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Queensland Ballet Brings Sia’s Music to West End Stage

A full orchestra, a global pop catalogue and a contemporary dance company come together in West End, where Queensland Ballet is presenting a reimagined ballet set to the music of Sia, transforming familiar radio hits into a live performance shaped for the stage.

Performances run from April 30 to May 9, 2026, at the Talbot Theatre inside the Thomas Dixon Centre, with additional shows added due to demand.

A New Sound for Familiar Songs

The production, titled Elastic Hearts, draws on Sia’s original tracks but reshapes them through orchestral arrangements by Elliott Wheeler. Known for his work in film, Wheeler adapted the songs into extended pieces suited for ballet, allowing the music to stretch beyond its original structure.

The score was recorded by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Nigel Gaynor, using a layered recording process rather than a single live session. Sections of the orchestra were recorded separately and later combined, creating a detailed and controlled sound that supports the choreography.

Movement Built on Emotion and Connection

Choreographer Garry Stewart, a former artistic director of Australian Dance Theatre, developed the work as a response to Sia’s music. His approach focuses on physical intensity and emotional range, using movement to reflect themes of resilience, relationships and change.

Stewart’s concept centres on the idea that people adapt under pressure, drawing from the emotional tone of Sia’s songs. He links these ideas to natural cycles, where growth, decay and renewal shape both the environment and human experience.

Nature Shapes the Stage

The visual direction of the production reflects Stewart’s long-standing interest in nature. The character of Gaia, drawn from Greek mythology, acts as a symbolic presence throughout the performance, representing the Earth and the forces that connect life.

Set and costume designer Charles Davis builds this environment on stage, while lighting by Alexander Berlage supports shifts in mood and movement, helping guide the audience through the work’s changing tone.

A Different Direction for Queensland Ballet

Artistic director Ivan Gil-Ortega positions Elastic Hearts as a contrast to the company’s earlier production Messa da Requiem, which focused on large-scale choral work. In comparison, this ballet leans into contemporary energy, driven by rhythm and recognisable music.

The response from early audiences and critics has been strong, with reviews noting the blend of ballet technique and pop influence. The production reflects a shift in how ballet companies engage wider audiences, using familiar music as a starting point for new work.

The project also brings together several South Australian links. Sia, originally from Adelaide, shares a connection with Stewart, who spent years working in the city.

The season at West End places an international music figure within a local arts setting, supported by Australian creatives and performers.

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Published 30-April-2026

West End’s Elisi Residences to Break Ground Mid-2026

Thirty apartments are coming to Ferry Road, one of West End’s most rapidly changing streets, and construction is set to begin in July 2026.

Read: Süreyya Kahve Is Coming to West End, and It’s Redefining What a Cafe Can Be

The eight-storey apartment building at 17 Ferry Road, West End, will deliver 30 three-bedroom apartments in a pocket of the suburb that has seen significant development activity in recent years. The project is developed by Vista and designed by architecture firm Prospect.

Interiors have been designed by Bella Vie, and the building will include a rooftop pool, barbecue area and yoga lawn. Each apartment will come with its own outdoor space and two underground car parks.

Sales agent Doug Tonkin said the target demographic was primarily downsizers, people leaving the leafy suburbs of Brisbane for something smaller and more centrally located.

Tonkin described the broader inner-city apartment market as overcrowded, with high-density projects continuing to proliferate. He said that offering only 30 apartments set the project apart in an otherwise high-density market, and that he believed there was a clear demand for it.

Prices range from $1,799,000 to $2,209,000 across four different floor plan configurations. Around 12 apartments have already sold ahead of the July construction start.

Elisi is immediately adjacent to the large-scale The Lanes Montague Markets precinct and sits directly opposite a separate planned apartment building at 24 Ferry Road. Tonkin said the area’s appeal was tied to its access to city services, proximity to Orleigh Park, and the draw of two public schools: West End State School and Brisbane State High School.

