Woolworths shoppers in Ascot may now be able to have their online orders delivered in under two hours, as the superstore chain expands its newest speedy delivery service.
Called Delivery Now, this service has been operating at Woolworths stores in Melbourne and Sydney. It has recently been launched at six initial Brisbane sites.
Aside from Ascot, residents of Ashgrove, Bulimba, Camp Hill, Paddington and Spring Hill may also take advantage of Delivery Now, which allows shoppers to buy 30 items online to be delivered within a two-hour time frame.
Delivery Now is perfect for parents who need a batch of baby nappies or last-minute food ingredients fast. It’s also useful for customers who may be too sick to leave the house to buy medicines for cold or flu.
This speedy service cost $19 and can be availed daily between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Delivery Now is different from Woolworths’ regular grocery delivery service which cost $15 for a total purchase worth $100.
Exempted from Delivery Now, however, are deli items requiring preparation or big purchases that will not fit in the delivery truck.
Works have commenced on the restoration of the old Ascot carpark located between Lancaster Road, Kitchener Road and McGill Avenue, and its conversion back to a district park.
The 22,373-square-metre triangular piece of land, which is part of the Eagle Farm Racecourse, was once a parkland before it was turned into a military storage and then used as a car park. The refurbishment comes as a result of the Racecourse Precinct Neighbourhood Plan and part of an agreement with the Brisbane Racing Club.
“This will be a landmark park for Brisbane, contributing to the more than 2100 parks across our city,” Cr McLachlan said.
“Council worked closely with neighbouring stakeholder, the Brisbane Racing Club, to deliver this project,” he said.
“The Brisbane Racing Club is delighted that Ascot Park will form a key part of this community. It has a long history, from the time that the Queensland Turf Club leased the land to Hamilton Shire Council, creating the original park,” Brisbane Racing Club Chairman Neville Bell said.
“We’re looking forward to the community making the most of Ascot Park and thank Brisbane City Council for their work on the project,” Mr Bell said.
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / brisbane.qld.gov.au
The new parkland will be reminiscent of the 1930s Ascot Park with features such as an architecturally designed rotunda/bandstand with open grassed areas and landscaping as well as seating and picnic spaces, accessible toilet block, and an off-leash dog park area.
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / brisbane.qld.gov.au
The project will also encourage recreational activities with outside gym/fitness area and retained half basketball court as well as a new shaded and fully fenced all-abilities playground with access to play elements like swings, spinning, climbing, sensory, and water play.
The new Ascot district park is expected to be completed by late 2019.
The very first Pink Picnic is happening this Saturday, the 6th of April 2019, at the Eagle Farm Racecourse in Ascot. Guests are encouraged to dress in pink and white to mark the celebration that will hopefully become a local tradition to welcome Autumn.
Hosted by the Brisbane Racing Club, The Society, and Petal & Pup, Pink Picnic will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Some 500 seats will be available for this 18+ event, with ticket options for $75 or $100.
The Pink Party’s main event will be held at the racecourse’s alfresco dining area, where guests will be treated to live entertainment featuring acts like the Millenium Band and Gabrielle Lambe.
Expect pink-themed food, drinks, and desserts, including a wave of Gordon’s Premium Pink Gin Spritz as supplied by the sponsor of the event. Pink Party ambassador Ash Keily will also be there to make sure that the guests enjoy the day’s activities.
A Rooftop Rose Party will also be underway, where a live DJ will be rousing guests with dance music. This special-access section will also have a separate canape and beverage selection.
Each ticket holder pf the Pink Party will be able to take advantage of the pamper stations and market stalls at the racecourse grounds. Lawn games and other activities will also be set up throughout the event.
Interested guests may purchase their tickets at the official website of the Brisbane Racing Club.
Two Ascot homes made the list of most expensive homes sold in 2018 as Brisbane continued to deliver a good number of multi-million dollar sales from Bridgeman Downs to Cleveland (Raby Bay), according to the latest report from Domain Group.
