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

and

Turbot The turbot (''Scophthalmus maximus'') is a relatively large species of flatfish in the family Scophthalmidae. It is a demersal fish native to marine or brackish waters of the Northeast Atlantic, Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It is an im ...

Streets up to

Wickham Terrace Wickham Terrace is one of the historic streets of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known as the street of private medical specialists. Geography Wickham Terrace commences at the western corner of the intersection of Ann Street and Whar ...

. The name is a reference to the Biblical stairway ascending to Heaven. Jacob's Ladder has 86 steps.

Geography

Jacob's Ladder is within King Edward Park and provides the shortest but steepest pedestrian access from the

Brisbane central business district Brisbane City is the central suburb and central business district of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is colloquially referred to as the "Brisbane CBD" or "the city". It is located on a point on the northern bank of the ...

to Spring Hill on the escarpment above. It is on the boundary of the park separating it from an office tower on the north-east, formerly the site of the

Brisbane Trades Hall The Brisbane Trades Hall is a former Trades Hall building in Edward Street Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. First trades hall The foundation stone of the original trades hall in Turbot Street, Brisbane, was laid on 4 April 1891 by Sir Charle ...

(1891–1984).

History

In 1895, Alderman

James Hipwood James Hipwood (2 December 1842 – 22 January 1926) was an Australian politician. He was an alderman on the Brisbane Municipal Council from 1884 to 1897, and mayor of Brisbane, Queensland from 1886 to 1887. Personal life James Hipwood was b ...

made reference to: :That concrete water-tables and

asphalt Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term a ...

footpaths be laid on foot-path through reserve, leading from

Wickham terrace Wickham Terrace is one of the historic streets of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known as the street of private medical specialists. Geography Wickham Terrace commences at the western corner of the intersection of Ann Street and Whar ...

Turbot street Turbot Street runs parallel to Ann Street and is on the northern side of the Brisbane central business district, Brisbane CBD in Queensland, Australia. It is a major thoroughfare, linking as a three-to-five lane one-way street with the Riversid ...

; This reserve owned by the State Government was one of several parcels of parkland including the Observatory reserve, and municipally-owned Wickham Park. It is unclear when Jacob's Ladder was recognised by that name, but there are references to its existence by that name from as early as 1897. This may have been about the same time as

Turbot Street Turbot Street runs parallel to Ann Street and is on the northern side of the Brisbane central business district, Brisbane CBD in Queensland, Australia. It is a major thoroughfare, linking as a three-to-five lane one-way street with the Riversid ...

was extended from Albert Street east to Edward Street, as well as the relatively new Central railway station. The adjoining park reserve was known for its amorous couples by 1904.

Poinsettias The poinsettia ( or ) (''Euphorbia pulcherrima'') is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834 ...

were to be planted alongside the steps in 1914 so the steps would 'be made bright'. An unsuccessful attempt was made between 1918 and 1920, led by the Minister for Lands

Harry Coyne John Henry “Harry” Coyne (16 January 186512 June 1926) was an Australian politician who served as a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the Electoral district of Warrego from 1908 until 1923. Early life John Henry Coyne was ...

but opposed by the

municipal council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counci ...

, to resume the land so it may be added to the adjoining Trades Hall site. April 1922 saw representations to fully restore access to the steps following the trades hall construction. In 1920, the concrete steps were built, with earlier photographs showing a steep pathway without steps. As part of demonstrating reliability captured by photograph by a newspaper, the steep stairs were driven the length by a

Whippet The Whippet is a dog breed of medium size. It is a sighthound breed that originated in England, descended from the Greyhound. Whippets today still strongly resemble a smaller Greyhound. Part of the hound group, Whippets have relatively few ...

motor car in March 1928. The 1930 request for a hill-climb test for a truck was rejected by the municipal council. An unattended car, from a

surgery, careered down the stairs and down Edward Street towards Adelaide Street, resulting in the injury to one pedestrian. In 1936, municipal parkland resumption was being considered between Albert and Edward Streets along Turbot Street, as far as Jacob's Ladder, for a new dental hospital, public library, and art gallery.

References

External links

{{coord, -27.4656, 153.0242, type:landmark_region:AU-QLD, display=title Geography of Brisbane Streets in Brisbane