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Toowong Creek: The Last Jewel of Crescent Reach

Have you ever heard about the Crescent Reach? It’s fascinating that Brisbane was once graced by the presence of four remarkable creeks: Western Creek, Boundary Creek, Langsville Creek, and Toowong Creek.

Read: Reviving History: Monarch Residences to Bring New Life to Middenbury House with 224 Luxurious Apartments

However, as time passed by, only one of these watercourses, Toowong Creek, managed to endure the test of time, standing as a reminder of Crescent Reach’s former glory.

In 1824, explorer John Oxley’s expedition arrived at a location he referred to as the ‘Crescent Reach’, which corresponds to what we now know as the Milton reach.

It stretches from the point where Toowong Creek meets the river to North Quay. Oxley’s purpose in reaching this area was to locate a source of freshwater, where he planned to set up camp for the night.

Toowong Creek is at the base of Crescent Reach, followed by Langsville Creek, Western Creek, and ultimately Boundary Creek, which once served as the western boundary of Brisbane Town.

The existence of Crescent Reach is not merely a tale told through faded maps, but a testament to the captivating mysteries of Brisbane’s past.

Close inspection of these aged cartographic relics, including a precious artefact from 1884, reveals the intricate pathways of these waterways. However, the precision of the boundaries is undeniably constrained by the data available at the time.

A mere glance reveals that Boundary Creek, in all its charm, claims the title of the smallest watercourse. On the other hand, Toowong Creek emerged as one of the biggest ones.

Fishing from the northern bank of the Brisbane River at Toowong, along Milton Reach, Brisbane, 1948 (Photo credit: Brisbane John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)

Remarkably, all four catchments proudly shared their uppermost boundaries with Ithaca Creek, a testament to the interconnectedness of these natural wonders.

Originating from the slopes of Mount Coot-tha, Ithaca Creek gracefully meanders through the neighbourhoods of Bardon, Ashgrove, and Red Hill, ultimately converging with its esteemed source, the Enoggera Creek.

Read: Toowong To West End Green Bridge To Utilise Portion Of Former ABC Site

Currently, only Toowong Creek has survived within the Crescent Reach. Originating from the eastern side of Mt Coot-tha, Toowong Creek encompasses an area spanning 3.9 square kilometres. It meanders through the Botanic Gardens and the suburb of Toowong before eventually merging with the Brisbane River near Perrin Park.

Published 13-May-2023

Legends Lunch in Toowong: Laughter, Secrets, and Bucket List Dreams Come True

The Legends Lunch hosted by Triple M Brisbane was certainly one for the books. With NRL greats such as Gorden Tallis and Wendell Sailor, football and TV legend Paul “Fatty” Vautin, and the King himself, Wally Lewis, all in attendance, it was a capacity crowd at the Regatta Hotel in Toowong.

Hosted by Dan Anstey and Liam Flanagan, the lunch was a riot of laughter and inside stories, with Margaux Parker and Greg “Marto” Martin also holding court. Even phones were confiscated before the lunch, with Mr Sailor being caught shedding a tear as his was taken away.

But it wasn’t just all laughs and legends. The event also had a special bucket list surprise for one lucky attendee. Jo Boon, a big footy fan and acute care nurse who is fighting motor neuron disease (MND), had always dreamed of meeting Mr Vautin. That became a reality at the Legends Lunch.

Following her MND diagnosis in October 2019, Ms. Boon’s life shifted within a matter of weeks. She quickly became unable to speak and then developed muscle aches and cramps that impacted her mobility. Despite battling MND, she managed to raise money for MND Queensland for three years and counting, and has been an inspiration to others.

It was a heartwarming moment that reminded everyone of the power of sport and the importance of making someone’s day a little bit brighter. Plus, to top off an already unforgettable event, the musical guest was none other than ARIA Music Hall of Famer Ian Moss.

It’s safe to say that the Legends Lunch is now on the bucket list of every Triple M listener in Brisbane, and who knows what surprises they’ll have in store next year.

