Olympic planners are looking at the possibility of building an indoor arena at Albion Park Paceway for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, something which could be used by the community even after the Games.
According to Councillor Krista Adams, chair of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee, the new indoor area in Albion will have 12 indoor courts for basketball and volleyball.
The facility, described by Cr Adams as a “para-sports centre of excellence” will have a 12,000 seating capacity and will be built between 2026 to 2028.
It draws similarity to the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre and the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, which were both used for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Inside Coomera Indoor Sports Centre (Photo credit: Hans Kang/Google Maps)
Previous plans involved building a stadium with 50,000 capacity at Albion Park, but it raised concerns from locals who are worried that the new venue will be useless once the Olympic Games are over.
Cr Adams said the state-of-the-art facility will be used by the community and for people with disabilities through active sport participation and community programs. She said it could also be used for local, state, national and international events.
Albion Park Paceway (Photo credit: Si Vi/Google Maps)
Albion Park Paceway, located at Yulestar St, is owned by Racing Development Corporation and is the current racecourse in Albion. It’s three kilometres away from the CBD and has been used for events such as the G1 Grand Circuit, Sunshine Sprint, QLD Derby, Be Good Johnny Sprint.
The racecourse first opened in 1968 whilst the main grandstand was built in 1983. However, the Russ Hinze Grandstand was demolished in 2009 after independent engineers raised concerns about the structure’s stability.
Lamington Avenue may soon have rows of low- to medium-density townhouses in neatly arranged and organised clusters, to be delivered in five project stages based on an updated development proposal.
Promoted as the “postcode-perfect address” within the blue-chip suburb, Ascot Aurora‘s 219 standard lots will be developed in five stages, to streamline both construction and occupation of the dwellings, with specific approval conditions for each stage.
The first stage of the development, which is already underway, will include the delivery of 47 townhouses, as well as the residents’ social and recreational facilities, the public park, and car parking spaces.
More housing, both attached and detached, as well as parking spaces for cars and bikes will continue for Stages 2 to 5, with the final stage allowing for the construction of a four-storey apartment building.
“The proposed staging includes the apartment complex and 219 standard lots ranging from 76m2 –248m2 as well as the required common property being the road infrastructure, pocket parks, visitor car parks, residential facility, a community garden that form part of the approval,” the developer stated via DA A005844654.
The location offers residents fluid indoor/outdoor spaces that take advantage of natural light, comforting breezes, and stunning views. Here, residents could enjoy building their connections with their neighbours.
“Homeowners will relish the convenience and conviviality of this popular precinct, quickly realising that every whim, appetite and coffee craving can be satiated with a stroll along Racecourse Road. Hamilton Harbour and Portside Wharf precincts are also within walking distance, providing close, connected hubs to stock up on groceries and catch up with friends.”
Vaquero, a swanky and sophisticated Spanish restaurant on Sandgate Rd in Albion, really did not look like it needed much of a makeover but owner Nick Pinn wants to make his customers’ dining experience even more unforgettable with an exciting, new renovation.
By the end of 2021 or early 2022, changes will be underway at the butchery and restaurant as the meat shop on the front side will soon become an intimate 10-seater dining room for private events.
Mr Pinn revealed that the butcher shop will be moved and separated from the restaurant, as demands for more private spaces are ever-increasing. In fact, Mr Pinn is also setting up some changes at the back of Vaquero as the dining space close to the kitchen will also become another private dining area with 14 seats, perfect for a small birthday party or group function.
Photo Credit: VaqueroDining/Facebook
Vaquero’s renovation might have some impact on the operations but Mr Pitt and Chef Angelic Lokeni plan to work around the changes to allow service even as some rebuilding work is ongoing.
Vaquero, which opened in 2016 on the very busy Sandgate Road, offers tapas-style dining and drinking under the stars, courtesy of its relaxing outdoor courtyard. The restaurant is even more popular for its butchery and small goods section.
