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Inside West Brisbane’s New Cafes Mis.spelt And Riser Bread

Misspelt and Riser Bread, two of west Brisbane’s newest cafes, have been featured in a local magazine’s best openings for 2022. Here’s what to expect with these newly opened cafes, and what to grab on your visit, based on locals’ recommendations.

Read: Where To Go In Toowong For Sweet And Savoury Treats

Riser Bread

From a sourdough subscription service, Riser Bread has evolved into a cafe, serving their pastries from a charming space in a historic Queenslander in Toowong.

The Queenslander, located in Miskin St, was given a bit of makeover to feature an open kitchen and plenty of space where diners can enjoy their bread, pastries, and coffee.

The first thing you will notice when you enter is the amount of natural light that illuminates the space, which accentuates the cafe’s rustic interiors.

Take your pick from their house blend and a rotation of filter coffee courtesy of Coffee Supreme, to go with your choice of comfort food like their croissants, Kouign-amann, and Fruit Danish.

Riser Bread is open Thursday to Satursday, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Sundays, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Check out their Instagram @riserbread for updates.

The danishes & croissants here are out of this world! They are soo crunchy & buttery. They also use fresh ingredients on their fruit danishes which I love. I can’t stand when places use canned or frozen goods. Maybe the best place in Brisbane!
Jasmine Strelkoff

Everything about this place is top notch! There are too many delicious-looking things to try in one visit (seasonal danish and sausage roll are particularly good), with excellent coffee and lovely staff in a beautiful space.
Georgie O’Brien

Misspelt

Misspelt is a lovely little cafe in Paddington, with room enough for a table and a few chairs by the window and a pink hued pastry cabinet filled to the brim with sweet and savoury treats.

They have an extensive menu of mouthwatering treats, from sourdough to loaves, which you can wash down with a cup of coffee from their sibling, Blackout Coffee, which is located right next door.

The cafe is the brainchild of Eli Rami and Sam Holman, the same hospitality duo who brought Brisbane some of its most unique destinations, such as Noir Wine Bar which is in Given Terrace, and Uh-Oh Spaghetti-o, a pasta bar in Fortitude Valley.

Read: Sumptuous Vegan, Vegetarian Options Now Up At Regatta’s River Road Cafe

Mis.spelt Paddington is open seven days a week. You can follow them on Instagram @mis.speltbakery.

THIS IS MY NEW FAVOURITE MORNING SPOT! Paddington has been seriously lacking in the baked goods department, it’s so refreshing to have a cute spot with a great selection of pastries, local produce and great coffee next door. The staff and manager are so friendly and fun, great vibes and energy
Kat H

Mis.spelt blew me away! Couldn’t pick between the almond croissant and that mouth watering sausage roll, so I got both. Verdict: delicious. The space and the staff compliment each other with awesome personality to make this place the perfectly scrumptious twin to Blackout. The bread is also brilliant. Definitely a dangerous place to be a loaf of sourdough…
Rory Freemantle

Woolworths Opens New Toowong Site After 5 Years

A new Woolworths site has finally opened at the Toowong Village on Sherwood Rd five years after the supermarket chain closed its stand-alone outlet on the opposite side of the road.

The 4,000-sqm location, which officially welcomed shoppers on the 7th of December 2022, offers the full line and will have about 100 staff members to assist the customers. It’s the first new supermarket to open in Brisbane’s inner west after more than a decade.

In 2017, the old Woolworths opposite Toowong Village, which had been one of the very first supermarkets in the precinct, had to permanently close as the property was up for redevelopment as a multi-level residential and commercial centre.

Toowong Village, which recently revamped its retail lineup, has Coles on the ground floor and just welcomed The Source, a grocery store for bulk purchases. The shopping centre has two Asian supermarkets as well, Hanamart and Fresco.

For the first time in 36 years, Toowong Village also upgraded its travelators and glass lifts to improve accessibility, especially for its senior customers.

