World Expo 88 was a World’s Fair held in Brisbane, Australia that ran from April to October 1988. The fair’s success was instrumental in helping transform Brisbane and Queensland into an international tourism destination.
As soon as Expo was done, just about all of the sites were demolished and the Southbank Parklands were built in its place.
This mini-documentary presents a “then and now” of the former Expo location. This video will delve into the Southbank location’s history and transformation, what sits in place of the Expo rides and pavilions as of 2023, and what artifacts survived after the end of the fair.
For more information on World Expo 88, please visit and support the following pages:
Celebrate 88
www.celeberate88.com
World Expo 88 Youtube Page
https://www.youtube.com/@mjjcollectables/videos
Legacy of World Expo 88 Youtube Page
https://www.youtube.com/c/FoundationExpo88/videos
IBIS Channel 32 acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands presented within this documentary, and we pay respects to Elders past and present.
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A wonderful production, fantastic for the Expo 88 Legacy.
These world expos are a wonderfully enigmatic facet of human history
great job, really!
Just wonderful. This should be shown on free to air tv as part of a special commemorating the 35th anniversary
Fantastic memories. Thank you.
I often rabbit on to my kids about how Southbank used to be the World Expo site when we visit there. This brings back some great memories. Thank you 🙂
Brilliant. I remember Expo 88 .You go there today and its unrecognizable.
No many cities can say they have hosted an expo/worlds fair, an Olympics, Commonwealth games, Goodwill games and a G20 summit. You wonder if the Olympics will finally get the name up there with Sydney and Melbourne.
Thank you for this video. I had a season pass and went many many times. I just watched with my 24 & 25 year old sons now I feel very old indeed 🙄
My parents never took us to Disneyland but they did take us to Expo 88 and I’d venture to say the atmosphere was something far superior to anything Disneyland could ever produce on account of it not just being a fun park with rides and entertainment shoes but also the addition of all the cultural shows, the street performers, the technology exhibitions, and the fact that you knew it wasn’t going to last. It was like a non-stop party for 6 months. The feeling in the air was such a happy vibe. It was a feast for the senses and my as a six year old child. Such a carefree and magical era. I am so grateful for expo 88. Filled my childhood with some of my fondest memories with my parents and brother along with all my extended family – who also performed in the Māori culture pavilion. A wonderful magical time❤
This was really informative and interesting to watch. I didn't realise that the Arbour followed some of the original monorail track. Well done. 👍
This was great! Lots of flash-backs. Thank you. I was 22, living in Surfers for a few years.
Travelled/experienced a lot, Expo is right up there as one of my best experiences, yet prob only seen 1/4 of the displays. Indigenous laser display was my fav, don't believe there'd be any vid, too dark in there for 80s VHS. Concerts were great also. I forgot all about Stefan, lol, he was like Warwick Capper of the hairdressing industry.
I don't remember much of Expo 88 as I was only 4. But I know mum took us a few times and I remember always wanting to see the Knight Rider car.
I went when I was 3 years old, with my parents. It was amazing!
Umm I'm pretty sure the piazza today is the same location as the piazza at Expo 88, and the riverside restaurants that were there in Expo88 are still the same buildings today. Nice effort on the video youngen but so much wrong information. The maritime museum was not a part of Expo 88. It was outside of Expo 88.
Correction, the Piazza was built for Expo & was used for many performances day & night during Expo88.
Expo was the best thing to happen to Brisbane, it expanded our horizons & made Bribane a truly international city.I was in my early 20's at the time & had a season pass. It was a great venue after work & on weekends.The pavilions were excellent & the entertainment was first rate. The sky needle was a handly landmark, especially after a few drinks.
Great Doco.! here right now staying in Rydges with my family.
I was also here 35 years ago as a kid with my parents at expo88
I was just telling my eldest Daughter as we walked around Southbank.
Ironically I haven’t been back here since then but both my daughter and I first visit to south bank we were both exact same age 14 ! 😜
Thankyou for posting this. It bought back awesome memories of my time at expo 88. Really appreciate it… good times
My mother was a volunteer at an invalid centre in Fortitude Valley at the time. I remember being seconded into pushing an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair around the whole Expo site shortly after it opened. The elderly man was a former police detective, who recounted stories of his cases in 1940s and 1950s Brisbane. I became so engrossed in his stories as a wide eyed 21 year old, that I missed a lot of the exhibits!
I was 8 when expo opened. My mum was involved in The Samoan pavilion, which I can see in this video. We were lucky enough to get free tickets. As an 8yr old it was truly a wonder to behold..I wish I could go back in time.
I travelled from interstate and only had a single day ticket to Expo 88. Although I'll never forget that one day, I spent a lot of the time waiting in long queues to get into the pavilions so it was impossible to see more than about a quarter of them. Most theme parks nowdays have fast-pass options to jump queues but nothing like that existed. The Queensland Pavilion was the most memorable ride, never seen anything quite like it before or since.