The mall was designed by Robin Gibson (architect). After being closed to traffic in 1981, the initial pedestrian mall was opened in 1982, in order to be ready for the Brisbane Commonwealth Games. Initially, the section of Queen Street between Albert Street and Edward Street was partitioned off to form a pedestrian-only retail precinct, and it was then extended in 1988 to include the section of Queen Street between Albert Street and George Street, timed to coincide with Brisbane's Expo '88.