The building in my photograph, with the two people either cleaning or repairing the clock tower, are on the Ann Street side of the Roma Street railway station in Brisbane. These intrepid workers could see a view across ANZAC Square to the General Post Office which denotes the centre of the city. Officially the station area is known as Brisbane Passenger Station, Brisbane Terminal Station, and Brisbane Terminus yet, surprisingly, on the main façade at the Ann Street entry level there is an art deco-style sign proclaiming ‘Central Station’ and that is what the majority of commuters name it.

STATISTICS if you are that way inclined: The 1873 Roma Street railway station building is a heritage-listed railway station building at Roma Street railway station, 159 Roma Street, Brisbane central business district, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built from 1873 to 1875 by John Petrie. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 March 2000. Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1873_Roma_Street_railway_station_building

The train platforms can be accessed a number of ways but I guess these intrepid workers either came from inside the clock tower or climbed up it. The BCC bus sign seems to have spotted them but the commuters below failed to see what was unfolding. The two workers were untangling their ropes!

My bus came and I will never know what transpired that day.

💗 Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2025