Fashion Extravaganza in West End: A Shopper’s Paradise Awaits

The West End’s Davies Park is set to transform into a bustling hub of fashion and bargains. Shoppers are encouraged to mark their calendars and bring a gold coin for entry to this eagerly anticipated event.



Photo Credit: Pexels

Fashion enthusiasts in West End have a treat in store this Sunday, 14th of July, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. as Davies Park hosts a one-of-a-kind clothing market this weekend. With a myriad of clothing options for all occasions and sizes, including an extensive selection of plus-size apparel, this event promises to cater to every fashion need.

The market aims to offer something for everyone, ensuring a diverse range of styles and trends are available. From casual wear to formal attire, shoppers can expect to find an array of options to suit their tastes and requirements. The focus on inclusivity is particularly noteworthy, as the event highlights a vast collection of plus-size clothing, addressing a significant demand in the market.

Photo Credit: Pexels

This event not only offers a fantastic opportunity for fashion lovers to update their wardrobes but also provides a platform for local vendors to showcase their unique collections. By supporting these vendors, attendees will contribute to the growth of small businesses and the local economy.

Davies Park, known for its vibrant community events, is the ideal backdrop for this fashion market. Attendees can look forward to a lively atmosphere, complete with friendly vendors and an array of fashion finds. With the promise of snagging a bargain, it’s an event that appeals to both fashion enthusiasts and those simply looking for great deals.

In addition to the shopping experience, the market will also foster a sense of community among West End residents. Events like these play a crucial role in bringing people together, enhancing community spirit, and supporting local initiatives.



Photo Credit: Pexels

Remember to mark your calendars and head to Davies Park this Sunday. Whether you’re hunting for a new outfit or just looking to enjoy a day out in West End, this clothing market is not to be missed.

Published Date 02-July-2024

West End Welcomes Winter with Solstice Market Extravaganza

As the days grow shorter and the evening chill descends, the West End community is gearing up to celebrate the winter solstice with a one-night-only transformation of their beloved markets.



On Friday, the 14th of June 2024, Davies Park will become a vibrant hub of festive activity, featuring over 120 food, drink, and artisan stalls, two stages of live music, mesmerising fire twirlers, and cosy bonfires.

Photo Credit: Facebook/ West End Markets

This special edition of the West End Markets promises a unique experience for visitors of all ages.

Foodies can indulge in an array of culinary delights from local favourites like Best of the Wurst, Street Eatz, Choco Bliss, and Tea & Pearls. Meanwhile, craft enthusiasts can browse a diverse selection of artisanal wares while enjoying live music and captivating performances.

Photo Credit: Facebook/ West End Markets

For those seeking warmth and cheer, the Stone & Wood pop-up bars will be serving glühwein, a traditional spiced wine perfect for a chilly winter’s night. 

With free entry and parking, the West End Solstice Market offers an accessible and enchanting way to embrace the changing season.

Photo Credit: Facebook/ West End Markets

The festivities will kick off at 4:00 p.m. and continue until 10:00 p.m., providing ample opportunity for attendees to explore the market’s offerings, soak up the vibrant atmosphere, and celebrate the longest night of the year in true West End style.



Published Date 14-May-2024

A Fresh Take on The West End Towers

A breath of fresh air is sweeping through the West End Towers. The city has given the nod to two residential towers, each featuring three concave facades enveloped in ‘green’ exoskeletons, for a site adjacent to Davies Park at 281-297 Montague Road.



This new development replaces a previous scheme, which was approved in 2017. The original plan, described as “five stumpy towers” of up to 12 storeys, has been reimagined by Manley Properties, a subsidiary of Sydney-based developer Henroth Group. The revised proposal aims to create an “exemplar response to key urban design” and enhance community benefit.

The new design by Noel Robinson Architects reduces the initially planned 470-apartment development to two towers of 16 and 19 storeys, housing 345 apartments. This revision allows the site to offer a vastly improved public realm, enhanced visual amenity, and better connectivity for West End residents.

Despite significant community opposition to both proposals, primarily concerning the buildings’ height and additional traffic, principal architect Noel Robinson believes the original vision would have resulted in “a terrible outcome”. The new plans open up 77% of the site’s ground plane as public space, a 73% increase from the previous approval.

Photo Credit: Development.i / Application no. A005608649

The proposed public plaza and park lands provide a sky view from Montague Road and Vulture Street, offering shade and relief from summer heat for various recreational activities. The revised plans will deliver two 5-star Green Star rated residential buildings, both with unique landscaped exoskeletal sunshades wrapping their concave facades.

