A large 1338 sqm site housing a childcare centre and residence in West End has been sold for $3.8 million, attracting strong interest from investors eyeing its long-term redevelopment upside.
The property at 86 Jane Street is currently occupied by Edge Early Learning childcare centre, which has a lease running until 2027 with a five-year option. It also contains a five-bedroom, two-bathroom residential dwelling.
Edge Early Learning at Jane Street is an educational facility that has 44 spaces and consists of three separate classrooms or learning environments. These three distinct areas are designated for different age groups: one for infants (Nursery), another for toddlers (Toddler room), and the third for preschool-aged children (Kindergarten room).
Photo credit: Edge Early Learning West End – Jane Street/Google Maps
The site was purchased by Shally Family Trust after an expressions of interest campaign that generated 78 inquiries and multiple offers, despite initial price expectations over $4 million not being met.
Deepen Khagram of Remax Commercial, who brokered the deal on behalf of a syndicate of vendors, said the sizeable land holding in a prime riverside location was the major drawcard.
Photo credit: Edge Early Learning West End – Jane Street/Google Maps
Mr Khagram said it was very difficult to find land of that size and location, situated just 2km from the CBD and 200m from the river. He noted that investor interest was outstanding for a tenanted investment on such a large landholding in the heart of West End.
Whilst currently bringing in annual net rental income of over $130,000, Mr Khagram noted the new owners would likely be attracted to the potential to redevelop the site in future given the rapid apartment development occurring in the suburb.
The site previously changed hands in 2011 at a purchase price of $1.55 million, experiencing significant capital growth and increase in value over the last ten years, driven by the gentrification and urban renewal in West End.
Nearly $200,000 in grants have been awarded to 19 artistic groups and individuals through the Creative Sparks Grants program, with four of these recipients located in West End.
The Creative Sparks Grants aim to invigorate the local arts scene by funding a diverse array of projects. The grants provide up to $10,000 to support creative endeavours across the suburbs, from theatrical productions and dance to circus performances and live music.
This influx of funding, from Brisbane City Council in partnership with the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, is expected to enhance Brisbane’s lifestyle offerings, increase job opportunities, attract tourism, and strengthen the community’s cultural fabric.
West End, in particular, has seen a significant boost with several notable projects:
Egan Kingsley Sun-Bin is preparing for the Australian premiere of “Scenes from a Yellow Peril” by Nathan Joe, focusing on a week of rehearsals for BIPOC performers and creatives, supported by a grant of $10,450.
Lewis Treston collaborates on “The Light in the Sahara” with director Sanja Simić and actor Christen O’Leary, developing a new Australian work slated for a November 2024 showcase at Metro Arts, with a funding of $11,000.
Peter Thornley’s “Ancient Echoes: Old Lore & Young Bloods” empowers First Nations youth through music and performance, celebrating Indigenous culture with a grant of $9,020.
Emma Churchland revisits the camp spectacle “CAKE” at Metro Arts, offering an enriching experience to both audiences and early-career artists with a grant of $11,000.
“These grants allow our talented industry professionals to deliver exciting works that create more jobs, attract further tourism, and improve our creative communities. We look forward to seeing what inspires the next wave of Creative Sparks alumni as they bring more creative offerings to our suburbs.”
West End’s recent surge as a dining destination continues with the much-anticipated opening of Gum Bistro. This charming newcomer, run by a savvy young duo, promises big flavours, warm service, and a whole lot more.
Chef Lachlan Matheson, and Mr Phil Poussart, the sommelier, are both industry veterans with a clear vision for their first foray into restaurant ownership. Their focus? Providing a welcoming space that goes beyond just serving food.
Gum Bistro’s appeal is undeniable. The light-filled space, adorned with local artwork, boasts a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. The menu, crafted by Lachlan, champions fresh Queensland produce, with dishes ranging from playful snacks to hearty share plates like duck-liver parfait with native tamarind and brawn, or sweetcorn agnolotti with crema di parmigiana.