The refurbishments and update come as Coles is also in the midst of an inner west expansion with Coles Local in Taringa and plans lodged for Bardon and Milton.

Woolworths Toowong has taken over the space formerly occupied by David Jones at the gallery level of the shopping centre.

The supermarket includes a new onsite bakery that serves freshly-baked bread, gourmet pastries and bespoke cakes. The outlet also features a large deli section and a sushi bar from Sushi Izu.

Woolworths Toowong is open as early as 7:00 a.m. amidst the Christmas rush. Incidentally during this holiday season, Toowong Village is offering ticketless free parking for the first three hours effective the 1st of December 2022.

Absolutely incredible, words cannot describe how delighted I am for Woolworths to bless me with it’s presence, I have been counting down the days and staying up all night in anticipation for the opening. And Woolworths has delivered above and beyond, absolutely pogchamp, to say the least.
Angus

Beautifully presented store with really fresh produce and friendly staff. Smaller floor area than Woolworths Indooroopilly yet surprisingly had items I can’t find at Indro. Makes the Coles downstairs look like a Bi-Lo (sorry Coles!)
Nick

I have been looking forward to this Woolworths since it was announced. So excited to see it finally open and be just as good as I imagined. Very well presented store that I will be going to everytime I need groceries.
Matthew

Remembering Wallace Bishop: Successful Jeweller and Brisbane Boys College Alumnus

Wallace Bishop may have passed but his legacy lives on in the company that is now one of Australia’s oldest and most successful jewellery businesses.

The beloved Brisbane jeweller who made the family business a national brand, died peacefully at home on the 17th of November 2022, at the age of 88.

The grandson of his namesake, Wallace Bishop, who came to Queensland in 1909 and opened the family’s first store in the city, is a third-generation family jeweller. He joined his grandfather’s company after sitting for his Year 10 examinations at Brisbane Boys College, where he was Dux of his class in 1950.

At that time, the family had two stores, including the Wallace Bishop Arcade on King George Street, which would become a Brisbane landmark for over seven decades.

In 1976, Wal, as he was fondly called, became the chief executive officer of the Wallace Bishop company and ran the family business from day to day. The jewellery brand was already established name in Queensland, supporting 160 workers.

Two decades later, under his guidance, Wallace Bishop bought the Hardy Brothers Jewellers, a 166-year-old Australian company marketing high-end products. The jeweller also secured the opportunity to design and deliver the handcrafted Melbourne Cup for 17 years.

Today, the family business has over 50 stores and more than 500 employees and Wal’s son, Stuart, has taken the reins. Stuart said his father succeeded because he believed that “what goes around comes around” and had always given back to the community.

Wal also surrounded himself with loyal associates and believed that luck is paid off with hard work.

In 2018, Wal was awarded the Order of Australia membership for his significant contribution to retail business. A year later, he was also inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.

‘Heartbreaking’: Dozens of Native Animals Kept in Poor Conditions in Toowong Home

The animals, including possums, were allegedly kept in poor conditions | Photo credit: Department of Environment and Science / des.qld.gov.au

A joint compliance operation has seized 110 native animals and 25 carcasses from a Toowong home. The animals were found to be living in very awful conditions, with many so sick that they needed to be euthanised.

“It’s heartbreaking.” – RSPCA spokesperson Emma Lagoon

Armed with a search warrant, Queensland Police Service (QPS), the Department of Environment and Science (DES) conducted the raid at a Toowong residence where They found more than 100 live animals.

Many of the animals found in small cages that have no access to sunlight and fresh air. A closer inspection showed that 85 of the animals were found to be sick and required immediate veterinary treatment.

It took officers from QPS, QPWS and a large team of RSPCA Inspectors, wildlife staff, and several vehicles to transport all the remaining native animals to the RSPCA Wacol facility where they were assessed and treated.

Unfortunately, 67 of the animals taken to Wildlife Hospital were in such a bad state of health and had no chance of being rehabilitated and released to the wild that they had to be euthanized.

