The new stadium sits in the suburb of Herston, a name alluding to the state’s first premier and the man believed to be his lover
Today the story would be unremarkable: two gay men, migrants from England, give their Queensland home a portmanteau of their last names.
But in 1859, these two men, Robert Herbert and John Bramston, were the new state’s first premier (then called colonial secretary) and one of his attorneys general.
The name, Herston, was later used to name the modern suburb that covers the area, and in less than seven years, the suburb in Brisbane’s north will host the main stadium for the 2032 Olympic Games.
As the city takes the world stage, gay historians argue that the long-forgotten history of Herston should finally get the recognition it deserves.
