View source for World Expo 88

{{Short description|World's fair held in Brisbane, Australia, in 1988}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox World's Fair
| box_width       = 
| class           = Specialised
| category        = 2
| image           = {{multiple image
  | total_width            = 300
  | border                 = infobox
  | perrow                 = 1/3/2/1
  | caption_align          = center
  | image1                 = Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II opening Expo 88, Brisbane, 30 April 1988.jpg
  | alt1                   = Queen Elizabeth II officially opening Expo 88
  | caption1               = [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] opening Expo 88
  | image2                 = Aerial photograph of the Expo 88 site.jpg
  | alt2                   = Aerial view of the Expo 88 site
  | caption2               = Aerial view of the Expo 88 site
  }}
| image_width     = 300px
| caption         = 
| year            = 1988
| name            = World Expo 88
| motto           = "Leisure in the Age of Technology"
| building        = 
| area            = {{convert|40|ha|acre|abbr=off}}
| invent          = 
| visitors        = 18,574,476 
| organized       = 
| mascot =  Expo Oz
| cnt             = 41 <!-- taken from the listing in the body, but -1 for Cook Islands -->
| org             = 
| biz             = 
| country         = Australia
| city            = [[Brisbane]]
| venue           = South Brisbane
| coord           = {{coord|27|28|35.9|S|153|1|18|E|format=dms|display=inline|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=World Expo 88}}
| cand            = 
| award           = 5 December 1983
| open            = {{start date|df=yes|1988|04|30}}
| close           = {{start date|df=yes|1988|10|30}}
| prevexpo        = [[Expo 86]]
| prevcity        = [[Vancouver]]
| nextexpo        = [[Expo 91]]
| nextcity        = [[Plovdiv]]
| suppl           = Universal expositions
| prevsuppl       = [[Expo '70]]
| prevsupcity     = [[Osaka]]
| nextsuppl       = [[Seville Expo '92]]
| nextsupcity     = [[Seville]]
| prevunho        = [[Glasgow Garden Festival]]
| prevunhocity    = [[Glasgow]]
| nextunho        = [[Gateshead Garden Festival]]
| nextunhocity    = [[Newcastle Upon Tyne]]
| simuni          = 
| simspe          = 
| simhor          = 
| simoth          = 
| website         =  [http://www.celebrate88.com/ Celebrate 88!]
}}
'''World Expo 88''', also known as '''Expo 88''', was a specialised [[World Expo|Expo]] held in [[Brisbane]], the state capital of [[Queensland]], [[Australia]], during a six-month period between Saturday, 30 April 1988 and Sunday, 30 October 1988, inclusive. The theme of the Expo was "Leisure in the Age of Technology", and the mascot for the Expo was an Australian [[platypus]] named Expo Oz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celebrate88.com/aboutcontents.html|website=Celebrate 88|title=About Expo|access-date=9 February 2024|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530172233/http://www.celebrate88.com/aboutcontents.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The A$625 million fair was the largest event of the [[Australian Bicentenary|1988 Bicentennial celebrations]] of the arrival of the [[First Fleet]] in Sydney Harbour.<ref>{{cite web |title=EXPLORE THE HARVEST OF ENDURANCE SCROLL -- Towards the future |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/features/harvest-of-endurance/scroll/towards-the-future |website=National Museum Australia |access-date=25 June 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209001707/https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/features/harvest-of-endurance/scroll/towards-the-future |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=PIORKO |first1=JANET |title=A Guide to the Bicentennial |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/09/travel/a-guide-to-the-bicentennial.html |access-date=25 June 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=9 August 1987 |archive-date=4 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104005650/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/09/travel/a-guide-to-the-bicentennial.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McGregor |first=John |title=About World Expo '88 |url=http://www.celebrate88.com/aboutintro.html |access-date=23 February 2008 |website=Celebrate 88! |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114732/http://www.celebrate88.com/aboutintro.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Expo 88 attracted more than 15,760,000 visitors who bought tickets worth A$175 million.<ref name="b150s"/> The event achieved both its economic aims and very good attendances, was successfully used to promote Queensland as a tourist destination and it spurred a major re-development at the [[South Brisbane, Queensland|South Brisbane]] site.<ref name="show">{{cite book |title=Showing off: Queensland at World Expositions 1862 to 1988 |last=McKay |first=Judith |year=2004 |publisher=Central Queensland University Press and the Queensland Museum |location=Rockhampton, Queensland |isbn=1-876780-37-1 |pages=101–109 }}</ref> The core feature of the site were the international pavilions.<ref name="b150s">{{cite book |title=Brisbane 150 Stories |author=McBride, Frank|year=2009 |publisher=Brisbane City Council Publication |isbn=978-1-876091-60-6 |pages=286–287|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Many of the exposition's sculptures and buildings were retained by various entities around the state and are still in use or on display today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Expo '88 Public Art Trail - 30th anniversary |url=https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/experiences-and-culture/public-art-in-brisbane/public-art-trails/world-expo-88-public-art-trail-30th-anniversary |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=[[Brisbane City Council]] |language=en |archive-date=20 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820061102/https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/experiences-and-culture/public-art-in-brisbane/public-art-trails/world-expo-88-public-art-trail-30th-anniversary |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==

