North Brisbane Archives

Albion Toilet Data Reveals an Even Split on Accessibility

Two of the four publicly available toilet facilities recorded in Albion are listed as not having an accessible toilet, according to the National Public Toilet Map.

A September 2026 export of the national directory records Caltex Albion and McDonald’s Albion with an “Accessible = FALSE” designation. Albion Railway Station and Albion Post Office Park are recorded as having accessible toilets.

The two flagged facilities account for 50 per cent of the four Albion records contained in the Queensland data. The suburban figure is based on a small pool of facilities, meaning additions, closures or changes to individual records can have a significant effect on the percentage.

Across Brisbane, recent analysis of the same national database found 105 of 580 publicly available toilet facilities were recorded as not having an accessible toilet, equivalent to about 18 per cent.

Commercial venues account for both flagged records

Caltex Albion, at 6 McLennan Street, is classified as a service station in the national data, while McDonald’s Albion, at 179 Sandgate Road, is classified as a food outlet. Both are recorded as not having an accessible toilet.

Albion Railway Station and Albion Post Office Park are the two locations listed with accessible toilets. The records create a clear divide in the suburb’s small dataset, with the two commercial facilities carrying “Accessible = FALSE” accessibility entries while the station and park are marked TRUE.

Brisbane City Council does not operate every facility included in the Brisbane toilet dataset. Council says its records are sourced from the National Public Toilet Map and geographically filtered to facilities within the Brisbane local government area, including toilets at both public and private locations that are available for public use.

Facility	Type	Address	Accessible toilet recorded?
Albion Railway Station	Transport	Albion	Yes
Albion Post Office Park	Park or reserve	Albion	Yes
Caltex Albion	Service station	6 McLennan Street, Albion	No
McDonald’s Albion	Food outlet	179 Sandgate Road, Albion	No

An “Accessible = FALSE” designation does not establish that a facility has breached building standards or disability-access laws. It means the facility is recorded in the national database as not having an accessible toilet.

Paralympian raises concerns over everyday access

Former Paralympian and disability advocate Karni Liddell has previously raised concerns that inadequate toilet access can restrict social participation for people who use wheelchairs. She has also warned of potential health consequences when suitable facilities are unavailable.

Accessibility has attracted greater attention as Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Recent reporting based on National Public Toilet Map data found about 18 per cent of the city’s recorded publicly available facilities did not have an accessible toilet listed.

Council plan targets wider barriers to access

Brisbane City Council says its Inclusive Brisbane Plan 2019-2029 guides accessibility upgrades and community projects across the city. Council says the plan forms part of broader work to remove physical and social barriers and improve participation for people of different ages and abilities.

Council also provides Accessible Adult Changing Facilities at selected parks, pools and other venues. Its inclusion plan calls for more adult-change facilities equipped with full-sized change tables and hoists, as well as better information about accessible toilets, ramps and lifts at Council facilities.

The plan also identifies accessible pathways to public toilets, shopping centres, public transport stops, community facilities and open spaces as part of Council’s wider approach to improving access across Brisbane.

The figures reflect information held in the National Public Toilet Map rather than the findings of a building or disability-access compliance audit.

Published 8-Sept-2026

From St Margaret’s to The Lion King: Ascot Graduate Lands Dream Role in Disney Musical

St Margaret's Anglican Girls School/Facebook

Akari Komoto, a graduate of St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, has landed the role of Music Associate on Disney’s Australian production of The Lion King, currently playing at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney.

It is the kind of career milestone that tends to feel both earned and surprising at once, but for those who watched Akari move through St Margaret’s music programme between 2017 and 2021, the trajectory makes complete sense. She arrived at school not particularly fond of musical theatre. She left bound for one of the most celebrated stage productions in the world.

A teacher’s suggestion that changed everything

Akari credits a pivotal conversation in her final year of school for setting her on the path to musical directing. Her music teacher, Mr Ng, suggested she look into the field, a career direction she had never previously considered. After researching it herself, she realised musical directing combined everything she loved about music into a viable profession.

Before that conversation, her school years had already been building something. Akari performed in three St Margaret’s school productions, and by her own account, the experience transformed her relationship with musical theatre entirely.

“The school musicals were life-changing experiences,” Akari said. “I didn’t really like musical theatre at first, but I had the chance to play in three school productions, and with each one, I felt my love for the art form grow more and more. In the end, I went from disliking musical theatre to wanting to live and breathe it, and that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue it as a career.”

From Ascot, Akari went on to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), graduating with a Bachelor of Music Honours in Composition and Sonic Arts, before landing her role on The Lion King.

Sitting in the pit at the Capitol Theatre

The Music Associate role places Akari directly inside the production’s musical operation, and her first show as Keyboard 1 in front of a live audience was an experience she has described in vivid terms.

“It’s such a surreal and overwhelming feeling being part of this show,” Akari said. “From the very first note of ‘Circle of Life’, you can feel the audience shift as they’re taken back to the film and their childhood.”