For a larger offering, there’s cabbage-wrapped cobia with zucchini and creme fraiche, or Margra lamb rump with sweetbread, beans, and radicchio. You can check out the updated menu here.
On the beverage side, Phil curates a diverse wine list, with options ranging from budget-friendly to vintage treasures. Signature cocktails, featuring ingredients straight from the kitchen, round out the offerings. More beverage options are on their menu here.
With plans to expand to lunch service and potentially even earlier weekend hours, Gum Bistro is quickly becoming a beloved local haunt. It’s a place where West End’s diverse crowd—from architects to students—can gather for a memorable and enjoyable dining experience.
Prepare to be dazzled as Metro Arts unleashes Dance24, a thrilling dance extravaganza set to electrify Brisbane’s West End! Get ready to immerse yourself in an exciting lineup of talks, seminars, performances, and networking galore.
Dance24 will ignite Brisbane’s West End with a burst of creativity from May 22nd to June 1st, 2024. Its foundation is a dedication to presenting a diverse range of dance expressions, with a focus on Queensland’s emerging talent. Two highly anticipated world premieres are included in the festival’s mainstage programme: Olivia Adams’ “Matriarchs” and Amy Zhang’s “Gameboy”.
Photo Credit: Website/ Metro Arts
“Matriarchs” explores the historical accounts of Indigenous femininity and provides a close-up look at the real-life experiences of earlier First Nations women. Olivia Adams, a budding Indigenous artist whose outstanding resume includes work with Bangarra Dance and performances for Karul Project, highlights her distinct viewpoint in this moving modern piece.
In contrast, “gameboy” explores issues of endurance and rivalry through the use of video games, internet culture, and Japanese game shows as inspiration. Prominent dancers William “Billy” Keohavong and Ko Yamada bring Amy Zhang’s vision to life on stage as she explores the nuances of online persona and real-world decision-making in this piece.
Join DANCE24 at Factory Lane for their Community Connect mixer to kick off your Friday night on a high note. Come to a special event that Wanida Serce and Metro Arts are hosting to network with other artists and dance enthusiasts.
This event guarantees to start your weekend in style, whether you’re making new connections or renewing acquaintances in the industry. Take advantage of this fascinating feature of DANCE24, the experimental dance event that takes place from May 22 to June 1.
KIM SMIT HEELS CHOREOGRAPHY
Photo Credit: Website/ Metro Arts
Come to Metro Arts Studios for an exclusive masterclass on heels choreography featuring Kim Smit. Kim has eight years of professional dancing experience in Australia, Europe, and the USA.
She has performed on stages with well-known performers, including Natti Natasha, TYGA, and Kehlani. Explore the nuances of heels foundation, technique, and choreography intended for dancers with intermediate to advanced skills.
Upgrade your abilities with this exceptional chance to pick the brain of an accomplished expert. a component of the avant-garde dance festival DANCE24, which takes place from May 22 to June 1.
BOLLYWOOD MASALA
Photo Credit: Website/ Metro Arts
Experience the vibrant world of Bollywood dance with Drea Lam, Director of Dance Masala and creator of ITEM, in a lively workshop at DANCE24. Dive into the heart of Bollywood’s energetic rhythms and dynamic movements as you learn typical Masala Bollywood dance steps.
From action-packed sequences to heartfelt romance, Bollywood movies offer a unique blend of genres, and this workshop captures the essence of it all. Don’t miss your chance to groove to catchy tunes and immerse yourself in the excitement of Bollywood dance during this special event at DANCE24, part of an experimental dance festival running from May 22nd to June 1st.
Dance24 is about more than simply career advancement; it’s also about community involvement. While events like Studio1’s Sandpit and Exchange offer a behind-the-scenes look into the creative process, weekly mixers give artists and dance aficionados alike the chance to network and create in a dynamic setting.
“Dance24 is a joyful celebration of Queensland’s richness and diversity in dance,” as Genevieve Trace, Executive Director of Metro Arts, so eloquently puts it.
