Tucked away in a pocket in the middle of West End's Boundary Street, sits the Brisbane Indigenous Media’s Association’s street kiosk, which has gone unused for the past 20-years.
It has been a place for mob to gather for decades and sits centrally in one of the city’s most famous streets with a dark past.
Larrakia man and Station Manager ant BIMA's 98.9FM, Dan Rennie, has been key to relaunching the station’s street kiosk, with plans for live broadcasts and performances to become a regular event.
“We thought, how fun would it be to be down on the street, inviting mob along to come and play some instruments and have a jam, which they do up and down the street anyway,” said Mr Rennie.
“Of course Boundary Street is where we are situated right now, and for those who don’t know Boundary Street, was the boundary for where black people couldn’t go after dark.
“We love to play Aboriginal music and there's so many people out there who don't get the platform to promote their music so for me if we can help out our mob that are creative musically it's a wonderful thing for me.”
Mr Rennie said he sees the street kiosk as more than a place where live music can be experienced, but as a place where people from all walks of life can come to experience Murri culture.
“If you come to Brisbane, learn the culture of this area...a lot of people who live in West End or surrounding suburbs don’t know the history of Boundary Street or know the history of Musgrave Park or know who the Traditional Owners are," he said.
“We want to bring a real community vibe to this area and make it welcome for everyone to come and enjoy.”
Local Greens Councillor, Jonathan Sri, attended the re-launch and also said it was important to preserve the community life of West End.
“The whole neighbourhood right now is changing pretty quickly, there's a lot more posh restaurants and shops, there’s a lot of new development and a lot of big money moving into the area,” said Mr Sri.
“In that context, preserving spaces like this for community that are non-profit spaces, where you can hangout without paying any money or feeling any obligation is very important.”
Two decades since relaunching
Brisbane Media Association's 98.9 street kiosk around the year 2000 before it closed. Source: Brisbane Indigenous Media Association
Twenty-five years later, Ms Collins is BIMA's office manager and remembers how the kiosk used to be a big part of the local Black community.
“It was like our extension to the radio station where we had mob come down here and we sold music and merchandise," she told NITV News on Friday.
“It was great community engagement, to get down here and interact with the community and let people know who we are.”
Ms Collins and Mr Rennie said they intended to have the kiosk running at least three times a week so people could experience more of what 98.9FM has to offer.
“Maybe next time we could have the Brekky mob down here," said Ms Collins.
“We love to play Aboriginal music and there's so many people out there who don't get the platform to promote their music, so for me if we can help out our mob that are creative musically, its a wonderful thing for me," said Mr Rennie.