View from Vulture Street
Photo Credit: Development.i / Application no. A005608649

Robinson stated that the revised tower designs “open up a new paradigm in terms of a green building”. The buildings feature green atria throughout, replacing traditional corridors. Biophilia filters at the ends of the open landscaped corridors provide vertical greenery up the facades, acting as fresh air filters to the open upper-level apartment walkways.

South Tower – East Wing Elevation
Photo Credit: Development.i / Application no. A005608649


While Robinson stopped short of claiming these would be the greenest buildings in Brisbane, he did assert they would be unique and among the city’s greenest. The development’s north tower will comprise 156 apartments, and its south tower will house 189 apartments, each including a mix of one, two, three bedrooms, and a level of four-bedroom penthouse suites.

The residents of both towers will have access to a variety of amenities. Landscaped rooftop recreation decks will feature ‘wet edge’ swimming pools, communal gardens, edible landscapes, beehives, barbecue facilities, gyms, and both indoor and outdoor dining areas.

An alfresco terrace on the first level of each building has been designed as an outdoor study and work area. It will feature enclosed glass pods, providing residents with private spaces for podcasts or online meetings.

The development also takes into account the need for parking, with two basement levels providing 482 spaces. This is a reduction of 117 spaces from the previous approval, aligning with the overall design rethink.

On the ground level, a retail plaza spanning 1626 square meters will be a key feature. In line with the design’s focus on public space, 8130 square meters of public realm will connect Montague Road to the centre of Davies Park. This connection is a crucial element of the overall design rethink, further enhancing the community-centric approach of the development.

Published 08-February-2024

West End’s Davies Park to Shine for the 25th MS Moonlight Walk Anniversary

The 25th annual MS Moonlight Walk will illuminate Brisbane, starting at Davies Park in West End on Saturday, October 28 to raise critical funds and awareness for Queenslanders living with multiple sclerosis (MS).


Read: Remembering the First Blue Nurse, Sister Olive Crombie, as BlueCare Marks 70 Years in West End


Marking a quarter century of the iconic fundraising event, this year’s walk promises to be the biggest and brightest yet. Participants can choose from 3km, 5km, or 10km courses that will be lined with glowing lanterns and roving entertainers to celebrate the walk’s 25th anniversary.

The after-dark walk brings together people of all ages and abilities united in their passion to create a world free of multiple sclerosis. Wheelchair accessible 3km and 5km courses ensure the event is open to all.

Photo credit: MS Moonlight Walk/Facebook

At the heart of the experience is the walk’s breathtaking signature sea of lanterns. Lighting up the Brisbane River and the city’s parks and landmarks, such as the Wheel of Brisbane, Brisbane River, the lanterns create a spectacle of hope and solidarity for the over 5,500 Queenslanders living with multiple sclerosis.

Photo credit: MS Moonlight Walk/Facebook

Dollar Match Day is back this year, which means every online donation will be matched (up to $10,000). As of 23 October 2023, the organisation has a total of $10,000 matched for the upcoming event.

Funds raised through the event this year will provide critical services like the NeuroAssist information line, NDIS access support, specialist nursing care and wellness programs run by MS Queensland.

Photo credit: MS Moonlight Walk/Facebook

With MS having no known cause or cure, support for Queenslanders living with the condition remains as vital today as when the first Moonlight Walk was held 25 years ago.


Read: Homeless Man Shares His Passion for Piano Outside QPAC


Registrations for the 25th anniversary MS Moonlight Walk on October 28, which will start at 3:00 p.m. are still open at https://www.moonlightwalk.com.au/

Published 26-October-2023

Espresso XO Now Serving Specialty Coffee At Davies Park

From its humble beginnings as a mobile cafe serving specialty coffee to events, Espresso XO West End has opened a permanent kiosk at Davies Park in West End.


Read: Renovated West End Cafe Offers Immersive, Full-Service Dining Experience


Espresso XO was established by PJ Morrison in 2015, starting off as a professional coffee cart dishing up coffee to corporate settings and events. It still caters to private events nowadays, but Morrison has always wanted to have a permanent kiosk for his mobile cafe.

Finally, after some time, he found Davies Park as the right venue for his coffee cart. Located on the corner of Jane and Montague Streets, Davies Park is also home to the West End Markets and the South’s League Club.

Photo credit: espresso XO – West End/Google Maps

It’s perfect for coffee lovers who want to get their caffeine craving fixed after shopping at the West End Markets on Saturdays or whilst simply enjoying the green space at the park. 

