A building in Brisbane’s central business district was evacuated on Wednesday morning after workers reported a strong smell of gas inside premises on George Street. The incident was reported to the Queensland Fire Department at approximately 8:20am. Firefighters attended the scene, evacuated occupants, and conducted atmospheric monitoring while police established an exclusion zone extending into one lane of George Street. Power to the building was shut off as a precaution to reduce the risk of ignition. Brisbane Times +1 The affected building includes the Italian Consulate in Brisbane, located near the corner of George and Elizabeth streets. An ambulance was placed on standby, though no injuries were reported. Roads in the area remained open, with only pedestrian access temporarily restricted. Courier Mail Emergency crews continued investigating the source of the odour before declaring the site safe. The evacuation caused temporary disruption for workers and visitors but was handled without incident.
Breaking News
Brisbane CBD Building Evacuated After Suspected Gas Leak
By 19News Editorial Team · Published 20 May 2026 · Updated 20 May 2026
Brisbane Queensland · Queensland News
Safety note: Admin approval is an initial review, not a guarantee that every detail is correct. Check important or urgent claims with official sources and report anything inaccurate or unsafe.
Source and credit: Contributor's own report
A building in Brisbane’s central business district was evacuated on Wednesday morning after workers reported a strong smell of gas inside premises on George Street. The incident was reported to the Queensland Fire Dep...
A building in Brisbane’s central business district was evacuated on Wednesday morning after workers reported a strong smell of gas inside premises on George Street. The incident was reported to the Queensland Fire Department at approximately 8:20am. Firefighters attended the scene, evacuated occupants, and conducted atmospheric monitoring while police established an exclusion zone extending into one lane of George Street. Power to the building was shut off as a precaution to reduce the risk of ignition. Brisbane Times +1 The affected building includes the Italian Consulate in Brisbane, located near the corner of George and Elizabeth streets. An ambulance was placed on standby, though no injuries were reported. Roads in the area remained open, with only pedestrian access temporarily restricted. Courier Mail Emergency crews continued investigating the source of the odour before declaring the site safe. The evacuation caused temporary disruption for workers and visitors but was handled without incident.
Share this article
Related articles
Same category, city, state and trending public updates.Same category

Three Killed in Tragic Night on Queensland Roads
Gold Coast, QLD · Breaking News · 15 Aug 2026
Three people have died and two others were injured in separate crashes across Queensland within hours of each other.

Brisbane Showgrounds Set for $280 Million Transformation
Brisbane, QLD · Breaking News · 15 Aug 2026
A major redevelopment of the historic Brisbane Showgrounds precinct is set to begin after the 2026 Ekka, bringing new arenas, homes and community facili...

Woman Gives Birth in Police Station Driveway With Help of Officers
Brisbane, QLD · Breaking News · 14 Aug 2026
A woman gave birth to a baby girl in the back seat of a car outside Browns Plains Police Station after labour progressed too quickly to reach hospital.

Brisbane Suburb Records Extremely Poor Air Quality During Hazard Reduction Burns
Brisbane, QLD · Breaking News · 12 Aug 2026
Smoke from hazard-reduction burns has caused unusually poor air quality in parts of Brisbane ahead of the bushfire season.
Same city
No same-city articles are available yet.
Same state

Quest Hotels Investigates Data Breach Affecting Customer Information
Brisbane, QLD · Business News · 19 Aug 2026
Quest Apartment Hotels says a security breach exposed customer records, including names, email addresses and other contact details, after unauthorised a...

The Delicate — and Smoky — Art of Pyrography
Brisbane, QLD · General News · 19 Aug 2026
Artists Emily Rose Hastie and Iluka Sax-Williams are bringing the ancient art of burning designs into the contemporary world, combining portraiture, cul...

Two People Charged With Murder After Fatal Stabbing South of Brisbane
Brisbane, QLD · Crime News · 19 Aug 2026
A 66-year-old man has died following an alleged altercation at a Beenleigh home, with a man and woman now charged with murder.

Mackay Test Match Opening Day Sells Out
Mackay, QLD · Sports News · 18 Aug 2026
Mackay's first-ever men's Test match has sold out its opening day as Australia and Bangladesh prepare to meet at Great Barrier Reef Arena on Saturday.
Trending articles

Quest Hotels Investigates Data Breach Affecting Customer Information
Brisbane, QLD · Business News · 19 Aug 2026
Quest Apartment Hotels says a security breach exposed customer records, including names, email addresses and other contact details, after unauthorised a...

The Delicate — and Smoky — Art of Pyrography
Brisbane, QLD · General News · 19 Aug 2026
Artists Emily Rose Hastie and Iluka Sax-Williams are bringing the ancient art of burning designs into the contemporary world, combining portraiture, cul...

Two People Charged With Murder After Fatal Stabbing South of Brisbane
Brisbane, QLD · Crime News · 19 Aug 2026
A 66-year-old man has died following an alleged altercation at a Beenleigh home, with a man and woman now charged with murder.

Sydney Airport Faces Safety Concerns After Three Incidents in Three Weeks
Sydney, NSW · Travel News · 18 Aug 2026
A former airline pilot and aviation safety investigator has warned Sydney Airport could face serious consequences unless recent safety issues are addres...