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Neighbourhood Wine Shop Opens in Albion

Photo Credit: Ruby's Wine Shop/Instagram

A new neighbourhood wine shop has opened in Albion, offering minimal-intervention wines within an intimate space shaped by Swiss bottle-shop influences.

Background and Opening

Ruby’s Wine Shop opened on 21 November 2025, adding a new wine-focused venue to Albion’s hospitality offerings. Located at 3/297 Sandgate Road, it sits alongside nearby businesses including Jocelyn’s Provisions, Botanica and Sprout Social.

The founder, Tamara Husler, previously worked in emergency healthcare before pursuing her long-standing interest in wine. The venue is named after her border collie, Ruby, who is regularly present in the shop.

minimal-intervention wine — Photo Credit: Ruby’s Wine Shop/Instagram

European-Style Wine Offering in Albion

Husler’s concept reflects influences from her upbringing in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, shaping a relaxed neighbourhood bottle-shop feel within a 20-seat interior. Timber finishes, polished floorboards, shelving lined with bottles and a central timber table form the layout.

Ruby’s Wine Shop aligns with a growing number of wine store-bar hybrids across Brisbane, offering a casual setting for tastings and take-home purchases.

Selection and Daily Tastings

Ruby’s stocks around 100 bottles from small producers specialising in minimal-intervention winemaking. A rotating list of six to eight wines is available daily for tasting by the glass.

The range includes Australian makers such as Konpira Maru and Momento Mori, with Queensland producers including Crusher, Unnatural Urges and Knucklehead Wines. International selections include Austrian and French labels, and plans are in place to introduce wines from Switzerland in the coming months.

Albion wine shop — Photo Credit: Ruby’s Wine Shop/Instagram

Food Arrangements and Venue Flexibility

Ruby’s Wine Shop does not hold a food licence. Guests may bring their own food or order from neighbouring venues, including Olive Thyme. Packaged snacks may be added later.

The wine shop is dog-friendly, with Ruby often greeting visitors.

Albion’s Growing Hospitality Scene

Ruby’s Wine Shop adds to the expanding food and drink landscape in Albion, providing a low-key option for tastings and bottle purchases within a European-influenced environment.

With its November opening, Ruby’s Wine Shop has introduced a relaxed wine experience to Albion. The venue plans to broaden its range over time, including the addition of Swiss wines.

Published 27-Nov-2025

Redevelopment Aims to Preserve Heritage of Paddock and Members Stands at Eagle Farm Racecourse

The Paddock and Members Grandstands at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Ascot are set for a major transformation, with a development application lodged to refurbish and modernise the historic structures while enhancing the overall race-day experience.

Read: Eagle Farm Racecourse Faces Urgent Redevelopment Deadline

Under the proposal (A006814732), patrons, jockeys, and stewards will benefit from upgraded facilities including new function rooms, stewards’ and jockeys’ areas, and modern amenities such as ice baths and spas.

The project also features redesigned bar and dining spaces, new terraces, and a link bridge connecting the Paddock to the St Leger Precinct.

Site plan (Photo credit: Brisbane PD Online)

The winners’ enclosure will be reconfigured to improve spectator views, while landscaped garden beds, green roofs, and upgraded lawns aim to soften the site and provide attractive gathering areas. A new community hub is also planned, designed to bring people together for race days and other events.

As part of the redevelopment, some existing structures, including the John Power Stand, Steward’s Tower, and several trees, will be demolished. Despite the changes, planners stress the design will preserve Eagle Farm’s heritage character while delivering a contemporary upgrade that integrates with its historic surroundings.

History of the Grandstands

Undated photo of the completed Paddock Stand with the eastern edge of the 1924 Members Stand (Photo credit: Tote Archive/Brisbane PD Online)

Eagle Farm Racecourse, established in 1863 in Brisbane’s Ascot, has long stood as Queensland’s premier racing venue. Just 6 kilometres from the CBD, it became more accessible with the opening of Ascot railway station in 1882.

The Paddock Stand, designed in 1889–1890 by architects Hunter and Corrie in partnership with John H. Buckeridge, was a brick and iron grandstand completed in 1890.

1936 photo of the Paddock Stand and the Members Stand (Photo credit: SLQ negative 65212/Brisbane PD Online)

Featuring a vaulted roof with a ventilated ridge, timber gables, and decorative cast-iron balustrades, the stand quickly became a focal point for racegoers. Its tiered seating faced the track, with a large open forecourt that encouraged both viewing and social interaction.