The crew has a combined 60 years of experience in chic European hospitality with a focus on consistency of quality. The drink list at the bar includes up to 80 selections of Spanish and Australian wines.
“Atmosphere was excellent and not overdone. Intimate but open and not loud at all. Staff were efficient, knowledgeable, helpful but also friendly and relaxed. Overall, warm. The wine and drink list was comprehensive without limitations or too many choices. A really great dining experience and the food was excellent too! Staff were very flexible with our order. Looking forward to revisiting!”
James Baillie
“Amazing experience. Don’t think I’ve ever been to the same restaurant 3 times in a week. Food quality 100% and staff excellent. Damon’s knowledge of coal fire cooking is particularly impressive and have been looked after by Cameron exceptionally well. Sad to go home to Perth knowing it will be a few months before I can visit here again. Well done Vaquero crew.”
The Ascot community has lodged a petition to include the Nyrambla House on Henry Street into the Queensland Heritage Listing. Used as a spy house for Australian, U.S., and allied soldiers during World War II, the home was sold at auction to a private owner.
Australian artist Lawrence Daws and his wife Andree, both deceased, used to own the property but their family decided to sell the mansion to an undisclosed new owner during an auction held in May 2021.
The famous Ascot house has been cited as a heritage place with the Brisbane City Council since 2008 but the locals believe the house should also be acknowledged in the state register. In 2022, the Allies will be celebrating the 80th Anniversary of their collaborative work during World War II to defeat the Japanese forces.
“It would be an appropriate acknowledgment of the strong bonds that bind Australia and the United States of America,” the petitioners stated.
The petition will remain active until 30 Nov 2021.
The Queensland Heritage List may consider adding a place to the list if it has brought significant value to the “state’s wider pattern and evolution of history and heritage.”
The Nyrambla House, originally built in the mid-1980s as a residence for Henry P. Abbott, was subdivided and then converted into rows of flats in the 1920s after G.W. Whatmore of the Centennial Hall Ltd acquired the property from Abbott.
By the Second World War, the Central Bureau occupied the house for Allied codebreakers to intercept Japanese communications. In 1988, American veterans dedicated the plaque installed at the Nyrambla House, which reads:
“Central Bureau, an organisation comprising service personnel of Australia, USA, Britain, Canada and New Zealand, both men and women, functioned in this house from 1942 till 1945. From intercepted enemy radio messages, the organisation provided intelligence which made a decisive contribution to the Allied victory in the Pacific.”
Photo Credit: Paz Avalos/Google Maps
The deed to the Nyrambla House remained with the Whatmore family until the auction last May 2021.
Are you ready for Brisbane Racing Club’s Spring Racing Carnival 2021? Racing, entertainment, fashion and fun will all come together at the Spring Racing Carnival 2021 in Ascot, promising six days of live local races, all-day entertainment, and interstate action on super screens around the course.
The Spring Racing Carnival kicked off with the XXXX Queensland Cup Raceday on 9 October 2021 at the Eagle Farm Racecourse, where guests were entertained with performances from Stafford Brothers, two of Brisbane’s most acclaimed DJs.
If you missed the starting event, check out the five remaining race days happening until 6 November.
Super Saturday RaceDay
Photo credit: Brisbane Racing Club/Facebook
16 October 2021 | Eagle Farm Racecourse
Interstate feature races the Caulfield Cup and TAB Everest will be accompanied by a stellar racecard at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Then there’s the Oscar Salons Fashions on the Field, pop-up bars and food stalls trackside to make Super Saturday RaceDay one to remember.
Oscar Oscar Salons Ladies RaceDay
Photo credit: Brisbane Racing Club/Facebook
23 October 2021 | Doomben Racecourse
Watch the Cox Plate as it happens, with the screens on course showing the legendary race live. Accompanying the interstate action is a thrilling race card at Doomben.
