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Toowong Development Dreams Turning into a Nightmare?

Photo credit: http://www.my-property-report.com/

The suburb of Toowong has been hounded by development plans, and to make matters worse, these plans are hitting the suburb’s heritage areas.

The champagne flute towers on Grace on Coronation Drive have been approved; the Endrim House on Woodstock Road is in danger to be turned into a childcare centre; and recent unconfirmed reports have raised apprehensions have sparked an online petition about the possibility of Goldicott House being turned into an aged-care facility.

Also Read: Toowong “Champagne Flutes Tower” Still a Go
Also Read: Historical Endrim House in Toowong in Danger, Residents’ Appeal Being Reviewed by the Council

Goldicott House
Photo credit: https://www.realestate.com.au/

With all of these developments happening in the area, leaders of the community are actively campaigning against further “development.” According to them, these developments are compromising the suburb’s character. Such developments are apt for high-density living, while to them, Toowong clearly is not.

Elizabeth Handley, the president of Brisbane Residents United said that they weren’t consulted about these developments at all.

Elizabeth Handley
Photo credit: Brisbane Residents United / Facebook

The Walter Taylor Ward councillor said that the suburb is an ideal place for growth, and residents will see significant amounts of it in the coming years. The suburb’s easy access to shopping centers, medical facilities, and high-frequency public transport makes it attractive to development investors and would-be residents.

Endrim House
Photo credit: The Interior Styling Studio / Facebook

It seems that Toowong is ripe for more developments, but residents think otherwise. The clamor comes from residents who are lobbying to maintain the heritage character of the suburb in the midst of further urbanisation.

City Planning chairman Julian Simmonds, on the other hand, has yet to give a comment on the residents’ take on these potential and current developments.

Toowong Bus Strike Delivers Wake-up Call to Improve Driver Safety

Unfortunate events have been very rampant towards bus drivers in Brisbane since last year. In light of this, a bus strike has taken place in Toowong and other areas on 18-19 July.

Around 35,000 commuters during the early morning rush hour were warned to expect major delays due to the bus driver strike. On 18 July from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., bus drivers in Sherwood, Willawong and Virginia went on strike.

In Toowong and other areas such as Carina, Eagle Farm and Garden City, bus drivers went on strike in the morning of 19th July. This affected all services, including school buses until 7:30 a.m.

Their Demands

The Rail, Tram, and Bus Union has been pushing for pay and rostering adjustments. Furthermore, they are also pushing harder to improve safety for bus drivers in the city.

A review was released last year, which was supposed to be due in March of this year, in a bid to make drivers and passengers safer citing security upgrades.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk quickly responded and released an independent expert review highlighting five recommendations to improve safety measures. These recommendations include additional emergency buttons, a new rear exit window, and better driver and passenger education. There is also a recommendation for putting safety barriers for bus drivers.

According to Cr Quirk, they will be making a program that will involve 600 buses to get the much-needed emergency facilities.

The review was then submitted to the State Government for consideration. However, the union knows that it would take months before the recommendations were implemented and they are seeking action now.

The Last Nail in the Coffin

In September 2016, the State Government has reported 350 bus drivers were assaulted in Queensland in just six months. In October 2016, Manmeet Alisher, a Moorooka bus driver was killed. A man allegedly threw an accelerant into the bus, which set it alight at a bus stop. The man was charged for the death of Mr Alisher along with the attempted murder of 14 passengers.

Photo credit: http://www.rtbuvic.com.au/

They Want More

Tom Brown, the secretary of the union said that they are very grateful for these recommendations but they want more. The union wants to see extra security guards but the Council’s response to this request has so far been disappointing.

The RTBU believes that this bus strike would give them the results that they have been seeking for years.

Brisbane’s Steepest Street in Toowong Continues To be Habitable

When it comes to being Brisbane’s steepest street, Gower Street in Toowong remains unbeatable. With a 1 in 3.2 incline, 17.4-degree angle and 31% slope, the residents that live on the street take pride in their street’s fame.

Some might expect that there have been plenty of accidents on the street. Surprisingly, only a few accidents have happened here. Most of them, such as incidents of cars turning, happened before work on the bitumen had been completed. Residents in the area are happy to live in Toowong. What seems to be their only problem is that the bus stop is at the top of the hill, making a walk to the bus stop quite an aerobic exercise.