The Members Stand followed in 1904, and over the decades, both structures were extended and modified, most notably in the 1920s, when the Paddock Stand was lengthened in 1921 and the Members Stand expanded in 1925. These updates gave the grandstands a cohesive appearance, blending brick, rendered masonry, timber windows, leadlight details, and decorative arches.

Read: Eagle Farm Racecourse Enhances Accessibility with Stylish New Lift

More than a century later, the Paddock and Members Grandstands remain integral to Eagle Farm’s heritage and identity. The new redevelopment aims to carry this legacy forward, ensuring the structures continue to serve both racing enthusiasts and the broader community for generations to come.

Updated 25-November-2025

Brothers Rugby Club Included in Brisbane Safety Grant Boost

Photo Credit: Brothers Rugby Club

Brothers Rugby Club in Albion is among the Brisbane clubs set to receive safety funding. The grants respond to vandalism and illegal dumping reported at community facilities across the city.

Funding Aims To Strengthen Local Safety

The grant announcements followed reports of vandalism, break ins and illegal dumping at community clubs in Brisbane. Volunteers have raised concerns about the time and money they spend repairing damage.

Council material noted that clubs have faced vandalism, break ins and illegal dumping, which led to calls for stronger security measures for suburban facilities.

Albion Club Among Those Affected

Brothers Rugby Club was confirmed as one of the organisations awarded funding for safety upgrades. The club will enhance CCTV to support member safety and improve its facilities.

These upgrades include better lighting, stronger locks and new surveillance equipment. The improvements aim to protect equipment and reduce disruptions to training sessions and community events.

Rising Incidents Across Brisbane Suburbs

Other clubs across Brisbane reported frequent dumping and vandalism. One football club described ongoing problems with rubbish left on its grounds and repeated damage to facilities. A cricket club on the northside sought new locks and security support after recurring incidents.

These experiences highlighted the pressure placed on volunteers who maintain fields and clubhouses. The grants aim to ease this strain by supporting simple upgrades that reduce risks and limit damage.

Wider Safety Effort In Brisbane

The Safer Suburbs program has supported more than 140 organisations since it began in 2024. About $500,000 was allocated in this latest round. Each club receives support for targeted safety upgrades. Council officials said stronger lighting, new locks and CCTV help deter crime and protect local assets.

The program works with a network of fixed and mobile safety cameras across Brisbane that monitor public areas and provide a broader safety measure for local suburbs.

Published 17-November-2025

Breakfast Creek Hotel Blends History and Modern Dining in $2.75-M Upgrade

Albion’s iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel is preparing to reopen after the first stage of a $2.75-million renovation at the end of November. The update will transform the hotel’s Spanish Garden Steakhouse and add a new Pizza Kitchen, combining elements of the building’s historic character with modern design features.

Read: Brisbane Icon Threatened As Albion High-Rise Could Loom Over Breakfast Creek Hotel

The upgraded Spanish Garden Steakhouse will feature expanded capacity and air-conditioning, along with warm timber finishes and exposed brickwork that highlight the hotel’s heritage architecture. The project, designed by Cayas & Ward Architects and built by Herron Coorey Builders, incorporates contemporary layouts and updated facilities to provide a modern hospitality environment while respecting the hotel’s history.

Photo credit: Breakfast Creek Hotel/Google Maps

The menu at the Spanish Garden Steakhouse and Pizza Kitchen will also see changes. Guests will be able to enjoy woodfired pizzas alongside the hotel’s established steak offerings, sourced from producers including Darling Downs, Nolans, Five Founders, and Black Onyx. Patrons will also continue to enjoy XXXX beer “off the wood,” a feature that has remained part of the venue even as other hotels switched to steel kegs. The bar will include an expanded selection of cocktails and wines.

The Breakfast Creek Hotel has long been a gathering place for locals and visitors. The renovations are designed to maintain this welcoming atmosphere while offering updated spaces for dining and socialising.

A Landmark Steeped in History

The Breakfast Creek Hotel was built in 1889 in the French Renaissance style by former Brisbane Lord Mayor William MacNaughton Galloway. Its doors opened in May 1890, and it quickly became a popular venue in Brisbane. Galloway’s initials are visible on the hotel’s façade, a reminder of its origins.

