Bulimba Memorial Park is a heritage-listed park on Oxford Street in Bulimba, with an Avenue of Honour of memorial trees, a playground and open sports fields. It is a free stop for families and anyone curious about the suburb’s First World War history.
Oxford Street’s cafes are close by, so you can combine a run-around with a coffee. The avenue and the old gateway are the parts most visitors come to see.
The Avenue of Honour and memorials
The park opened in November 1919 as the Bulimba Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park, honouring local servicemen and women from the First World War. Trees were planted along the Stuart, Godwin and Oxford Street edges. Most of the surviving trees are along Oxford Street, and large figs are among them.
At the Oxford Street entrance there is a wrought iron arch reading “Memorial Park” and a concrete memorial pillar with a brass plaque, both from about 1919. The land was earlier called Jamieson Park, after early resident Robert Jamieson, when Balmoral Shire Council bought almost 4 acres for recreation in 1904.
The park was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. Brisbane City Council’s Bulimba Heritage Trail has a stop here, and two of Bulimba’s five ANZAC cottages, built for the widows and children of soldiers and sailors, stand beside the park on Stuart Street.
The grandstand and sports fields
A grandstand on the Godwin Street side was built about 1923 with money raised by the local community. The park has hosted cricket, rugby, soccer and other recreation since early last century, and the open grass is used for both organised sport and casual play.
The Southside Eagles Soccer Club leases a building in the park.
The park covers about 4.6 hectares, so there is plenty of open grass beyond the playground. The grandstand and the playing fields are on the Godwin Street side.
The heritage register lists the park under three street addresses (Oxford, Barramul and Godwin streets) and gives its other names as Jamieson Park and Bulimba Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park. Those older names turn up in heritage records and local history.
Playground, water and toilets
The park has a shaded playground with monkey bars, rope climbs and play shops, next to open grass.
There is a drinking fountain with taps near Stuart Street, and the open fields are good for a run-around or a picnic rug.
Add the Bulimba Heritage Trail
The park is stop 4 on council’s self-guided Bulimba Heritage Trail, which has 10 stops and starts and finishes on Oxford Street. Download the trail guide from council’s website if you want the route and stories for each one.
Planning your visit
- How long: 30 to 60 minutes for the avenue and a play; longer with a coffee on Oxford Street.
- Best time: morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler for the playground.
- Cost: free.
- What to bring: water, a hat and a picnic rug for the grass.
- Accessibility: there is an accessible toilet near Godwin Street. The accessible toilet is open daylight hours.
Getting there and parking
Bulimba Memorial Park is at 129 Oxford Street, Bulimba, on the corner of Oxford and Stuart streets. It is about 9 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 15 minutes by car without traffic.
Parking is on the street. Council lists signed disabled permit parking on Stuart Street and Godwin Street beside the park, and no off-street car park is listed, so allow time to find a space.
Bus routes 230 and 232 serve the Oxford Street stop at the Bulimba ferry. Check the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30 for current times.
More on the park’s history is on council’s Bulimba Heritage Trail page. Details can change, so check before you go.
Nearby
- Bulimba – Oxford Street dining, the riverside park and the ferry.
- New Farm Park – the other big river park on this side of the city.
- Mowbray Park – a riverside park at East Brisbane with a playground.
- Frew Park – another Brisbane playground park for a second stop.
- Kangaroo Point Bridge – a river crossing on foot or by bike near the city.
Browse more history and landmarks and Brisbane days out.
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Quick answers
Where is Bulimba Memorial Park?
At 129 Oxford Street, Bulimba, on the corner of Oxford and Stuart streets.
Is Bulimba Memorial Park heritage listed?
Yes. It has been on the Queensland Heritage Register since 21 October 1992.
Does Bulimba Memorial Park have a playground?
Yes, a shaded playground with monkey bars, rope climbs and play shops.
Are there toilets?
Yes, a public accessible toilet near Godwin Street, open daylight hours.
What is the Avenue of Honour?
A line of memorial trees, planted from 1919 to honour local servicemen and women, with most survivors along Oxford Street.
How do I get there by public transport?
Buses 230 and 232 run along Oxford Street; check the journey planner for current times.
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