World Expo 88, also known as Expo 88, was a specialized 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.
The A$625 million fair was the largest event of the 1988 Bicentennial celebrations of the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Harbour. Expo 88 attracted more than 15,760,000 visitors who bought tickets worth A$175 million. 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 site.
The core feature of the site were the international pavilions. 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.
Here below is a set of amazing photos of the World Expo 88.
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| Entrance gates at Expo 88, South Brisbane, 1988 |
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| Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II opening Expo 88, Brisbane, April 30, 1988 |
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| Opening day, Expo 88 |
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| Opening day, Expo 88 |
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| Opening day, Expo 88 |
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| Aquacade performers, Expo 88 |
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| Australia Pavilion on opening day, Expo 88 |
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| Australian Artwork by Ken Done in front of the monorail, Expo 88 |
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| Bob Minnikan at Expo house with wandana stage coach and costumed performers, Expo 88 |
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| Character costumes at Expo 88 |
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| Children in front of parades float of large head with beard, glasses and top hat, Expo 88 |
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| Costume character, the Flash at Expo 88 |
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| Crowds at Expo 88 |
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| Dancers in yellow tracksuits performing in the Piazza during Expo 88 |
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| Expo 88 performers at Media Day April 28, 1988 |
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| Expo 88 performers, South Brisbane, 1988 |
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| Expo 88 spacemen, Brisbane City, 20 June 1988 |
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| Expo Ball at Expo 88, October 1, 1988 |
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| Expo Oz, Expo 88 |
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| Exterior of Canada stand at Expo 88, South Brisbane, 1988 |
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| Facepainting at Expo 88 |
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| Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Prince Edward signing guest book at Expo 88, Brisbane, 30 April 1988 |
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| IBM Pavilion with water feature out the front, Expo 88 |
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| Lunch time parade showing the Marching Koalas, Expo 88 |
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| Lunchtime parade performer at Expo 88, South Brisbane, 1988 |
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| Miss Australia entrants wearing spring hats, Expo 88 |
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| New Zealand performance at Expo 88 |
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| Night parade, Expo 88 |
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| Parade child with hat and toys float, Expo 88 |
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| Parade performer in green tree leaf costume, Expo 88 |
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| Parade showing large tricycle with wings and magpie head, Expo 88 |
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| Parade stilt walker with pink butterfly wings, Expo 88 |
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| Parades Night showing mirror ball disco Ned Kelly, Expo 88 |
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| Parades prepare in tunnel for night, Expo 88 |
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| Performer from the Swiss mime troupe Mummenschanz, Expo 88 |
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| Performer with Sir Llew Edwards mask at Expo 88, South Brisbane, 1988 |
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| Performers at Expo 88 |
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| Performers at New Zealand Day at NZ Pavillion, Expo 88 |
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| Preview day general, Expo 88 |
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| Preview day general, Expo 88 |
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| Rainy street shot in front of the Chinese Pavilion at Expo 88, August 88 |
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| Sheep shearing, Expo 88 |
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| Spring fashion parade, Expo 88 |
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| Spring fashion parade, Expo 88 |
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| Spring hats with Miss Queensland 1988, Expo 88 |
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| Statues at Expo 88, South Brisbane, 1988 |
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| Street artist drawing on the footpath with chalk, Expo 88 |
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| Street performer in front of the New Zealnad Pavilion, Expo 88 |
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| The Orchids street entertainer, Expo 88 |
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| View of Monorail and the front of the Japan Pavilion West Samoa and Fiji Day, Expo 88 |
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| Waiting for food prep, Expo 88 |
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| Water Ski Show at Expo 88 |
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| Woman holding camera with Human Factor sculpture camera man, Expo 88 |
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| Closing day crowds at Expo 88, South Brisbane, 1988 |
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| Closing day crowds at Expo 88 |