In the 1920s, the Cavill family took over the lease and maintained it for 72 years, until 1998. This long tenure provided stability and allowed the hotel to develop enduring traditions. Over the decades, the hotel introduced several firsts for Brisbane’s hospitality scene, including beer garden-style dining in the mid-20th century, an outdoor kitchen where customers could select their own steaks, and one of the city’s earliest drive-through bottle shops.

The Spanish Garden Steakhouse opened in 1968. Originally serving Mexican dishes, it later shifted to steaks and barbecue, becoming a notable feature of the hotel. The venue also retained the tradition of serving beer from wooden kegs while other pubs moved to steel.

In 1992, the hotel was entered into the Queensland Heritage Register. Today, it is owned and operated by the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group. The hotel has undergone several renovations over the years, including a $4.5-million redevelopment in 2003 that updated the venue while maintaining its heritage features. The current revitalisation continues that approach, blending preservation with modern hospitality standards.

Looking Ahead

The Spanish Garden Steakhouse and new Pizza Kitchen are scheduled to reopen at the end of November, marking the completion of the first stage of the $2.75-million renovation. Further upgrades, including new private event areas and outdoor dining spaces, are planned for 2026.

Read: Traverse Through Historic Sites at the Ascot and Hamilton Heritage Trail

The Breakfast Creek Hotel remains one of Brisbane’s most recognised pubs. With its heritage architecture, long-standing traditions, and updated facilities, it continues to be a notable destination for both locals and visitors. The upcoming reopening of the Spanish Garden Steakhouse and Pizza Kitchen offers an opportunity to experience the venue’s blend of historic charm and modern hospitality.

Published 13-November-2025

Royal Queensland Golf Club in Eagle Farm to Host S2O Festival

The Royal Queensland Golf Club in Eagle Farm will host Brisbane’s first-ever S2O Festival next year, bringing the internationally recognised water-soaked music event to Australian shores. Scheduled for 28 February 2026, the festival combines electronic dance music (EDM) with interactive water experiences for attendees.

Read: Redevelopment Aims to Preserve Heritage of Paddock and Members Stands at Eagle Farm Racecourse

S2O Festival began in Bangkok in 2015 as part of the Songkran celebration, and has since expanded internationally. The festival combines water activities, high-powered water cannons, and visual production with performances from top-tier DJs. Following successful editions in New York and Los Angeles, S2O Australia marks the festival’s first edition in the country.

Festival organisers have emphasised that the event is designed as a full sensory experience, combining music, water, and production elements. Simon Coyle, a partner of S2O Australia, said the festival would bring “water, music, community, energy and production all rolled into one.” The Royal Queensland Golf Club’s open-air setting, just outside Fortitude Valley, will host multiple stages, water activities, and visual production for the festival. Attendees will also have access to chill-out areas, dry zones, food vendors, market stalls, and on-site changing facilities.

Talents Performing at S2O Australia

Photo credit: Facebook/S2O Australia Songkran Music Festival

The festival’s lineup features international and Australian DJs. Headlining is UK house DJ James Hype, known for his energetic mash-up-driven sets. Brazilian DJ Alok will bring his bass-heavy productions and crossover anthems, while UK singer and performer Becky Hill will contribute live vocals to the electronic music performances.

Becky Hill (Photo credit: s2oaustralia.com)

Australian DJ Will Sparks will showcase his Melbourne Bounce style. Supporting acts include Marie Vaunt, Lance Savali, and Tita Lau, each bringing their own styles to the festival’s music programming.

Festival Experience

S2O Festival — Photo credit: Facebook/S2O Australia Songkran Music Festival

Beyond the music, S2O Australia will feature interactive splash zones, water cannon moments, pyrotechnics, and visual production. The festival is designed to provide attendees with a combination of music and water-based activities, creating a unique experience for EDM fans and those seeking a new type of festival event.

Read: New Shared Path to Connect Eagle Farm to Brisbane Airport

Tickets and Access

Tickets for S2O Australia go on general sale at 9:00 a.m. on 9 October via MegaTix. The festival brings together international headliners, local talent, and water-based entertainment for the first time in Australia, offering a distinctive addition to Brisbane’s summer music calendar.

Published 7-November-2025

Landers Pocket to Open Near Brisbane Airport, Bringing Food, Sport, and Entertainment Together

Brisbane Airport is about to welcome a new neighbour that aims to transform the area from a travel hub into a destination in its own right. Landers Pocket, a 16-hectare lifestyle and entertainment precinct, is scheduled to open in November 2025.

