Roma Street Parkland is 16 hectares of subtropical garden right in the heart of Queensland's capital city.

Roma Street Parkland opened to the public in April 2001, marking a new chapter from a varied and colourful past.

Its natural reservoir and central location made it a popular meeting place for several Indigenous groups in the Brisbane and surrounding areas including the Turrbal tribe, Noonucal (Stradbroke Island), Wivenhoe (Ipswich), Logan, Rosewood and Jagara people.

In 1874, the Roma Street Railway Station was built to handle people and goods travelling between Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba. It's now a major terminus for suburban, intra and interstate passengers.

From 1884 to 1964, fresh produce and live animals could be bought from the Brisbane Markets on the Roma Street Parkland site.

Air raid shelters and a clubhouse for US Army personnel were built during World War Two in what is now the upper parkland.

The Brisbane Markets' Roma Street closure saw the area turn into railway goods yards.

In 1999, the Queensland Government released plans to redevelop the area, creating the $72million parkland.

Redevelopment began in January 2000.

The area's transformation included construction of the 6,100 square metre lake, spectacular water features and the planting of more than 100,000 shrubs, 1,200 mature trees, 1,800 unique specimens and 350 palms.