Moët & Chandon Derby RaceDay
Photo credit: Brisbane Racing Club/Facebook
30 October 2021 | Eagle Farm Racecourse
The height of luxury is showcased on Moet & Chandon Derby RaceDay, one of the most prestigious days of spring racing shown live on the screens around the course. The racing action continues on course at Eagle Farm with an exciting race card. The thrill from the track and screens spill out onto the grounds with monochromatic fashion, incredible gastronomy, and vibrant entertainment to get the heart racing.
Canadian Club Melbourne Cup RaceDay
Photo credit: Brisbane Racing Club/Facebook
2 November 2021 | Eagle Farm Racecourse
Eagle Farm will be on the largest screen in the Southern Hemisphere as the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup is shown around the course. The glamour doesn’t stop there with plenty of entertainment, Oscar Oscar Salons Fashions on the Field, pop-up bars and eateries trackside to make this a Melbourne Cup RaceDay to remember.
Teddy Bears Picnic Family RaceDay
Photo credit: Brisbane Racing Club/Facebook
6 November 2021 | Eagle Farm Racecourse
This reinvigorated raceday will host exciting family friendly experiences on and off the track. Enjoy an array of jumping castles proudly provided by AstroJump, seasonal culinary delights and a family themed Fashions On The Field that emulates the style and excitement of this raceday.
To buy your tickets and for more details on the upcoming events, visit BRC’s website or follow them on Facebook.
North Brisbane fans of OMG Decadent Donuts will no longer have to wait for their next weekend stop at the Carseldine Markets as the renowned vegan bakery finally launches a store in Ascot.
OMG Decadent Donuts Ascot will serve 12 different flavours of their hot and fresh donuts, including the crowd favourites, such as Strawberry Patch (fresh strawberries, vanilla bean, Bundaberg sugar), OMG! Cinnamon (cinnamon and Bundaberg sugar), and Coffee Coffee Yum Yum (ground Ethiopian coffee, Bundaberg sugar).
What’s special about the donuts is that they aren’t only delicious and fluffy; they are also free from gluten, wheat, egg, dairy, nut, yeast, and sulfites. Besides that, all the fruits and veggies, such as beetroot, raspberries, and navel oranges will be locally sourced, dehydrated, and ground.
OMG Decadent Donuts is the brainchild of former Drift restaurant owner David Moore and his partner Andrew Clarke. The idea of coming up with allergy-friendly sweet treats started with Clarke, who convinced his partner to come up with a doughnut mix that he could also enjoy since he’s allergic to gluten and dairy.
OMG Decadent Donuts first opened in 2019 by selling their donuts in farmers type markets, festivals, expos and events. As the business continued to grow, they welcomed Di O’Reilly and her husband Steve Morris into the team. Today, the business has over 50 franchisees across the country.
They chose Ascot as the retail store’s location since it’s in proximity to their places and they believe the area is such a great community that they would want to be part of.
To stay updated with OMG Decadent Donuts in Ascot, including their exact location and trading hours, follow them on Facebook or on Instagram @omgdonuts.australia.
Did you know that Australia’s largest bus coachbuilder, Volgren, is expanding its workforce at the Eagle Farm factory? Volgren plans to deliver a fleet of locally-produced electric buses beginning 2022.
Thiago Deiro, the CEO of the Melbourne-based company, said that Volgren’s next chapter will secure the jobs of 45 workers in Eagle Farm. They will soon hire more employees “to double labour capacity” of the manufacturing centre as it expands its investments in Queensland.
“Volgren has spent more than a decade developing a skilled workforce and a world-class manufacturing centre at Eagle Farm. It’s not something we ever wanted to walk away from,” Mr Diero said.
“Our plans are to invest in our people and our production facilities to meet new levels of demand and ensure the next generation of zero-emission buses can be built locally.”
In June, Volgren delivered its final bus to Brisbane City Council after 12 years of a partnership but a period of uncertainty faced the workers. However, as Brisbane Metro sets its pilot for electric buses next year, Deiro confirmed that Volgren will play a key role in the “acceptance, testing and delivery of the metro vehicle.”
