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Toowong is among Brisbane’s healthiest suburbs, according to a Domain Healthy Brisbane study.

The first-ever study, in partnership with Deloitte Access Economics and Tract Consultants, compares 260 Greater Brisbane suburbs based on 10 indicators that either promote or hinder residents from achieving a healthy lifestyle.

These indicators include walkability, active transport to work, open space, tree cover, and volunteering. Based on these indicators, each suburb is then given a rating from 0.5 (poorest) to 5 (best) stars.

Promotion Indicators:

• Walkability – Measures the urban environment’s capacity for walking combined with safety, efficient and enjoyable walking experience.
• Active Transport to Work – Measures the percentage of residents in the labour force travelling to work, through walking or cycling, from their residence. Scores favour those suburbs with close proximity to employment centres or have access to bicycle routes.
• Open Space – Measures the proportion of a suburb covered by public open space, providing an opportunity for active recreation and participation in sporting activities.
• Tree Cover – Measures the percentage of tree cover of a suburb. Tree cover is known to have calming effects and aids in recovery, as well a reducing air pollution and lowering urban temperatures.
• Access to Fresh Food/Supermarkets – Measures the density of supermarket and fresh food retailers in a suburb per 1000 of the population.
• Volunteering – Measures the proportion of the suburb’s population involved in volunteer work.

Hindrance Indicators:

• Fast Food Stores – measures the ease of access to fast-food. A high density of fast-food store equates to greater accessibility. The final accessibility score is the average of individual suburb scores plus the scores of neighbouring suburbs.
• Liquors Stores – Measures the density of residents per packaged liquor store.

Recovery Indicators:

• Hospitals – The average of a suburb’s distance to a hospital and the number of hospital beds per 1000 population.
• Allied/Community Health – Combines both the allied and community facilities that are available for residents in a particular suburb.

The 5-star Suburbs Are as Follows:

• Indooroopilly
• Taringa
• Grange
• Ashgrove
• Chelmer
• Toowong
• Wilston
• Bardon
• Graceville
• Chermside West
• Chapel Hill
• St Lucia
• Fig Tree Pocket
• Auchenflower
• Yeronga

Many of these indicators were smoothed to account for “boundary effects” such as a road dividing suburbs, where a large park is located just across that boundary. The study is designed to create a better understanding of the opportunities that suburbs provide its residents that promotes healthy living.

On 21 October 1992, three historical memorials in Toowong Cemetery—Trooper Cobb’s Grave, Temple of Peace, and Caskey Monument—were entered into the Queensland Heritage Register list for their aesthetic, cultural, and historical significance.

Trooper Cobb’s Grave

Trooper Cobb’s Grave was erected in 1901, as a memorial of Trooper John Cobb of the 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Trooper John Cobb died in 1901 just days after returning from the South African War; he was 44 years old.

His grave was constructed by Andrew Lang Petrie and is the only known grave that was erected in memory of a soldier who served in the South African War. The memorial is made of Helidon sandstone, about 1.9 metres long and one metre wide. On top is a carved sandstone—a rifle, hat with emu plume and badge, and a bandolier along with a marble plate bearing an inscription.

Trooper Cobb’s Grave was cited by the Queensland Heritage Register for its historical significance because it’s a rare memorial of a soldier who served in the South African War.

Temple of Peace

Temple of Peace was erected by Richard Ramo in 1924, in memory of his four sons. Whilst researchers were unable to confirm, it was alleged that his three natural sons— Victor, Henry, and Gordon—were killed in the First World War. Ferdinand Christian Borell, his foster son, died of self-inflicted gunshot wound. Sitting atop Fred’s sarcophagus is the statue of Ramo’s dog who was “maliciously poisoned”.

The Temple of Peace is a rectangular memorial about 2.7 metres long, 1.7 metres wide, and 3 metres high. The mausoleum features tapered corner pillar, a canopy with corner finials shaped like urns, a miniature mausoleum housing a lamp of remembrance. More than just a memorial, Temple of Peace is a unique monument bearing inscription that expressed pacifist and anti-war sentiments.

The Queensland Heritage Register citation recognizes the Temple of Peace for its outstanding historical significance. Designed and built by Ramo himself, the inscriptions attests to his links to the Industrial Workers of the World–a dissident organisation which sought to unite workers to overthrow capitalism and resist war.

The Temple of Peace is an anti-war monument that is a mix of a mausoleum and Indian temple with eccentric design and emotive inscriptions that express a sense of loss, instability, despair, and hopelessness.

Caskey Monument

Caskey Monument, the first South African War monument, was erected in 1902 in memory of Lieutenant Lachlan John Caskey who was a member of the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. The memorial was designed by prominent monumental mason William Busby and was sponsored by the State Government.

The Caskey Monument, along with Berry and MacFarlane Monument, Anning Monument, and South African War Memorial, is one of the few known South African War monuments in Brisbane.

