West End with Maeve Lejeune

Welcome back to Brisbados, the show where we explore the stories, streets, and soul of Brisbane in sunny Queensland :)

In this episode, we’re heading to one of the city’s most storied and spirited suburbs: West End. Renowned for its mix of cultures, artists, activists, and long-time locals, West End has always been a place where identity and community are deeply felt. But like much of Brisbane, it’s also a place facing rapid development and transformation.

 

To help us understand what makes West End special — and what’s at stake as it changes — I spoke with Maeve Lejeune, creator of the Houses of West End project and part of the West End Community Association (WECA), a voluntary organisation dedicated to keeping West End's character alive.

 

Maeve grew up in the area after her parents bought there in the 80s, and has been documenting the character of its homes and the people who’ve lived in them — a kind of living archive of the suburb’s personality, before and after the cranes arrived.

 

We talk about growing up in West End before 2018, what makes the area feel like home, and how its identity is shifting. 

 

Check out WECA and consider donating here: https://www.weca.org.au/

 

Looks like Kurilpa Derby is on 8 Sep 2025 this year :)

 

Check out Houses of West End on IG: @housesofwestend

And online: https://flingoprojects.com/houses-of-west-end 

 

Enjoy!