27 Sutherland Avenue, Ascot
This residence is located at 27 Sutherland Avenue, where the neighbourhood’s median monthly personal income is $4,306, according to realestateVIEW.com.au. Domino’s Pizza chief executive Don Meij bought this trophy home back in 2016 for $8.615 million before selling it off-market in January 2018 for $11 million.
Photo Credit: Domain / domain.com.au
This Hamptons-style home is set on a 2,024-sqm land and features 6 bedroom with their own marble ensuite and walk-in robes; 6 baths; 4 car parking spaces; manicured gardens; and pool house with BBQ/kitchen, dining, lounge, and fireplace.
Photo Credit: Domain / domain.com.au
The house incorporated classic architectural elements like dark stained hardwood floors, high ceilings, white trimmed French doors, and four fireplaces. There are formal lounge and dining rooms, casual living room, entertainment/billiard room with wet bar and cellar, and executive home office.
30 Kitchener Road, Ascot
This stylish modern house, designed by Shaun Lockyer, is set on 898-sqm block on 30 Kitchener Road, Ascot , where the neighbourhood’s median monthly personal income is $5,981, according to realestateVIEW.com.au. Before it was sold in November 2018 for $5.5 million, it hit the market back in 2015 and was sold for $1.96 million.
Photo Credit: realestate.com.au
Touted as the “ultimate family home”, this north-east facing atrium-style home has a 25-metre street frontage with dual street access. There are five large bedrooms, separate children’s playroom, study, and gymnasium/third garage.
Photo Credit: realestate.com.au
The luxurious interior is complemented by the Steven Clegg-designed garden which include a vertical garden at the back of the house and level manicured lawn, alongside a swimming pool and pool storage house.
Brisbane Racing Club is hosting a Bloke’s Day Out at the Eagle Farm Racecourse in Ascot. The event, scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. on the 23rd of March 2019, will be open to both club members and the public.
A local black-type race, which features horses with exceptional breeds and have won prestigious races, will be one of the highlights of Bloke’s Day Out. However, there will also be big screens at the venue where guests may follow the 2019 Longines Golden Slipper as it happens live in Sydney.
Bloke’s Day Out will also feature a workshop from Racing Queensland Hall of Famer Bart Sinclair, who will impart racing tips and other helpful facts for the enthusiasts.
Other guest speakers will also be at the event. Interested parties may follow the Brisbane Racing Club’s events page for an updated list of VIP speakers.
A fun day out with the guys (and their wives and girlfriends, too!) will not be complete without beer and food. There will be a good selection of brewers and food trucks at the air-conditioned bar. Details to these providers will be available during the actual race day.
The event will also feature live music and entertainment when the races are over. Tickets to the Bloke’s Day Out are already up for grabs. Vouchers from BCF Australia will also be distributed to the guests and someone may also win a pallet of beer.
A bigger and better than ever Paddyfest 2019 is just around the corner, and it will be held at heritage-listed Eagle Farm Racecourse in Ascot on Saturday, 16 March 2019.
People of Irish descent or those who fancy themselves as Irish at heart will be delighted that Paddyfest 2019 promises to be bigger than last year’s inaugural event. It will kick off at midday and run until 10:00 pm. The program boasts of a bunch of treats and a boisterous atmosphere of entertainment all day.
This year’s music lineup includes Kingswood, Tullamore Tree, Tartan Shamrock, Shannon Watkins Band, City of Brisbane Pipe Band, Walker’s Irish Dancers, and Leprechaun DJ.
There will be four exciting new zones to explore this year:
Paddyfest Central where you should head to for pints of green beer and Guinness as well as authentic Irish dishes at Diddly Dee Food Truck. You can dance along to the music of the roving pipe band or do the jig with Irish dancers.
O’Donoghue’s Ale House has a setting that makes you feel like you’re in an old Dublin tavern, with soloist ballads playing all day.
