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Toowong Streets Come Alive with Vibrant Artworks on Signal Boxes

The streets of Toowong have been transformed into an open-air gallery, with local residents painting vibrant artworks on traffic signal boxes throughout the suburb. These eye-catching installations celebrate everything from local stories to community connections, turning everyday street furniture into conversation starters.

Windows of Toowong

At the corner of Coronation Drive and Booth Street, artists Matisse Raphael and Aya Stronach have transformed an Energex padmount transformer into an imaginary apartment building. Painted in June 2022, the artwork features multiple window panels, each framing diverse characters who peer out or sometimes in, representing Toowong’s cosmopolitan community. A flowering jacaranda filled with local wildlife completes the scene, capturing the vibrancy of this inner-Brisbane suburb.

The Toowong Cat and Fiddle

Created by eight-year-old Alice White in December 2018, this design at the intersection of Milton Road, Croydon Street and Morley Street takes inspiration from the nearby Cat and Fiddle shopping centre. The artwork features a possum dressed in Toowong School uniform alongside colourful Queenslander houses and a sunset characteristic of local skies. The piece earned a nomination for Best 12 and Under.

Paper Wings

Located at the Sylvan Road pedestrian crossing near Kate Street, Maleea Holbert’s August 2025 design depicts origami cranes drifting through the sky. Positioned directly in front of Toowong State School, the artwork aims to capture children’s imagination whilst providing a calming presence for parents and passers-by. Holbert drew inspiration from memories of making paper cranes in Japanese class.

There’s Always a Silver Lining

At the same Sylvan Road pedestrian crossing location (a previous artwork on this box), D.K. Perkins and Peta Thomson created this May 2021 piece asking the age-old question: is the glass half empty or half full? The design encourages viewers to look for silver linings and sparked from the family’s experiences during 2020. The artwork won Best 18 and Under in 2021.

Dancing in the Dark Forest

Mira Westaway’s December 2016 artwork at the intersection of Moggill Road, Jephson Street and High Street combines her passions for ballet and fashion design with a Halloween twist. The piece earned nominations across multiple categories, including Overall Winner and both youth age groups.

The Cloisters

Leesl Ross brings the University of Queensland to Toowong’s streets with this October 2016 depiction of the university’s iconic sandstone walkway and arcade. Located at Brisbane Street and Glen Road, the artwork earned a nomination for Overall Winner.

Hope, Resilience, Recovery

At Sherwood Road and Holland Street, Lisa Kelly’s April 2019 artwork promotes the message of Eating Disorders Queensland, a community-based not-for-profit organisation. The piece serves as a sister artwork to Kelly’s other box on the same street, designed to bring the community together and remind viewers that beauty comes in all forms. It received a nomination for the Energex Box Award.

No Wrong Way to Have a Body

Lisa Kelly’s September 2018 design at Sherwood Road and Jephson Street celebrates bodies of all shapes and sizes through depictions of various female forms throughout history. Created in recognition of Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the artwork was produced in collaboration with The Eating Issues Centre and earned nominations for Overall Winner and Best Organisation.

Metropolitan Manifesto 2.0

Kate Halling’s January 2020 design at Benson Street and High Street explores how people make sense of their surroundings through sensory experiences. Using varying colours, shapes and forms, the artwork responds to its location and aims to provoke a positive sensory experience for viewers.

Peck-nic Time

Gabrielle Cook, a disabled artist, created this July 2025 artwork at Jephson Street and Lissner Street featuring iconic Australian birds enjoying a picnic of recognisable Aussie snacks. Cook, working with collaborators Emma Blakey, Kyron Mayhew and Naomi Moore from the University of Queensland’s School of Social Sciences, designed the piece to invite playfulness and connection through accessible public art.

Meanderin’ Meanjin

Sarah Sparks and Tom Hilton’s June 2025 design at 3 Valentine Street and Milton Road celebrates Brisbane from the river to the purple jacarandas and turquoise of South Bank lagoon. The artwork features six iconic bridges symbolising the merging of modern and historic Brisbane, with dashes representing walking tracks and dots representing the city’s tapestry of cultures. The title pays homage to the traditional name for Brisbane.

Purple Rain: The Essence of Spring in Brisbane

Emma Watt’s October 2024 artwork at the Coronation Drive pedestrian crossing and Booth Street captures jacaranda trees flowering against the heritage Regatta Hotel. The piece aims to evoke nostalgia and appreciation for Brisbane’s character, highlighting the short-lived beauty of spring before summer arrives and the intertwining of history and nature.