The memorial features an obelisk on a pedestal draped in a shroud. Below is a quill that serves as a tribute to Caskey’s academic achievements. To acknowledge his sporting interests, the west face features a crossed tennis racquets and a crossed cricket bats on the east. Completing the theme’s features is a football on the front of the pedestal.

The Caskey Monument was entered into the Heritage Register list for its historical importance being the “first known South African War memorial in Queensland and a model for later monuments in this state. The monument provides a unique source of historical information, and the design is important in illustrating the social fashion and attitudes of its era.”

The REIQ recently reported the latest housing market statistics which showed Toowong median house price at $827,500. That is a slight decrease by -0.6% over the last 12 months but an increase of 22.9% over the last 5 years. In the 2nd quarter of 2018, there were 9 homes sold in the suburb.

“In my opinion, buyers in the property market for 2017 were almost in a frenzy to secure a property as supply had begun to tighten 2 years earlier and they had been starved of properties for sale,” said Byrony O’ Neill based in Auchenflower.  

“They were seeing fewer homes on the market and therefore weren’t questioning the asking prices of Sellers. There were some record prices achieved in this year. For 2018, I feel the buyers are taking a step back and analysing if the price of the property they are considering, represents value.

“Most house buyers in the suburb are shopping with a budget of between $900K to $1.5m and are looking for 4 bedroom homes on 600sqm or more allotments, with first home owners targeting apartments as an entry into the suburb.

“I believe there are fewer buyers through the open homes this year as people either bought in 2017 or decided to stay and renovate due to not being able to find another property to relocate.

“With a steading increase in the Toowong median house price, sitting at $860,000 way above the Brisbane median house price of $680,000, Toowong is out-performing most suburbs with property values and desirability,” O’Neill said.

Knock Downs

O’Neill said she noticed a trend that has become more apparent this year and that is the increasing demand for properties which can be demolished or vacant land within the inner-western school catchment zones.

“Properties within close proximity of these schools are increasingly in demand and are a major driver in a buyer’s purchasing decision. Buyers are choosing to buy into school catchment zones, demolish the original property and build a home which is perfectly suited to their family,” she said

‘No Frills’ Units

“Buyers for apartments are active in the market, but they are particular about where they are willing to invest,” said O’Neill.

“Despite an oversupply of units in the Brisbane market, older style apartments in small, low maintenance complexes with reasonable body corporate levies are selling in record time.

“Whilst they may not be able to compete with the brand new boutique apartments, they offer an opportunity for buyers who recognise the potential of adding modern improvements. These apartments tend to be generous in size with solid foundations that are ideal for renovating. The buildings are also smaller which appeals to buyers searching for a ‘no frills’ complex and low body corporate fees – something that is difficult to find in the abundance of the new, resort-style complexes.”

The Brisbane City Council’s City Planning Committee has recommended disapproval of the application for subdivision of a heritage-listed Goldicott House site in Toowong.

City Planning Chairman Councillor Matthew Bourke cited the failure to meet the Council’s strict criteria for a use of a Local Heritage Place as the reason for the rejection of the application.

The development application involves subdivision of the 12,340 sqm lot at 65 Grove Crescent, Toowong, converting the heritage convent building into a residential home, and demolition of The Music Room.

Residents’ Sentiments

A total of 123 community submissions from the locals were considered in the BCC’s decision. “During its assessment, Council considered 123 submissions, including a submission from the National Trust, outlining concerns about heritage implications,” Cr Bourke said.

Residents’ submissions expressed concerns and opposition to the application citing environmental impact and worsening of traffic congestion. Locals are also concerned about the potential traffic danger to children of the nearby schools. Lastly, they are calling for the protection of cultural heritage buildings such as the Goldicott.

Locals United to Save Goldicott

A petition created through Change.org titled “Save Goldicott House” has already garnered over 2,600 signatures in support of the cause. Locals have also expressed their support through the Facebook page “Toowong Heritage – worth fighting for”.

“Council is committed to protecting Brisbane’s history, character and way of life by retaining the things we love about our city, as illustrated in the recent launch of Brisbane’s Future Blueprint and this means preserving our heritage places, their landscapes, views and settings,” said Cr Bourke.

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Read: Toowong Residents Fight To Save Heritage Homes

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Rebecca Kenny was elated by the news and said it was nice to see residents can make a change. Walter Taylor Ward Councilor Julian Simmonds was also pleased with the decision. “I’m delighted council’s heritage officers have reconsidered the state approval,’’ Cr Simmonds said.

Preserving Our Cultural Heritage for the Future

Goldicott, built in 1885 for Brisbane engineer Charles Lambert Depre, was the first to use poured concrete. Erecting the Goldicott house was a revolutionary innovation in construction at that time. In 1903, Goldicott was renamed Mount St Mary’s Convent after Sisters of Mercy purchased the property.

In 1998, Goldicott was listed in the Queensland Heritage Register. “The concrete construction was innovative and remarkable for its time. The place is significant for its association with engineer Charles Lambert Depree, and his contribution to concrete construction implementation and technology in 19th century Queensland,” Queensland Heritage Register citation said.