The Lost Art of the Car Park Attendant: Nostalgia for a Brisbane River Gig
In the early 2000s, a peculiar job existed at Oxley's on the River, a restaurant perched over the Brisbane River in Milton. This role involved sitting in a car park attendant's booth, folding serviettes, and minding a multistorey car park after hours. For many young people, it was the perfect gig—a blend of solitude, responsibility, and a touch of glamour from the restaurant's clientele.
A Different Time and Young Minds
The car park arrangement was a condition for Oxley's to use the office building's space post-business hours. Attendants didn't handle money or operate boom gates; instead, they folded about 200 serviettes into swan-like cones and fans during 2.5-hour shifts. Accessing the restaurant meant ducking through an underpass that smelled of fishy docks, where one might drink a Red Bull, smoke a Marlboro, and listen to a final song on an iRiver before starting work.
This job was famously held by the author's friend James, who passed it on when he moved on. The shifts were split among friends and acquaintances, leading to a loose rotation that eventually caused issues. Sometimes, the booth would be left unlocked and dirty, prompting a lockout. In Brisbane's chilly winters, sitting outside without shelter was harsh, highlighting the unexpected legitimacy and comfort of that tiny booth.
Why Give Up the Perfect Gig?
At its core, this role offered flexibility for university students and creatives seeking to avoid traditional 9-to-5 jobs or demanding hospitality work. It allowed time for reading books, socialising, and pursuing passions like magazine publishing or radio shifts at 4ZZZ. However, as life evolved—such as moving to a share house over thirty minutes away—the job became less feasible.
Oxley's itself underwent changes, rebranding to Drift in 2009 and suffering damage during the 2011 floods when part of the structure floated down the river. This restaurant, along with other 1980s emblems in Brisbane, represented a catalogue of strange and dreamed spaces that have since faded or transformed.
Reflections on Youth and Work
This story captures a snapshot of youth in Brisbane, where simple jobs like car park attending held profound meaning. It wasn't just about folding napkins; it was about identity, community, and navigating early adulthood. The author, Ronnie Scott, now an Associate Professor and novelist, looks back with nostalgia, reminding us that sometimes, the most mundane roles leave the deepest impressions.
- The car park attendant job at Oxley's was a unique blend of responsibility and freedom for young people in the 2000s.
- It highlights how work can shape personal growth and memories, especially in transitional life stages.
- The transformation of Brisbane's landmarks, like Oxley's, mirrors the passage of time and loss of certain cultural touchstones.