The site itself has already been cleared. The building that previously stood at the address, along with the adjoining car park, has been demolished ahead of the July start.

Read: West End Brewpub Landscape Shifts as Catchment Brewing Co Departs Boundary Street

West End has experienced significant population growth in recent years, and residents have raised concerns that development is outstripping infrastructure. Rapid development in the area has faced criticism from locals who argue that population growth is outstripping services and that the necessary infrastructure has not kept pace.

Whether the infrastructure catches up remains an open question for the suburb. For now, the site has been cleared and construction is due to get underway in July.

Published 25-April-2026

Metro Arts Secures Grant to Bring Touch to Contemporary Art in West End

Metro Arts

Metro Arts has secured a grant through Brisbane Airport‘s record 2026 Community Giving Fund, using the funding to install and deliver an eight-week tactile exhibition and events programme designed specifically for the blind and visually impaired community.

The grant is one of sixteen awarded across the city as Brisbane Airport distributed its largest-ever Community Giving Fund, sharing $125,000 among grassroots organisations working across education, health, environment and community inclusion. For Metro Arts, the funding arrives at a meaningful moment.

The West End arts centre is rebuilding its programme through a “rewiring” process after losing federal Creative Australia funding for the 2025 to 2028 period. The Brisbane Airport grant gives the organisation a concrete new project and a new community to reach.

This tactile exhibition addresses a significant gap in accessible arts programming that many venues overlook. Brisbane Airport Community Engagement Manager Portia Allison said each recipient in this year’s fund plays an important role in building a stronger, more connected community.

“Our Community Giving Fund is about giving back where it counts,” Allison said. “From youth programs to grassroots sport, there are organisations and groups across every corner of Brisbane delivering important work to support their local communities.”

An Arts Centre That Has Always Backed New Ideas

Metro Arts has occupied a distinctive position in Brisbane’s cultural life since its founding more than 40 years ago. Its theatre, two galleries, rehearsal rooms and the Factory Lane outdoor precinct sit inside the West Village development at 97 Boundary Street, offering a purpose-built home for contemporary work across theatre, dance, cabaret, circus, music and visual art.

The organisation champions artists who take creative risks and develop new works, and over its history has served as a launchpad for some of Australia’s most significant contemporary artists. Its current “rewiring” programme, announced earlier in 2026, is focused on building new partnerships, rethinking how it presents art, and strengthening the infrastructure that supports both artists and audiences for the long term.

The tactile exhibition programme fits that forward-looking ambition directly. Tactile art experiences, which use raised surfaces, textures, soundscapes and physical interaction rather than visual contemplation, represent one of the most significant frontiers in accessible arts programming internationally. For a venue built around experimentation, it is a natural fit.

A Step Forward for Inclusive Arts in West End

Since 2016 the Brisbane Airport Community Giving Fund has poured more than $655,000 into local community organisations. This year’s round was expanded by $25,000 over 2025, when $100,000 was distributed to coincide with 100 years of Brisbane Airport.

For Metro Arts and the West End community, the tactile exhibition and events programme represents something the suburb’s arts scene has rarely seen: a dedicated, extended programme designed from the ground up for audiences who are blind or have low vision. West End has long been one of Brisbane’s most culturally diverse and community-minded neighbourhoods, and Metro Arts sits at the centre of that identity.

Metro Arts is at 97 Boundary Street, West End, inside the West Village precinct, accessible via Factory Lane. The venue’s window gallery is open 24 hours a day, and its office operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. For programme updates, event details and to subscribe to the Metro Arts newsletter, visit metroarts.com.au or follow the organisation on Instagram at @metroarts.

Published 20-April-2026

West End Health Food Store Introduces Shopping Baskets That Signal If You Want Help

A detail spotted inside a West End health food store has attracted attention on social media, with commenters praising the idea and calling for similar systems to be introduced more broadly.

