Brisbane’s city laneways, once notorious for their association with crime and shadowy activities, hold a significant place in the city’s history, reflecting both its colonial origins and the evolution of urban life. Among these, Burnett Lane stands out as Brisbane’s oldest, with roots tracing back to the convict era. Archaeological investigations have confirmed that Burnett Lane was constructed over the Prisoner’s Barracks Yard—the site of Brisbane’s first recorded execution in 1830. The lane ran beneath a large archway in the central open corridor of the three-storey stone convict barracks on Queen Street, which featured a visible “flogging triangle” as a deterrent to prisoners. Records show that in 1828, approximately 1100 lashes were administered to around 200 convicts, with many enduring 50 or more lashes.
Following the closure of the penal settlement, what was once the Queen Street side of the barracks became Brisbane’s first Town Hall, operating from 1864 until the current City Hall opened. Adelaide Street, opposite Burnett Lane, was lined with four cottages constructed for rear access. Later demolitions of the barracks gave way to late 19th-century buildings, including the Allan & Stark Building designed by Andrea Stombucco, which was acquired by Myer in 1970. The lane itself was named after Brisbane’s first surveyor, James Burnett, whose image is displayed on a Queen Street building wall.
Other laneways in Brisbane also bear dark historical associations. McLeod’s Bookshop Lane on Charlotte Street was the scene of a notorious 1944 murder involving part-time prostitute Doris Roberts and American paratrooper Private Avelino Fernandez. After an afternoon of drinking, Roberts demanded money from Fernandez, who responded with a fatal assault. Fernandez was court-martialed and sentenced to death but was executed in New Guinea following the abolition of the death penalty in Queensland.
Isles Lane, once known as Foundry Lane for its proximity to A Cameron’s metalworks—which produced Brisbane’s first commercial iron casting in 1862—was the site of a 1974 shooting. Pauline Winchester, 17, was fatally shot by John Campbell Edwards, a law graduate who had developed an obsession with her. The incident, witnessed by shoppers and workers, ended with Edwards taking his own life.
Burnett Lane was again linked to violent crime when it became central to the investigation into Rex Keen’s 1976 murder. Keen was attacked in his Lennons Plaza Hotel room after meeting his assailant at a nearby bar. Over five decades later, advances in DNA forensic analysis led to the charging of Benjamin Jansen for manslaughter.
In 2002, the laneways also saw a police confrontation following a series of bank robberies. A suspect, identified through security footage, was pursued into Post Office Lane, where he was shot after brandishing a handgun toward an officer. The man, later identified as Malcolm Bell, died at the scene.
Despite their tumultuous pasts, many of Brisbane’s laneways have since been revitalized. Today, they serve as vibrant social and cultural hubs featuring cafes, wine bars, boutiques, bookshops, and murals, illustrating the city’s ability to transform spaces once linked to crime into lively urban assets.