Read: New Shared Path to Connect Eagle Farm to Brisbane Airport

Situated a short distance from the airport and DFO Brisbane, Landers Pocket brings together sport, dining and leisure in one large development. It has been described by its developers and hospitality partners as the biggest entertainment precinct to open in Queensland since Howard Smith Wharves, covering an area roughly four times the size of the popular waterfront venue.

The precinct’s anchor tenant will be 4 Pines Brewing Co., which is opening an 800-seat brewery, distillery and gastropub. The venue will include 32 draught taps pouring the company’s core range and limited-release beers brewed on site. The kitchen will offer a menu highlighting local produce and seafood, with food and drinks served across an indoor dining space and a large alfresco beer garden.

Landers Pocket will also include a distillery from Never Never Distilling Co., the South Australian gin producer known for its award-winning spirits. The distillery will craft products on site and form part of the precinct’s dining and beverage experience.

The new development will incorporate the existing Golf Central, located near Brisbane Airport. Golf Central will continue to operate within the precinct, adding new facilities such as party driving bays, a redesigned mini golf course and a high-performance training area for players seeking advanced coaching.

According to project information, Landers Pocket is being designed as a destination that caters to a wide range of visitors, including families, corporate groups and travellers. The venue will be accessible by car and is supported by a large parking area.

Plans for the next stage of the development include a 3,000-person amphitheatre for concerts and major events, along with a 1,000-person lawn designed for festivals, pop-up markets and community activities. These future additions are intended to expand Landers Pocket’s role as a venue for cultural and social gatherings in Brisbane’s north.

Read: Brisbane Airport Takes Flight with $50 Million Australia Post Facility

Developers and operators describe Landers Pocket as a space that celebrates award-winning beer and gin, contemporary golf experiences and elevated dining in a relaxed Queensland setting. The opening marks the beginning of what is expected to become a new chapter in Brisbane’s hospitality and recreation landscape.

Landers Pocket will officially open in early November 2025 near Brisbane Airport.

Published 1-November-2025

Luxury Necklace Among Hundreds of Lost Items Up for Auction at Brisbane Airport

A glittering 18-carat gold and diamond Bvlgari necklace has become the highlight of Brisbane Airport’s annual lost property auction, where hundreds of forgotten items are being sold to raise money for Queensland children’s charities.

Read: Landers Pocket to Open Near Brisbane Airport, Bringing Food, Sport, and Entertainment Together

The luxury piece, officially listed as the Bvlgari 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Pendant Chain Necklace, is currently attracting strong attention from bidders, with a current bid of $8,800 on Lloyds Auctions as of this week. Valued at more than $11,000, it sits at the top of a catalogue featuring over 800 unclaimed items left behind by travellers at Brisbane Airport over the past year.

Hosted online by Lloyds Auctions, the event has become a fixture on Brisbane’s community calendar. With starting bids as low as one dollar, it offers locals and collectors the chance to secure everything from designer handbags and laptops to surfboards, guitars, golf clubs and aviation memorabilia.

Each year, airport staff catalogue thousands of lost items left in terminals, lounges and aircraft cabins. While many are reunited with their owners, a significant number remain unclaimed. After being held for at least three months, these items are passed to Lloyds Auctions, with all proceeds donated to Queensland-based children’s charities.

Last year’s sale raised about $90,000, and this year’s larger collection is expected to surpass that figure. The auction also coincides with Brisbane Airport’s centenary, marking 100 years since its beginnings as a key transport hub for the state.

Among the more unusual listings are decommissioned aircraft seats, aviation signage and pilot uniforms, alongside more familiar travel leftovers such as cameras, watches and tech accessories. The variety of items reflects the scale of an airport that serves tens of thousands of passengers every day, where the rush of travel often leads to misplaced belongings.

For residents of Ascot, Hamilton and nearby suburbs, the airport precinct feels like an extension of their own neighbourhood. The annual auction offers a local glimpse into the stories of travellers passing through — a mix of luxury, loss and rediscovery that ultimately supports community causes.

Beyond the sparkle of the Bvlgari necklace lies a deeper story of shared benefit. What begins as someone’s lost possession transforms into support for children’s programs across Queensland, turning misplaced items into meaningful contributions.

The online auction is open now and closes on Sunday, 2 November. All items, including the sought-after Bvlgari necklace, can be viewed and bid on through the Lloyds Auctions website.

Read: Hands-On Training Takes Flight with Qantas 717 at Brisbane Airport

Whether you’re searching for a luxury find, a piece of aviation history or simply a chance to support a good cause, Brisbane Airport’s lost property auction proves that even forgotten things can find new purpose close to home.