Whether you’re an experienced performer, an inquisitive viewer, or just someone who enjoys moving, Dance24 extends an invitation to you to experience the wonder of dance and learn about all the opportunities it presents.
Small business owners in Boundary Street, West End, are raising the alarm over the escalating antisocial activities in the area. They claim that the situation has deteriorated significantly since a safety summit convened five years ago.
Amidst the daily hustle of inner city life, these retailers are confronting a reality that threatens not just their livelihood but the very charm of West End. Despite previous promises for improvement, the community now faces a critical juncture demanding immediate action.
Following the safety summit led by Jackie Trad, a comprehensive report by Urbis in 2019 outlined several recommendations to curb anti-social behaviour along Boundary Street. However, traders express frustration over the need for more implementation of these suggestions.
Promised enhancements in lighting, surveillance, and policing have yet to materialise, leaving business owners to fend for themselves against an increasing tide of shoplifting, vandalism, and public disturbances.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Day-to-Day Challenges for Retailers
The daily trials faced by the traders of Boundary Street paint a grim picture of their current reality. Shoplifting has become so commonplace that thieves blatantly showcase stolen items to shop owners.
Incidents of vandalism and public indecency, including the presence of vomit, urine, and even faeces on the shopfronts, have become routine challenges that tarnish the area’s reputation. These issues have escalated to the point where some business owners, who have served the community for decades, claim it’s the worst they’ve ever seen.
A veteran shopkeeper, boasting over three decades of experience and representing a business with a legacy spanning over 70 years in West End, expressed unprecedented concern over the current state of affairs. The individual highlighted a reluctance to voice these issues publicly due to fear of backlash and accusations of racism on social media platforms. This fate befell others who spoke up.
The shopkeeper lamented the frequency of shoplifting incidents, now a thrice-weekly ordeal, describing the situation as disheartening. Previously committed to after-hours work for cleaning and administrative tasks, the individual now feels too intimidated to do so, citing recent alarming episodes during capoeira training sessions at Kurilpa Hall. Efforts to solicit police assistance were met with responses indicating a need for more available officers or timing outside of operational hours.
The shopkeeper raised a poignant question about the future trajectory of West End should the current trends persist.
Similarly, Wayne Shay, proprietor of Shays Shoes, a family-run establishment since 1901, echoed these sentiments, noting the absence of previously promised safety and lighting improvements. Shay observed a decline in the local crime situation over the last five years, underscoring a growing concern among the business community in West End.
The Queensland Police Service online crime map showed that in the past six months, there have been 53 good order offences, 84 property damage reports, and four offences against a person in West End.
Photo Credit: QPS
Community and Police Response
In response to the outcry from West End’s business community, local leaders and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) have voiced their commitment to addressing these concerns.
The QPS highlights its efforts to deploy designated officers and patrols within the area while emphasising its focus on crime prevention and community engagement.
The West End police station organises specific patrols on foot, by vehicle, and by bicycle along Boundary Street and throughout the West End area. Furthermore, the community can request the deployment of a Mobile Police Beat to a location of their choosing when necessary.
Meanwhile, Greens Councillor Trina Massey underscores the importance of community outreach and service provision as fundamental approaches to combating the root causes of crime and anti-social behaviour.
One of her initial measures as a councillor, when she assumed office in 2023, was to obtain the necessary funds to improve the kiosk in People’s Park. She explained that the kiosk’s refurbishment is expected to enhance outreach to the community and better equip service providers to assist those facing hardships. According to research, the most effective crime prevention method is ensuring all community members have access to stable accommodation and sufficient food.
Ms Massey expressed eagerness to convene with West End community groups, the local business association, service organisations, and other vital parties to explore collaborative solutions for Boundary Street’s future.
A breath of fresh air is sweeping through the West End Towers. The city has given the nod to two residential towers, each featuring three concave facades enveloped in ‘green’ exoskeletons, for a site adjacent to Davies Park at 281-297 Montague Road.