“A moment that made it feel real was playing my first show as Keyboard 1 in front of an audience. I don’t think I’ve been that nervous in a long time — my arms and legs were shaking during the first song but by halfway through Act 1 I started to relax and really felt present with the rest of the band and cast. That was the moment when it really hit me.”

The production she is now part of has reached more than 124 million people worldwide across its decades-long run. The Australian season brings the full scale of that production to the Capitol Theatre, with the visual artistry, costume design and live musicianship that have made it one of the most recognised stage shows in history.

The show’s themes land differently from inside the pit

Working on The Lion King has given Akari an unexpected personal resonance with the story she helps tell every night.

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“In the short time I’ve been working on the show, it has made me more aware and prouder of my Japanese heritage,” she said. “That idea of understanding who we are because of the people who came before us is such a powerful message that should be constantly retold, and it’s something that resonates with me. To be able to play even a small part in sharing that legacy story with so many people is incredibly special and something I’m so grateful to be a part of.”

That reflection extends to how she thinks about the arts more broadly, and about the role that school communities play in shaping what young people believe is possible.

“The arts is truly a unique and powerful community,” Akari said. “It’s provided me with a sense of purpose and direction. It also fosters empathy and understanding in a world that should strive more towards those qualities.”

Experience the production live

Disney’s The Lion King is currently in a strictly limited season at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. The production runs approximately two hours and thirty minutes including a 20-minute interval and is recommended for ages six and up. Accessible performances including Auslan-interpreted, audio-described and relaxed sessions are available during August.

Tickets and session information are available here.

Published 25-June-2026

Buyers Battle It Out as Brisbane Prices Hold Strong

Residential Buyers – Strong Competition for Quality Homes

The inner north Brisbane property market remains buoyant, with buyer activity staying strong, particularly for well-located homes in premium pockets of each suburb. Recent auction results highlight this trend:

34 Armentieres Street, Kedron: This 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom home on a 402m² block, ready for future enclosing in under, attracted 15 registered bidders, selling under the hammer for $1.5M. Interestingly, an underbidder reached out to me via Instagram after the auction, mentioning their $1.4M budget wasn’t enough to secure the property. This is a common sentiment as buyers find themselves priced out in competitive auctions.
4 Victory Street, Virginia: This more modest 3-bedroom home on 569m² sold for $1.14M at auction. Despite strong buyer agent representation, an unrepresented buyer ultimately secured the property by paying slightly above competing offers. Post-sale, I has a quick chat to the seller who expressed a level of uncertainty. He mentioned that an “offers over” campaign might have fetched a higher price. This is a reminder that sellers often overestimate value, reflecting current market sentiment.
58 Groom Street, Gordon Park: A beautifully renovated 5-bedroom Queenslander on 810m² achieved the suburb’s second-highest sale ever at $3.25M.
154 Yabba Street, Ascot: At the premium end, this 5-bedroom, exclusive cul-de-sac architecturally renovated Queenslander home on 692m² sold for $5.8M under the hammer, with several bidders competing for this high-end property.

These results confirm elevated competition for quality homes, and with the recent interest rate cut, buyer confidence is likely to strengthen further. Still, not every auction results in a sale. We’ve witnessed cases where multiple registered bidders walk away empty-handed as sellers’ price expectations outpace the market.

CoreLogic data shows Brisbane’s median values are still rising, albeit at a slowing pace, particularly for houses. In contrast, demand for units and townhouses under $700,000 remains robust, driven by first-home buyer stamp duty concessions and affordability pressures.

Residential Investors – Promising Signs, but Competition Persists

For property investors considering Brisbane’s inner north, the outlook is promising. Low listing volumes mean investors will often compete with emotional home buyers for quality assets.

North Brisbane Total Property Listing - Melinda Jennison – Streamline Property Buyers

Rental Market Snapshot (SQM Research):
- House rents in northern Brisbane rose 2.8% over the past 12 months.
- Unit rents surged 5.8%, reflecting increased demand for more affordable rental options.
- Vacancy rates sit at 0.6% in the inner north, significantly below Brisbane’s city-wide average of 1.2%, highlighting limited rental supply.

North Brisbane Residential Vacancy Rates - Melinda Jennison – Streamline Property Buyers

If you’re a tenant, you’ve likely felt the squeeze with fewer rental options. For investors, these tight conditions and strong rental growth are clear signals of opportunity. Over 40% of current finance commitments across Queensland are for investment properties, reflecting confidence in future capital growth and rental returns.

Looking ahead, infrastructure projects tied to the 2032 Olympics are expected to support employment and local economic strength, further attracting investor interest in Brisbane.

But how do you select the right suburb? Consider this: A property growing at 5% annually over 30 years versus one at 7% can create a $1M+ difference in equity. Understanding local supply (future housing developments) and demand drivers (such as employment hubs and lifestyle amenities) is crucial. We recommend focusing on areas with high owner-occupier populations and strong household incomes—these suburbs often hold value better during downturns.

Selecting a high-performing investment isn’t just about picking the right suburb; it requires understanding multiple market layers. Professional advice can help you navigate these complexities and secure an asset that aligns with your financial goals.