Bulimba Memorial Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bulimba Memorial Park |
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Field in 2015
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| Location | 129 Oxford Street, Bulimba, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1914–1919 (World War I) |
| Built | 1919–1980s |
| Official name: Bulimba Memorial Park, Bulimba Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park, Jamieson Park | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600180 |
| Significant period | 1904- (social) 1919–1923(fabric) 1904–1980s (historical) |
| Significant components | shed – shelter, clubroom/s / clubhouse, memorial – tree/avenue of trees, hall – scouts / guides, memorial – gate/s |
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Bulimba Memorial Park is a special park located at 129 Oxford Street in Bulimba, Queensland, Australia. It's a place with a rich history, built between 1919 and the 1980s. You might also hear it called Bulimba Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Park or Jamieson Park. This park is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, meaning it's officially protected for its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back: The Park's History
Bulimba Memorial Park has a long and interesting story. Part of it might have started as early as 1904. Back then, it was known as Jamieson Park.
How the Park Began
The land for the park was once owned by Robert Jamieson, an early farmer in Bulimba. As far back as 1888, local people wanted to buy some of his land for a recreation area. In 1904, about 4 acres (1.6 hectares) of this land was bought by the Balmoral Shire Council. Over the years, more nearby land was added to the park.
A Memorial to Heroes
After the First World War (1914–1918), the park became a special place. On November 1, 1919, it was officially opened as the Bulimba Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park. This was done to honor the brave men and women from Bulimba who served in the Great War.
The first memorials in the park were a formal entrance gate on Oxford Street and a nearby stone pillar. A plaque on the pillar explains that the park is dedicated to the soldiers, sailors, and nurses from Bulimba who served in the war.
Remembering with Trees
Between 1919 and 1923, trees were planted along the park's edges. These were on Stuart, Godwin, and Oxford Streets. Each tree had a special plaque to remember a serviceman who died in the war. Most of these plaques have disappeared, and only six names are still known. Many of the original memorial trees can still be seen along Oxford Street today.
The Grandstand and Other Buildings
Around 1923, a grandstand was built on the Godwin Street side of the park. Local people raised money to build it. Some people think a famous architect named George Henry Male Addison designed it. He also designed the nearby Bulimba ferry wharf building.
In 1925, the park became part of the Brisbane City Council. This happened when Brisbane grew into a larger city.
Over the years, more buildings were added. A shelter shed from the 1920s is near the corner of Oxford and Stuart Streets. There's also playground equipment. In the 1950s, buildings for the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts were put up. The old Boy Scout Hut is now used by the Southside Eagles Soccer Club. A club for senior citizens was built around 1983. Newer buildings include toilets and a canteen from the 1980s.
Growing the Park
In the 1980s, the Brisbane City Council realized that some parts of the park weren't officially owned by them. They bought these parts, and by 1990, the park covered over 4.6 hectares (about 11 acres).
Bulimba Memorial Park has always been a popular spot. For over 100 years, it has hosted local sports like cricket, rugby, and soccer. It's also a great place for other fun activities. It's located right next to the local shops and is the only large open park with sports facilities in the area.
What You'll See: Park Features
Bulimba Memorial Park is about 4.6 hectares (11 acres) in size. It's in the middle of Bulimba. The park is surrounded by Godwin Street, Oxford Street, Stuart Street, and some houses and parts of Barramul Street. The edges of the park have wooden posts, and the roads around it make it easy to get in and find parking. The ground is mostly flat, with open playing fields and some trees around the edges.
The park has several special features that remember those who served in the First World War:
- Memorial Gateway: Built around 1919, this is a beautiful wrought iron arch. It says "Memorial Park" and is supported by two strong timber posts. You'll find it along the Oxford Street side.
- Memorial Pillar: Also from around 1919, this pillar is next to the Oxford Street gateway. It looks like a small concrete stand with a brass plaque on it.
- Memorial Trees: Planted between 1919 and 1923, these are mostly fig trees with some palms. These mature trees, especially along Oxford Street, give shade to people watching sports or just enjoying the park.
- Memorial Grandstand: Built around 1923, this is a two-story timber building with a corrugated iron roof. It's on the Godwin Street side. It has wide stairs leading to the upper seating area. The grandstand is open on the sides, with the roof held up by slender timber columns. It also has decorative railings and lattice panels.
Other buildings in the park include:
- A shelter shed from the 1920s near the corner of Oxford and Stuart Streets. It's open-sided with timber posts and a corrugated iron roof.
- The Girl Guides' Hall (1950s). This is a two-story weatherboard building with a corrugated iron roof.
- The former Scout Hut (1950s), which is now a soccer club. It's an L-shaped, two-story building. The bottom floor is concrete bricks, and the top floor is weatherboard, with a large timber deck.
- The senior citizens' club (around 1983), located at the corner of Stuart and Barramul Streets. It's an L-shaped building made of brick and glass.
- Public toilets (1980s) and a canteen (1980s) near the grandstand. Both are made of brick or concrete blocks and have flat roofs.
Why It's Special: Heritage Listing
Bulimba Memorial Park was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as a very important historical and cultural site for Queensland.
A Piece of Queensland's Story
The park shows how Queensland's history has changed over time. It's a special First World War memorial park with many different parts. The trees are important because they remember people, look beautiful, and provide shade.
Unique in Brisbane
This park is unusual because it's a large open space in Brisbane that can be used for both organized sports and casual fun.
Beautiful and Important
The grandstand is a great example of how everyday building styles from the 1920s were used for public buildings. The trees are also important for their beauty and what they represent. The park is a well-known landmark in the community. It has been used for social events and recreation for over eighty years. Its beauty adds a lot to the Bulimba area.
A Community Hub
The park is very important to the local community. It's a place where people gather for social, cultural, and even spiritual reasons. It has been a community landmark for many decades, bringing people together and adding to the character of Bulimba.
Images for kids
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Grandstand, 2015
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War memorial, 2015