This new development replaces a previous scheme, which was approved in 2017. The original plan, described as “five stumpy towers” of up to 12 storeys, has been reimagined by Manley Properties, a subsidiary of Sydney-based developer Henroth Group. The revised proposal aims to create an “exemplar response to key urban design” and enhance community benefit.
The new design by Noel Robinson Architects reduces the initially planned 470-apartment development to two towers of 16 and 19 storeys, housing 345 apartments. This revision allows the site to offer a vastly improved public realm, enhanced visual amenity, and better connectivity for West End residents.
Despite significant community opposition to both proposals, primarily concerning the buildings’ height and additional traffic, principal architect Noel Robinson believes the original vision would have resulted in “a terrible outcome”. The new plans open up 77% of the site’s ground plane as public space, a 73% increase from the previous approval.
The proposed public plaza and park lands provide a sky view from Montague Road and Vulture Street, offering shade and relief from summer heat for various recreational activities. The revised plans will deliver two 5-star Green Star rated residential buildings, both with unique landscaped exoskeletal sunshades wrapping their concave facades.
View from Vulture Street Photo Credit: Development.i / Application no. A005608649
Robinson stated that the revised tower designs “open up a new paradigm in terms of a green building”. The buildings feature green atria throughout, replacing traditional corridors. Biophilia filters at the ends of the open landscaped corridors provide vertical greenery up the facades, acting as fresh air filters to the open upper-level apartment walkways.
South Tower – East Wing Elevation Photo Credit: Development.i / Application no. A005608649
While Robinson stopped short of claiming these would be the greenest buildings in Brisbane, he did assert they would be unique and among the city’s greenest. The development’s north tower will comprise 156 apartments, and its south tower will house 189 apartments, each including a mix of one, two, three bedrooms, and a level of four-bedroom penthouse suites.
The residents of both towers will have access to a variety of amenities. Landscaped rooftop recreation decks will feature ‘wet edge’ swimming pools, communal gardens, edible landscapes, beehives, barbecue facilities, gyms, and both indoor and outdoor dining areas.
An alfresco terrace on the first level of each building has been designed as an outdoor study and work area. It will feature enclosed glass pods, providing residents with private spaces for podcasts or online meetings.
The development also takes into account the need for parking, with two basement levels providing 482 spaces. This is a reduction of 117 spaces from the previous approval, aligning with the overall design rethink.
On the ground level, a retail plaza spanning 1626 square meters will be a key feature. In line with the design’s focus on public space, 8130 square meters of public realm will connect Montague Road to the centre of Davies Park. This connection is a crucial element of the overall design rethink, further enhancing the community-centric approach of the development.
Nine years after its last visit, the magical land of Oz will once again descend upon the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in West End as Broadway sensation “Wicked” returns in September to captivate Brisbane audiences.
After an eagerly awaited hiatus, the return of “Wicked” to QPAC is a big deal for both the performing arts community and eager fans. The show will reveal the hidden stories behind the characters that people have loved for generations. The music will be unforgettable; the choreography will be breathtaking; and the experience will be completely immersive.
Photo Credit:WickedTheMusical
Taking place in Oz, the musical is about how Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the famous Good Witch of the North, become friends in a strange way. As their lives become linked, the story of friendship, love, and the power of acceptance becomes spellbinding.
Photo Credit:WickedTheMusical
“We are thrilled to welcome back ‘Wicked,’ giving audiences the chance to experience the magic of live theatre once again,” QPAC Managing Director Jane Smith said. “People all over the world have continued to enjoy this show, and we’re excited to bring its charming story back to Brisbane,” she added.
The return of “Wicked” is a testament to the popularity of Broadway standards. There is a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation for this limited engagement run.
West End locals woke up to the spectacle of lifeless fish and crustaceans on the banks of the Brisbane River, a mysterious fish graveyard that has sparked concern among residents and experts.
The incident came to light on Thursday morning when passers-by noticed the dead marine life, including species known for their resilience, such as mullet, bream, catfish, and mud crabs. The sight was particularly alarming given these species’ known tolerance to freshwater, ruling out the recent flooding as a cause.