Read: Süreyya Kahve Is Coming to West End, and It’s Redefining What a Cafe Can Be

WholeLife Pharmacy & Healthfoods, a pharmacy and health food chain, has introduced colour-coded shopping baskets that allow customers to indicate whether they want assistance from staff. Two baskets are available at the entrance: a grey one labelled “I am happy to shop on my own” and a green one reading “I would like assistance.”

health food store — Photo credit: Gogole Maps/M S

The system was shared to Reddit by a user who photographed the baskets side by side.

“I just think it’s neat,” the original poster wrote. “My Millennial brain heaved a sigh of relief when I walked in to a store this week and saw these — I now wish every single store had this system.”

What Shoppers Are Saying

Commenters responded to the post with support for the system, with several noting it addresses uncertainty, for both customers and staff, when assistance is wanted and when it isn’t.

Some commenters noted the system could make it easier for retail workers to approach customers with confidence, removing the guesswork around who wants help and who doesn’t.

One Reddit commenter wrote: “It is a good idea for some people. Just because some people are fine navigating a store it doesn’t mean everybody is. My local store recently changed everything around and hoped we didn’t notice some products being deleted. It’s a pain to shop there now. Could have done with these baskets.”

One Reddit commenter pointed to the difficulty of navigating stores after layout changes as an example of why a system like this could be useful. The basket system allows customers to signal their preference without having to approach a staff member directly.

Read: Function Well Plans Large Wellness Hub For West End

Will Other Retailers Follow Suit?

Several commenters said they hoped larger retailers would introduce a similar system. No announcements from major retailers have been made at the time of publication.

WholeLife Pharmacy & Healthfoods is a Queensland-based pharmacy and health food chain with stores across Brisbane.

Published 14-April-2026

Upstate Has Opened Its First Brisbane Studio in West End

Upstate

Upstate, the Melbourne-born reformer pilates and hot yoga brand that has built a devoted following across Victoria and expanded into Queensland and New South Wales over the past year, has opened its first Brisbane studio at 391 Montague Road in West End.

The studio marks another significant step in one of Australian fitness’s more compelling growth stories. Upstate launched in Victoria and spent more than a decade becoming a genuine institution, before opening its first interstate location at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in July 2025, then landing in Sydney’s Five Dock in September 2025. West End now brings the brand to Brisbane proper, and according to co-founder and co-CEO Gail Asbell, the neighbourhood was the obvious choice.

“Brisbane has such an incredible energy and community spirit, and West End in particular has a character that feels perfectly aligned with Upstate,” Asbell said. “It’s creative, vibrant and social — exactly the kind of neighbourhood where people want to move, connect and feel good.”

What the Studio Actually Looks Like

True to Upstate’s identity, the West End studio is not subtle. Bold and neon interiors in the brand’s signature sunshine yellow run throughout, designed specifically to lift mood on arrival before a single class has begun. Studios are designed to boost members’ mood and motivation, with bright interiors decked in positive hues and energising neon as defining features of every Upstate location.

Upstate's sttudio — Photo Credit: Upstate

The space at Studio 7 on Montague Road splits across two workout rooms. The first is a 24-bed reformer studio for the pilates crowd, and the second is a 35-person hot mat studio for those who prefer a sweatier experience. Three unisex toilets and showers mean members can freshen up and flow straight back into their day without interruption.

The class timetable spans reformer pilates, hot mat pilates, hot power yoga, yin and sound baths, giving members plenty of range depending on whether they want to push hard or wind down.

The Brand Behind the Neon

Upstate was founded by Gail Asbell and her sister Charelle Cuolahan, and started as 100 per cent yoga before evolving over the years to add hot mat pilates, reformer pilates and boxing as the brand grew. As a female-led powerhouse, Upstate prioritises community and real career paths for women over growth for growth’s sake.

The co-founder has been deliberate about keeping classes approachable, describing the ideal room as “full of diversity, from people doing their first classes ever, to someone who’s gone for a long time.” That philosophy carries through to West End, where the studio welcomes everyone from complete beginners to seasoned practitioners.