Little Leprechauns Kids Zone is a place that the little ones will adore. Adjacent to the Main Stage and Paddyfest Central, children will enjoy the Paddyfest Jumping Castle, Inflatable Hoop shooting activity, paper arts & crafts, circus acts, clover temporary tattoos, green hair spray & emerald body art in a section that’s totally their own. They can visit Bazil Grumble Craft Castle or cuddle adorable farm animals at Scruffy Murphy’s Petting Zoo.
Food & Wine Lane is a relaxing alfresco deck & garden place for those who want to grab a bite of pizza, burrito or other flavours at the many food trucks available. The place will also feature cheese and charcuterie boards as well as cider & wine tastings.
Photo credit: paddyfest.com.au/whats-on/program
Photo credit: paddyfest.com.au/whats-on/program
A festival is not complete without a competition and this event will have two! The Mini Pie & Mushy Pea Eating Comp spotlighting beef mince mini pies, mashed potatoes and mushy peas. The challenge is to eat as much in three minutes.
Photo credit: Paddyfest Brisbane/Facebook
Also remember to wear our lucky Irish outfit – traditional grab, a leprechaun costume, or anything green that makes a statement – and maybe you’ll see yourself crowned as Best Dressed Lad or Lass of Paddyfest.
Photo credit: larsen9236/Pixabay
The culmination of the event is the epic Laser Light Spectacular at 7:00 pm that is sure to be a huge hit for the whole family.
Photo credit: Paddyfest Brisbane/Facebook
So let’s dress up in green, raise our
Guinness and let the luck of the Irish be with us as we have a shamrockin’ good
time at Paddyfest 2019.
It’s time to call the squad and have a day of pampering, unlimited flowing beverages, and entertainment at the Brisbane Racing Club’s Girls’ Day Out presented by the Priceline Pharmacy Ascot!
The event will be at the heritage-listed Eagle Farm Racecourse, at the northern end of Racecourse Road in Ascot. The gates and the functions will be open to the public at 10:30 am and 11:30 am respectively.
The Brisbane Racing Club will set up a complimentary Pamper Station to keep participants looking their best throughout the day. There will be a Henna Tattoo Pop-Up and live DJ beats to make it more fun.
Get ready to be delighted with the all-male group Scarlet Sons as they perform their electrifying dance, acrobatics and cirque. The Queens of the Track, who appeared in the Girls’ Day out stage many times, will crack you up with their comedy and fabulous moves. Check out the list below to see the schedule of events for the Girls’ Day Out:
The Bachelorette former star Georgia Love is the Ambassador for Girls’ Day Out 2019. Following her stint at the reality TV dating game show, Love landed a gig as a news reporter. She will talk about her background in Journalism at the Inspirational Ladies’ Lunch.
Love will be joined by The Urban List CEO & Founder Susannah George and CocoBliss Co-Founder Candice Kemp as the inspirational guest speakers.
Saturday, 23 February 2019 (10:00 am for the opening of registration; 11:45 am for closing of registration; 12:00 nn for the beginning of the competition)
Enter the “Fashions on the Field” contest sponsored by SHEIKE and win hundreds of dollars in prizing. The winner will bring home a $500 SHEIKE voucher along with a few more giveaways like the En Pointe Collective earrings, Vogue Living magazine, and assorted cosmetics. The finalists will also go home with gift bags valued at over $100.
Pop-music band La bOum will take center stage as they play their hits. The three-member band, who performs all over Queenslands’ best nightclubs and also residents at Cloudland in Fortitude Valley, is known for their energetic and fun performances.
For tickets and packages, check out the Brisbane Racing Club Racedays.
Ten years ago, members of the Racecourse Precinct Neighbourhood Plan agreed that part of the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) should be turned over to Ascot Park. In particular, the area that covers Lancaster Rd, Kitchener Rd, and McGill Ave, was supposed to be converted as a public park in a bid to create more green space for the residents.
Before the turnover, this triangle of land, surrounded by cement, dirt, patches of grass and scattered trees, served as a car park for members of the club. But in May 2018, the Brisbane City Council revealed plans for the park’s construction.
Work on the public park is expected to February until September 2019. Once completed, the park will have more accessible greenery. It will boast of the main park with tables and benches for families and kids, an outdoor gym and fitness corner, a fenced playground for the children, and an off-leash dog area.