Grab a cup of brewed, mocha or their popular flat white coffee. Or have tea, juices, chai, and cold brew.

Photo credit: espresso XO – West End/Google Maps

The owner loves how coffee connects people. Regardless of people’s beliefs, status, or background, it’s something that can bring them together and this is what keeps him going after almost eight years since starting his venture.

Espresso XO West End serves coffee from Kai Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster based in Sunshine Coast. Kai Coffee is known for its delicious coffee, since they have stayed committed to their goal of bringing the beans from the best farms and cooperatives from around the world. 


Read: Cinnamon & Co in West End Now Serving Vegan Brunch and Dinner


Espresso XO is located at Davies Park South’s Leagues Club Kiosk, 120 Jane St, West End. They serve coffee as early as 5:00 a.m. and until 12:00 p.m.

Actually the best coffee in West End

Fabs

Brilliant. Nice and wonderful coffee. Happy vibe. Beautiful surrounds.  Clean.

Intuitive di

My husband said “best coffee I’ve had in ages”

Melissa Kerr

Published 31-March-2023

Goodwill Team Oversees Rebranded West End Markets

Changes are happening behind the scenes at the West End Markets, formerly known as the Davies Park Market, as new management has taken over running this popular Saturday site. Goodwill Projects Pty Ltd was awarded the contract to run the local favourite weekend market for the next five years.



Goodwill Projects has officially started organising the West End Markets in mid-May 2021, taking over for Blue Sky Events Pty Ltd. The team led by Mark Power has been overseeing 150 vendors who converge at the Davies Park early Saturday morning to set up their stalls filled with food, produce, fashion and handcrafted pieces. 

Mr Power and Goodwill are no strangers to mounting markets and liaising with the vendors as they are the group behind some of the most active and exciting markets around Brisbane — Nundah Farmers Markets, Brisbane City Markets, and Milton Markets, to name a few. 

Photo Credit: Facebook
Photo Credit: Facebook

“We want to provide a platform for skilled, passionate individuals to start their dream business, launch their passion project or realise their ideas without the significant up-front challenges of a brick-and-mortar store, or long-term contract. Market activation’s offer a genuine alternative to those starting out,” the group said. 

“We love seeing success stories and people’s hard work and passion turn into something special, growing into the next big thing in retail or food throughout Australia.”

With West End Markets, Mr Power intends to bring in new stallholders and secure permanent vendors, who have now been using EFTPOS machines on the site to make transactions easier.  

Photo Credit: Facebook
Photo Credit: Facebook

The Goodwill team also wants to improve the traffic and parking situation around Davies Park every Saturday by providing subsidised Uber trips for some of the frequent shoppers as well as negotiating with Neuron scooters.



The West End Markets is held every Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Draft for the Improvement Plans of West End’s Davies Park Open for Community Feedback

Brisbane City Council has developed a draft improvement plan for Davies Park, West End as part of its commitment to keeping Brisbane clean and green, and making the city livable and sustainable for future generations. The plan is set to provide a blueprint for future upgrades for the park.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

Davies Park is a valued green space in West End that provides sport and recreation opportunities for the community. Feedback received in the community consultation in late 2017 has helped in the development of the key features of the improvement plan. The park’s improvement plan will focus on the following:

  • increasing and enhancing accessible green space
  • promoting a sense of community and celebrating its cultural heritage
  • increasing recreational use of the park.
  • maintaining the park’s natural appeal
  • improving connection through the park.

The Council worked with the Southern Suburbs Rugby League Football Club who have had a presence in the park for more than 100 years. The club has agreed to reduce their leased area to improve outcomes for the community. The additional area will increase green space and provide room for new park features that can be enjoyed by the club and the wider community.

The project’s allocation of $2.1 million this financial year will be used to help in the delivery of key elements of the plan, with a progressive delivery of other elements in future years based on citywide priorities for park improvements.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

The proposed key features for the current draft improvement plan includes:

  • New green spaces and connections
  • Upgraded park roadway
  • Creative play area
  • Multi-use hard courts
  • Relocation of the community garden
  • Drainage upgrades
  • Additional features such as seats, picnic tables and drinking fountains

The draft improvement plan for Davies Park, West End is still open for community feedback. Online submission of feedbacks for the draft improvement plan for the park will be open until Friday, 24 August 2018. This round of consultation will help in finalising the plan.

Improvement works are anticipated to commence in 2019.

To learn more about the Council’s Davies Park improvement project in West End, visit the project’s official page. You may also call the Council on 07 3403 8888 or send an email to parks@brisbane.qld.gov.au.