Read: Historic Dixon’s Tannery Redevelopment Approved in West End

Located on Montague Road beside the Thomas Dixon Centre, The Tannery is being developed and built by McNab. The project will deliver 87 apartments across 11 levels, offering a mix of two, three and four-bedroom residences while retaining and adapting the original 1869 Dixon Tannery building into a shared wellness and community space known as The Retreat.

Strong Sales Ahead of Public Launch

Before public sales opened, nearly 60 per cent of the apartments had already been sold off market, including a two-bedroom residence that sold for $2.57 million, setting a new suburb record for West End.

McNab said the early response reflected growing demand for larger, lifestyle-focused apartments that prioritise wellbeing. The company also pointed to confidence in Brisbane’s long-term property market, citing population growth, housing demand, constrained housing supply and investment associated with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The development was designed by Cottee Parker Architects, with landscape architecture by Aspect Studios and interiors by Tom Mark Henry. Alongside the residences, the project will include rooftop amenities and The Retreat, a shared wellness space housed within the restored heritage building.

Construction is progressing under McNab’s integrated builder-developer model. The company said its construction approach, including a no-basement design and the use of its in-house trade workforce, provides greater certainty around the delivery program, with completion targeted for September 2027. Early works began in 2026 and included demolition of later structures and restoration of the heritage building.

Preserving the Dixon Tannery

Rather than demolishing the site’s historic structure, McNab is preserving the original Dixon Tannery building and converting it into The Retreat.

Built in 1869, the former tannery is a surviving reminder of West End’s industrial past. As part of the redevelopment, original building materials are being retained and repurposed where possible, helping preserve the site’s historic character while giving it a new community purpose.

A mature heritage tree at the site’s frontage is also being protected throughout construction under the guidance of a qualified arborist.

Earlier archaeological investigations during excavation uncovered remnants linked to the site’s former industrial use, providing additional information about the area’s manufacturing history before construction progressed.

Partnership with Queensland Ballet

The public launch of The Tannery also coincided with the announcement of a partnership between McNab and Queensland Ballet, whose neighbouring Thomas Dixon Centre shares historical links with the Dixon family.

McNab said the partnership reflects a shared approach to preserving heritage buildings while adapting them for contemporary community use. The company also highlighted the similarities between the transformation of the former tannery into The Retreat and Queensland Ballet’s restoration of the Thomas Dixon Centre as a cultural destination.

Read: West End Site Earmarked for 1,100 New Homes, Parks and Laneways

Queensland Ballet said the collaboration aligns with its commitment to preserving Queensland’s heritage while creating places where communities can come together.

By combining new homes with the conservation of a significant heritage building, the project aims to preserve part of West End’s industrial history while delivering new housing in the suburb.

Published 23-July-2026

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Read: New World Order: How The 2026 World Cup Shifted Football’s Balance

A New Sight Along The West End Riverfront

The KangaCat has joined Brisbane’s ferry fleet as the city marks six years until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The green-and-gold vessel is the existing CityCat Mahreel, decorated with a design inspired by the Australian Olympic Team’s Boxing Kangaroo mascot, known as BK.

West End is one of the terminals on the regular CityCat corridor between UQ St Lucia and Northshore Hamilton. The service also connects passengers with South Bank, Riverside in the CBD, New Farm Park and other destinations along the Brisbane River.

The KangaCat does not operate as a dedicated West End ferry or follow its own permanent route. It may call at the suburb when Mahreel is assigned to a regular service travelling through the CityCat corridor.

Passengers can follow its location using the AnyTrip app, where the vessel remains listed under the name Mahreel.

KangaCat Marks Brisbane 2032 Countdown

The ferry began operating on Sunday, 19 July, with its first reported journey departing Hawthorne for St Lucia.

Its Boxing Kangaroo design recognises Australian Olympic athletes and those pursuing the opportunity to represent the country at Brisbane 2032.

Olympians Cate Campbell, Cedric Dubler, Ria Thompson and Georgia Courage-Gardiner attended the launch. Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares and the Boxing Kangaroo mascot were also aboard.