=== Origins ===
The first thoughts of a world expo for Brisbane began soon after [[James Maccormick]], architect for the Australia Pavilion at [[Expo 67]], [[Expo '70]] and [[Expo '74]], was commissioned to do an urban renewal study for [[Kangaroo Point, Queensland|Kangaroo Point]] in the early 70s. It occurred to Maccormick that an exposition would be an ideal catalyst for such a redevelopment, and he later hosted meetings with prominent Queensland business persons and government representatives to discuss the idea.<ref>{{cite web |last=McGregor |first=John |date=8 October 2004 |title=Interview with James Maccormick MBE - Joint Chief Architect World Expo 88 |url=http://www.celebrate88.com/fexpo88maccormickinterview.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223111959/http://www.celebrate88.com/fexpo88maccormickinterview.pdf |archive-date=23 December 2023 |access-date=8 November 2023 |website= |publisher=Celebrate 88! |url-status=live }}</ref> With the [[Australian Bicentenary]] looming in 1988, other Australian capitals sought means by which to celebrate the event, including hosting of a [[Universal Exposition]] or the [[Summer Olympic Games]]. [[Sydney]] and [[Melbourne]] both made representations to the Federal Government for matching dollar for dollar funding for a Universal Exposition in the 1988 bicentennial year, however, citing the costs of the new [[Parliament House, Canberra|Parliament House]] in Canberra, also to be opened in the same year, these proposals were knocked back. But 12 years later the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] were held in Sydney, and Brisbane will be the [[2032 Summer Olympics]] host city .<ref>{{citation|url=http://celebrate88.com/originsofexpocarroll.pdf|title=The Origins of Expo 88|first=Peter|last=Carroll|website=Academic Forum - Celebrate 88!|access-date=8 November 2023|archive-date=23 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223112051/http://celebrate88.com/originsofexpocarroll.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Expo 88 Brisbane River entertainment, Brisbane, c 30 April 1988.jpg|thumb|right|Expo 88 Brisbane River Entertainment, Brisbane, c. 30 April 1988]]
Brisbane, under Premier Sir [[Joh Bjelke-Petersen]], then developed Maccomick's earlier proposal to host an international-scale exposition, however at no cost to the Australian taxpayer, a world's first 'free enterprise' World Exposition, which the Federal Government rubber stamped.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

With federal representation, at the December 1983 [[Bureau International des Expositions]] (BIE) General Assembly, Brisbane won the right to hold the 1988 World Exposition, as a specialised international exposition. Immediately, the Brisbane Exposition and South Bank Redevelopment Authority was formed with Sir [[Llewellyn Edwards]], State Deputy Premier, at the helm. Maccormick later was appointed as Joint Chief Architect of the Expo, under the architectural firm Bligh Maccormick 88.

===Construction===
[[File:Brisbane River Front - Pre Expo 88.jpg|thumb|Expo 88 site, c. 1987]]
World Expo 88 occupied a mixed usage 40-hectare (98.8 acres) resumed (acquired/taken, as in "[[Eminent domain]]") parcel of land on the [[South Bank, Queensland|South Bank]] of the [[Brisbane River]], opposite the city's [[central business district]]. For many years this mainly industrial area had been largely derelict. Stanley Street was permanently excised between Melbourne Street and Vulture Street while Grey Street was reinstated after the showground was demolished. The creation of Expo, along with the recent construction of the [[Queensland Cultural Centre]], helped to revive the area.<ref>{{cite web | title = History of South Bank site | publisher = South Bank Corporation | url = http://www.southbankcorporation.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/24006/History.pdf | access-date = 27 August 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080719184455/http://southbankcorporation.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/24006/History.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 19 July 2008}}</ref> Construction was coordinated by Brisbane-based Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd.

Around 100 works of sculpture were either commissioned, purchased or borrowed for World Expo 88 at a cost of $25 million. Large sun sails were erected over the site to provide shade from the hot Queensland climate.<ref name="New2Brisbane">{{cite web | title = Brisbane World Expo '88 | publisher = New2Brisbane | date = 10 April 2007 | url = http://www.new2brisbane.com.au/Get_To_Know_Brisbane/The_History_of_Brisbane/Brisbane_World_Expo_88.html | access-date = 24 August 2008 | archive-date = 15 September 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080915051006/http://www.new2brisbane.com.au/Get_To_Know_Brisbane/The_History_of_Brisbane/Brisbane_World_Expo_88.html | url-status = live }}</ref> These became an icon of the Expo, becoming an element of Expo's sun-sails logo. Two thousand kilometres of telecommunication wire were laid during construction of the site.<ref name="New2Brisbane" />

A A$4.5 million 88-metre (289.37911 feet) symbolic tower for the Expo was constructed, called [[The Skyneedle, Brisbane|The Night Companion]] (also known as "The Skyneedle"), which featured a gold and copper dome black spire top, with a [[xenon]] laser beam eye that scanned the Brisbane horizons each Expo evening up to {{convert|60|km|mi}} away.