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Published 6-May-2023

Plans to Revamp The Summit in Mt Coot-tha Now Underway

The iconic hospitality venue, The Summit at Mt Coot-tha in Brisbane, is set for a major redevelopment. The Mantle Group, which subleases the site, has lodged plans to revamp the cafe and restaurant, and offer an elevated dining experience to its patrons.

The renovation project, under DA A006264092, will see the construction of a new two-level pavilion to replace the existing cafe, a mountaintop gin distillery, a casual bar, and a theatre for showcases and presentations.

The top floor of the new building will be dedicated to dining and drinking, while the bottom level will have a theatre for performances. Additionally, a rooftop garden will be added, which will feature First Nations’ herbs and ingredients.

Photo Credit: Artist’s impression/The Mantle Group

The heritage-listed restaurant will also be refurbished with modern fittings, and a new deck and platform will be added to take advantage of Mt Coot-tha’s spectacular views.

According to Mantle Group owner Godfrey Mantle, the project will transform The Summit into a “more appealing environment” that will be a major tourism boost for Brisbane, especially for the upcoming 2032 Olympics.

The Mantle Group has been planning this project since 2019, and it hopes to open the revamped venue in the first half of 2024. Each year, over 1.5 million visitors come to Mt Coot-tha, making it one of Brisbane’s most iconic sites.

The Mantle Group’s redevelopment plans, once approved, will reinforce Mt Coot-tha’s position as one of Brisbane’s top attractions for both locals and tourists alike. The redevelopment is also expected to support a wide range of environmental, social, cultural, and economic benefits to the city and the SEQ region.

Published 5-May-2023

Champions In The Making: Toowong Harriers’ Inspiring Little Athletics 2022/23 Season

The Little Athletics 2022/23 season proved to be an extraordinary one for the Toowong Harriers, as they celebrated a remarkable number of outstanding athletes.

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The club’s Outstanding Athlete award recognises those who achieve exceptional performances across all available events within their respective age groups. Amongst the standout performers were Tara Ryan, representing the under 9 category for girls, and Anton Mugaba, competing in the under 9 boys’ division.

The recipients of the Most Improved Athlete award for the 2022/23 season in the club are Emma Sheehan in the Under 14 category and Cooper Leske and Lachlan Gordon in the Under 11 category.

These talented athletes have shown remarkable progress by achieving multiple personal bests throughout the season. Additionally, Sheehan and Leske have also been honoured with the Commitment Award, recognising their dedication and hard work.

About the Toowong Harriers

The Toowong Harriers Athletics Club holds the prestigious distinction of being Queensland’s first athletics club, established back in 1894.

It stands as one of the oldest athletics clubs in Australia, with an illustrious history of producing exceptional athletes who have proudly represented both the state and the nation at various levels of competition.

The 2022/23 Season marks a significant milestone for Toowong Harriers as it celebrates its 40th year of competing as a Little Athletics Centre.

Photo credit: Darshan Pandya/Google Maps

Little Athletics is a sport specifically tailored for children between the ages of five and seventeen. It encourages participation in various disciplines, including running, jumping, and throwing, with each centre meet offering a well-rounded mix of events.

This approach prioritises full engagement, enabling young athletes to develop essential skills such as balance, stamina, strength, coordination, and self-control.

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Little Athletics serves as a fantastic platform for children to cultivate their overall fitness in a safe and healthy sport. It encompasses training sessions, warm-ups, coaching clinics, and, importantly, abundant encouragement and guidance from dedicated and nurturing parents.

Published 3-May-2023

Toowong Has One of the Highest Numbers of Complaints About Unmanaged Vehicles

Did you know that Toowong ranks among the suburbs with the most complaints about unmanaged vehicles, specifically abandoned, unsightly, hazardous, or unregistered vehicles, alongside Coorparoo, Moorooka, New Farm and Rocklea?

For a 14-month period from January 2022, Brisbane City Council has received over 9,100 complaints and removed 280 of these vehicles, including trailers, utility vehicles, vans, caravans/campervans, and trucks.

