Brissie, Brissy or Brizzy: Opinions split on spelling

Are you a Brissie, or a Brissy? Or one of those few mavericks who spell the state capital with two zeds, even though that makes it sound like a grizzly bear. TAKE OUR POLL

Brisbane has its fair share of affectionate monikers.

Are you a Brissie, or a Brissy, even though it has connotations of prissy?

While the name trips off the tongue when spoken, writing the shortened nickname of the state’s capital causes as much divided opinion as daylight saving.

Believe it or not, there are even advocates for Brizzy, despite that conjuring up images of a grizzly bear.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said as long as it was “not S-Y-D-N-E-Y’’, he would happily give both Brissie and Brissy the City Hall stamp of approval.

“Adding “ie” or “y” to the end of a name is the ultimate Australian way of showing fondness. We are “Aussies” after all,’’ he said.

“We’re team “Brissy” in the Schrinner household, but if you love Brisbane, then Brissie is just fine too.”

The spelling of Brisbane’s nickname divides a lot of people.

The man tasked with selling the city to Australia, Brisbane Economic Development Agency CEO Anthony Ryan, was very clear on the spelling protocol.

“There’s nothing better than having a barbie at Straddie, or a stubbie at the Brekkie Creek,’’ Mr Ryan said.

“All the best things end in ‘ie’, but no matter how you spell it Brisbane is the best city in the world.”

Artemus Group chief executive Luke Fraser, whose company built Howard Smith Wharves next to Brisbane landmark the Story Bridge, insisted “y’’ was the way to go.

He said he was debating the spelling only this week with his staff.

“Brissy just looks classier and, after all, we Aussies love to shorten words — and Brissy is even shorter than Brissie.”

Former Olympic beach volleyballer Natalie Cook, a Brisbane 2032 director, as good an expert as anyone, said it was Brissie in her books.

Hairdressing icon Stefan confessed to being an “ie’’ man of longstanding.

“It just comes naturally. I used to say it a lot — when people asked where you are from you’d always say Brissie, but these days it’s more Brisbane,’’ he said.

“What are they thinking with ‘zz’? It’s not a grizzly bear.’’

Steve Ackerie of Stefan Hair Fashions is an “ie’’ man.

But former Lord Mayor Jim Soorley was not having a bar of any city nicknames.

“Let’s just call it Brisbane. That’s its name,’’ he said.

“In boarding school we were all given nicknames and they were never positive.

“I’m not even impressed with Brisvegas. Young people seem to like it but I guess I’m just an old fart now.’’

Renowned restaurateur John Gambaro, who recently opened his latest Black Hide Steakhouse at Queen’s Wharf, said he was firmly in the “y’’ camp, although that was more of an instinctive thing than a conscious decision.

“I’ve always called it Brissy with a y, but I don’t know why,’’ he quipped.

Former premier Campbell Newman said he leaned towards “ie’’ but was a bit ambivalent.

“I think I’m probably going for ‘ie’ but confess I have used ‘y’ before,’’ he said.

“We should not condemn those members of our community who spell it with a ‘y’, in these (enlightened) times we should respect their views.’’

Restaurateur John Gambaro is a “y’’ guy, without really knowing why.

Three years ago, as the city grappled with the prospect of hosting the Olympics, there was lively debate on whether to ditch “daggy’’ Brisvegas and Brisbanites from the local lexicon.

Award-winning architect Peter Edwards said at the time that residents of the River City could be called “Brisians” to bring an increased sense of sophistication to the city, which has in the past been most famous for a footy field and a beer brand.

That was despite former US President Barack Obama referencing Brisvegas in his address during the 2014 G20 Summit.

In 2017, a Galaxy Research poll conducted for The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane campaign revealed Brissie was favoured by 41 per cent of respondents, with Brisvegas’ the second most popular at 24 per cent.

Unsurprisingly, the term ‘‘overgrown country town’’ was a distant third at just 9 per cent.

Brisbane City Council’s preferred term at the time, New World City, was even less popular.