“We know that Brisbane City Council is leading the way on Australia’s move to zero-emission public transport,” the CEO said in a statement.
“With Eagle Farm secured, and a focus on building world-class zero-emission buses, we can confidently respond to tenders in this state and across the country.”
Clayton Nel, the head of the Queensland operations, welcomed the headquarter’s decision to maintain the Eagle Farm staff. He said that their employees are a group of dedicated individuals who have always exceeded the company’s goals the customer’s expectations.
Ascot continues to consistently lord it over Brisbane’s prestige property markets as buyers flex their muscles, capping a 31.52 percent median house price growth in the 12-month period ending June 2021.
From July 2020 to June 2021, Ascot’s median house price is at the tip of the $2-million mark at $1,900,500, blowing expectations out of the water.
Per figures from Property Market Updates, the pandemic hasn’t spooked serious buyers as 131 properties were sold during this period, with listings staying just under three months on the market.
Heritage protection for mid-1800 Queenslander homes set in large blocks of land has ensured that Ascot has some of the most interesting and historically valuable homes in Brisbane.
In the last five years, the median house price has increased by 51.4%. The median house price in Ascot for the period July 2015 to June 2016 was $1.255 million. Over the last 10 years, house prices have increased by 7.6% per annum.
Homes in Ascot are tightly held and opportunities to buy into the area usually disappear fast, factors which add to its appeal to interstate and international buyers, as well as local investors looking for a blue-chip deal.
Whilst Ascot’s housing market has exceeded performance, the unit market has been largely flat, with the median even dipping by 0.47%, slightly dropping to $525,000 over the last 12-month period ending June 2021 from $527,500 in the previous period.
In the last five years, the median price of units has decreased by 1.3%. The median unit price in Ascot in 2016 was $531,850. On average, over the last 10 years, unit prices have seen modest growth, increasing by only 2.8% per annum.
Photo Credit: Google Streetview
The value gap has highlighted the significant difference between investing in a house and a unit in Ascot, and Brisbane as a whole. Unit sales volume in Ascot is at 167 properties sold suggests that there’s still demand from unit hunters seeking opportunities to buy into the suburb, even with conservative returns.
The Ascot Green residential precinct, with apartments overlooking the Eagle Farm racecourse, has been a sought-after choice for buyers looking for prestige units. A third apartment block is on the way, with the first two having quickly sold out.
Due to its location midway between the Brisbane CBD and the Brisbane airport, Ascot is a convenient and popular choice for buyers looking for a quiet, wealthy neighbourhood in a prime location that’s accessible to travel, shopping, and other lifestyle amenities.
Ascot is also home to excellent private and public schools, such as St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School and Ascot State School. Residents also have easy access to highly regarded private schools in neighbouring Clayfield, such as Clayfield College and St Agatha’s Catholic Primary School.
Although there have been some concerns regarding aircraft noise with the opening of the new runways at Brisbane Airport, the latest median figures suggest that the opening of Brisbane’s second airport runway has had little impact on Ascot’s property values.
Residents in high-end suburbs like Ascot, Bulimba, and Hawthorne have complained about their diminished quality of life due to the second runway’s increased flights but so far, this hasn’t turned off buyer activity.
Overall, Ascot’s rising property market remains on-trend and consistent. A Domain Liveable Brisbane study from 2019 has ranked Ascot as the third most liveable suburb in Greater Brisbane, with its air of quiet wealth, cafe culture, prestigious schools, recreational spaces, and unbeatable access to trains, ferry lines, and the airport.
History buffs will surely enjoy a trip to the TradeCoast Central Heritage Park Interpretive Centre. For locals who just want to do something free with the family whilst learning something new, a trip to the centre can be a perfect family day out in Eagle Farm. To get the most out of your visit, here are some of the best things to do at the TradeCoast Central Heritage Park Interpretive Centre.
Did you know that a visit to the TradeCoast Central Heritage Park Interpretive Centre means you get to visit three heritage sites in one trip?