The vessel is among the first public-facing activations introduced during the six-year lead-up to the Games, with further activities expected across Brisbane in the years ahead.

West End Passengers Can Track Mahreel

The KangaCat provides West End passengers with another themed vessel to look out for alongside the Bluey and Bingo CityDogs already operating within the fleet.

The standard 50-cent fare applies when travelling aboard Mahreel, and passengers do not need a special ticket or booking to use the service.

West End’s ferry terminal connects the suburb’s riverside parks and cafe areas with destinations across the inner-city ferry network.

Brisbane ferries carried a reported 6.8 million passengers during the previous financial year, linking residents and visitors with dining areas, attractions and riverfront precincts.

Read: West End Welcomes Global Visualisation Studio Proof Inc

Because Mahreel’s assigned service can change, AnyTrip tracking provides the most practical way for West End passengers to check whether the KangaCat is approaching their terminal or travelling elsewhere on the river.

Published 20-July-2026

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Read: Star-Studded Past: Historic Kinauld Residence in Highgate Hill and its Hollywood Guests

The Los Angeles-headquartered company has opened Proof Australia in West End, with executive producer Katrina Peers leading the local operation. The studio will support productions across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region while working alongside Proof’s existing offices in Los Angeles and London.

The move marks a return to Australia for Proof, which has maintained relationships with Australian artists and producers for around two decades. The company first established an Australian presence in Melbourne in 2005 before formally incorporating Proof Australia in Sydney in 2012. It later registered an operation in New Zealand in 2014.

Although its earlier Australian studio closed during the pandemic, Proof continued working with Australian-based artists and production partners. The new West End studio establishes Brisbane as the company’s Australian base, strengthening its ability to support productions across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Katrina Peers will oversee the Brisbane operation, bringing experience in production, operations and creative development. Her background includes senior development and production roles at Animal Logic, where she worked on films including Happy Feet and Legend of the Guardians. In her new role, Ms Peers will focus on expanding relationships with Australian productions, creative talent and industry partners while overseeing the studio’s regional growth.

The Brisbane office is also intended to improve collaboration across multiple time zones while supporting feature films, television, streaming, gaming and live entertainment projects throughout the region.

About Proof Inc

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Proof Inc. describes itself as the world’s first studio dedicated exclusively to visualisation. The company provides services including pitch visualisation, previsualisation, technical visualisation, stunt visualisation, postvisualisation, virtual production and animation for feature films, television, streaming, gaming and live entertainment.

Over more than two decades, the company has contributed to major productions including the Harry Potter films, Star Wars: Starfighter, Michael, and films within the Jurassic World, Fast & Furious and Avatar franchises.

Proof also has a long history of working on productions filmed in Australia. Its local credits include Charlotte’s Web in Melbourne, The Ruins on the Gold Coast, I, Frankenstein in Melbourne, and The Vatican Tapes, Gods of Egypt and The Age of Adaline in Sydney.

Founder and chief executive Ron Frankel said Australia has been an important part of the company’s international history, with Proof collaborating with Australian filmmakers and artists for many years. He said establishing a permanent Brisbane base would allow the company to better support productions in the region while continuing to expand its international creative network.

Read: Folk-Pop Artist Lucy Gallant Heads Back to Brisbane With LOVEfest Performance

The opening of the West End studio establishes Brisbane as Proof’s Australian base as the company continues supporting screen productions across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Published 12-July-2026

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Read: West End Park Death Leads To Unlawful Striking Charge

The concept grew out of necessity as much as ambition. When the street-facing tenancy beside The West End Electric sat vacant for roughly six months after its previous occupant — a fried chicken shop — shut up, Strut & Fret director Scott Maidment and his team decided to take it on themselves. Given the company’s background producing large-scale festival events and running cocktail bars as part of those experiences, it wasn’t a stretch. What emerged is a venue designed to wrap around an entire evening rather than anchor it.

