Brisbane: A Literary and Artistic Sojourn
Status: open
16 Jun – 18 Jun 2025
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Brisbane: A Literary and Artistic Sojourn
Tour Highlights
Join literary expert Susannah Fullerton, President of the Jane Austen Society of Australia, and award-winning artist David Henderson on a short Brisbane sojourn that combines a visit to the ‘Writers Revealed’ exhibition at HOTA, with an exploration of the art of William Robinson whose work inspired the building of HOTA
- On the Gold Coast visit the new HOTA Gallery; attend the special exhibition ‘Writers Revealed’ which brings together material from the British Library and the National Portrait Gallery in London.
- At Old Government House, Brisbane, visit the William Robinson Gallery, and encounter his stunning painting The Rainforest, a key work in the HOTA collection that inspired both the architecture and gallery space.
- Tour the historic Coochin Coochin homestead on the Scenic Rim, home to the Bell family whose past guests include the Queen Mother, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh and Agatha Christie.
- Visit the Fryer Rare Book Library at the University of Queensland, where a curator will introduce us to their collection.
Overnight Brisbane (2 nights)
Itinerary
The following itinerary describes a range of sites which we plan to visit. At the time of publication (April 2025) most visits have been confirmed.
The daily activities described in this itinerary may change or be rotated and/or modified in order to accommodate alterations in opening hours and confirmation of private visits. Participants will receive a final itinerary, together with their tour documents, prior to departure. The tour includes meals indicated in the detailed itinerary where: B=breakfast, L=lunch and D=dinner/light supper.
Brisbane - 3 days
Monday 16 June, Arrive Brisbane
- Meet at hotel at 1.00pm
- Lecture by Susannah Fullerton: Agatha Christie in Queensland
- The Fryer Rare Book Library, University of Queensland
- Lecture by David Henderson: The Life and Work of William Robinson
Meeting Point: 1:00pm in foyer of the Capri by Fraser. Please meet your group leaders in the foyer of the hotel.
After a brief welcome meeting Susannah will start our program with a lecture entitled ‘Agatha Christie in Queensland’. Agatha Christie is the world’s best-selling novelist. She came to Australia early in her career, and was interviewed by one journalist but otherwise was left in peace to enjoy a trip with a most unusual purpose. Susannah Fullerton will tell the story of Agatha’s childhood and youth, explain what brought her to Australia, what she saw here and how the visit influenced her writings, and tell the story of a remarkable career which left a trail of murder victims in its literary wake.
We then drive to the Fryer Library at Queensland University which contains a large selection of manuscripts, correspondence, diaries and photographs from award-winning Australian novelists, poets and playwrights, including Peter Carey, Thea Astley, Oodgeroo Noonuccal, David Malouf, Eunice Hanger, and Max and Thelma Afford.
On our return to the hotel David Henderson will present a lecture ‘The Life and Work of William Robinson’. This Queensland artist is famed for his vast and beautiful landscapes and lively portraits, and is considered one of Australia’s foremost living artists. (Overnight Brisbane)
Tuesday 17 June, Brisbane – Gold Coast – Brisbane
- HOTA Gallery and special exhibition “ Writers Revealed”, Gold Coast
- William Robinson Gallery, Old Government House, Brisbane
This morning we travel to the Gold Coast to visit the revolutionary new HOTA Gallery which opened in May 2021. Both the colourful architecture and collection of this new six-storey ‘Home of the Arts’ were inspired by William Robinson’s stunning painting The Rainforest, a key work in HOTA’s holdings called ‘The City Collection’. This painting won the Wynne Prize for Landscape in 1990, and was purchased by the gallery shortly afterwards.
‘Writers Revealed’ is a world-first exhibition that pairs author portraits with rare manuscripts and is a wonderful chance to view precious items from the British Library and the National Portrait Gallery in London. The exhibition covers a wonderful range of writers from Shakespeare to Tolkien and J.K. Rowling. Jane Austen’s portable writing desk will be a particularly special display in this year which sees the 250th anniversary of her birth. You will see the manuscript of Woolf’s ‘Mrs Dalloway’, a diary entry by Lewis Carroll, and items connected with Oscar Wilde, Byron, James Joyce and Zadie Smith, amongst many more. Six centuries of literature are covered, as are the ways in which literature and visual expression are linked.