The main entry gate was the Melbourne Street gate at the northern end of the campus, located on the current Grey Street alongside South Brisbane Station.

===Monorail===
[[File:Monorail - Expo 88.jpg|thumb|right|Expo 88 monorail]]
A [[Von Roll Holding#Monorail|Von Roll MkII]] [[monorail]] was constructed for World Expo 88 to take visitors quickly around the Expo site. Costing A$12 million, it consisted of 2 stations at either end of the site, {{convert|2.3|km|mi}} of track and 4 nine-carriage trains. The route included going through the Queensland Pavilion, across the Pacific Lagoon and beside the Brisbane River. The system was able to carry 44,000 passengers per day. Following Expo, one of the trains and some track joined the existing [[Sea World Monorail System]] at [[Sea World (Australia)|Sea World]] on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]. The other three trains were bought back by Von Roll and are now running at the German theme park [[Europa-Park]] in [[Rust, Baden-Württemberg|Rust]] since 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|format=pdf|title=The Monorails types|url=https://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/files/von_roll_monorail_3_998.jpg|website=themeparkreview.com|access-date=2019-10-06|archive-date=6 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006204800/https://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/files/von_roll_monorail_3_998.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Darling Harbour People Mover Submission – Von Roll Monorail System|url=http://harbourlink.net/library/vonRollMonorail.html|website=harbourlink.net|access-date=2019-10-06|archive-date=1 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101102313/http://harbourlink.net/library/vonRollMonorail.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==The Fair==
[[File:Expo88-from-the-Brisbane River.jpg|thumb|left|World Expo 88 – showing sunsails and monorail]]
[[File:World-Expo-88-at-night.jpg|thumb|Expo 88 at night – showing the 88-metre high [[The Skyneedle|Skyneedle]]]]
A ticket to the fair allowed entry to the [[World Expo Park]] [[amusement park]] at the same location. Although originally intended to be a permanent feature, the park remained open for only one year after Expo had closed.<ref>{{cite web | title = World Expo Park | publisher = Rollercoaster.com.au & Total Thrills | date = 21 May 2007 | url = http://www.roller-coaster.com.au/park.php?pid=21 | access-date = 27 August 2008 | archive-date = 22 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080722094411/http://www.roller-coaster.com.au/park.php?pid=21 | url-status = live }}</ref> The fair was open daily from 10&nbsp;am to 10&nbsp;pm.

The Expo sunsails and the Expo tower Night Companion can be seen clearly here, as well as the monorail. Some of the rides of the World Expo Park can be seen in the background. The 'cubistic flotilla' can be seen in the foreground.
World Expo 88 was opened by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] on Saturday, 30 April 1988 to much fanfare. The fair attracted more than 18 million visitors, including staff and VIPs, more than double the predicted 7.8 million, and was considered a turning point in the history of Brisbane, which had recently successfully hosted the [[1982 Commonwealth Games]]. With Expo 88 Queensland had transformed itself from a northern backwater into Australia's "most progressive state".<ref name="show"/>

The Commissioner General for World Expo 88 was [[Edward Williams (judge)|Sir Edward Williams]] (who was also the Chairman for the also very successful 1982 Commonwealth Games). The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the former State Government Minister [[Llewellyn Edwards|Sir Llewellyn Edwards]], was appointed in February 1984.<ref name="show"/> The General Manager was [[Bob Miniken]] and the Entertainment Director was [[Ric Birch]] (who would soon become one of the greatest experts in Olympic ceremonies and large-scale events in the world). Landscaping at the site was done by Brisbane landscape architect [[Lawrie Smith]]. The landscaping was based on nine precincts and used more than 150,000 temperate and tropical plants.<ref name="show"/>

{{Clear}}
{{wide image|Expo 88 (8075991938).jpg|500px|A panorama view of the stage and Brisbane River during World Expo 88}}

===Pavilions===
[[File:The Soviet Union 1988 CPA 5939 stamp (World Expo 88, Brisbane, Australia. Emblem, Soviet emblem, globe, human figures, and nature).jpg|thumb|left|upright|1988 [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] commemorative stamp]]