“Wildlife officers and police searched the house in relation to a number of wildlife offences that were alleged to have been committed,” Compliance officer Warren Christensen said.

“Our investigation has shown the person may be allowed to conduct native animal rehabilitation activities under a group rehabilitation permit, but it is clear the person had taken too many animals into care.”

The animals included birds and they allegedly did not receive adequate treatment | Photo credit: Department of Environment and Science / des.qld.gov.au

RSPCA spokesperson Emma Lagoon said that the state of the animals and the living conditions that they were required to endure has left their team in a state of shock and disbelief.

“It’s weighed heavily on our team. We’re here to save our wildlife and so many of these patients were beyond saving.

“The whole investigation has been emotionally taxing for the RSPCA team and we would like to commend QPS and DES for their hard work in this investigation so the animals involved could get the appropriate care they needed,” Ms Lagoon said.

The police also discovered 25 deceased animals stacked inside the freezers located beneath the house, with some already unable to be identified, and believed to have been euthanized due to illness and disease.

The animals that were seized include:

Ringtail and brushtail possums
Birds – magpie, kookaburras, crow, currawong, bush turkey, curlew, butcher bird, pigeons, barn owl, pacific black ducks, tawny frogmouth, rainbow lorikeets, noisy minor
Reptiles – pythons, turtles, eastern water dragon
Phascogale

After the early November raid, the case remains under investigation with QPS and DES as they work towards the filing of appropriate charges.

“Our investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about offences under the Animal Care and Protection Act or breaches of wildlife rehabilitation permits is encouraged to call 1300 130 372,” Mr Christensen said

“Wildlife carers provide a vital service throughout Queensland, and most of them are extremely diligent when it comes to the care and rehabilitation of their animals.

“Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, carers and wildlife groups are required to hold permits to rehabilitate sick, injured, or orphaned protected animals so they can be returned to the wild.

“Wildlife carers must comply with strict animal welfare requirements under the Code of Practice Care of Sick, Injured or Orphaned Protected Animals in Queensland.

“As the environmental regulator, DES will take strong action against anyone operating unlawfully or putting the conservation or welfare of our native wildlife at risk.”

Who Should Fix Damaged Headstones at Toowong Cemetery?

Observations of damaged headstones at Toowong Cemetery have raised questions about who is responsible for fixing them after some locals called on authorities to intervene in repairing them.

Read: Historian Asks For Preservation Of Burial Sites In Toowong Cemetery

With a history dating back to 1875, Toowong Cemetery is now already home to around 117,000 graves. Many of the headstones at the cemetery have fallen and a number of the grave surrounds have collapsed.

Finding graves at the cemetery can also be extremely difficult. Since most of the graves at the cemetery are quite old, the majority of headstones do not have numbers markings on them. This is due to the fact that the practice of marking numbers on headstones was not introduced until the late 1900s.

Under the Queensland Cemeteries Act 1865, the burial rights holder and their descendants are responsible for maintaining individual graves.

There are locals who believe this law should be updated; however, others believe taxpayers’ money would be put to better use providing housing for the ‘living’ instead of being spent on graves.

Jack Sim, a historian and member of Friends of Toowong Cemetery, noted that repairing and maintaining headstones can be very expensive, highlighting the fact that the cemetery is home not just to hundreds but thousands of headstones needing repair.

Mr Sim, who is famous for his ghost tours at Toowong Cemetery and other cemeteries across the city, said in 2021, that restoring deteriorating burial places would require Brisbane City Council to have an emergency fund, since the cost of repinning a headstone is estimated to be around $3,000.

Meanwhile, Council has made it clear that maintenance of headstones and plaques, including the restoration of old and dilapidated headstones, is the responsibility of the family and descendants.

BCC currently maintains 12 cemeteries across the city and this includes Toowong Cemetery.

Whilst Council is working with community groups like Friends of Toowong Cemetery to improve the cemetery’s condition, they are only responsible for maintaining the cemetery grounds.