According to a council spokeswoman, parking registered trailers, caravans and even boats on the road is permissible as long as the owners abide by road rules, parking signs and any other rules applicable to the location. However, road parking for unregistered vehicles is unlawful.

The Heavy and Long Vehicle Local Law 1999 specifies that vehicles over 7.5 metres long should not be parked within 100 meters of any residential area, or for more than one hour, unless parked according to a permissive parking sign. However, some exceptions may apply to broken-down vehicles and those used for delivering goods, undertaking construction or maintenance, or carrying out emergency work.

Council has tasked personnel to remove abandoned, unsightly, or unregistered vehicles as soon as possible, especially if these may impact public safety. Council will also attempt to identify the owner of these unmanaged vehicles and work with them to achieve voluntary compliance.

Locals have told the “Afternoons” show that this parking issue is widespread across South East Queensland. Some expressed leasing out their garages for someone to use as a bedroom and park their cars on the street.

Other locals mentioned that they could not park by their front gates because they do not own that area, whilst some complained that Council painted yellow lines in front of their houses, preventing them from parking in front of their homes.

Another resident shared that people park in their driveway as if it’s public property, and they had to tow these cars away.

Published 29-April-2023

Check Out These Brilliantly Painted Fiberglass Hearts at The Heart Gallery Exhibition In Toowong

Around 10 magnificent fibreglass hearts, adorned with breathtaking paintings by talented local Brisbane artists, are on display in an extraordinary exhibition at The Heart Gallery in Toowong Village that also seeks to support charitable causes.

Read: Toowong Village Revamps Its Retail Line Up

On display from 31 March to 31 May 2023, each work of art represents a local charity. Toowong Village will help share the love through an online auction, donating 100 percent of the proceeds raised from sales of each piece to its designated charity.

One such masterpiece, “Everything Old is Blue Again,” crafted by Michelle Grayson of Sprout Gallery and representing The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust, encapsulates the enchantment of blue and white artwork alongside captivating botanical drawings and paintings of flowers and plants.

Ms Grayson, primarily known for her expertise in watercolour art, occasionally ventures into the realm of acrylics as well. A few years ago, she ventured into the realm of textiles, establishing her own range, and she aspires to expand her creative endeavours into the realm of wallpaper in the future.

For over two decades, Michelle has been showcasing and selling her original watercolour artwork, as well as prints, through Sprout Gallery, fostering her artistic journey.

The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust has been a stalwart supporter of countless grassroots charitable initiatives in Brisbane for decades now. Each year, the trust conducts multiple grant rounds to provide assistance to those in need.

The Trust’s

support extends to various causes, including distributing toys during Christmas, donating Easter eggs to vulnerable children, aiding domestic violence refugees, assisting the homeless population, and supporting families facing food scarcity.

Read: Toowong Village Shopping Centre Site to Get New Lease on Life

The Heart Gallery at Toowong Village is sponsored by Retail First. Those who are interested in bidding in the auction can go to https://oktion.com.au/.

Published 27-April-2023

Discover the Authentic Taste of Tokyo at Genkotsu Ramen

Photo credit: Genkotsu Ramen / Instagram

To find an authentic Japanese dining experience in Toowong, you need not look any further than Genkotsu Ramen. This gem of a restaurant is located at the end of a shopping arcade in this western suburb spot.

Inspired by their childhoods in Tokyo, the partners Yasu Ikeda, Kaoru Hiranuma, and Yoshi Nagumo designed a cosy ambience reminiscent of 1960s Tokyo, departing from the modern Japanese style. The restaurant’s interior features red brick walls, hand-burnt timber panels, rustic communal tables and bar counters, and floor-to-ceiling frosted louvres with warm hanging lights.

Black Garlic Ramen | Photo credit: Genkotsu Ramen / Instagram

Genkotsu Ramen does not just aim to create an ambience that transports diners to Japan; their chefs also employ time-honoured Japanese techniques to prepare every dish with great care. For instance, the tonkotsu broth is boiled for over 12 hours to ensure maximum taste, while the nitamago – flavored boiled eggs – are half-cooked and marinated overnight in Genkotsu’s original recipe sauce.