{| align=center cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%" width=70%
|- bgcolor=#006699 style="color:white;"
!colspan=4|Participating Nations
|-bgcolor=#EBF5FF
|width=25%|{{flag|Australia}}
|width=25%|{{flag|Brunei}}
|width=25%|{{flag|Canada}}
|width=25%|{{flagicon|People's Republic of China}} [[China]]
|-bgcolor=#EBF5FF
|{{flag|Cook Islands}}
|{{flag|Cyprus|1960}}
|{{flag|Fiji}}
|{{flag|France}}
|-bgcolor=#EBF5FF
|{{flag|Greece}}
|{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[People's Republic of Hungary|Hungary]]
|{{flag|Indonesia}}
|{{flag|Italy}}
|-bgcolor=#EBF5FF
|{{flag|Japan|1947}}
|{{flag|Kenya}}
|{{flag|Malaysia}}
|{{flag|Nepal}}
|-bgcolor=#EBF5FF
|{{flag|New Zealand}}
|{{flag|Pakistan}}
|{{flag|Papua New Guinea}}
|{{flag|Philippines|1986}}
|-bgcolor=#EBF5FF
|{{flag|Singapore}}
|{{flag|Solomon Islands}}
|{{flag|South Korea|1984}}
|{{flag|Soviet Union}}
|-bgcolor=#EBF5FF
|{{flag|Spain}}
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}}
|{{flag|Switzerland}}
|{{flag|Thailand}}
|-bgcolor=#EBF5FF
|{{flag|Tonga}}
|{{flag|United Kingdom}}
|{{flag|United States}}
|{{flag|Vanuatu}}
|-bgcolor=#EBF5FF
|{{flag|Vatican City}}
|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[West Germany]]
|{{flagicon|Samoa}} [[Western Samoa]] 
|{{flagicon|SFR Yugoslavia}} [[SFR Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]
|}
{{Clear}}

[[File:British-pavilion.jpg|thumb|British Pavilion]]
[[File:Expo-88-sound-sensitive-fountains-outside-the-German-pavilion.jpg|thumb|Sound sensitive fountains outside the West German Pavilion]]
Despite late entrants into the Exposition due to domestic political measures, World Expo 88 attracted some 100 pavilions, from 52 governments, of which 36 were from international-level, and numerous corporate participants. Major western and European nations were represented such as the [[United States]], the [[Soviet Union]] (last representation at a World Exposition), [[France]], [[West Germany]] (also last representation at a World Exposition), the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], [[Spain]] and [[Greece]], as well as major Asian countries such as [[Singapore]], [[Thailand]], [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]], [[China]], [[Japan]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[South Korea]], [[Indonesia]], and the [[Philippines]], and amongst others. Close neighbouring countries, [[New Zealand]] and [[Papua New Guinea]] were also represented.

State-level and multi-lateral organisations included the six Australian states, the [[United Nations]], the [[European Union]], [[Vatican City]], three American states ([[Hawaii]], [[California]] and [[Alaska]]), one Japanese prefecture (sister state of Queensland, [[Saitama Prefecture]]), and one Japanese city (Brisbane's sister city [[Kobe]] City).

Corporate pavilions included [[IBM]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Fujitsu]], [[Queensland Newspapers]], [[Australia Post]], [[Cadbury plc|Cadbury Chocolate]], [[Suncorp]], and the Queensland Teachers Credit Union. [[NASA]] and [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] hosted outdoor exhibits, with models of the [[Space Shuttle]] and [[Apollo program]], as well as the car KITT from the TV series ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]''. Also having its own pavilion was the official Australian TV partner of the Expo, [[Network Ten]], via its Queensland station TVQ, whose news studios were located there for public tours and during the Expo also switched channel frequencies in September (from channel 0 to channel 10) in line with the other state channels.

The most expensive pavilion was Japan (A$26 million), followed by the Queensland Pavilion (A$20 million) and the Australia Pavilion (A$18 million). The largest Pavilions were also Queensland,<ref name="show"/> followed by Australia then Japan.

[[High-definition television]] received its Australian premiere at the Japan Pavilion, and the text-based [[Internet]] at the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] Pavilion. At the University pavilion the world's longest lab experiment was on display. The [[pitch drop experiment]], which features tar pitch slowly dripping through a funnel at a rate of nine drops in 81 years, actually made an unseen drop while on display.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/worlds-longest-lab-experiment-a-lesson-in-persistence-20120119-1q7lu.html |title=World's longest lab experiment a lesson in persistence |author=Dan Nancarrow |access-date=23 January 2012 |date=20 January 2012 |work=Brisbane Times |publisher=Fairfax Media |archive-date=22 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122082012/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/worlds-longest-lab-experiment-a-lesson-in-persistence-20120119-1q7lu.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The most popular pavilion was New Zealand<ref>{{cite web |last=McGregor |first=John |title=The New Zealand Pavilion, World Expo '88, Brisbane |url=http://www.celebrate88.com/pavilions/international/newzealand.html |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108122226/http://www.celebrate88.com/pavilions/international/newzealand.html |url-status=live }}</ref> with its animated [[Footrot Flats]] show and glow worm cave followed by [[Australia]], with its special effects 'Dreamtime Theatre'; [[Queensland]], with its popular 180-metre long people mover ride through Queensland of the present and the future; Japan with its [[Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha#Japanese Garden|Japan Pond and Garden]] and hi-tech displays; [[Switzerland]], with its artificial snow ski slope and cable car ride; and Nepal, with its 3-level hand-crafted [[Nepalese Peace Pagoda]].

