Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 27 of 38

Ascot Consistently Tops Highest-Income Earners List in Brisbane

Ascot has once again topped the list of highest-income earners in Brisbane in the latest report from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) covering the 2018-2019 financial year.

Residents of the upscale northside suburb averagely earned $109,289, matching the average income of Hamilton, its neighbouring suburb. The number, covering the tax returns of more than 10,000 people, are up 0.9 percent compared to the data collected in 2017-2018.

Bardon and Chandler are on the second and third list of highest-income earners in Brisbane with a taxable income of $106,835 and $105,460, respectively. Rounding off the top five are Balmoral, Bulimba and Hawthorne residents with an average income of $104,681.

On the other hand, the average earnings of residents in these 14 suburbs were above $90,000: Teneriffe, New Farm, Clayfield, Hendra, Milton, Paddington, Kenmore, Brookfield, Upper Brookfield, Pinjarra Hills, Pullenvale, Fig Tree Pocket and Chapel Hill.

Ascot and Hamilton are on 54th of ATO’s national rankings with seven of the top 10 highest-income earners coming from Sydney’s postcodes, who are earned above $200,000 for the said financial year.

Of the highest-paid occupations, it’s surgeons, anaesthetists, internal medicine specialists, financial dealers and psychiatrists who are in the top five. However, the country’s biggest taxpayers come from the group who earned an annual income of $37,001 and $90,000, which accounted for 40 percent of the tax returns.

The Doomben Racecourse in Ascot is Now a COVID-19 Vaccination Hub

Just as Queensland reaches a million delivered COVID-19 doses, a new vaccination hub has opened at the Doomben Racecourse in Ascot to facilitate more vaccinations to the Brisbane community.

Ascot’s Doomben Racecourse has become the latest addition to Queensland Health’s constantly-expanding network of COVID-19 vaccination hubs, and according to Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, Doomben is well-equipped and ready to deliver the vaccine to eligible Queenslanders. In total, Queensland Health has expanded its network of vaccination hubs to 18 across the state in total.

The fact that the establishment was already well-known to many Queenslanders and had good transport links meant that it was easy to access. “It’s the perfect location for our growing network of vaccination hubs, which are vaccinating an ever-growing number of Queenslanders,” said Minister D’Ath.

Photo credit: Commander Keane/Wikimedia Commons

Queensland Health is focusing on delivering vaccines to people between the ages of 40 and 49 who have registered for the vaccines, as well as residential aged care workers and disability staff. Vaccinations are also available to frontline staff such as health workers, police officers, and paramedics.

“Today Queensland is set to hit a total of one million COVID vaccination doses delivered, through our GP and pharmacy networks and Queensland Health hubs,” added Minister D’Ath. “Over the last week alone, Queensland Health has administered 71,471 vaccinations, including a record 11,827 yesterday. We want to continue to grow these numbers to get even more Queenslanders protected in this ongoing global epidemic.”

The Doomben Racecourse can be found at 75 Hampden St, Ascot. Eligible Queensland residents interested in registering for the COVID-19 vaccine can do so via the Queensland Health website here.

Ascot Spy House Sold at Auction for Almost $9 Million

Nyrambla, the historical Ascot spy house, has been sold to an undisclosed owner during a weekend auction for almost $9 million.

The deal came through after dark in mid-May 2021 with five registered bidders vying for the historical house. However, the vendor bid of $8.5 million wasn’t reached until a local bidder on the phone negotiated on closing the sale.

Someone in the crowd at the front lawn of Nyrambla thought that the house would be easily snapped up for $10 million but a former resident of the Ascot spy house said that it could be challenging to find a builder that will properly maintain the heritage-listed house.

Nyrambla Ascot Spy House — Photo Credit: Paz Avalos/Google Maps

In its nearly 100 years of existence, Nyrambla was home to many Brisbane personalities, including famous writer and director Bille Brown, farmer’s market queen Jan Powers, as well as Australian artist Lawrence Daws and his wife Andree.