The fit-out, led by long-time Strut & Fret collaborator and production designer James Browne, draws on the atmosphere of London’s theatre district and the casual glamour of Parisian bistros and supper clubs. A hand-laid gold flake floor anchors the space, offset by dark timber panelling, soft white drapes and an eclectic mix of vintage furnishings and theatre posters. A discreet connecting door links Intermission directly to The West End Electric, offering ticketholders a seamless move from bar stool to theatre seat.

The drinks list leans into the showtime theme. Signature cocktails include the Choc Top Martini, Popcorn Sour and Malt-Pleaser, alongside aperitifs from Dave Verheul’s Saison range, rotating tap beers and a focused wine list that spans champagne to orange and natural wines. For later in the evening, a broad tequila selection and a picklebacks menu are on offer.

Food draws from Spanish and French traditions, with sharing-style plates designed for grazing rather than a sit-down commitment. The charcuterie selection includes wagyu bresaola, prosciutto, mortadella, smoked pepperoni and sopressa, sliced to order. Elsewhere on the menu: tinned fish with focaccia, Yarra Valley Caviar with potato pavé, gildas, empanadas, truffle-cheese toasties and sliders.

Since opening, the venue has settled into a rhythm that mirrors the flow of Boundary Street itself — early afternoon drop-ins, pre-theatre arrivals, post-show debrief sessions and late-night stragglers coming out of nearby restaurants. Word is already getting around; the team has even spotted filmmaker Baz Luhrmann stopping by.

For Maidment, the neighbourhood context is central to what Intermission is trying to be. He describes West End as still one of Brisbane’s most colourful and distinctive suburbs, and sees both the theatre next door and the street life outside the windows as part of the venue’s character.

Read: Socceroos’ World Cup Ends In Penalty Heartbreak Against Egypt

The name says it all, really. Intermission isn’t trying to be the destination — it’s the pause in the middle, a place to reset between whatever came before and whatever comes next.

Intermission is located at 125 Boundary Street, West End.

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Read: Socceroos’ World Cup Ends In Penalty Heartbreak Against Egypt

West End Man Dies After Alleged Park Altercation

A Yeronga man has been charged after a 66-year-old West End man died from injuries suffered during an alleged altercation at a park near Thomas Street and Vulture Street.

Police allege the two men were at the West End park about 12:23 am on 5 July when an altercation occurred. The men were not known to each other.

It will be alleged the 27-year-old man struck the older man, causing him to fall and sustain a serious head injury.

The 66-year-old West End man was taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Arrest Made In Fortitude Valley

Detectives later arrested 27-year-old Isaiah Andrew Louis Graham at Fortitude Valley on the evening of 5 July.

He was charged with one count of unlawful striking causing death and two counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

The charges followed investigations into the alleged incident at the West End park earlier that day.

Court Matter To Return In July

Mr Graham appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 6 July, where the matter was briefly heard.

He will remain in custody, with the matter due to return to court in July.

No exact return date was provided.

Police Seek Information

Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact Policelink or Crime Stoppers.

Information can be provided to Policelink through the online suspicious activity form, which is available 24 hours a day.

Read: Commercial Rowing Club Celebrates Australian Selection for two Rising Athletes

Crime information can also be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

The police reference number is QP2601302298.

Published 6-July-2026

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Read: Veteran Sprinter Cameron McEvoy Becomes First Australian Swimmer to Compete in Four Olympics

The pair began their rowing journeys through Brisbane State High School before continuing their development with Commercial Rowing Club. In July, they will join Australia’s emerging rowing squad for the International Rowing Challenge, gaining valuable overseas racing experience as part of the national development pathway.

Years of dedication rewarded

Selection in the Australian Under 19 B Team follows years of steady development for both rowers, who have built strong reputations through consistent performances and commitment to the sport.

McDonald has been rowing for the past three years, beginning at Brisbane State High School before joining Commercial Rowing Club. His selection for Australia marks another milestone in his rowing journey.