===Architecture===
For the most part, pavilions were housed in pre-fabricated units constructed by the expo authority, with the exception of the [[Nepalese Peace Pagoda]], of [[Nepal]], and aspects of the [[Kingdom of Thailand]] Pavilion, amongst others. The Australia Pavilion and Queensland Pavilion, side by side, were also custom-made, with the exterior of the Australia Pavilion notably in the shape and colours of [[Uluru]] (Ayers Rock). The Queensland Pavilion was designed by Robin Gibson.<ref name="show"/>

===Theming===
[[File:World-Expo-88-Logo.JPG|thumb|left|Sunsails logo and World Expo 88 sign at night]]
{{multiple image
| align             = center
| footer            = World Expo '88 Logos
| footer_align      = center
| image1            = Expo88catologo.jpg
| width1            = 162
| alt1              = World Expo '88 Sunsails Logo
| caption1          = Sunsails Logo
| image2            = Expo 88 Globe logo.JPG
| width2            = 73
| alt2              = World Expo '88 Globe Logo
| caption2          = Globe Logo
}}

[[File:Expoozworldexpo88.jpg|thumb|upright|The Australian [[Platypus]] Expo Oz was a part of the success of the Expo.]]
As well as the popular platypus mascot Expo Oz, designed by Disney's Imagineering Division, there were several themed initiatives that promoted World Expo 88, most notably the Expo's two interchangeable brands (as noted above): one, a  boomerang-styled '88' on a wire frame globe, and the colourful sunsails logo, which superimposed aspects of the Expo's entertainment on a relief of one of the Expo's popular sun sails (designed by Ken Cato, of Cato Purnell Partners). There was also a new weekly theme which allowed special-interest groups to entertain.<ref name="b150s"/>

The logos were used extensively throughout the Expo site as well as souvenirs, and a costume Expo Oz could be seen as part of the daily parades, shows, and other variety performances. Over 500 items of souvenir memorabilia were made using Expo Oz's image. Expo Oz also featured in extensive international tours in the lead-up to the Expo, to Europe, the US and Japan.

The theme song of the Expo, 'Together We'll Show the World!' by [[Frank Millward]] and [[Carol Lloyd (Australian singer)|Carol Lloyd]],<ref>{{Citation|last=FoundationExpo88|title=Expo 88 Theme song history, part of Expo 88 25 th anniversary, History, 4BC Greg Cary|date=4 May 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ-jdCLkY5g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/jZ-jdCLkY5g |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=17 August 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> was also an important rallying point in promoting the Expo in the lead-up to and during phases of the fair, and captured a sense of the excitement of the Expo.

The colourful theme for the Australia Pavilion, which became synonymous with the hosting of the Expo with Australia as host nation, was designed by prominent Australian artist [[Ken Done]], and featured huge playful colourful letters making up the word Australia in an Australia Pavilion Entrance set, and Exit set, with the entrance set a stack of nine, 3x3, some 2.1 metres high each, and the exit set, in a line of nine letters, some 5.6 metres high each. These letters became a very popular photo opportunity for the Expo, and the theme was also found on the brightly coloured Australia Pavilion uniforms also.

Five heritage-listed buildings in South Brisbane were refurbished and repurposed for Expo 88. They were retained after its closure and can still be seen today: Plough Inn, Ship Inn, Central House, Collin's Place Spaghetti House, and South Brisbane Municipal Library.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=WORLD EXPO 88 - THE OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAM |publisher=Australian Consolidated Press |year=1988 |location=Sydney}}</ref> The Expo House building on Sidon Street, which housed 'Club 88' and administrative offices, has been incorporated into today's Griffith University South Bank Campus.<ref name=":0" />

===Entertainment===
The $38 million entertainment program featured acts from all over Australia and the world at a variety of custom-made performance venues on the World Expo 88 site from the 10,000-seat spectacular open-air River Stage (for national day events, opening and closing ceremonies and large-scale events), the 850-seat piazza for circus, marching band, acrobatics, magic and mime, and the smaller-scale amphitheatre for national day ceremonies and laser shows. The River Stage was also the venue for the popular evening fireworks and large-scale laser show, set to music,<ref name="b150s"/> each Expo evening at 10 pm.

Big international and Australian names were a feature at World Expo 88. Perennial Australian favourites such as [[Icehouse (band)|Icehouse]], [[Little River Band]], [[Mental as Anything]], [[The Cockroaches]], [[Joe Camilleri]] and the [[Black Sorrows]], [[John Farnham]], [[Julie Anthony (Australian singer)|Julie Anthony]], [[Simon Gallaher]], [[Wickety Wak]] and [[Jon English]], were regular performers, as well as concerts by international artists such as [[Jerry Harrison]] (of [[Talking Heads]]), [[Julio Iglesias]], [[John Denver]], [[Donny Osmond]], [[Cher]], [[Phyllis Diller]], and a wide variety of international theatre, opera, and classical music at the adjoining (separate ticket admission) World Expo on Stage program at the [[Queensland Performing Arts Complex]].

The exposition averaged 100,000 visitors a day, with highest day of attendance being 184,000 visitors on 29 October 1988, the last day before the closing ceremony.