Photo credit: https://www.domain.com.au/

New homes continue to be built on the street despite its terrain condition. A recent builder recounts his experience building a home there. Kirk Hawkins of Hawkins & Co., said that his staff and subcontractors risked their lives just by simply building a home on Gower Street.

Mr Hawkins said that the steep incline posed a hazard to the trucks that deliver to the area. It came to a point that the trucks refused to deliver to them. Interim solutions were proposed, such as pumping concrete from Stanley Terrace. Eventually, all their efforts were deemed to have been worth it. The house was sold, after more than a month, for $1.675 million, largely due to its 180-degree views of the city and Mount Coot-tha.

According to Dixon Family’s Jack Dixon (the one who sold the house), despite the obvious challenges, focusing on the positives has helped the home sell. The home has now been nominated for the sloping build category in the Master Builders awards.

RACQ Winds Up Bridging Brisbane Survey; People Get to Have their Say on Toowong-West End and other Links

Despite the 13 river crossings that cater to vehicles located within a small radius around Brisbane, the growing number of vehicles, cyclists, buses, and pedestrians has necessitated a call to establish 12 new bridges. This initiative, currently being promoted by RACQ, is the subject of an ongoing survey that winds down in the end of June.

In 2010, an eco-friendly green bridge that linking Toowong and West End became a popular choice by the public during the joint state and council planning study forum. Participants during the meeting were highly in favour of an inner-western pedestrian and cycling bridge that will link the suburbs. However, no resolution was ever made about this. Years have passed and bridges have not been built yet in the city.

Last month, RACQ proposed 12 new direct river crossings, three-stage projects, and duplication of existing bridge crossings. The proposal, if accepted, will create links between suburbs such as Toowong, West End, Moggill, the CBD, New Farm, Kangaroo Point, and Hawthorne.

In the same month, they launched the Bridging Brisbane survey to get people talking about these proposed changes. Paul Turner, the RACQ spokesman said that it’s time that Brisbane plans for its future. The lack of planning when it comes to river crossings from the Brisbane City Council or the state government pushed them to take matters into their own hands to get the ball rolling.

Potential bridge locations can be viewed here. Results of the survey, which ends the 30th of June, are expected shortly after. The results will provide significant inputs for the various initiatives and will give city planners an idea of the pulse of the people.

Toowong’s Brisbane Boys College Sets Unprecedented Record Of 5 Consecutive Tennis GPS Titles

The prestigious GPS schools sporting competition gathered a new record recently, when Brisbane Boys College became the first school in any sport to complete five consecutive championships, when their Tennis team completed their fifth consecutive win.

The GPS tournaments(stands for Great Public Schools) are a sporting program, first started in 1918, covering 16 sports and activities amongst 9 schools:

BBC’s five-year winning streak comes on the back of previous BBC wins in 2006, 2007, and 2008; although Brisbane Grammar School and Ipswich Grammar School tied for the top spot in 2009, dashing BBC’s hopes for a four-peat win for that year.

Just four years after losing the top spot in 2009, the BBC team regained their premier standing via a three-way tie with Brisbane Grammar School and Nudgee College in 2013, and has been unbeatable since then.

Since the start of the GPS sporting competitions in 1918, the BBC tennis team has had 12 first place wins. They scored outright wins in the 1983, 1987, 2006-2008, and 2014-2017 championships, as well as shared wins in 1934, 2011, and 2013.

The team represented Australia in schoolboy tennis in Qatar in March 2015, where they placed fourth. That was not the first time the team traveled overseas to represent their school and country; in 2008, they also travelled to compete in Poland.

The team’s excellent standing has been attributed to the well-executed professional training program that their Director of Tennis, Chris Rolph, has implemented for the boys from Prep to Year 12. Mr. Rolph has introduced primary and secondary students to the game and aims to develop tennis players at all levels. The school’s program is now aligned with the program used by Tennis Australia’s qualified coaches.

Brisbane Boys’ College Tennis Program from Brisbane Boys’ College on Vimeo.

