| |
| Roma Street Parkland wins Disability Action Week Award |
Roma Street Parkland has won an accolade at the 2008 Disability Action Week Awards for its Specialised Walks.
The award-winning Specialised Walks are free for visitors to the Parkland and include the Sensory Walk and the Auslan Interpreter Walk.
The Disability Action Week Awards are held to encourage positive attitudes towards people with a disability, improve access and make the community a better place for everyone.
These Specialised Walks at Roma Street Parkland contribute to this objective by ensuring that the Parkland is able to be accessed, enjoyed and appreciated by everyone within the community. |
| 07 April, 2009 |
| |
| Roma Street Parkland ravaged by storms |
During November 2008 Brisbane experienced some of the most violent storms for 25 years. Many suburbs of Brisbane experienced power loss and damage to property was extensive.
On November 20th Brisbane was hit by its second storm in a week.
Hurricane like winds and hail ripped through the Parkland during an evening concert, leaving the Parkland devastated in its wake.
To read more visit the 'Parkland history' page under 'About us'. |
| 07 April, 2009 |
| |
| Playground closed 12-15 May |
Due to the planting of new trees along Weeping Fig Avenue, the playground will be closed from Tuesday 12 May to Friday 15 May. |
| 29 April, 2009 |
| |
| Calling all volunteers! |
Roma Street Parkland is looking for people who would like to contribute their time to work as volunteer gardeners or special event volunteers. If you are interested please visit our 'Volunteer program' page under 'Get involved' for more information. |
| 01 May, 2009 |
| |
| Roma Street Parkland’s new trees are coming…… |
The first of seven new fig trees will begin to arrive at Roma Street Parkland on May 12 which will be planted to replace the graceful weeping fig trees lost to last year’s hurricane like storms that ripped through the area.
It will take around five days to plant all seven trees with each of the mature figs to be delivered by semi-trailer then escorted to their new homes within the Parkland with the help of a giant 20 tonne crane.
The new trees will be complete the restoration of Weeping Fig Avenue in the Upper Parkland area where the trees destroyed in the wild storms had stood for over 90 years.
|
| 11 May, 2009 |
| |
| Food of Love – A Shakespeare Cabaret |
A reminder to all patrons attending the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble’s ‘Food of Love – A Shakespeare Cabaret’ on Saturday evening 16th May…the show will be starting at 8:30pm with music from 7:30pm. For further information, please visit www.qldshakespeare.org |
| 13 May, 2009 |
| |
| Parkland BBQs unavailable Sunday 7 June 2009 |
All Parkland BBQs will be unavailable for use on Sunday 7th June 2009 due to the Queensland Week RACQ Big BBQ. BBQs will be switched back on for use Monday morning 8th June 2009. Roma Street Parkland apologises for any inconvenience caused. |
| 02 June, 2009 |
| |
| Queensland Greats Wall now even greater |
Six new plaques have been added to the Queensland Wall of Greats at the Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane. The plaques recognise five individuals and one organisation who were acknowledged as this year’s Queensland Greats by the Premier Anna Bligh at a ceremony at the Parkland on 11 June 2009. The Queensland Great Award recipients – from a cross section of the community including medicine, charity, business, academia and the arts – had each made a remarkable and highly individual contribution, not just in their field, but to the broader Queensland community. They were: - Philip Bacon AM - Philanthropist; - Bill Bristow AM - Angel Flight Founder; - Kevin Carmody – Singer, songwriter, educator; - Dr Robyn Rodwell – Medical Scientist; - Anthony Ryan – Service to community; - Blue Care – Caring for Queensland. The plaques of these recipients are now on display on the Wall, surrounded by those of the many other deserving award winners of past years. The Wall of Greats was established in 2001 to celebrate the Centenary of Federation. To find out more about the Queensland Wall of Greats, click on the following link: http://www.romastreetparkland.com/aboutus/Pages/qldgreats.aspx
|
| 13 July, 2009 |
| |
| School Holiday Fun returns to Roma Street Parkland |
School Holiday Fun has again been a huge success with kids from all over Brisbane visiting Roma Street Parkland to take part in the many exciting activities on offer during the recent school holidays.
TRANSLink and Queensland Rail’s positive pARTnerships supported a host of entertainment at the parkland which ran for a fun filled week.
Activities included a jumping castle, face painting, barnyard babies, and roaming theatrical performances by the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble.
Much joy was also had by kids who took part in the gardening sessions and drama classes, and exploring the parkland on the trackless train adventure tour also proved very popular.
Parkland Manager Chris Hutchinson said that it was fantastic to see so many kids out and about with their friends and family having such a great time, and that he is already looking forward to the next School Holiday Fun activities in the parkland in September.
Visit the What’s On section of this website for more details on the September School Holiday Fun activities. |
| 13 July, 2009 |
| |
| Flowers wilt in hot weather |
The unseasonably hot weather that Brisbane has experienced this winter has started to take its toll on the gardens at Roma Street Parkland.
The beautiful colours of the Parkland’s annual flower species in the Spectacle Garden are fading earlier than usual.
Parkland curator Bob Dobbs has enlisted the help of his gardening staff who are doing their best to prevent the flowers from drying out all together.
A special watering schedule has been introduced and so far results are promising.
“We have been watering the annuals for one minute in every hour during the day to try and combat what is happening,” said Mr Dobbs.