Network Ten was the official television broadcast partner for Expo 88.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Brisbane Expo City and the fabulous Gold Coast Australia |publisher=Leisureway Publications Pty |year=1988}}</ref>

At the closing ceremony of World Expo 88 at the River Stage, a concert showcased all the Expo's entertainers singing and dancing. The concert finished up with the [[Australia]]n [[pop-folk]] band [[The Seekers]] singing one of their songs, "[[The Carnival Is Over]]", at the very end of the celebrations, in what has become an Australian tradition. As Judith Durham refused to perform for the Expo '88 Closing Ceremony celebrations (due to her sentiments of what happened to the aborigines),<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CtSDwAAQBAJ&dq=judith+durham+refused+to+play+at+bicentennial+1988&pg=PT126 | title=We'll Show the World: Expo 88 – Brisbane's Almighty Struggle for a Little Bit of Cred | isbn=9780702260896 | last1=Ryan | first1=Jackie | date=26 April 2018 | publisher=Univ. of Queensland Press | access-date=12 November 2023 | archive-date=9 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209001732/https://books.google.com/books?id=8CtSDwAAQBAJ&dq=judith+durham+refused+to+play+at+bicentennial+1988&pg=PT126#v=onepage&q=judith%20durham%20refused%20to%20play%20at%20bicentennial%201988&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref> Australian soprano [[Julie Anthony (Australian singer)|Julie Anthony]] joined the group as the lead vocalist in her stead. During the events of the Expo's closing ceremony, the Night Companion's light beam was stilled.  Sir Llewellyn Edwards concluded the Expo with the words "With the Prime Minister, Mr Premier, my Lord Mayor, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen – as the Prime Minister indicated, the carnival is now over, Expo '88 has come to a close.....Thank you for all that have contributed and may the light of World Expo 88 never really fade."<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Academic Forum, Celebrate 88 |url=http://www.celebrate88.com/closingceremonyspeechthehonourablesirllewedwardschairmanofworldexpo88.html |access-date=8 November 2023 |publisher=Celebrate 88! |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108122235/http://www.celebrate88.com/closingceremonyspeechthehonourablesirllewedwardschairmanofworldexpo88.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
A massive fireworks display, the longest in Australia at the time,<ref name="show"/> soon followed, with a burning icon of the World Expo 88 sun sails logo set alight on the Brisbane River.

==Legacy==

===The Nepalese Peace Pagoda and South Bank Parklands===
[[File:Nepal Peace Pagoda, Brisbane, 2020, 02.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Nepalese Peace Pagoda]] in [[South Bank Parklands]]]]
After the end of World Expo 88, various contingency plans were mooted as to possible future developments. One proposal was for a second central business district area to be developed, however this proposal was rejected. A second proposal, incorporating extensive parklands, boutique retail, as well as low-medium residential development, was later accepted, and four years after the closure of World Expo 88, the site was reopened as [[South Bank Parklands]], which is managed by the [[South Bank Corporation]], a State Government corporation.

The only remaining trace of the Exposition on the former site is the [[Nepalese Peace Pagoda]], part of the Nepalese representation, a traditional three-storey handmade wooden replica of a Pagoda in Kathmandu. The popular boardwalk eateries at the southern end of the Expo 88 site were replaced by River Quay Green and modern restaurants in 2011.

===Riverstage and the Courier Mail Piazza===
Two of the most popular performing arts venues from World Expo 88 took on a new form at the conclusion of the Expo as [[Riverstage]] (at the new venue in the [[City Botanic Gardens]]), and the [[Courier Mail Piazza]] (formerly called the Suncorp Piazza) at the [[South Bank Parklands]]. These two outdoor performing arts venues today welcome visitors to a variety of performing arts genres.

===The Skyneedle===
[[File:Expo-88-skyneedle-and-monorail.jpg|thumb|upright|The Skyneedle at World Expo 88]]
[[The Skyneedle, Brisbane|The Skyneedle]] (or "Night Companion") is {{convert|88|m|ft|abbr=on}} high and beams light skywards with a visibility of more than {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} during special events.

The Skyneedle, which was originally built for World Expo 88, was to be relocated to [[Tokyo Disneyland]] after the Expo. Hairdresser and local celebrity [[Stefan Ackerie|Stefan]] bought the rights and moved it {{convert|500|m|ft|abbr=on}} from its original location at South Bank to his corporate headquarters in South Brisbane, where it remains a local landmark.

