Musgrave Park, Brisbane

Musgrave Park

Musgrave Park is a park located in South Brisbane, a suburb in the city of Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. Musgrave Park is nestled between Edmonstone, Russell and Cordelia Streets and is approximately 3000m². The park sits adjacent to Brisbane State High School, and Musgrave Park Pool.

History

The South Brisbane Recreation Reserve (as it was originally known) was created in 1856.^[1]

In 1867, it was proposed to build a public grammar school (Brisbane State High School) adjacent to the reserve.^[2]

Current use

It is home to the Jagera Arts Centre, and is one of the few remaining green spaces left in Brisbane's inner city. On August 24, 1998, after 20 years of legal struggles with the Queensland State Government, the Musgrave Park Aboriginal Corporation^[3] (MPAC) secured a lease to build a cultural centre on portions of the park.^[4]. The park holds special significance to the local Indigenous population due to a past restriction barring Aboriginies from crossing the park and entering the city of Brisbane. Notably, it has historically been a sacred site to the native Murri people, being the site of a buried bora ring. However, this has recently been disputed by the State Government.

The park plays host each year to the Greek festival – Paniyiri, the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) Park Day, the Medieval Fayre, and the Lesbian and Gay Brisbane Pride Festival Fair Day.

In 2009, the park was closed to Indigenous persons for a time whilst the Brisbane City Council performed a degree of tests regarding the land surveying of the immediate area. During these tests, a number of Council staff were assaulted by heavily intoxicated persons. There have been continued confrontations between police, council workers and park residents.

In response to ongoing violence and serious assault in Musgrave park, a local resident put up a series of satirical safety signs in February 2010. The signs have since been removed.

Gallery

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References

1. ^ "South Brisbane". Queensland Places. University of Queensland. http://queenslandplaces.com.au/south-brisbane. Retrieved 9 August 2011. 
2. ^ "PUBLIC GRAMMAR SCHOOL—A SUGGESTION.". The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) (Qld.: National Library of Australia): p. 3. 28 October 1867. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1288176. Retrieved 9 August 2011. 
3. ^ [musgraveparkculturalcentre.org.au]
4. ^ FAIRA: Historic handover at Musgrave Park

• Musgrave Park Cultural Centre

External links

• The Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA)
• The Brisbane Pride Festival

Coordinates: 27°28′44″S 153°01′00″E / 27.4790°S 153.0166°E / -27.4790; 153.0166