With locations now spanning Victoria, the Gold Coast and Sydney alongside the new Brisbane opening, Upstate has moved from a Melbourne institution to a genuine national presence in the space of less than twelve months.

Getting Started at Upstate West End

A launch offer gives new members 14 days of unlimited access for $29, covering reformer, hot mat and hot yoga classes. Upstate West End is at Studio 7, 391 Montague Road, West End. Bookings and membership are available here.

Published 13-April-2026

West End Diners Hit In Masked Handbag Snatch At Browning Street Restaurant

Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

Masked offenders allegedly stole handbags from elderly diners during an evening gathering at a West End restaurant, with police investigating whether the incident is linked to other nearby activity.

A Fast-Moving Theft In West End

The alleged theft happened at Little Greek Taverna on Browning Street, where an elderly book club group had gathered for dinner. Police believe two masked offenders approached the restaurant at about 8.25 p.m. on Friday night and stole three bags from diners in a brief incident that left the group distressed. The items taken reportedly included two handbags and a wine bag.

West End Crime — Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

The group was understood to include six women meeting for their regular gathering when the offenders moved in quickly and then left the area. The incident centred on diners at the restaurant, turning an ordinary social catch-up into a sudden and confronting encounter. A second business was also reportedly targeted during the same sequence of events.

Police Examine Possible Links To Nearby Incidents

The offenders fled in a vehicle believed to be a grey Volvo station wagon, and investigators are continuing to examine whether the West End incident is connected to other activity on Vulture Street. The latest alleged theft also comes amid previously reported concerns about anti-social behaviour along the nearby Boundary Street retail strip, adding further local context to the investigation.

Brisbane Restaurant Theft — Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

Police are calling for anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward as inquiries continue. The focus remains on identifying the offenders and determining whether the alleged West End restaurant theft forms part of a broader pattern of offending in the area.

Published 31-Mar-2026

Brisbane Group to Make Trans History With Record-Breaking Flag Unfurling at Davies Park

West End is set to make trans history on March 31. Davies Park on Montague Road will host the unfurling of what is believed to be the world’s largest trans pride flag, just in time for the International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Read: A Year of Pride and Performance at West End Bar Come to Daddy

The flag, created by local advocacy group Trans Justice Meanjin, measures a staggering 20 by 40 metres, totalling 800 square metres of pink, white, and blue fabric.

The project has been months in the making. After running a fundraising campaign to cover the cost of materials, the group held a series of community sewing sessions throughout March, inviting locals to contribute to the creation. The finished product was officially measured last Friday, confirming its dimensions. With the sewing machines now packed away, Trans Justice Meanjin are ready to share it with the world.

Photo credit: Facebook/Trans Justice Meanjin

Group member Jodie Hall said the flag was intended as a physical symbol of trans love, joy, defiance and resistance. She said the group’s intention was to make the trans community impossible to ignore on Trans Day of Visibility, and that by creating the world’s largest trans flag, they aimed to make trans history.

The event is free and open to everyone. The unfurling is scheduled for 3pm at Davies Park, located at 277 Montague Road, West End. Following the main event, local trans artists Worm Girlz and Clover Love will perform a free outdoor concert in the park.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Trans Justice Meanjin (@transjusticemeanjin)

Organisers have said the project is intended as both a celebration of the local trans community and a visible show of solidarity during a challenging time for trans and gender diverse people. Last year, members of Brisbane’s LGBTQIA+ community flew a trans flag from the city’s Victoria Bridge at the start of Trans Awareness Week in November, in a show of solidarity for trans and gender diverse young people affected by the Queensland government’s puberty blocker ban.

Read: Three Residential Towers Proposed for West End Site Near Davies Park

Trans Day of Visibility, held annually on March 31, has been observed internationally since 2009. Unlike the Trans Day of Remembrance in November, which is a day of mourning, TDOV is a day dedicated to recognising and celebrating the lives and achievements of trans, non-binary and gender diverse people around the world. Events are being held across Australia and globally to mark the occasion this year.