It was the family of Andree who decided to sell the house following her passing. Andree’s son and Lawrence’s stepson, Rick Roberts, has spent some 20 years rebuilding Nyrambla. Meanwhile, Lawrence has since moved to the south of Adelaide in Port Willunga.

The new owner of the Ascot spy house is a friend of the Daws family yet they still acknowledged that it was sad to let go of the beautiful and historical house.

Nyrambla was requisitioned during World War II by General Douglas MacArthur to be used as an intelligence bureau for decoding Japanese radio transmissions. At the house’s garage, members of the Australian Women’s Army Service worked as codebreakers, who were not allowed to discuss their work with anyone, including their families.

Recently, the story of The Garage Girls, as the Nyrambla codebreakers were called, has been turned into a book titled “The Codebreakers” by Alli Sinclair.

Eagle Farm Track Looking Good for Upcoming Group 1 Race

With just a few weeks to go before the Group 1 meetings, Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell has pronounced the Eagle Farm track to be in great shape and in its healthiest state, with the surface ryegrass growing strong for the winter after disease got the best of its roots, affecting its length and strength in 2020.

Months before the major races, debates about the cushion, surface, and general state of the Eagle Farm track became a worrying concern among the jockeys and trainers as their horses’ performance could be held back by a bad surface.

Some trainers also refused to let their horses run on a hard and uncushioned surface because it could be detrimental to the animal’s physical health and welfare.

Mr Purnells said that they wouldn’t usually do a renovation of the tracks in time for a big carnival but they had to stop the roots disease from spreading.

Now, a thick grass has been visible on the Eagle Farm track with some racing pundits, who watched Derby Day at the end of May 2021, saying that it’s looking pretty good.

Racing Queensland undertook the last significant renovation of the Eagle Farm track in 2014 by ripping and replacing all of its surfaces. However, when it reopened in 2016, a number of issues sprung with the new tracks with stakeholders saying that the problems have persisted in the last five years because of the track’s mismanagement.

The CEO also said that they have been continuously coordinating with the Brisbane Racing Club on how to improve the Eagle Farm track.

St Margaret’s in Ascot Declared Boarding School of the Year

Did you know that St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School in Ascot has once again won the Australian Education Awards Boarding School of the Year?

For the second consecutive year, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School has been declared the Australian Education Awards Boarding School of the Year. The school, which is located in Ascot, Brisbane, has been operating at capacity for several years, attributing their success and high retention to the inclusive community the school provides for its students.

Integration has always been one of the school’s top priorities, teaching the staff how to perform duties outside of their respective departments. Teachers would know just as much about boarders as boarding staff, and vice versa.

Photo credit: Facebook/St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

This is especially important for St Margaret’s as the boarding house and their residents play an integral role in the school, and this unity fosters a sense of community and cooperation.

The school itself is owned and operated by the Society of the Sacred Advent Schools Pty Ltd which was founded in 1892. St Margaret’s was founded in 1895, closely following six core values: courage, faith, integrity, passion, respect, and spirit. It is an independent school for day students and boarders, with a total of 810 students from pre-prep to Year 12 — 170 of which are boarders.

The school can be found at 11 Petrie St, Ascot. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements concerning the school.

Hudson Common: The New Heart of Albion?

Did you know that Albion could soon have an all-new commercial, residential retail precinct called Hudson Common on Sandgate Rd?

The Alceon Group has lodged a development application with the Brisbane City Council that calls for the creation of a $200 million commercial, residential and retail precinct dubbed “Hudson Common”.

Work for the project will be centred on the ten-storey old TAB building in Sandgate Rd, and this work entails total building refurbishment, a facade upgrade, the construction of an open area plaza, as well as an all-new mid-level commercial tower. Plans are also in the works for the implementation of an onsite bistro, a supermarket, and boutique retail.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Development.i

The old TAB building, a Brisbane landmark that has been deemed by many as an eyesore, was first constructed in the 1970’s and has been one of the largest structures in Albion despite its dingy looks and state of disrepair.

Initially, there were plans to demolish the building and construct a new one over the site, however the Alceon Group opted to refurbish it instead in order to reflect corporate responsibility through sustainable design.