Read: What You Need To Know About the Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour

Council’s responsibility for the cemetery, according to law, only includes mowing, whipper snipping, tree care, topping-up dirt levels in graves, lifting and levelling subsided plaques, and cleaning-up old and unwanted flowers off gravesites.

Brisbane Boys’ College Scores Major Coup, Names John Buchanan as First XI Coach

Photo Credit: Facebook / Buchanan Success Coaching

Brisbane Boys’ College has just scored a major coup, naming John Buchanan, the most successful cricket coach in history, as its First XI Coach for the 2023 season.

Brisbane Boys’ College (BBC), a school with a proud cricket progeny in the likes of rising Bulls star Matt Willans, plus Chris Hartley, Jack Clayton, and Craig Philipson, has officially appointed the record-breaking coach as the squad’s mentor for the 2023 GPS First XI, a competition that he participated in when he played for The Southport School from 1969 to 1970.

Mr Buchanan also represented Queensland playing seven Sheffield Shield matches between 1978 to 1979.

Coach Par Excellence

In 1994, Mr Buchanan was appointed coach for the Queensland Bulls, a position he held for five years. During that period, the state squad won the Mercantile Mutual Cup twice and acquired its first-ever Shield since competing in the Sheffeld Shield in 1926-27.

He then went on to coach the Australian Cricket Team for eight years, beginning in 1999, leading the team to one success after another.

During his time as coach, the Australian Cricket Team set a world record by winning 16 straight Test Matches, as well as achieving 29 undefeated World Cup matches and winning One-Day International 14 consecutive times.

By the time he retired from coach duties, the team had become World Cup Champions, Test Cricket World Champions, and holders of The Ashes, thanks to his unmatched mentoring skills.

Former Australian Coach Appointed Brisbane Boys’ College First XI Coach — Photo Credit: Facebook / Buchanan Success Coaching

For the upcoming GPS First XI season foray of the BBC, the legendary coach said he would focus on making sure that the BBC squad has the best skills they could possibly have, a sentiment he also expressed when he voiced his excitement over his latest appointment.

Brisbane Boys’ College’ First XI Captain Jamie Alexander was just as pleased for an amazing opportunity for the boys to work with the highly acclaimed coach, who has a win record of over 75% since 1999.

What You Need To Know About the Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour

The Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour is a fun, chilling, and educational tour that is not for the faint of heart. If you’re ready to hear spooky stories such as The Statue That Moves, Ghosts of Paddington Cemetery, Mayne Murder, and The Black Prince, here are a few things you need to know before booking your tour.

Read: Historian Asks For Preservation Of Burial Sites In Toowong Cemetery

It’s presented by Jack Sim

Jack Sim, Director of Ghost Tours Australia, has been hosting true crime tours around Brisbane for over 25 years, in hopes of raising awareness of some of the city’s most terrible crimes.

Sim, a dark historian, authored Ghost Trails, a collectors’ series for fans of Haunted Heritage consisting of creepy collections of several hundred sites based on a theme.

Those who will join the Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour will get a copy of The Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery written by Jack Sim.

You can take photos only

Filming is strictly not permitted. However, you can take some photos whilst on tour, as long as it’s done whilst the guide is not speaking to avoid distraction.

Wear a pair of comfortable shoes

The tour is going to last for two hours. With that in mind, it’s best to wear flat-soled enclosed shoes. Please note that thongs, sandals, and high heels are not permitted on tour.

Ghost hunting is not allowed

Hence, guests are not permitted to use Ouija boards, pendulums, video and still photography, psychic, medium and clairvoyant channeling of spirits, as well as apps for ghost hunting or paranormal investigation during the tour.

Those who are interested in Paranormal Investigations are encouraged to join Ghost Tours Australia’s ghost hunting tours at the Goodna Cemetery and Ipswich Cemetery.

