The first railway in Brisbane was built in 1879 when the line from Ipswich was connected to Roma Street.
The section of line between Central and Roma Street stations opened in 1889; these two stations remain the key transport hubs in Brisbane.
Many artworks in the Museum’s Collections depict these key stations, such as Vida Lahey’s Central Station 7.00 a.m. (c1935). Works such as this illustrate how major art movements influenced the way Brisbane artists chose to depict their city. This included the influence of Australian Impressionism, which saw leading Australian artists, including Vida, advocate for painting en plein air (outdoors) and mastering the effects of distinctly Australian light and colour. Vida was also fascinated with modern day-to-day life, romanticising the ordinariness and industry of busy city living that railway stations embody. This aligned with the aims of Social Realism of the 1930s and the European Impressionists of the late 19th century.
