Experience a different vibe at this year’s Brisbane Racing Carnival in Ascot, as a 48-ft Riviera Sports Yacht will be docking at the new Trackside Marina at the centre of the Eagle Farm Racecourse.
Inspired by the French-Riviera, the most exclusive party will be happening at this luxury yacht, where guests may enjoy the non-stop flow of champagne, premium alcoholic drinks and other beverages from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Gourmet cocktail dishes will also be served at this grand party, whilst guests take pleasure watching the races in the most comfortable seats with unequalled visibility of the day’s events. However, plasma screens will also be all around the yacht so that guests can cheer on their favourites wherever they may be lounging and resting.
Guests who would like to indulge and reward themselves in this opulence may book a ticket to be at this new Trackside Marina unveiling on two Saturdays:
Kirin States Day on 25 May 2019
TAB Stradbroke Day on 8 June 2019
Ticket prices to gain special private access to this luxury yacht at the Trackside Marina is at $440 per person for members of the Brisbane Racing Club and $450 for non-members.
Photo Credit: Brisbane Racing Club/Facebook
To take this party to the next level, groups may also rent a Private Cabana at the Trackside Marina for $550 per person, where a personal staff will be at your service.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Located at Ascot’s Eagle Farm Racecourse, Big Screen on the Green is embracing the festive spirit with a great line-up of classic Christmas movies.
Photo credit: www.brc.com.au
From Monday, 17 December 2018 to Friday, 21 December 2018, Eagle Farm Racecourse is going to be filled with the sights and sounds of Christmas. Prior to the movie screening, several free activities such as face painting, Christmas carols playing, and a meet-and-greet with Santa will be up for the whole family to enjoy.
Have a great picnic on the lawn whilst viewing the Christmas movies on the screen. BYO food and beverages are not allowed in the event, however, there will be plenty of options on the night.
Picnic hampers will also be available for purchase. All you got to do is bring your own bean bags, cushions, blankets or rugs.
General Admission requires a gold coin donation on the day of the event (located on the public lawn). You may pre-register your attendance to receive a free Frozen Fanta (orange or red) on arrival. Food and beverage available for purchase.
The Movie Pack costs $10 per person and includes the following:
Access to Eagle Farm Racecourse and the Public Lawn
A large Popcorn
Beverage (your choice of a glass of house wine/sparkling, house beer or a non-alcoholic beverage)
Ascot led Brisbane’s top performing suburbs on the north side in the first half of 2018 in terms of price growth, says a PRDnationwide report.
According to their “Affordable & Livable Property Guide in the 1st Half of 2018” report, Ascot tops the North area of Brisbane in both House and Unit property.
Demand for houses in Brisbane saw a healthy growth with the number of houses that were sold in Brisbane City Local Government Area (LGA) rising by 17.9%. The median price grew by 3.1% as well, the PRDnationwide report says.
Units, on the other hand, became more affordable as prices dipped -3.1% while rental prices remained stable in the LGA, for both houses and units. These give property buyers affordable alternatives amid rising costs of houses in the north and south suburbs.
Brisbane’s top performing suburbs in the 1st half of 2018
Area
Suburb
Type
Median Price 2016
Median Price 2017/2018*
Price Growth
Projects 2017**
Inner
Kangaroo Point
House
$860,000
$972,500
13.1%
$105.0M
Newstead
Unit
$594,791
$627,500
5.5%
$116.4M
North
Ascot
House
$1,309,000
$1,520,000
16.1%
$7.7M
Ascot
Unit
$445,000
$485,000
9.0%
$7.7M
South
Doolandella
House
$458,500
$530,000
15.6%
$25.7M
Rochedale
Unit
$495,000
$545,000
10.1%
$28.7M
East
Bulimba
House
$1,157,500
$1,295,000
11.9%
$21.3M
Cannon Hill
Unit
$450,000
$480,000
6.7%
$6.0M
West
Oxley
House
$528,000
$570,000
8.0%
$11.4M
Oxley
Unit
$370,000
$457,000
23.5%
$11.4M
*Median Price reflects transactions from 1 January 2017 – 31 March 2018
**Project developments is based on the aggregate of estimated construction value for residential, industrial, mixed-use and infrastructure projects that are scheduled to begin in the first half of 2018.
Source: PRDnationwide
Affordability & Liveability
The PRDnationwide report also indicated a decline in housing affordability in Queensland. There was an increase of 27.6% in the proportion of income to meet home loan repayments over the past 12 months (to the December 2017 quarter).
Among affordable suburbs for houses in greater Brisbane, Ellen Grove, Inala, Acacia Ridge and Darra emerged as the suburbs that meet their criteria. To meet affordability criteria, suburbs should have a maximum property sale price of the average state loan plus 40% deposit.
Top 3 Lowest Priced Suburbs
Top 3 Lowest Priced Suburbs*
Median Price 2017/2018*
Project Development**
Median Rent 2017/2018
Rental Yield
Ellen Grove
$295,000
$9,600,000
$325
4.5%
Inala
$368,000
$2,884,000
$325
4.3%
Acacia Ridge
$406,500
$3,750,000
$355
4.0%
*Top 3 suburbs are located within 20 km from Brisbane CBD. The suburb median price and median rent figures represent data from the 1st January 2017 to 31st March 2018.