In addition, the chefs handle the bamboo shoots and black garlic with care to remove any excessive saltiness or bitterness. The noodles are also meticulously crafted and tasted multiple times in order to attain the perfect flavor and texture.

You can choose from a selection of classic ramen options such as shio (salt), shoyu (soy), miso, and gyokai (fish), or you can try their special chashu, black garlic, karaage, or tsukemen ramen. Additionally, there’s a premium option that comes with soft-shell crab or prawn.

Gyokai (Fish) Ramen | Photo credit: Genkotsu Ramen / Instagram

Toppings such as Dried Seaweed, Takana Pickles, Bamboo Shoots, Pork Chashu, and Original Chilli Paste are available to enhance the flavours. In addition to the ramen, there are also side dishes like Chuka Wakame (seaweed salad), Spring Rolls, Gyoza, Prawn and Chicken Karaage, Takoyaki, and mini rice dishes like teriyaki chicken, Kara (hot) Miso and Mentaiko (cod roe), or Yuzu Tuna Rice.

Google Reviews:

“Popular ramen joint in the area serving up good stuff! The queue can get long but it shouldn’t take too long to wait in line. Place your order via the digital kiosk and wait for your turn to be called! Get the chicken karaage sides – btw!: – Jan Wong

“Ramen lovers must try, had their Black Garlic Ramen and Cold noodles and are both fantastic. Fantastic little gem in the alley of Toowong. You will need to purchase your order at the front first then find a spot inside, brings back memories of Japanese style dining in Japan.” – Reneinei L (Nei)

“My first ever ramen experience & it was great! Word in town is this place has the best ramen & for my first time, it was really tasty & flavoursome. I think the long line up outside the door everytime I pass it confirms this. Hidden at the end of a little arcade, it’s a gem if you find it!” – Alofa

With its authentic Japanese cuisine, warm atmosphere, and attentive service, Genkotsu Ramen has quickly become a local favourite. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day except Monday, from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm and then again from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm. If you haven’t visited them, head down to Toowong and discover the hidden gem that is Genkotsu Ramen.

Published 26-April-2023

Proposed Toowong Tower Gets Upsized and Reimagined for Build-To-Rent Development

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au/

Plans for a residential tower site on High Street in Toowong have been given a strategic redesign, with the proposal now aimed at the booming build-to-rent market. The project will see an increase in height and the number of apartments, as well as design changes to accommodate the new scheme.

An approved tower site in Brisbane’s inner-west is set to undergo a redesign and expansion of its proposed plans that is now geared towards a build-to-rent development. The 1571sq m site located at 60 High Street, Toowong, will now feature a 25-storey tower, a significant increase from its originally approved 20-storey height, and an expanded apartment count of 326 units, up from 125 under the revised plans.

Proposed Toowong Tower Gets Upsized and Reimagined for Build-To-Rent Development — *Photo credit: Brisbane City Council /* developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

The project which features a ground-floor lobby, commercial tenancies, a two-level podium, three basement levels, and a rooftop recreation area across a 20-story residential tower had already received approval.

Changes are now being proposed in response to the adoption of a Build to Rent scheme, where units will be collectively rented out for long-term rentals and managed on-site. The removal of the podium car park is a significant design change that will enhance the building’s aesthetic appeal, particularly along High & Ebor Streets.

The new design includes units on all podium levels except for the ground level, a revamped residential lobby with an expanded mail room and reception area, and minor alterations to the tower elevations and rooftop recreational area.

It will also see the two-level podium scrapped, and the basement levels increased to four. Whilst car parking spaces would be cut from 184 to 156, bike spaces will increase from 163 to 408.

Moreover, the design changes will include minor changes to the podium and tower floor plates, and the provision of internal common recreational areas on Levels 2 and 25. Other minor changes include the internal design of the basement car park and changes to servicing arrangements at the lower ground level.