Published 30-October-2025

Hendra Residents ‘Priced Out’ of Legal Fight Against McDonald’s

Photo Credit: DA A006543699

A Hendra community group has been forced to abandon its legal challenge against a new McDonald’s drive-through on Nudgee Rd, stating the overwhelming cost of a court battle against the multinational corporation made their fight impossible to continue.

Community Abandons Appeal

The group, Hendra Locals Against McDonald’s (HLAM), recently dropped its Planning and Environment Court appeal over the restaurant proposed for 330 Nudgee Rd.

A spokesman for the group, Bill Moore, said it should not be up to local “mums and dads” to find money for expensive legal battles during an affordability crisis. He expressed frustration that residents had to withdraw their appeal in August after lodging it in March, simply because they ran out of money.

Mr Moore suggested the case shows the need for an independent planning tribunal, similar to one used in Sydney. He argued that local councils often lack the financial and human resources to fight large corporations and that new exclusion zones are needed to protect communities.

‘Unrealistic’ Traffic Claims at Centre of Dispute

The residents’ core concern centred on traffic safety, specifically the risk of cars queuing on Gerler Rd and backing up onto the busy Nudgee Rd intersection.

The developer’s application included a traffic report claiming the drive-through would be highly efficient, assuming an average service time of just 25 seconds per vehicle. This, the report claimed, would allow for 144 vehicles an hour and prevent queuing, noting the site has space for 13 cars.

However, Mr Moore challenged this figure as unrealistic. He said he timed patrons at the nearby Albion McDonald’s during an evening peak period and found the actual time from ordering to exiting was closer to 2.5 minutes. He noted that US studies put average wait times at four minutes.

The article noted that the developer’s traffic report conceded the data was “provided by the client” and was based on a desktop investigation conducted in January of last year.

Council Approved Scaled-Down Plan

The council approved the project in January despite receiving 436 formal objections from the community. Residents believe this decision set a dangerous precedent, fearing it could allow more fast-food outlets to be built in residential zones.

According to town planners for the site’s owner, the 2120-square-metre property had been used for non-residential businesses, such as a car rental storage area, since the 1960s.

The developer’s initial proposal in July 2022 was for a full-scale restaurant. After meetings with the council, the owner agreed to scale back the project. The approved plan is for a drive-through-only facility on one lot, which is about 65 per cent of the standard restaurant size, and has all vehicle access limited to Gerler Rd.

Published Date 30-October-2025

Brisbane Student Names Construction Crane At Bernborough Ascot Retirement Project

Bernborough Ascot in Brisbane has given a Macgregor State High School student the opportunity to name the construction crane that will help build Magnolia House, the development’s third building.

Community-led Recognition

The crane will arrive on site in November to support construction of Magnolia House. It is part of Queensland’s first vertical retirement village beside the Doomben racecourse. The naming was organised through the national Girls in Property program run by the Property Council of Australia. The program introduces young women to real career pathways in the property and construction sector.

Macgregor State High School student Zainabu Abdulganiu was selected as the winner, submitting the name Eternal Stable. She said the choice reflected long-lasting strength, balance and a connection to the location’s history. The development team said the name aligns with Bernborough Ascot’s position beside Doomben racecourse and its status as a vertical retirement village built within a racing precinct.

Girls In Property Program Impact

Nationally, the Girls in Property program is in its seventh year and has reached more than 600 students from 25 schools. In Queensland, the program is in its eighth year. It involves workshops, site tours and mentorship to help students understand the career paths that exist within the property industry.

Program leaders said it aims to broaden students’ understanding of who can work in the sector. In Queensland, four Brisbane schools and eight Townsville schools are participating in 2025.

Magnolia House Development

Magnolia House will include two- and three-bedroom apartments, three penthouses and a rooftop dining and alfresco space overlooking the racetrack. Construction is underway and sales are expected to open soon, with the first residents planned to move in from late 2027.

The development is being delivered by Keyton, which operates more than 75 retirement villages nationally and houses around 17,000 residents.

Connection Beyond Construction

Members of Keyton’s development team said involving students in real project decisions is a practical way to help young women see a place for themselves in the industry.

They said the crane naming gives students a visible contribution to a project that will soon become a home for older residents. Program organisers describe the initiative as a meaningful way to connect education with real-world development.

Published 28-October-2025

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Published 20-Oct-2025