Certain Level of Fitness is Required

Because steep hills are involved in the tour, it’s important that guests have moderate to high levels of fitness. Make sure to check the disability requirements for the tour, just to be sure.

You can bring the kids

Kids over the age of 10 are allowed to join the tour. However, parents and guardians are being reminded that the tours usually feature strong content in the form of true historic ghost stories.

The stories may include gruesome and macabre material including murders, crimes, violence, deaths, executions and suicide. The stories can be frightening, scary and distressing especially for young children.

Read: Toowong Cemetery Tours from FOSBC Not Shutting Down

Bring your own torch

Each guest at is required to bring their own torch. Torch apps on smart phones are suitable.

To learn more about the Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour or to buy your tickets, visit https://ghosttoursaustralia.com.au/.

World-Class BBC Pipe Band Delivers Award-winning Performances at Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Front of Worldwide TV Audience

Photo Credit: Brisbane Boys' College Old Collegians Pipe Band/Facebook

Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band One and Pipe Band Two delivered solid, memorable performances at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022, where they placed firmly amongst the best, earning top places in a gruelling competition against other bands from Canada, USA, Mexico, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

BBC’s Pipe Band One clinched second place Division 4A, against a combination of adult and schoolboy bands in the competition, whilst the Pipe Band Two came away with a creditable fifth place in Division 4B.

The competition, held as part of a series during the Edinburgh Festivals in August, was televised across 40 countries and followed by over 220,000 people who watch the spectacular live production every year.

Pomp and pageantry at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Photo Credit: https://www.army.mod.uk/

The 2022 production saw 800 performers from around the world come together again at the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade in Scotland, after a two-year hiatus brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A selection of BBC Old Boys playing at the Royal Edimburgh Military Tattoo 2022
Photo Credit: Facebook/BBCPipeBand

This year’s theme was ‘Voices,’ aptly chosen to demonstrate that the world is closely connected through music, song, and dance despite cultural differences and geographical distances.

World-Class Pipe Band

Mr Andre Casson, headmaster at Brisbane Boys’ College, couldn’t be more proud of the boys.

“In addition to the Tattoo shows, BBC involvement in key championships continued and resulted in a final total of nine trophies. Our Pipe Band, along with 145 bands from across the globe, competed for the top prize at the World Championships at Glasgow Green in front of 40,000 spectators,” Headmaster Casson said.

“This event marks the pinnacle of the pipe band competitions and was the culmination of months of dedicated practice from our boys under the
indefatigable guidance of our brilliant director, Mr Stevie Stanley assisted by Mr Liam Cox, and Mr Aidan Scott,” he added.

The College Pipe Bands put on an impressive show, with the BBC Number Two band placing sixth and the BBC Number One band placing third at the World Championships.

These trophies were added to ones already won at the North Berwick Highland Games, where both bands achieved first place in their respective grades and also won the drumming.

The Number One band also secured first place in Division 4A and the Number Two band secured fourth place in Division 4B at the Bridge of Allan Highland Games.

“Although located on the other side of the world, BBC embodies the spirit of Scotland, not just in the foundations of our Presbyterian and Methodist Church organisation, but in the evocative sounds of the Pipe Band where ‘our Hunting MacLean tartan speaks of our origin, the drum line our heartbeat, and the bagpipes our voice,” Mr Casson said.

Maintaining a Culture of Excellence

BBC Pipe Band — Photo Credit: Facebook/BBCPipeBand

“This success is made all the more remarkable since the boys were able to maintain a full academic program, being taught during the day by school staff,” Mr Casson said.

“We are immensely proud of each and every one of our boys for sustaining such a high level of performance and commitment and for representing the College so well on a global stage.”

‘Sounds of Scotland’ Outdoor Concert in Toowong

The BBC Pipe Band will be performing with local musicians and dancers, featuring a night of Scottish musical entertainment, at the “Sounds of Scotland” outdoor concert on Saturday, 12 November 2022.