On his Australian Sports Foundation fundraising page, McDonald describes that journey simply: “My name is Scott; I’ve been rowing for the last 3 years. First for Brisbane State High, then for Commercial Rowing Club, and now, hopefully, for Australia.”

That ambition has now become reality. Rowing Queensland has recognised McDonald as one of the state’s dependable young athletes, highlighting his consistency, composure under pressure and team-first attitude. He has also been recognised as a high-achieving student and a leader within his rowing program.

For O’Loughlin, the opportunity also carries family significance. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, Ted O’Loughlin, who represented Australia at the 1974 World Championships.

After five years with Brisbane State High School’s rowing program and two years at Commercial Rowing Club, O’Loughlin has earned recognition for his leadership, composure under pressure and commitment to continually refining his technique. Rowing Queensland has also highlighted his curiosity, problem-solving approach and ability to take ownership of his own development.

His Australian Sports Foundation campaign reflects on another milestone in his rowing career. In 2025, O’Loughlin rowed in Brisbane State High School’s First VIII crew that finished third at the GPS Head of the River, marking the school’s first podium finish in 48 years.

The following year, O’Loughlin and McDonald paired together at the Australian Rowing Championships, where they won the silver medal in the pair event.

O’Loughlin’s fundraising campaign describes his selection for the International Rowing Challenge as the result of years of hard work, discipline and dedication both on and off the water.

McDonald and O’Loughlin were among five Queensland athletes congratulated by Rowing Queensland after being selected in Australia’s Under 19 B Team, alongside Maddi McLaughlin, Oliver Kent and Harriette O’Dwyer.

Read: Brisbane’s Coffee Mentality Puts West End on the World Coffee Map

The International Rowing Challenge will give the athletes valuable international racing experience as part of Australia’s rowing development pathway.

For Commercial Rowing Club in West End, the dual selection highlights the role community clubs can play in supporting young athletes as they progress from school rowing to international competition. As McDonald and O’Loughlin prepare to compete in the United States, they do so with the backing of their club, school and the wider Queensland rowing community.

Published 3-July-2026

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Read: Free State of Sk8 Exhibition Rolls Into South Brisbane

The 48 Whynot Street parcel sits in one of West End’s most tightly held pockets, with elevated city and mountain views that drew buyers back to open inspections every Saturday until auction day.

The scaffold that sold the block

Selling agent Luke Croft of Ray White South Brisbane had a simple idea to solve the problem of selling vacant land: build a 10-metre scaffold so buyers could climb up and see exactly what they were getting.

“I suggested they put up the 10-metre scaffold so buyers could walk up the stairs and see what the views were like,” Croft said. “We don’t do open home inspections for vacant land, but we ended up doing one every Saturday for this one and people were physically going up to have a look. It made such a difference.”

The block is one of only a handful of vacant lots to come to market in West End over the past decade, and its rarity was not lost on the buyers. Croft had watched them at open homes for six months as they searched for a house to replace their unit, including a near-miss as underbidders on an existing home.

“They were recently the underbidders on a 20-year-old house. But then when this block became available, they saw the potential,” Croft said. “I think the views got them.”

A fierce auction for a rare block

Three of the five registered bidders made a play for the lot when bidding opened at $1.4 million. The price moved in $100,000 jumps through to $1.8 million before dropping to $25,000 and then $10,000 increments. At $1.925 million, it was called on the market. Two parties then traded $5,000 bids until the hammer fell at $1.94 million.

Croft sold the property to the vendors in late 2024 as part of a larger parcel for $3.2 million. The vendors relocated the existing Queenslander and subdivided before returning the vacant land to market, producing a result Croft described as a win for both parties in a challenging environment.

West End’s inner-city appeal

West End sits two kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, within walking distance of Boundary Street’s restaurant strip, West Village, South Bank Parklands and South Brisbane’s performing arts precinct.

The suburb is also in the catchment for several of Brisbane’s most sought-after schools, drawing owner-occupier demand that has kept competition fierce for well-located land.

Vacant inner-city lots of this calibre rarely surface in the 4101 postcode, and the Whynot Street result reflects how strongly buyers respond when they do.