Associate Professor Ian Tibbetts from the University of Queensland shared his insights on the matter. He dismissed the idea that the recent deluge and subsequent freshwater influx into the river were to blame. “All fish reported like mullet, bream, catfish and even some mud crabs are known for being quite freshwater resilient so it is not the only reason for them popping up,” he said.
Despite reporting the incident to Queensland Health and the Pollution Hotline, there has been no response. This has led to speculation about a possible toxic spill or similar event in the area. “The chances of it being a localised spill or some sort of toxic event in the area are more than likely,” Mr. Tibbetts added.
Jonathan Sriranganathan, Greens Brisbane Mayor candidate, took to social media to document the mass fish graveyard. He noted an oily rainbow sheen on the water’s surface, which further supports the toxic spill theory.
The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation is currently investigating the incident. While the cause of the fish deaths remains unknown, one theory suggests that low dissolved oxygen levels following recent heavy rain could be responsible. The rain may have washed organic matter into the river, affecting its oxygen levels.
As the investigation continues, we urge all West End residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. The health of the Brisbane River is a shared responsibility, and every piece of information helps.
The eatery will be helmed by seasoned hospitality professionals, sommelier Phil Poussart and chef Lachlan Matheson.
The duo plans to open Gum Bistro in the space formerly occupied by Pasta Club at 237 Boundary Street, with a vision to retain the casual, welcoming vibe the locale was known for under previous ownership, whilst putting their own stamp on the restaurant.
Photo credit: Magdalena White/Google Maps
Matheson first garnered attention cooking under Ben Williamson at Gerard’s Bistro before honing his skills abroad with the P Franco group. Upon returning to Brisbane, he took over the kitchen at Pasta Club. When Pasta Club’s owners decided to close, Matheson was offered the chance to take over the lease and open Gum Bistro.
He teamed up with Poussart, who spent four years working in Hobart’s top restaurants before overseeing the wine programs at ESSA and Pilloni in Brisbane. Together, the two envision Gum Bistro as an approachable European-style bistro with distinct Australian influences.
Photo credit: pastaclub.au
The menu will shift seasonally, ranging from small plates to heartier mains that spotlight Queensland produce. Poussart looks forward to curating an eclectic wine list with diverse offerings. Inside, the moody interior of Pasta Club will give way to a sunlit space with a green and white palette, artwork from local artists, and abundant greenery.
Gum Bistro is targeting a mid-to-late March 2024 opening in the former Pasta Club location, bringing a fresh neighbourhood dining option to Boundary Street in West End. Follow them on Instagram @gumbistro to stay updated about the opening.
The restaurant, which has been in operation for eight years, is reported to owe over $200,000 to creditors, primarily the tax office.
Falalalah was known for its unique Korean-Italian fusion cuisine, with dishes like bulgogi pizza and bulgogi risotto. It first opened its doors in 2015 and quickly became a favourite in the South Brisbane dining scene.
Photo credit: FALALALAH/Google Maps
However, business took a downturn last year, leading to a temporary closure in June. The restaurant later reopened under new ownership but allegedly continued to struggle.
The appointed liquidator for the Italian restaurant stated that he was informed of a transfer of ownership or possible sale of the business prior to his assignment. He reported that over $200,000 is owed to a range of creditors, with the majority being taxes owed to the tax office.
Photo credit: Winston Wong/Google Maps
The liquidator is now responsible for liquidating any remaining assets of the company and distributing proceeds to pay off outstanding debts.
A Members’ Voluntary Liquidation is the process by which a solvent company ceases operations and wraps up its affairs by distributing remaining assets to shareholders. The winding up itself is typically overseen by a licensed liquidator, usually a chartered accountant from an accounting service.
When a business settles its accounts, any assets are commonly sold openly for cash or cash equivalents. Those overseeing the conclusion of affairs have the legal authority to act on behalf of the company to finalise debts and outstanding payments.
Appointed liquidators have the power to sell remaining assets and finish terminating the business on behalf of the shareholders.