There will be an array of refreshments, a BBQ, and an interesting line-up of stalls with Scottish wares at the event which will be held at the Brisbane Boys’ College Junior School Green.

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Toowong’s Max Harding Named Brisbane’s Best Hockey Player

Toowong resident Max Harding made history for the Pine Rivers St Andrews Hockey Club, after winning the premier individual player award of the Brisbane Hockey League.

Read: Sam Anderson of Toowong Harriers Helped Team Queensland Secure Little Athletics Podium Finish

Playing the midfield position, the 23-year-old registered five straight player-of-the-match performances from the first five rounds of the season. Max Harding claimed seven player-of-the-match awards in total throughout 2022.

This makes Harding the first Pine Rivers St Andrews player to bring home the Best and Fairest medal, based on 3-2-1 votes from umpires after each Brisbane Hockey League 1 game, since Garry Jennison in 1997.

Also a midfielder, Jennison debuted for Australia in 1991 and returned to the national side in 1995 and 1996.

Harding was a Queensland Under 21 representative who made his Brisbane Hockey League debut in 2016 and brought up his 100th game for the 2022 season. Whilst he’s currently living in Brisbane, the hockey star originally hailed from Toowoomba.

Max Harding has come close to winning the award in a previous season a couple of years ago, finishing second in the player of the year voting in 2020.

Meanwhile, The Saints also won the The Merv Harris Memorial Shield, an award they have won for the past three seasons. It’s being awarded to the best performing Club across the Senior Men’s Competitions and Divisions of the Brisbane Hockey Association.

About the BHA Best & Fairest Medal

Brisbane Hockey Association’s Best & Fairest Medal is a prestigious honour for hockey players, and was first awarded in 1980 and went by various names, such as the Oakbridge Medal and the Fosters Medal.

Read: Wrex Woolnough of Toowong Parish Celebrates 50 Years Of Priesthood

The medal is being awarded to the player who has the most votes from match umpires. Last year’s winner was also from Brisbane, Bulimba Hockey Club’s Cale Cramer (2021), with 26 points.

New 10-Storey Development Coming to Coronation Drive in Toowong

Photo Credit: Arc Residences / arcresidences.com.au

A 10-storey rooftop development is coming to Coronation Drive in Toowong. The $110-million apartment tower near the Regatta ferry terminal will offer city views and 65 metres of direct river frontage.

Approved in early June 2022, development plans for “Arc” include 27 three-bedroom apartments and a penthouse with four beds plus a rooftop pool and barbecue area on a 1,500-sqm site at 570 Coronation Drive.

Photo Credit: Arc Residences / arcresidences.com.au

Designed by Bureau Proberts, the project will have all of its apartment units facing the riverfront which Bureau Proberts Design Director Terry McQuillan said is something that someone who has lived their whole life in Brisbane City could move into and be proud of.

“In response to the Triangular site, but it actually forms a sweeping Arc, we’ve taken that and shaped it and morphed it to resemble the river and context that it’s in.”

“We wanted something that was water sculpted and ephemeral,” adds Spyre Group Design Manager Kent Pinel, “which as it sort of sits in its entirety means that there’s (sic) small crevices for landscaping and shading.”

The undulating design, he explains, adds beauty and control of privacy and the sunlight that comes into the entertainment spaces. These aspects of the design assure that no resident is preferred over the other and anyone who chooses to buy into the building will get the best possible outcome.

Arc is now selling and for Spyre Group, it is an opportune time to launch the project considering the rising demand for luxury apartments in Brisbane particularly for downsizers who are looking into newly built high-rise dwellings.

Spyre Group is an Australian residential property development company with more than $750 million worth of projects including several upcoming and underway developments such as the Moray House in New Farm, Cala Dei in Coolangatta and Natura in Burleigh Heads.

Recently, the group successfully sold the penthouse inside its Glasshouse apartment project on Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads for an off-the-plan record of $20 million.

Construction of the Arc project is slated to commence in early 2023.