Meeting Point: West End Ferry Terminal
End Point: Davies Park, West End
Guides: Maurice McCallum + guest guide (TBC)
Tour Length: Approximately 2.5km on relatively level ground with defined footpaths
Access: Accessible via public transport
Walk along the river’s edge and uncover the layered and evolving history of Kurilpa’s parks. From First Nations presence and cultural significance to modern-day community activism, climate change, and development, this tour offers a compelling look at the forces that have shaped — and continue to shape — this precious green corridor.
Highlights include:
-
Documented First Nations history on the peninsula
-
How major flood events have reshaped the area over two centuries
-
The origins of Orleigh Park and Davies Park
-
Past, present and future transportation links
-
Stories of community activism and public protest
-
What’s next for Kurilpa’s river edge
About the Guide:
Maurice McCallum is an active member of Kurilpa Futures and a long-time West End resident. An early adopter of high-rise living in the 1980s, Maurice combines his deep knowledge of the area’s social and political history with a passion for community engagement, making him an insightful and engaging guide.
ABOUT
Kurilpa Futures: Founded in 2012, Kurilpa Futures began as a grassroots, volunteer-led group focussed on local planning issues. Since then, we have been advocating for meaningful community consultation in decision-making processes, ensuring that our voices are heard in the rapidly densifying Kurilpa area. Our work prioritizes:
- Managing climate change through initiatives such as Resilient Kurilpa.
- Promoting active transport and street safety for our diverse community
- Expanding green spaces through community gardens, street and park plantings
- Collaborating with other community organizations to address urban planning challenges locally and beyond.
Resilient Kurilpa: Founded in 2022 in response to the major flood event in February 2022 that impacted thousands of residents on the Kurilpa Peninsular, Resilient Kurilpa is a volunteer-led, grassroots community group focussed on climate change preparedness and resilience in a city built on a flood plain. Our vision includes:
- To nurture an informed, skilled, and connected community, empowered to rapidly and safely respond and recover to climate disaster events.
- To support groups to learn from the past and implement practical and inclusive mitigation strategies.
- To be a leading community in grassroots disaster resilience building and share knowledge with local and global climate disaster communities to adapt for their own contexts.
West End Community Association (WECA): Founded in 2004, WECA is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit, incorporated association dedicated to creating a connected, diverse, and livable community within the Kurilpa Peninsula. WECA’s work focuses on advocacy, sustainability, arts, and cultural initiatives.
- Arts and Culture: Hosting events like the Kurilpa Derby, West End Festival, and First Nations-led projects to foster community connection through the arts.
- Representation: Amplifying community voices through candidate forums and keeping residents informed via social media and e-newsletters.
- Sustainability: Promoting livability with initiatives like Resilience Kurilpa, advocating for sustainable development and public space access.
- People: Strengthening the community by providing opportunities for volunteering, subcommittee participation, and student placements and training.