Build-to-rent (BTR) is a model where an entire apartment complex is built with the sole purpose of leasing out all its dwellings, a well-established concept in the US and UK but still in its early stages in Australia.

As the rental housing shortage in Australia worsens, experts see BTR as a potential solution to address the growing demand for rental accommodation and the need for a more secure and stable lease.

With the forecasted population growth in Australia over the next decade, experts suggest that BTR developments could play a crucial role in boosting housing supply and affordability.

Published 24-April-2023

Lesley Trotter Case: ‘Items of Interest’ Discovered At Rubbish Tip Not Linked to Toowong Woman

Heaps of “items of interest” found at a waste site in Swanbank in Ipswich have been confirmed as unrelated to Lesley Trotter, the 78-year-old Toowong woman whose disappearance in late March has prompted a massive police search.

Investigators said that the preliminary examination of the items of interest discovered at the rubbish tip were not tied to the ongoing investigations and that efforts to find Ms Trotter’s body will continue.

The Toowong woman disappeared on 28 March 2023 while her wallet, mobile phone and car were still at home. The police believe that she was killed around midnight and her body was dumped inside a wheelie bin, which was collected and compacted at two possible landfill sites.

Police started their search in Swanbank, where 3,000 tonnes of waste had to be sifted thoroughly, using rakes and other tools, from a landfill measuring 30 centimetres deep. Until her body is recovered, the police plan to examine over 200 tonnes of rubbish daily. Det Supt Massingham said that the process might take more than three weeks. Once recovered, Ms Trotter’s remains will still undergo forensic examination.

Meanwhile, Ms Trotter’s neighbours told “A Current Affair” that she was always “out and about” in their neighbourhood despite her age. They said they were shocked to learn about the strange circumstances surrounding her death.

“Toowong’s a very nice suburb (with) a lot of affluent people and properties,” said one neighbour, Kirby. “(It’s) very scary to think about what the sinister implications could be of this case.”

Ms Trotter was planning to move to a retirement facility after selling her unit, where she had lived for over 40 years.

Published 24-April-2023

Toowong Honours ANZAC Day with Dawn Service and Gunfire Breakfast

Photo credit: RSLQueensland / rslqld.org

Toowong residents will gather early on the morning of 25th April, 2023, to mark the 108th anniversary of the ANZAC troops landing at Gallipoli. The service, which will be hosted by the RSL Toowong Sub Branch, will take place at the Cenotaph on the hill of the Toowong Memorial Park adjacent to the West Bulldogs sports fields.

ANZAC Day is a significant date for Australians and New Zealanders alike. It commemorates the landing of troops at Gallipoli during World War I, and the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought there.

On 25 April 1915, before the break of dawn, Australian forces made their first major military action during WWI with the landing at Gallipoli. Despite the ultimate failure of the battle, the bravery and determination of the ANZACs made a significant impression on the national consciousness that continues to this day.

*Australian and New Zealand soldiers in a frontline trench on the Gallipoli Peninsula, 1915 |* *Photo credit:* *RSL Australia / lightupthedawn.com.au*

The ANZAC Day Dawn Service is a sombre and respectful ceremony that pays tribute to the ANZACs as well as all individuals who have served or given up their lives in wars and conflicts since World War I. The ceremony serves as a moving reminder of the immense sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and women.

The Toowong Dawn Service is expected to be well-attended, with locals gathering at the Cenotaph in the early hours of the morning. The service will be conducted with due solemnity, with wreaths laid and the Last Post played. The minute’s silence is expected to be particularly moving, as attendees reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have served our country.

After the conclusion of the service, the West Bulldogs Rugby Clubhouse will host a Gunfire breakfast exclusively for all medal wearers and uniformed ADF personnel. Meanwhile, all other attendees are invited to contribute a gold coin donation in exchange for refreshments.

The Toowong ANZAC Day Dawn Service is an important event on the local calendar. It provides an opportunity for residents to come together to pay tribute to our servicemen and women, and to reflect on the sacrifices that have been made in the name of our country.

Published 23-April-2023