===Sculpture park===
During World Expo 88, the park was filled with 90 [[sculpture]]s, one of the largest and most prestigious displays the country had ever hosted.<ref>{{cite book |title=Sculpture : the World Expo 88 collection |last1=Bacon |first1=Phillip |last2=World Expo 88 |year=1988 |publisher=Philip Bacon Galleries |location=Brisbane, Australia |isbn=0-7316-2763-6 |pages=5 }}</ref> Sixteen pieces were commissioned for the event, while others were on loan. Also the 88-strong white fibreglass  'Human Factor' sculpture series which captured the whimsy of persons in day-to-day life,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Council remembers Expo 88 through art |url=https://grahamquirk.com.au/council-remembers-expo-88-through-art/ |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=[[Graham Quirk]] |archive-date=7 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307081926/https://grahamquirk.com.au/council-remembers-expo-88-through-art/ |url-status=live }}</ref> were also put up for private sale, with many of them being purchased for shopping centres and arcades. Some of the works that were for sale have been purchased by the [[Brisbane City Council]] and are on display at various places in the city today, most notably [[Gidon Graetz]]'s work ''Mirage'' in the [[Brisbane Arcade]] and American sculptor [[Jon Barlow Hudson]]'s work ''Morning Star II'' located in the [[City Botanic Gardens]]. A sectional model or [[maquette]] of Jon Barlow Hudson's artwork ''Paradigm'' is on display outside [[State Library of Queensland]].<ref>{{cite web | title = State Library unveils model Expo 88 sculpture by international artist | publisher = State Library of Queensland | date = 3 June 2015 | url = http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/slq-today/2015/06/03/state-library-unveils-model-expo-88-sculpture-by-international-artist | access-date = 17 February 2016 | archive-date = 24 February 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160224093803/http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/slq-today/2015/06/03/state-library-unveils-model-expo-88-sculpture-by-international-artist/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

One can view and take part in a Heritage Walk of some of the major works at the World Expo 88 Art Heritage trail at Celebrate 88.<ref>[http://www.celebrate88.com/abouttrail.html About the Trail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209001625/http://www.celebrate88.com/abouttrail.html |date=9 February 2024 }} – Celebrate 88</ref>

===The Japan Pond and Garden===
The [[Japan]] Pond and Garden from the Japanese Government Pavilion was gifted to the [[City of Brisbane]] at the end of the Expo and was re-located to the [[Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha|Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens]].

===Australia Pavilion letters===
The colourful, large Australia Pavilion letters, designed by Australian artist [[Ken Done]] were synonymous with the success of the Expo, and were purchased by Shaftesbury Citizenship Campus at the end of the Expo, for their [[Burpengary, Queensland|Burpengary]] Campus. The end of Expo till 2008 the letters could be viewed along the [[Bruce Highway]] near Burpengary as one approached Brisbane City, a reminder of their successful role at World Expo 88. In 2018, the letters were restored and placed at the Caboolture Historical Village.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.historicalvillage.com.au/expo-88-signs/|title=Expo 88 Australia Signs – Story and Photos of the Restoration|website=Caboolture Historical Village|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715034628/https://www.historicalvillage.com.au/expo-88-signs/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===World Expo Park – Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre===
[[World Expo Park]], the Expo's theme park located adjacent to the Expo site, was intended to be a permanent legacy of the Expo at its conclusion. Citing lack of patronage, however, it closed down just a year after the Expo closed its doors. The site of World Expo Park was re-developed into the [[Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre]].

===Queensland Pavilion===
The Queensland Pavilion was purchased by the Gateway Baptist Church, and now stands on their [[Mackenzie, Queensland|Mackenzie]] premises.

===Victorian Pavilion===
The Victorian Pavilion was purchased privately and moved to 77 Shore St West, [[Cleveland, Queensland|Cleveland]], where it is known as Redland Trade Centre.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-10|title=Brisbane Expo 1988|url=https://middleagedmama.com.au/why-brisbane-expo-1988-means-so-much-to-me/|access-date=2020-08-24|website=Middle Aged Mama blog|language=en-US|archive-date=5 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305205938/https://middleagedmama.com.au/why-brisbane-expo-1988-means-so-much-to-me/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Foundation===
On 30 April 2004, sixteen years after World Expo 88's official opening, a non-government not-for-profit commemorative entity for the Exposition was launched, named Foundation Expo '88. The Foundation based its activities at the [[Nepalese Peace Pagoda]] from the Expo, including a weekly Guided Tours program "Pagoda on Sundays", and hosting at the Pagoda first level a commemorative museum display of memorabilia from Expo, which is still maintained to this day.

For the 10th Anniversary of Foundation Expo '88 in 2014, the Foundation was re-branded into one new entity "Celebrate 88!".

=== Expo Gold ===
The Golden Penda tree (''[[Xanthostemon chrysanthus]])'' was selected as the theme plant for Expo 88. Cuttings of the tree, which is native to north Queensland, were taken from a superior form from a garden in Brisbane and planted in flower in Brisbane to create a 'Sea of Gold'. In late autumn, the tree can still be seen in flower in gardens and lining streets across Brisbane.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://anpsa.org.au/APOL30/jun03-14.html|title=Growing Golden Penda|website=Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants|access-date=5 June 2017|archive-date=6 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606003327/http://anpsa.org.au/APOL30/jun03-14.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The tree is also the native floral emblem of Cairns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sgapcairns.org.au/PlantsEmblemsXanChr.html|title=Floral Emblem of Cairns City|website=The Cairns Branch of the Society for Growing Australian Plants (SGAP)|access-date=6 June 2017|archive-date=17 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217031727/http://sgapcairns.org.au/PlantsEmblemsXanChr.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/region/city-symbols|title=City symbols|last=Council|first=Cairns Regional|date=27 May 2016|website=Cairns Regional Council|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-11-30|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005020541/https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/region/city-symbols|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Q150 Icon ===
In 2009 as part of the [[Q150]] celebrations, Expo 88 was announced as one of the [[Q150 Icons]] of Queensland for its role as a "Defining Moment".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|title=PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS|last=Bligh|first=Anna|author-link=Anna Bligh|date=10 June 2009|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524033717/http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|archive-date=24 May 2017|access-date=24 May 2017}}</ref>

