Until the 19th Century: An Earthly Paradise.
Early European settlers referred to the West End region as the 'heart of the rainforest' due to its immense jungle full of vines and convolvulus flowers that draped down the river. Aboriginal people from the area came here along the river to hunt Kuril (native water rats), dubbing it 'Kurilpa', which means 'the place of the water rat.' For almost 60,000 years, the Yuggera and Turrbal people had a stable and abundant home in this lush riverine setting. [1]
This earthly paradise did not last indefinitely, and was swept away with the arrival of Europeans. Private land claims began in the early 1840s. Tremendous residential expansion from the north began pushing into these jungles by the 1870s. Once a vast rainforest, the area was progressively transformed into the industrial hub of Old South Brisbane. A variety of enterprises operated in the West End neighbourhood along the present Montague Road, including gas works, concrete and pipe works, iron and steel works, a boot factory, glass works, a soft drink factory, and an ice cream plant. [1]
The 20th Century: A Recreation Hub
The dramatic residential growth of South Brisbane in the late nineteenth century prompted proposals for the establishment of parks and recreation areas, most of which forced the displacement of Aboriginal camps and townships which were still present in the remnant patches of undeveloped land around the city [2]. Known as 'The Dairy' in the 1880s, the site was acquired for leisure and designated 'the West End Recreation Reserve' by South Brisbane Mayor Alderman John Davies in 1901. It was renamed 'Davies Park' two years after Davies died. Since then, community fundraising has continued to contribute to the park’s improvement. Davies Park was the centre of both water and land-based recreation for South Brisbane European communities for over a century.
Community Activities Through The Years
Brisbane’s Oldest Swimming Baths
As the demand for swimming activities grew, the first mixed-gender swimming baths in Brisbane were opened in 1921 in Davies Park, on the riverbank near the end of Jane Street in West End, where the rowing clubs are now located. It was the first to be filled with water pumped from the river, extending 50 yards long and 11 yards wide. This was a home to the City Pastime Swimming club and many school swimming clubs in the neighbourhood. It was closed the same year as the nearby Musgrave Park Pool first appeared. [1]
Motorcycle Speedway Racing Track
in 1927, Davies Park had a ring-like granite composite racing surface, along with surrounding floodlights, installed for the international sport of motorcycle speedway racing. It was a popular racing ground, generating huge support among Brisbane residents. A dedicated tram loop route was created to serve its massive crowds of up to 13,000 on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, while ferry services from up and down the river was occasionally operated. The world's first Speedway Grand Prix was held on the Davies Park circuit in 1930, and it is being held in the same format today in six nations across the world. The track was closed in 1932 due to bad weather conditions.
A Community Gathering Place
As the first world war broke out in 1914, “Patriotic Carnivals” took place around the continent to raise funds for wounded, ill, and disabled troops and their families upon their return. The first of these events for Davies Park was in September 1914. A procession from the city to Davies Park held many fund-raising festivities in which many Queensland residents enthusiastically took part by donating packages of food and clothing
Davies Park Today
The multicultural melting pot that is West End hosts a wide variety of diverse cultures. It was originally this diverse mix that attracted many other complementary cultures to the area, emphasising its status as a multicultural community. It remains a question whether Mayor Alderman Davies' vision of converting the Davies Park to be a recreation space for the community is achieved today.
Currently, Souths Logan Magpies has remained to be one of the main leaseholders on the site and kept it as their home ground since 1910. In 2023, the club moved its headquarters to the Logan Metro Sports Park, though it still retains the lease over the majority of the park. There are several other sporting clubs and recreation organisations that have been remained until the present day - including but not limited to West End Football Club, Brisbane Skateboarding Association, and 6+ rowing clubs.
Davies Park At A Glance >>