Mr. Rolph carries an extensive background in coaching, teaching and administration. His previous roles included manager of the Queensland Secondary School Tennis Team.

In 2016, the team also welcomed Ben Mitchell to the coaching team, Ben reached the Wimbledon Junior final in 2010 and played on the pro circuit at a very high level.

A dedicated staff member has also been assigned to assist with the tennis program’s needs. Tennis has really become an integral part of the school’s curriculum.

Could a six-peat be on the horizon for next year? Given the way the team has been playing, it seems likely that the BBC tennis team will continue to make GPS history.

Toowong’s Corner Store Cafe Sprinkles Charm and Cheer On a Busy Road

A charming and chic cafe sits on a busy road in Toowong. What used to be a rundown cottage was brought back to life and is now The Corner Store Cafe.

The owner Kim Malouf had been living in Toowong for a long time before she decided to set up her own uniquely styled shop. She created a cafe with a homely feel that not only offers food but also pantry necessities, fresh flowers, and other corner store essentials.

A new patio has been added to the place that created a place for outdoor dining that overlooks the organic herb and vegetable garden.

Photo credit: The Corner Store Cafe / Facebook

What’s special about the cafe is its ever-changing menu. Their breakfast selection could be an acai bowl of seed and nut granola with fresh fruit and then the next day, it could be offering something else, like spiced quinoa and almond milk porridge with poached pear, sweet dukkah and honey.

Delicious lunch options are also yours for the taking. Don’t skip the bacon cheeseburger or pulled pork tacos!

Your children will also have a wonderful time at the cafe, thanks to the well-fenced backyard where they can roam around freely and food offerings meant for the little ones such as poached egg soldiers, fruit salad, and the BLT with ketchup or ham and cheese toastie.

For those with a sweet tooth, there is also a selection of homemade treats that you can nibble on, such as berry muffins that will perfectly go well with their wide range of coffee and teas.

Heading on down to the corner store or visiting a cafe has certainly become a novel experience with Toowong’s Corner Store Cafe.

Historical Endrim House in Toowong In Danger, Residents’ Appeal Being Reviewed by The Council

Toowong’s historic Endrim House on Woodstock Road is in danger. Two years ago, the home was put to auction as a way to test the market. Now, residents are reacting to the passage of a proposal to turn it into a childcare centre.

Endrim House was built in 1905 using pieces of historical tram tracks. It was owned by Joseph Stallman Badger who came from the U.S. to Brisbane in 1896 to bring power to the city’s trams.
Mr Badger stayed there until he decided to return to the U.S. in 1923.

The house has six bedrooms, three bathrooms, built-in wardrobes, two garage spaces, and a pool in the garden. It is close to some of the best schools in the city.

In particular, the Toowong History Group has expressed their dismay over the proposal. They believe that the home should remain as it is, since it represents the suburb’s history.

Currently, the development application has been approved. This has caused an uproar among the residents, and they submitted an appeal to the Brisbane City Council. The council acknowledged the appeal last May. So far, there have been no updates yet on the council’s decision.

Auchenflower’s The Moorlands Holds a Horrific & Intriguing History

With its very name calling to mind a vision of a “field of flowers,” Auchenflower in Brisbane holds an intriguing mystery in one of its heritage homes that add contrast to its blossoming representation.

Photo credit: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library

The Moorlands at 451 Coronation Drive was built in 1892 by Arthur Smith. Designed by Richard Gailey, it is now a part of the Queensland Heritage Register. The home was originally built for the Mayne family. It replaced Moorlands Villa, their old family home.

The Maynes

Patrick Mayne was popular in the neighbourhood. He had his own butcher shop on Queen Street and he later on served as an alderman of the Brisbane Municipal Council. Married to Mary, they had four children.

The construction of their house began by the laying of the foundation stone, a task which was given to Mary Emelia Mayne, one of their children. It is said that underneath the foundation stone is a time capsule that contains newspapers of the day and the reason for the construction of the house.

A Case For Sanity

Prior to the construction of the house, Patrick and the Mayne family had already been the subject of speculation. According to the popular lore, Patrick allegedly confessed on his deathbed to killing and butchering a man, whilst allowing an innocent man to be hung for the crime.