==Anniversaries==
Celebrations for the 20th anniversary were held at [[South Bank Parklands]] during May 2008. Celebrations included a charity dinner on 9 May at the Great Hall of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and a community day of celebration on 10 May. It featured entertainment from the Expo, fireworks, interpretive displays and [[themed walk]]s, and a [[Suncorp]] Spirit of Expo Staff Breakfast,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southbankcelebrates88.com.au/#Expo|title=88 South Bank celebrates 88|access-date=23 March 2008|archive-date=13 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413094101/http://www.southbankcelebrates88.com.au/#Expo|url-status=live}}</ref> also attended by then Lord Mayor of Brisbane [[Sallyanne Atkinson]], and Expo Chair and CEO Sir [[Llewellyn Edwards]].

2013 saw commemorative activities which included a special retrospective exhibition on World Expo 88 entitled "Light Fantastic: Expo 88 Rewired", a special family fun day at the former Expo 88 site, Southbank Parklands, where a special Plaque was also unveiled.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Expo '88 |url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/culture/social/display/100535-world-expo-1988. |website=Monument Australia |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516160129/https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/culture/social/display/100535-world-expo-1988. |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Brisbane City Council arranged several initiatives to as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Expo '88 Public Art Trail - 30th Anniversary |url=https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/arts-culture/public-art/public-art-trails/world-expo-88-public-art-trail-30th-anniversary |website=Brisbane City Council |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003100933/https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/arts-culture/public-art/public-art-trails/world-expo-88-public-art-trail-30th-anniversary |url-status=live }}</ref> A special closing event ceremony was held at the Caboolture Historical Village, where the restored Ken Done Australia Pavilion Signs completely restored were unveiled on 28 October 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Expo '88 |url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/113174-30th-anniversary-of-world-expo-88. |website=Monument Australia |access-date=12 November 2018 |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516160608/https://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/113174-30th-anniversary-of-world-expo-88. |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Queensland}}
*[[History of Brisbane]]
*[[List of world expositions]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Andrew|last2=Mair|first2=Judith|date=November 2018|title=The making of a city: How Expo 88 changed Brisbane forever|url=https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/blog/entry/the-making-of-a-city-how-expo-88-changed-brisbane-forever|url-status=live|website=[[Bureau International des Expositions]]|language=en-gb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205012822/https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/blog/entry/the-making-of-a-city-how-expo-88-changed-brisbane-forever|archive-date=2021-12-05}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Expo 1988}}
*[http://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/1988-brisbane Official website of the BIE]
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/expo88/ World Expo 88 Facebook Group]
* [http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/official-journal/2016/etc/se4/p219.html European Patent Office]
*[http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo_library/libweb/action/dlSearch.do?institution=SLQ&vid=SLQ&search_scope=DT&indx=1&query=any,contains,expo+88&ct=facet&fctN=facet_rtype&fctV=images&onCampus=false&group=Guest State Library of Queensland Expo 88 Images]
* [http://www.celebrate88.com/ Celebrate 88! – Your Guide to World Expo 88 on the Net]
* [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/dls06p/alma997959374702061 South Bank celebrates 88 20th anniversary World Expo 88 celebrations website archive], State Library of Queensland
* [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/dls06p/alma99183509121302061 Sir Llew Edwards digital story and oral history], State Library of Queensland. Interview with the Chairman of World Expo 88
* [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/dls06p/alma99290063402061 James Maccormick Digital Story 4 March 2013], State Library of Queensland
* [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99183495819902061 Expo Schmexpo motion picture 1984], experimental short film directed by Debra Beattie depicting the impacts of the upcoming World Expo 1988
* [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99294613402061 City for Sale Film 1988], film about the demolition of buildings in Brisbane for the World Expo 88.
* [https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/ric-birch-entertainment-director-expo-88-visits-state-library Ric Birch, Entertainment Director for Expo 88, Visits State Library], [[State Library of Queensland]]
* {{Cite web |date=2021-10-29 |title=When the world comes to town: Expo 88 - Stories from the Archives |url=https://blogs.archives.qld.gov.au/2021/10/29/when-the-world-comes-to-town-expo-88/ |access-date= |website=Blogs |publisher=[[Queensland State Archives]]}}

{{List of world exhibitions}}
{{List of world's fairs in Australia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:World Expo 88|*]]
[[Category:1988 in Australia]]
[[Category:History of Brisbane]]
[[Category:Culture of Brisbane]]
[[Category:World's fairs in Brisbane]]
[[Category:1980s in Brisbane]]
[[Category:Australian bicentennial commemorations]]
[[Category:1988 festivals]]