Read: Tensions Rise at Kurilpa Commons as Housing Plans Spark Community Protest

Published 1-July-2026

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Read: Kurilpa Commons Protest: Community Resists Closure of Beloved Garden

The inner-south green space, located on the corner of Boundary and Dudley streets near the West End and Highgate Hill border, has been cared for by volunteers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, it has grown into more than a community garden, hosting shared meals, workshops, movie nights and other neighbourhood activities.

The dispute intensified early on 29 June when representatives from Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), accompanied by contractors, arrived to install fencing around the state-owned land. Protesters gathered shortly afterwards, with police later called to the scene as some demonstrators entered the site and climbed trees in an effort to stop the works.

Queensland Police said six people were arrested on 29 June after officers responded to the disturbance. Police alleged trespass offences in relation to several arrests. Officers remained at the site overnight while continuing to engage with protesters who had stayed in trees within the fenced area.

By 30 June, emergency crews assisted in safely bringing down one woman who had spent the night in a tree. She was taken to hospital as a precaution, while another person was arrested during the operation.

Community voices concerns over future of Kurilpa Commons

For many involved in the protest, the issue extends beyond the loss of a garden.

Local supporters say Kurilpa Commons has become a valued meeting place where neighbours grow fresh produce, share skills and build connections. They also describe the site as holding personal significance, with memorials established for community members who have died.

Kurilpa Commons member Shane Cucow questioned both the removal of a space used to grow food and the scale of the police response, arguing that community gardens provide practical support during a period when many households continue to face rising living costs.

Another supporter, Jemika Lancaster, said the space had evolved into an important gathering place where people could connect and remember loved ones. She said losing the garden would also mean losing one of the area’s few freely accessible community spaces.

Cr Trina Massey criticised the fencing of the site without prior notice to users, saying residents deserved greater transparency about the future of publicly owned land. She said the garden had transformed a long-vacant block into a vibrant community hub through the efforts of local volunteers.

Housing plans at the centre of the dispute

EDQ said the site is being prepared for more housing, describing it as meeting a community need. The agency said the land had always remained publicly owned, had never been approved as a permanent community garden, and that users had previously been advised the occupation was temporary.

The agency also said a Brisbane City-approved community garden is located about 200 metres away for local residents to use, and that personal belongings left on the site would be returned to their owners where possible.

The land occupied by Kurilpa Commons is owned by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and has recently been transferred to EDQ. The site is expected to be offered for future residential development, although details of any proposed project have not been publicly released.

Read: West End Gardeners Defy Warnings Over Contamination Risk

Police remained at the site as work to secure the land continued, while supporters of Kurilpa Commons said they planned to continue advocating for the future of the community space. EDQ has maintained the site is being prepared for future housing and that users had previously been notified the occupation was temporary.

Published 1-July-2026

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Read: Tensions Rise at Kurilpa Commons as Housing Plans Spark Community Protest

West End School Push Turns to Montague Road

West End State School families are calling for education planning to be included in the future of the Montague Road Precinct, a 7.1-hectare riverfront landholding near South Bank and West End.

The school’s P&C has asked for part of the precinct to be reserved for a second public primary school in Brisbane’s inner-south, citing current enrolment pressure and expected growth from nearby residential development.

The precinct is about 1.3km from the Brisbane CBD and includes about 400m of river frontage. It is being considered for more than 4,000 homes in a mixed-use area that may include hospitality, retail and public spaces.

The site remains in the early concept stage, with community consultation available and a preferred proponent selected.

Parents Point to West End Enrolments

Parents and students gathered outside West End State School on Monday morning with banners and placards as part of the campaign.

The P&C, which represents about 2700 parents, has pointed to enrolment pressure across the school catchment. It has cited catchment data indicating 94.1 per cent of local primary-school-aged children attend West End State School.

Using 2021 Census data, the P&C estimated that new developments could add another 700 to 800 students to the catchment. That figure includes growth linked to about 8000 apartments already approved.