Hudson Common aims to revitalise the Albion Village precinct by becoming the new heart of the suburb, providing activation seven days a week and establishing a new commercial business park complete with high-end transport options and amenities.

With the Cross River Rail network linking to Albion’s, the proposed precinct is shaping up to become Brisbane’s next inner-city growth area.

The site of the proposed mixed-use development can be found at 240 Sandgate Rd, Albion. For more information, visit the Hudson Common website here. Those interested in reading the proposal can do so via its application number: A005515830.

Dreamfarm: Unique Kitchenware Company in Albion Reaping Sales

From its small beginnings as a backyard business, trendy kitchenware online store Dreamfarm, with its warehouse in Albion, has ballooned into a multi-million company with heaps of well-designed and useful kitchen products.

Founder Alexander Gransbury said that they are on track to reap strong sales for 2021 after a worrying few months at the start of the pandemic when sales dipped to 22 percent. However, things picked up within two months as other stores had problems with their international supply chain.

Dreamfarm’s sales grew to 60 percent in Australia by the end of 2020 and 30 percent in the U.S. as their products became popular on social media. In anticipation of the growth, the company has hired two new designers who will create more innovative kitchen items that are sure to become a hit with consumers in Australia and the United States.

Gransbury sees the move to bring in more talented minds as a worthy investment as Dreamfarm’s unique and creatively designed products have set them apart from the competition, who are still selling the same kitchen and homeware items. Indeed, there’s nothing quite like the store’s most popular products.

The Ortwo (pictured above), described as an “ultra-sharp ceramic grinder is fully adjustable with 6 settings from super fine to coarse, will never corrode or rust and is perfect for all spices,” can be conveniently used with just one hand.

The Clongs are “click-lock tongs that have a clever bend in their handles to sit them up off your kitchen bench when you put them down, just like a built-in spoon rest.”

The Chopula is “a spatula that’s thin and flexible for flipping from the front, but also incredibly strong for chopping on its side” — perfect for burgers, pancakes, or separating eggs from the pan.

Gransbury started his business in 2003 whilst he was still based in Canberra and then moved the company’s operation in Albion in 2008, when Dreamfarm had 40 products. Aside from the online store, Myers and Bloomingdales also carry a selection of Dreamfarm award-winning items, as recognised by the Good Design Award.

“We’re proud to be a company that has grown from a backyard shed by creating original products and always doing our own design work. That’s not a big deal to everyone, but it’s everything to us,” the company’s founder and managing director said. “Every millimetre of our designs exists for a reason, so if you ever wonder about anything, please just ask! The only thing we’re crazier about than our products is our customers and making sure you’re super stoked.”

Follow Dreamfarm on Facebook for product updates and other store news.

Meltz Gourmet Pizza Bar: Popular Ascot Restaurant to Serve the Last Slice

Another popular restaurant in Ascot has announced it will be closing its doors and serving its last pizza slice on 30 June 2021. The owner of Meltz Gourmet Pizza Bar, located on Racecourse Road, said that he’s looking to pursue other opportunities after running his restaurant for three and a half years.

In a post on Instagram, Kellum Tate said that negotiations for the lease renewal of Meltz Gourmet Pizza Bar fell through thus the decision to close the shop. He also said that he’s not considering moving into a new location and continue the brand he built. However, he is hoping that someone would be interested in “snapping up the opportunity” to takeover Meltz Gourmet Pizza Bar.

“This was not a decision made lightly,” Mr Tate said. “However, I have decided after 3.5 years of dedication to Meltz as a local business and building the brand, it is in the best interest of my family to pursue other business opportunities which will provide a friendlier work/life balance.”

In the remaining months, the pizza bar will continue to prepare and serve customers for its final hoorah.

Mr Tate bought the restaurant from its previous owners in September 2017 and rebranded it into a gourmet pizza and bar, serving “a wide range of pizzas, burgers, calzones, and loaded salads to suppress any appetite.” As a fully licensed bar, the eatery had been a regular hangout for the young crowd but families with kids, as well as the oldies who occasionally enjoy pizza with beer, also frequented the pizza place.