**Project development is the aggregate value of estimated construction for residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and infrastructure projects commencing in the 1st half of 2018.
Source: PRDnationwide
Photo credit:PIRO4D/Pixabay.com
These areas, however, failed to meet liveability criteria. Liveability criteria were added in 2018, including factors such as accessibility (within 5 km radius) to schools, parks, shopping centres, healthcare facilities, as well as low crime rate and unemployment rate.
Algester, Bracken Ridge, and Geebung, thus stood out as most affordable and liveable for houses. Algester, Northgate, and Parkinson, on the other hand, were the top picks for units. The suburbs considered are within a 20 km radius of the CBD.
Affordable and Liveable Suburbs for Houses
Suburb
Median Price
Price Growth
Rental Yield
Total Projects
Radius from CBD
Algester
$514,500
5.0%
4.1%
$1.5 M
16.0 km
Bracken Ridge
$500,000
4.2%
4.0%
$2.9 M
15.6 km
Geebung
$538,000
4.5%
3.8%
$3.8 M
11.1 km
Source: PRDnationwide
Affordable and Liveable Suburbs for Units
Suburb
Median Price
Price Growth
Rental Yield
Total Projects
Radius from CBD
Algester
$365,000
17.4%
5.4%
$1.5 M
16 km
Northgate
$414,000
7.5%
4.8%
$5.1 M
9.4 km
Parkinson
$401,000
8.7%
5.4%
$12 M
18 km
Source: PRDnationwide
To determine the most attractive properties in greater Brisbane, affordability and liveability, and other factors and methodology were considered such as trends, investment, and project development.
Hosted by Brisbane Racing Club, Teddy Bear’s Picnic will be supporting Variety – the Children’s Charity of Queensland and is set to fill the Doomben Racecourse with adorable teddy bears, colourful picnic blankets, rides, games, and entertainment for the children to enjoy.
Photo credit: Brisbane Racing Club/Facebook
The event’s kid-friendly activities include a Kids Disco, face painting, jumping castle, petting zoo, build-a-bear workshop, and more. Kids can also get a chance to enter into the Fashions on the Field with their best-dressed bears.
Gates open at 10:30 a.m. and rides will be operating from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with children’s ticketing available for purchase on the day. Fashion on the Field registration starts at 10:30 a.m. and by 1:45 p.m. dancing starts at the Kids Disco.
Photo credit: Brisbane Racing Club/Facebook
Rates for admission per person are as follows:
General Admission from $15.00
Giddy Up Club Marquee from $5.00
Giddy Up Club Membership $20.00 provides access for one child and two adults.
Big Ted Group Package from $25.00
Little Ted Group Package from $25.00
Teddy Bear’s Picnic Family Picnic Pass from $85.00
The Racecourse Village in Ascot is set to open this month and it brings with it not only sustainable energy but a wide range of retail outlets and a foodie precinct for the local community.
Delicious and authentic Italian food is coming to the development in the form of Vitos Cucina & Bar. Open for breakfast and lunch as well as dinner on Friday and Saturday, it will bring to you all your Italian favourites.
Photo credit: Vitos Cucina & Bar / Facebook
The restaurant is owned by Vito Mandarano, who also owns Vitos Espresso Bar in Everton Park.
Vitos aims to provide the community with modern authentic Italian dishes with a twist. They will be serving eight varieties of bruschetta as well as seafood platters, pastas, and many more.
The restaurant will have indoor and outdoor seating. Their interior combines the colours gray, black, greens, and wooden texture for that classy and modern feel. An airy atmosphere will be provided by the huge windows letting in natural lighting during daytime.
Photo credit: Vitos Cucina & Bar / Facebook
The restaurant will open on 31 July 2018.
Read: Racecourse Village In Ascot Almost Ready To Opens Its Doors
The solar-powered Racecourse Village in Ascot is almost finished. Scheduled to open this month, the project is part of the new $1.2 billion master-planned Eagle Farm Racecourse redevelopment.
Heritage Controversy
Earlier this month, the masterplan has gotten into a controversy when the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) applied to delist sections of the Eagle Farm Racecourse site from the Queensland Heritage Register. It asked to delist four lots starting behind the Gallopers Sports Club down to the front of Nudgee Rd.
However, Elizabeth Handley, the president of the Brisbane Residents United, said that such proposal shows the development is gradually eating away the heritage of the racecourse.
All’s Well
Nevertheless, the delistment pushed through with the BRC not receiving objections during the feedback period in March of this year.
In light of this, the architectural design of the development paid tribute to the fabric and history of the Eagle Farm Racecourse by adapting some of its elements. They used materials such as exposed brick, terra cotta, timber, and wrought iron, that represented the site’s heritage and its historical significance.
What To Expect
The Village will offer 5,000 sq m of retail establishments. One of them is a Woolworths Supermarket, the first full-line supermarket in the catchment.
Aside from that, there will be plenty of food establishments coming. An Asian-fusion eatery called Koodle will be serving delicious Asian cuisine, whilst there will also be sushi for your Japanese food cravings, courtesy of Sushi Kura.
Fancy a burger? Da’Burgerwill give you tender and juicy patties wrapped in soft buns. For your pasta cravings, Vitos Cucina & Bar will be the perfect stop for you.
For your bread and pastry needs, Ascot Bakehouse will also open at the Racecourse Village.