If you are free on March 31, head down to Davies Park and be part of the occasion. For more information on Trans Justice Meanjin and their work, visit their website.

Published 30-March-2026

Inner City Brisbane Avoids Shortages but Faces Soaring Petrol Prices

Photo Credit: Wikimedia/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

Brisbane inner city drivers are paying close to $2.50 a litre for petrol while fuel remains available across most suburbs, even as shortages spread across parts of Queensland and other states.

Prices Climb Across Inner Brisbane

Across Fortitude Valley, New Farm, Newstead and surrounding inner-city suburbs, petrol prices are now sitting between about 239 and 249 cents per litre, with diesel pushing close to or above 290 cents. The variation between nearby stations can be as much as 10 cents, even within a short drive.

Kangaroo Point and the inner south, including South Bank and West End, are showing similar trends, with petrol mostly around the mid-240s and diesel nearing the $3 mark. These prices reflect a sharp rise over the past week, with national averages also climbing significantly.

Figures from industry data show the average petrol price across Australia rose to about 238 cents per litre, while diesel jumped to more than 282 cents. That has added roughly $9 to $18 to a standard 50-litre fill, placing extra strain on households and small businesses.

Area	U91 Range	Diesel Range	Notes (as of 23 March)
Fortitude Valley	239–249	292–296	widest variation
New Farm / Newstead	238–249	295–299	some cheapest + some expensive
Kangaroo Point	~239	289–292	most stable
South Bank / West End	239–245	290–298	typical inner-south

Supply Pressure Felt, But CBD Holding

Despite rising costs, there is no widespread fuel outages in Brisbane’s inner city. Most stations across the CBD and nearby suburbs continue to operate, though some may temporarily run low on certain fuel types.

National figures show 166 service stations across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria have run out of fuel, including dozens in Queensland alone. However, these shortages are spread unevenly and are more common in regional areas than in major city centres.

The supply issue is largely driven by a surge in demand, with more drivers filling up earlier or more often than usual. This has created pressure on distribution networks, even though overall fuel supply into Australia remains steady for now.

*Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International*

Push for Public Transport as Costs Rise

As fuel prices climb, city leaders are encouraging residents to leave their cars at home where possible and use public transport instead. Across South East Queensland, fares have been set at an affordable 50 cents, making buses, trains and ferries a cheaper option for daily travel.

The low fare is designed to ease cost pressures on households while also reducing demand for fuel. With more commuters onto public transport, there is also hope it will help ensure supply remains available for essential industries such as farming and freight, which rely heavily on diesel.

Global Tensions Driving Local Costs

The sharp rise in prices has been linked to global supply concerns following conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted key oil shipping routes. About 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes through the affected area, and ongoing instability is pushing wholesale prices higher.

Officials have indicated that while supply is still flowing, prolonged disruption could continue to push prices up, with the possibility of petrol reaching $4 per litre if conditions worsen.

Yet residents are already feeling the impact. Higher fuel costs are affecting daily commutes, small business operations and trade work, where diesel use is high. Even without widespread shortages in the inner city, the rising cost of fuel is changing how and when people travel.

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The Real Cost of Convenience: Why West End Drivers Want Tolls Scrapped

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Thousands of daily motorists are calling for the removal of tolls on the Go Between Bridge as rising travel costs create a significant financial barrier for families moving between the city’s north and the residential hub of West End.

Read: West End Brewpub Landscape Shifts as Catchment Brewing Co Departs Boundary Street

The Cost of a Shorter Commute

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

While the Go Between Bridge provides a direct path from Coronation Drive to the streets of West End and South Brisbane, the price of this convenience is under fire. Motorists across the city are expressing their frustration through a formal petition to the State of Queensland. This movement follows a series of price hikes that have seen the cost of using the city’s tunnels and bridges climb higher.

