Situated on the Brisbane River approximately 12 miles from Moreton Bay, Brisbane is Australia’s third largest city. The British established a penal colony there in 1824 and until the penal colony was abandoned in 1839, free men were not allowed to settle within 50 miles of the site. Brisbane became a city in 1859 as it was named the capital of Queensland. It was joined with South Brisbane in 1902 into the City of Greater Brisbane.