We all know Brisbane to be a magical and whimsical place, and there’s no better proof of that than its famous Tiny Doors!
Way back in 2017, curious passersby noticed a tiny red door with a “45a” had come from seemingly nowhere and sprouted up in Burnett Lane. For weeks, nobody knew who had put it there or why, until someone figured it out: artist Mace Robertson was the one responsible for this first “fairy door”.
That first door only lasted for three or four years, due to the weather and despite people repairing it on more than one occasion, but it the subsequent years, Robertson has learned how to make them more durable, and now they can last up to 10 years!
Many of the doors are even interactive: you can open some of them, and others even hide a QR code that takes you to a behind-the-scenes video of the artist working on the project.
Almost a decade after installing the first tiny door, Mace Robertson cannot even remember how many he has created and dotted all over the city, but we can assure you that if you look in some of Brissy’s quiet and charming alleys, you’re bound to find a few.
Plus, over the silly season, some of them are Christmas-themed, making for a truly festive scavenger hunt!
There is no exhaustive guide to all of them — as even the artist himself doesn’t keep track — and we would argue if there were, it would take some of the fun out of it, but here are some of the best-known ones:
Burnett Lane: The iconic red door that started it all! And keep your eyes peeled for a Starry Night-inspired door as well.
Fish Lane: Three for the price of one! Start out with a tiny green door, followed by a a medieval door, and then the legendary tiny vinyl store, filled with intricate details such as a “Back in 5 mins” sign on the door.
Queensland Art Gallery: Another one of the OG ones, this area has the Roy & Matilda tiny door.
Edward Street near Botanic Gardens: A bright yellow psychologist door, complete with a sign at the doorstep.
