Davies Park Archives - Page 2 of 2

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.