“The hot weather is having the worst possible effect on the flowers but we are really hoping to save them,” he said.
The return of the cooler days will help the survival of the flowers and Mr Dobbs said that he hoped that the lower temperatures would continue throughout spring.
Mr Dobbs said that the lawns were also drying up but this was difficult to prevent especially without a permanent irrigation system on the upper lawn. |
| 31 August, 2009 |
| |
| School Holiday Fun set to entertain again |
Enjoy the September school holidays with School Holiday Fun at Roma Street Parkland thanks to TRANSLink and Queensland Rail’s QR Passenger.
From September 21 to 26, School Holiday Fun at Roma Street Parkland will be the perfect school holiday destination to celebrate an exciting day out with family and friends.
All kids travelling with their parents to School Holiday Fun with TRANSLink will gain free access to a host of entertaining events and activities including a jumping castle, face painting and barnyard babies.
Kids will also be able to explore the sights of Roma Street Parkland on board the trackless train adventure tour.
For those not travelling with TRANSLink to School Holiday Fun, a fabulous day can still be had by kids of all ages, simply by donating a gold coin to the Salvation Army for each of these activities.
There is also free fun for all with a game of I spy in Spec! inside the colourful Spectacle Garden, Balloon Art in the Playground Precinct, and roaming theatrical performances by the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble.
Look out for all the football tricks from the Brisbane Roar when they visit School Holiday Fun on Wednesday, September 23.
Not to be missed events for kids aged between 4 and 12 will include gardening activities, musical madness, drama classes and breakdancing workshops with registration for these free sessions to be made on the day.
On Saturday, September 26, the fun at Roma Street Parkland will continue with TRANSLink’s catch and release fishing by the Lakeside for kids aged between 8 and 12 but advanced bookings for this event are essential.
Roma Street Parkland’s Manager Chris Hutchinson said that School Holiday Fun is the only place to be for kids during the September school holidays.
For further information on TRANSLink’s catch and release fishing activities, contact Roma Street Parkland Administration on 07 3006 4545. |
| 31 August, 2009 |
| |
| BBQ closure 14/10/09 to 21/10/09 |
Roma Street Parkland BBQ’s will be closed to the public from Wednesday 14 October to Wednesday 21 October inclusive.
Apologies for any inconvenience. |
| 06 October, 2009 |
| |
| Japanese Water Harp |
Roma Street Parkland’s Japanese Water Harp is located inside the Sound Garden and was constructed to celebrate cultural ties between Australia and Japan.
The structure of the Japanese Water Harp is essentially an upside down earthenware pot that is buried underground with a small exposed hole at the top where water can be dispersed.
The unit comes alive when water is pumped up through the top of the central boulder and flows over the sides into a rock pool.
As the water descends and hits the rocks below, various sounds are created which can be likened to the sounds of strings elegantly being plucked on a harp.
These sounds are channelled through a listening pipe which provides an interactive experience allowing visitors to witness the water’s journey through the various sounds that it creates as it travels through the rock pool.
A colourful tiled pathway surrounds the water harp and represents a freshwater eel that holds great significance with Australia’s indigenous land owners who originate from the area around the Parkland.
When combined, the water harp and the pathway produce a unique space of everlasting peace and imagination offering a positive emotional encounter that anybody can enjoy.
In the coming months, it is anticipated that the area will be available for poetry readings, story telling, special performances and wedding ceremonies.
The Japanese Water Harp is inside the Sound Garden located behind the Spectacle Garden between Weeping Fig Avenue and the Amphitheatre.
Historically, water harps have been used as wash basins within the gardens of traditional Japanese temples and were designed to allow users to play the harp while cleaning their hands. |
| 23 October, 2009 |
| |
| Storm anniversary – One year on… |
Twelve months ago, hurricane like storms ripped through Roma Street Parkland destroying planted groundcover and over 70 trees.
By far, the worst damage at the parkland was the loss of 6 graceful weeping fig trees which lined Weeping Fig Avenue in the Upper Parkland.
Each of these historic trees was more than 90 years old.
A year on and after tireless efforts by staff and volunteers, the gardens have been rejuvenated with many of the trees and plants replaced.
The vibrant seasonal contrasts that Roma Street Parkland is so famous for have been renewed.
Roma Street Parkland Curator Bob Dobbs said that work in the Bromeliad, Fern and Tropical gardens was now all complete.
“We are now in the process of planting the last few trees to replace those that were lost in the storms,” said Mr Dobbs.
“It has given us an opportunity to plant some new species as well which include two white Jacarandas, a pink and a white Tabebuia and a new species of bottle tree.”
“The new Fig trees that were planted around 6 months ago are also doing extremely well.”
Despite the overwhelming performance of the fig trees, Mr Dobbs said that the support ropes attached to them will stay in position for now.
“The ropes on the trees will be left in place for at least another year until we are quite certain that the roots are well established in the ground.”
“We don’t want these new trees toppling over if there is another fierce storm this year,” he said.
Mr Dobbs described the repair work to the parkland as an ongoing process over one very long year with the day to day maintenance of the parkland being very much a necessity throughout this time.
All remaining works are scheduled to be finalised by January however the full glory of summer in the parkland is available for visitors to enjoy right now. |
| 24 November, 2009 |