On 1 January, tolls on the Airport Link increased by 33 cents to a total of $7.16. many people feel that these charges are becoming a heavy burden, especially since the bridge serves as a local link rather than a major highway into the central business district.

Traffic Woes and Infrastructure Debts

Photo Credit: Google Maps

The push to drop these fees comes as new data shows Brisbane drivers are spending more time than ever stuck in traffic. During 2024, the average commuter lost 84 hours to road congestion, which was a 14 per cent increase from the year before. While some argue that making the bridges free would help clear local streets, others suggest that the situation is more complex.

Public policy experts from the RACQ stated that these tolls are used to pay back the massive debts from building the roads. They suggested that without this private funding, there would be less money available for Queensland to build new transport projects in the future.

Read: Reality Check at Red Hill: 5 Surprising Truths from the Broncos’ Tough Round 1 Start

Searching for a Fairer Path

The debate has also touched on other famous landmarks, including the ageing Story Bridge. There were discussions in 2025 about whether a new toll there could fund much-needed repairs, potentially raising more than $205 million a year if set at the same rate as the Gateway bridges. However, local leaders have previously questioned why certain routes, like the one leading to West End, carry a fee when they do not even take drivers into the heart of the city.

For now, the State of Queensland is following its standard procedures to review the public petition, which has already gained 1,509 signatures, while the community continues to ask for a broader look at how South East Queensland funds its major roads.

Published Date 11-March-2026

West End Brewpub Landscape Shifts as Catchment Brewing Co Departs Boundary Street

Photo Credit: Catchment Brewing Co/ Instagram

The iconic West End craft beer scene has lost a major fixture following the sudden permanent departure of Catchment Brewing Co from its long-term home.

Read: Soda Factory West End Seeks Mall Upgrade on Mollison Street

A Quiet Exit for a Local Favourite

Photo Credit: Catchment Brewing Co/ Instagram

The shutters came down on the Boundary Street venue in early 2026, marking the end of an 11-year run for the popular brewpub. While the windows are currently covered in dust, the interior of the building remains fully equipped with its original beer taps and decorative lighting, left in a state that would allow a new operator to move in.

The decision to leave was described by company representatives as a mutual agreement between the business and the property owners, though they acknowledged that the high costs of running the large space had become a significant financial burden.

Economic Pressures Hitting the Taps

Photo Credit: Catchment Brewing Co/ Instagram

The closure highlights a difficult period for the independent brewing industry across Australia. Over the past two years, more than a dozen highly-regarded breweries have been forced to stop trading due to a “perfect storm” of rising expenses. For Catchment, the struggle involved more than just local competition.

The rising cost of ingredients, increased electricity bills, and higher rents have made it harder to stay profitable. Additionally, federal alcohol taxes that increase alongside inflation have squeezed margins further, while major national retailers have introduced their own budget-friendly craft beer brands to compete with independent labels.

A Pattern of Change in the Suburb

Photo Credit: Catchment Brewing Co/ Instagram

This departure is not an isolated event for the local community, as West End has seen several high-profile venues struggle recently. The neighborhood said goodbye to the famous music venue The Bearded Lady in May 2025, and other major craft beer names like Newstead Brewing Co and Stone & Wood’s Fortitude Valley site also closed their doors in March and August of the previous year.

These shifts reflect a changing hospitality environment where even established brands are finding it difficult to balance community expectations with the high price of doing business in a popular inner-city suburb.

Read: Süreyya Kahve Is Coming to West End, and It’s Redefining What a Cafe Can Be

The Future of the Brand

Despite leaving its original flagship location, the company behind the beer is not disappearing from the Brisbane market. The business expanded its reach in 2022 by taking over Fortitude Valley Brewing Co and its associated brands, followed by a move to save Ballistic Beer Co from closing in early 2023.

Management has indicated that they intend to continue their involvement with the Brisbane brewing community and expect to share new plans for the brand’s next steps later this year. For now, the focus remains on their other existing venues and partnerships outside of the West End strip.

Published Date 04-March-2026

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