When you join a group down the walking trail, you will start at the Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory trail. Here, you will find a replica of the original fence and gates made of eucalypt poles measuring 5.2 metres high which doubled as both an enclosure and defensive measures.
Next up is the Allison Engine Testing Stands, a heritage-listed engine test stand that was built by the USAAF 81st Air Depot Group and the Allied Works Council in 1942. At this place, locally refurbished aircraft engines were tested during the Second World War.
The heritage trail to the south-west features Hangar 7, a hangar or a closed building structure to hold aircraft. Located fronting Terminal Drive to the south on the site of the old Brisbane Airport, Hangar 7 is a timber truss igloo structure with ribbed sheet metal cladding. This Eagle Farm structure is the last surviving Second World War timber truss igloo hangar.
Aside from a view of the outside of the Hangar 7 building with interpretive displays, it also features a re-creation of the Japanese Zero’s first flight over Brisbane.
When you visit TradeCoast Central Heritage Park you will be able to connect to these audio tours, with free wi-fi available for your smartphone. There will be three audio tours on site. The first tour is an overview of three heritage sites. The second is about the Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site and the Allison Engine Testing Stands, and the last one is about Hangar 7.
Photo credit: TradeCoast Central Heritage Park/Facebook
Watch a short film
Photo credit: TradeCoast Central Heritage Park/Facebook
The Interpretive Centre incorporates a range of interactive portals including a cinema room with a 10 minute, HD movie providing insight into the early explorers, the daily life of inhabitants (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples) and how the environment has changed since the early 1820s.
Photo credit: TradeCoast Central Heritage Park/Facebook
Whilst you can have a meal at one of the food outlets at the Interpretative Centre, you can also have a picnic there with your group. There’s plenty of parking available and room to spread out over the green grass of the park which covers what was once a Convict Factory, a women’s prison, and a busy airport runway.
Unwind
Photo credit: TradeCoast Central Heritage Park/Facebook
The site, featuring the women’s prison and the factory also has an expansive viewing balcony overlooking the whole site and its attractions.
“Huge open space full of history. Very enlightening. Such a wide use over the years. Well worth a visit,” said local guide Ben Waters.
The centre’s opening hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. For more details about visiting the TradeCoast Central Heritage Park Interpretive Centre, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
Sydney-based roaster Seven Miles will soon open a part coffee shop-part roastery at Craft’d Grounds in Albion, where visitors can watch the roasting process whilst enjoying their coffee.
Seven Miles, now supplying to more than 100 coffee shops and cafes across the state, will also offer coffee masterclasses, public tastings, and new ways of brewing in their new Brissie space which will feature a warehouse space, roasting area, as well as a retail section and kiosk.
Photo credit: Seven Miles Coffee Roasters/Facebook
Built with ceiling-high glass walls and an open seating plan, the 400-sqm roastery allows a completely immersive and transparent experience, where coffee lovers can come and witness a speciality roaster in action. Heading up the operation within Craft’d Grounds will be Ben Graham who joined the company earlier this year after having previously owned local Brisbane favourite, Parallel Roasters.
Seven Miles roastery in Albion promises drinkers something new to try and will pour many other specialty varieties that will be roasted on-site. Aside from the traditional espresso, customers can have cold press and batch brews made using Seraphim, a unique brewing system that can make single cups of handcrafted coffee in minutes.
Seven Miles’ Queensland operations manager Ben Graham (Photo credit: Seven Miles Coffee Roasters/Facebook)
Once everything is up and running, the team at Seven Miles would try to collaborate on drinks with other new tenancies at Craft’d Grounds, including craft beer brewery Brewtide and an upcoming wine and cocktail bar. Due to open in October 2021, the precinct will also be home to patisserie, fromagerie and fitness facility.
A former timber mill, Craft’d Grounds is planning to host exciting events for locals, including a regular farmers market and a street-art lined laneway. The precinct will have enough capacity for various live music and food events.
Seven Miles Albion plans to open by October 2021. For updates, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