The group has framed the request as a call for supporting infrastructure, rather than opposition to new housing in West End and nearby suburbs.

Riverfront Precinct Includes Former Industrial Sites

The Montague Road Precinct includes the former Visy site, now publicly owned, and the recently closed milk factory site, which was sold by Lactalis to property developer Stockwell.

The former Visy site had previously been considered for use as a foreign press centre during the 2032 Olympic Games, before later being put forward as a development site open to private housing bids.

In late May, the Montague Road Precinct was named among four provisional priority development areas across Brisbane.

School Site Sought Before Further Growth

The West End State School P&C has argued that the precinct offers a chance to plan education infrastructure before further residential growth occurs across the peninsula.

The group has said a new primary school had previously been planned for Brisbane’s inner-west, but no site had been secured.

Parents and alumni from Brisbane State High School have also sought access to part of the Visy site to support that school.

Read: Scaffold Helps Sell Rare West End Block for Record $1.94 Million

An education spokesperson said West End State School had sufficient capacity, with strategies in place for existing and forecast enrolments in the short to medium term.

Published 26-June-2026

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Read: From Brisbane’s Indie Theatre Scene to Mamma Mia! on the Gold Coast

The exhibition, titled State of Sk8, forms part of a broader winter program at The Edge, the State Library’s creative hub at Stanley Place. It draws on research by 2025 John Oxley Library Honorary Fellow Dr Indigo Willing, whose year-long fellowship explored the stories, spaces and subcultures that have shaped skateboarding across Queensland. The digital display runs throughout the month of June, making it a well-timed cultural stop for anyone in the inner south.

For West End locals, the connection feels close to home. The suburb’s own skatepark, a well-known gathering point on the inner-south skate circuit, was one of the local facilities that the skateboarding community successfully pushed to have upgraded, with works completed in 2025.

The State of Sk8 program puts that kind of grassroots advocacy into broader historical context, tracing how generations of Queensland skaters have shaped their cities, one grey space at a time.

From the streets into the archive

Dr Willing’s fellowship, titled “Queensland Skate of Mind: Subcultural Game Changers to Olympian ‘Roll’ Models,” focused on recovering stories that have largely been left out of mainstream accounts of Queensland’s history. Her research documents how skateboarding evolved from a subculture built around repurposed concrete infrastructure into a globally recognised Olympic sport, while remaining deeply tied to inclusive community-building at the local level.

The Edge Screens, a digital display format previously used to showcase 4ZZZ Radio memorabilia as part of the State Library’s Stranded program, bring this research into a publicly visible format. The exhibition draws on material from the State Library’s own collections, community archives and the photographic work of contributors to Dr Willing’s fellowship.

Beyond the digital screens, a broader State of Sk8 program brings the culture to life at The Edge. A free public panel discussion headlines the lineup, alongside paid hands-on workshops running from 24 to 30 June. Visitors can try their hand at laser etching skateboards or designing 3D-printed mini decks. 

A scene bigger than you might think

Queensland’s skateboarding story carries more weight than most people realise. Among those documented in Dr Willing’s research is Arisa Trew OAM, who at just 14 became the youngest Australian to win gold at the Paris Olympics, and holds the record for the most X-Games wins of any woman in the competition’s history.

World Skate SB competitor Dani Campbell, a member of the Songline First Nations Skateboarding team, is also featured in a newly commissioned digital history added to the State Library’s collection as part of this program.

The research also shines a light on the community builders, the women and queer skaters, the photographers, the zine-makers and the small-business owners who kept the scene alive long before the Olympics came calling.

Getting there from West End

The Cultural Centre sits at Stanley Place, South Brisbane, roughly a five-minute walk or ride from West End’s Boundary Street precinct. The Edge Screens exhibition is free and does not require booking. The State Library is open to visitors throughout the week, and The Edge’s facilities are accessible to anyone holding a State Library membership, which is free to obtain.

For the full State of Sk8 program, including workshops and the panel discussion, click here.

Read: West End Twilight Market to Light Up Davies Park

Published 24-June-2025

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