Ascot Park has always part of the Eagle Farm racetrack facilities, which had been built in the 1860s. Hamilton Shire Council used to own and manage the park until it merged with the Brisbane City Council in the 1940s.
During the war, General Douglas MacArthur used Ascot Park as a storage site and parking space for military vehicles. It remained a car park long after the military left and the Brisbane Racing Club took over.
On days when there are no races, the park provided access to the locals but the development will allow for a better facility that the community shall be able to maximise.
According to Councillor David McLachlan (Hamilton), BRC submitted a master plan to redevelop the Eagle Farm estate. Originally, the club wanted to develop townhomes on this triangular area, which he opposed. The Brisbane City Council, however, approved the master plan after BRC agreed it will turn over the park to the community.
Following the release of the design for the park’s construction, BRC chairman Neville Bell commended the Council for a devising a “more appealing” area of the once vast and vacant parking lot.
Ascot recorded one of the highest rental increase for houses with a 14.20 percent year-on-year and 0.80 percent five-year increase, or a median rent price of $645, according to the report. On the other hand, data from realestate.com.au shows the median house rental price per week in Ascot at $708, based on 94 house listings from 1 January 2018 to 27 January 2019. Ascot’s median house rental price is higher than QLD average of $400.
Ascot is joined by Manly and South Brisbane as the top three best performing suburbs for house rentals with year-on-year change of 14.50 percent and 13.70 percent, respectively. Rounding out the top ten are Nudgee, Tarragindi, Fairfield, Petrie Terrace, Dakabin, Banyo, and East Brisbane.
The top performing suburbs for units rental list shows Holland Park taking the top spot with a 12.10 percent increase year-on-year. Completing the list are Clontarf, Bardon, South Brisbane, Balmoral, Herston, Bulimba, Alderley, Coorparoo, Fairfield, and Mount Gravatt. Overall, the median asking rent for units rose to 5.4 percent over the past year.
The rental price increases may well indicate an overall turnaround happening across Brisbane rental market, from the previous supply glut that affected dwelling demand in 2017. Also, according to property valuation firm SQM Research, Brisbane’s rental vacancies fell to 2.8 percent in August 2018 as compared to 3.4 percent from a year before.
As Queensland overtakes Victoria as the most popular destination for interstate migration as of June 2018 — thanks to better economy, employment opportunities, and access to good schools — Brisbane housing market is starting to become a landlord’s market with rental asking prices expected to rise, as vacancy rates continue to fall.
As part of their annual school rankings, Better Education Australia recently announced that St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School is one of the top primary schools in Brisbane for 2018, with a State Overall Score of 100.
Better Education ranks schools according to their academic performance index every year. The rankings from their website are great references for the top performing schools in Brisbane as well as the entire state. The Better Education school rankings page also allows people to compare schools and check the trend of their rankings over the years.
For the primary schools, the ranking was mainly based on information from the NAPLAN or National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy test results. Although the site lists several schools, not all primary schools in Queensland are being compared on the website.
Better Education’s List of Top Primary Schools in Brisbane for 2018
Better Education compared a total of 150 primary schools in Brisbane for 2018. Out of these schools, eleven were able to get a State Overall Score of 100. The primary schools that got the highest score include six state schools and five private schools.
Top Private Primary Schools in Brisbane – 2018. Photo credit: Better Education Australia
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School score trend from 2012-2018. Photo credit: Better Education Australia
In the past few years, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School was able to stay on top of the rankings. The tables above show the school’s performance from 2012 to 2018.
Even though Better Education enlists many schools in Queensland, the Department of Education is not endorsing their school rankings. However, these rankings can still serve as a guide for parents or for anyone who is looking for the best possible schools across the state.
Better Education’s rankings for primary schools are mainly based on NAPLAN test results. There are still other factors to consider when identifying the best schools throughout Queensland. Parents are still encouraged to do more research about a school before deciding which one is the best fit for their children.