A photo of Mary Emelia Mayne from Wikipedia

The neighbours maintained their distance from the house and the family. Children around the neighbourhood weren’t allowed to go to the house or even walk past it. The Mayne children became isolated in the house.

Three of the children continued to occupy the house following the deaths of their parents. They didn’t bear any children. The youngest child joined the Sisters of Mercy but spent the last years of her life in a strait jacket.

James, one of the children, lived in the property as well. He was a doctor and was a superintendent of the Brisbane General Hospital (now the Royal Brisbane Hospital). He, along with his sister Mary, tried to rectify the sins of their father. They donated to churches and even purchased and donated the land for the University of Queensland.

Another one of the children, Isaac, also took residence in the house, but not by choice. He was locked up in a room as he was in a state of madness. He was linked to the savage murder of a Japanese man around the Milton Station. He was moved to an asylum, where he eventually took his own life.

After these horrific tragedies, James resigned from the hospital and travelled abroad with his sister.

During the World War II, the house was occupied by the US Army. It was used to provide accommodations for war widows and orphaned children until 1971. Today, it is now the head office of the Uniting Church’s Division of Aged Care and Domiciliary Services.

Despite the tragic and difficult lives that its occupants suffered, in the end, the house has risen above all of the rumours and speculations that plagued its reputation.

Newly-Approved Student Accommodation Development in Toowong Ditches Residential Parking, Promotes Car-Sharing Scheme

In 2016, the Azure Development Group proposed a 15-storey student accommodation development at 25-29 Archer Street in Toowong. Just recently, the Brisbane City Council has approved its development in the area.

The project will consist of 555 rooms, a pool deck located on the rooftop, and a cross block link to an overpass that connects Toowong Village and the train station. The upcoming development lies in close proximity to the University of Queensland, hence the concept of the development. It also has easy access to public transportation.

What makes this development unique versus other establishments in the area is that it doesn’t come with a residential car parking. The development promotes public transport and cycling with the 200 bicycle parks as well as an Uber set-down bay. This makes it the first development that the BCC has approved that implements the council’s enforced requirements to allocate a scheme for car-sharing for its residents.

Trent Keirnan, the Azure Property Group Director said that the car-sharing scheme is due to their observation that most students these days don’t really need to have or use their own vehicle. It also eases the traffic congestion in the area.

However, just like most development plans, the initial proposal didn’t go smoothly. JFP Urban Consultants, on behalf of Archer Street, contradicted the development plans saying that it represents overdevelopment, as well as its lack of car parking, could be a concern for the neighbourhood, noting the already existing parking problems within the area.

BCC’s city planning boss Julian Simmonds quickly responded and said that the car-sharing scheme was recommended by the Parking Taskforce. He said that this scheme is ideal for student accommodation.

The development will be finished in early 2019.

Toowong Cemetery’s Spook Hill: Supernatural Circumstance or Optical Illusion?

As one of Brisbane’s oldest cemeteries, Toowong Cemetery holds a lot of myths and legends, enough to spook you out. One of the most popular urban legends in the area is located at Twelfth Avenue, which is more popularly known as “Spook Hill.”

This sloping road within the cemetery grounds has a very special property. There have been a lot of reports that parking your car facing uphill and letting it roll will have the car rolling uphill instead of downhill. Freaky, right?

When some people experience an unnatural occurrence, they naturally want to find out what’s causing it. One traditional tale tells of the graves of two young sisters who were killed in a car accident lie on top of Spook Hill. According to the legend, the two girls drag unsuspecting cars uphill so that the people in the car will meet the same fate.

This legend became very popular. People would flock to the spot in the cemetery to see and experience it for themselves. The incident became so intriguing that it caught the attention of paranormal investigator and author Jack Sim, who went to Spook Hill to know the real reason behind the supernatural tale. Unfortunately, he didn’t find any evidence to support the story.

Some say that there is really no ghost or mystery behind the occurrence, if indeed it occurs. It may just be that the lay of the land produces an optical illusion, which makes a downhill slope look like an uphill slope instead.

Whether or not supernatural forces are at work behind the mystery of Spook Hill, the car rolling on its own is enough to make you run.

For more supernatural stories about the area, join the Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tours happening every weekend.