Meltz Gourmet Pizza Bar thrived amidst the pandemic, when lockdowns, work-at-home orders, and dining restrictions were in place, affecting many businesses all over Brisbane.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Meltz Pizza (@meltzpizza)

Olympics 2032: Albion Scrapped, The Gabba Eyed For New Renovations

In the event that the Brisbane Olympics 2032 pushes through, plans are in the works to redevelop Woolloongabba’s beloved stadium Gabba instead of creating a new building in Albion.

In the past, the Queensland Government had set their sights on constructing an all-new stadium in Albion Park, however it seems that the locals who had previously disapproved of this development will now have less to worry about. It is looking more likely that the new home of the 2032 Olympic Games — should the Brisbane bid push through — will be The Gabba in Woolloongabba.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk suggested that the beloved stadium in Woolloongabba could be used for the games’ opening and closing ceremonies on top of athletics, however, it will need to be upgraded to accommodate up to 50,000 people.

The construction of entirely new buildings will no longer be necessary, but it is clear that the existing venues will need to receive a series of improvements in the event that the Olympics 2032 will take place in Brisbane.

*The Gabba in Woolloongabba.*
*Photo credit: Facebook/The Gabba*

The Gabba, which had previously hosted seven games for the 2000 Olympic Games Men’s Football tournament, would have to be completely rebuilt from the ground up in addition to its slew of potential new upgrades, says Premier Palaszczuk.

One of these upgrades would include a new pedestrian plaza that would link the Gabba to the upcoming Cross River Rail station, which is still in the midst of construction. This plaza could become a games hub, serving as an exciting venue for concerts and medal presentations.

The stadium’s sheer accessibility and proximity to the CBD is what makes the Gabba the ideal venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, and the development of an Athletes Village, or Olympic Village, within close proximity of the Gabba could also bring in a range of benefits to the community.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games Athletes Village.
Photo credit: CC BY-SA/Kgbo/Wikimedia Commons

For instance, the 2018 Commonwealth Games Athletes Village in Southport in the Gold Coast, is now home to over 2300 people, and it’s estimated that this number will rise to 3000 in July 2021. Unit complexes and commercial centres could transform Olympics infrastructure to a residential and commercial precinct to bolster the local economy.

The Gabba is located at Vulture St, Woolloongabba. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates concerning the stadium. Stay up to date with the Olympics and related announcements by following their Facebook page

Doomben Station in Ascot Due for Platform Upgrades

Transport and Main Roads will begin the platform upgrades at the Doomben Station in Ascot using a new design and methodology developed specifically for Queensland Rail. Work to be carried out will entail raising the platform but it will be a quick process and will not require the isolation of overhead powerlines.

Commuters frequenting the Doomben Station, however, are advised to be on the lookout as the majority of the civil works will be underway from 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, 10 April 2021, to 6:30 a.m. on Monday, 12 April 2021. Minor works will then be carried out in the following weeks but will not disrupt the railway’s operations.

Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said that the new modular system will bring “reduced maintenance costs” and a “longer lifespan” to the facilities at the Doomben Station. This project is part of the $50 billion infrastructure guarantee of the State Government and will support 14 jobs and businesses like Virginia Sheet Metal (VSM), Austact Civil, Customised Traffic Management (CTM), Secure Corp and Blackbox.

“This is great news for commuters and people who use Doomben station to visit the race track, especially for our older travellers, parents with prams and locals who use mobility aids like wheelchairs,” Mr Bailey said.

“It’s also great news for these businesses, who are just some of the hundreds getting involved in upgrades like this and major projects like the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail, supporting jobs as we recover from COVID-19.

“Making Doomben more accessible adds to new stations being built in the heart of Brisbane as part of Cross River Rail, making it more accessible for local commuters to get to their destination.”

The Doomben Station is vital to racegoers and commuters traveling to Ascot, Hendra, Clayfield, Wooloowin, Albion, Bowen Hills and the CBD.