On our return to Brisbane we visit the William Robinson Gallery, in the beautiful setting of Old Government House. Born in Brisbane in 1936, Robinson is recognised not only for his unique interpretation of the Australian landscape but also for his whimsical portraits and narrative scenes. His self-portraits were awarded the Archibald Prize in 1987 and 1995. (Overnight Brisbane) B
Wednesday 18 June, Brisbane – Coochin – Brisbane Airport
- Coochin Coochin Homestead
- Farewell Lunch at Karoomba Vineyard
The Scenic Rim’s history is linked to various inspiring and charismatic pioneers, including poet Judith Wright, filmmaker Charles Chauvel and the Bell Family of ‘Coochin Coochin’. Today we drive out of Brisbane to meet with Tim and Jane Bell to discover the fascinating history of their homestead, which is one of the Scenic Rim’s oldest homes. ‘Coochin Coochin’, (‘Coochin’ means red in the Jagera language, for the red bill of the black swans that frequented the area), dates back to 1842 when the 120,000-acre property was first established by David Hunter. In 1870 the property was purchased by Thomas Alford who moved the homestead to its existing site on a hill. In 1882 James Bell bought 22,000 acres of freehold land, and with his wife, Gertrude, and their two sons, came to live here. Gertrude Bell (née Norton), Tim’s great grandmother, had come from an affluent home at Darling Point in Sydney and at ‘Coochin Coochin’ she resumed her former social life, inviting many guests to stay. Her detailed diaries record the visits of distinguished visitors, including the Queen Mother, the Prince of Wales, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh and Agatha Christie. Agatha Christie loved her visit, was involved in a local concert and grew fond of Guilford Marsh Bell (Gertrude’s grandson) who later worked on renovations to her beloved Devonshire home ‘Greenway’. Agatha greatly admired the Australian women she met in the area and you will learn about their influence on her future life and career.
We then enjoy a farewell lunch at the nearby Karoomba Vineyard before return to Brisbane where the tour will conclude at Brisbane airport at approximately 4.00pm. BL
Accommodation
Accommodation includes rooms with ensuite bathroom.
Brisbane (2 nights): 4-star Capri by Fraser – a modern hotel located in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, close to restaurants and the Botanic Gardens.
Note: Hotels are subject to change, in which case a hotel of similar standard will be provided.
Single Supplement
Payment of this supplement will ensure accommodation in a double/twin room for single occupancy throughout the tour. People wishing to take this supplement are therefore advised to book well in advance.
How to Book
ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION FORM
Please complete the ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION and send it to Australians Studying Abroad together with your non-refundable deposit of AUD $500.00 per person payable to Australians Studying Abroad.
Practical Information
Fitness Criteria
Level 1 ACTIVE
For people with active lives and good mobilityThe number of flags is a guide to the degree of difficulty of ASA tours relative to each other (not to those of other tour companies). It is neither absolute nor literal. One flag is given to the least taxing tours, seven to the most. All ASA tours are active programs. They are not suitable for people who lack stamina, have difficulty walking at the group’s pace or who have mobility issues. An unavoidable aspect of every tour is the need to manage walking, stair-climbing and standing for long periods of time.
Fitness Level: Active
This tours is appropriate for people with a reasonable level of fitness and good mobility. You must be able to:
- manage at least four to five hours of physical activity per day with ease
- walk at an easy to moderate pace
- keep up with the group at all times
- climb a few flights of stairs without duress
- get on and off a coach with steep steps unassisted
- stand for one to two hours during visits to museums and galleries without the need to sit
- handle your own luggage at the hotel
- manage a daily schedule which may involve an early-morning departure (between 8.00-8.30am), concluding in the late afternoon (between 5.30-6.00pm).
Please note: it is a condition of travel that all participants agree to accept ASA’s directions in relation to their suitability to participate in activities undertaken on the tour, and that ASA retains the sole discretion to direct a tour participant to refrain from a particular activity on part of the tour. For further information please refer to the Terms and Conditions section given below.
Tour Price & Inclusions
AUD $2480.00 Land Content Only
AUD $280.00 Single Supplement
Tour Price (Land Content Only) includes:
- Accommodation in twin-share rooms with en suite bathroom at the 4-star Carpi by Fraser in Brisbane CBD
- Meals as indicated in the tour itinerary where: B=continental breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
- Drinks at the farewell lunch.
- Transportation by air-conditioned coach
- Departure airport transfer according to the times as indicated in the tour itinerary
- Lecture and site-visit program
- Entrance fees
- Tips for the coach driver, local guides and restaurants for included meals
Tour Price (Land Content Only) does not include:
- Return airfare to Brisbane
- Personal spending money
- Luggage in excess of 20kg (44lbs)
- Travel insurance
- Porterage
Tour Map
Gallery
A deposit of $500.00 AUD per person is required to reserve a place on an ASA tour.
Cancellation Fees
If you decide to cancel your booking the following charges apply:
- Your initial deposit of $500.00 is non-refundable.**
- 45-31 days prior 50% of total amount due
- 30-0 days prior 100% of total amount due
**$250.00 of this amount (ie 50% of your deposit) may be credited to another ASA tour departing within 12 months of the original tour you booked. We regret, in this case earlybird discounts will not apply.
We take the day on which you cancel as being that on which we receive written confirmation of cancellation.
Unused Portions of the Tour
We regret that refunds will not be given for any unused portions or services of the tour, such as meals, entry fees, accommodation, flights or transfers.
Will the Tour Price or Itinerary Change?
If the number of participants on a tour is significantly less than budgeted, or if there is a significant change in exchange rates ASA reserves the right to amend the advertised price. We shall, however, do all in our power to maintain the published price. Occasionally circumstances beyond the control of ASA make it necessary to change airline, hotel or to make amendments to itineraries. We will inform you of any changes in due course.
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