The Cats of Creativity

At Land Street and Patrick Street, Bronte McDonald’s December 2022 design draws from Ray Bradbury’s quote comparing cats to creative ideas. McDonald, working with assistants Ashleigh Barker and Bibi Bonfield, believes creating is as essential to human wellbeing as exercise and good nutrition, with CAT also serving as an acronym for Creative Art Therapy.

Books and Birds

Santo Cavallaro’s June 2022 artwork at Land Street and Sylvan Road celebrates the special connection between nature and discovery. The design reflects on how spending time in nature can provide endless opportunities for learning, growth and peace, whether hiking through mountains or simply walking in a park.

About Artforce Brisbane

These artworks are part of Artforce Brisbane, an annual community art programme run by Brisbane City Council since 1999. The initiative invites Brisbane residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to paint original artworks on traffic signal boxes throughout the city’s suburbs. More than 5,000 volunteers have painted over 1,200 boxes across Brisbane, celebrating local characters, cultures, histories and landmarks while reducing graffiti and vandalism. The programme is managed by Artfully, a Brisbane-based arts consultancy specialising in public art and placemaking. Each year, approximately 80 painting opportunities become available as the council upgrades intersections and replaces old cabinets.

Residents interested in participating can register at the Artforce Brisbane website or email info@artforcebrisbane.com.au for more information.

Published 26-December-2025

Toowong, Then and Now: What a Lifetime in Real Estate Lets You See

Photo Credit: Ray White

Robin McIlwain has seen Toowong evolve over the last few decades, and in this column shares her astute observations as well as her memories of the area since arriving in 1977.

Working in Toowong for nearly 5 decades, Robin has seen many buildings come and go, as the area evolves into servicing the continually growing high-density population. Few people enjoy seeing local institutions and meaningful structures disappear in their own backyard, though expanding cities require this it seems.

I first worked in Toowong in 1977. I didn’t know then that it would become the suburb I’d measure time by — not in years, but in buildings replaced, streets reshaped, and habits quietly lost and re-learned.

Back then, Brisbane’s town plan encouraged smaller walk-up apartment blocks. They were often built by Italian families who lived locally, knew the streets, and worked at a human scale. Today, most new residential development is high-rise. It’s not sentimentality to say that something changed with that shift — not just the skyline, but the way decisions are made. Multi-national commercial builders replaced local ones, and with that came a different pace and pressure.

The loss of older Federation and Colonial homes has been substantial, particularly in streets like Holland Street, Kensington Terrace and Glen Road. What’s often forgotten is that many of those houses were saved — not by stopping development, but by relocating them. Council policy at the time allowed viable homes to be moved rather than demolished. Many of them went on to second lives on acreage in Brookfield and Pullenvale.

I’ve always admired builders like Tony Findlay, who restored so many of those homes and placed them back into generous grounds — long driveways, jacarandas, tennis courts. It wasn’t just preservation; it was respect.

Still, it’s hard not to feel sadness when I see heritage-listed buildings like the old Toowong Library or Patterson House on Sherwood Road falling into disrepair. Obsolescence can be quieter than demolition, but it leaves its mark all the same.

What daily work has changed most is movement. When I was a young agent, you could usually park right outside a property. Clients could too. We left five minutes between appointments and arrived on time.

Now, we plan routes carefully. Sometimes a colleague drops us off and picks us up later. Often, we walk. Forty-five minutes between appointments is standard. Open inspections are more frequent and increasingly held out of hours — not just for convenience, but because parking itself has become a consideration in property access.

Just this morning, walking out of the post office in Ebor Lane, I noticed the vacant land beside the old Kratzman Hardware building. In the time I’ve worked here, that site has gone through two development cycles and is about to be redeveloped again. When I started in real estate, it was empty. Today, it’s empty once more. That alone tells a story about how cities evolve.

Did you know Toowong once had a bomb shelter?

Many locals remember the old blue Kratzman House at 50 High Street, where Peter Forrest ran his agency for years. Fewer people knew there was a Toowong bomb shelter in the front yard. It had been closed off, but we used it for archived files and, occasionally, curiosity got the better of us. I’ve often wondered what the developers thought when they finally uncovered it during demolition, long after most locals had forgotten it existed.

Those early years in real estate weren’t always polished or predictable. On my very first day in the industry in the 1970s, I was greeted not with a tidy office or a structured induction, but with a dead shark left on the doorstep — a moment that captured both the toughness of the era and the resilience you needed to last in it. Like many starting out then, I learned quickly, often the hard way, and those experiences stayed with me.

When my husband, Russ Cornish, opened L J Hooker Toowong in the then-new Commonwealth Bank building on Sherwood Road and Jephson Street, there were no traffic lights at that intersection. There was street parking on Jephson Street.

Did you know Ziggy once foiled a burglary?

We had an RSL hall and two service stations on the corners. Wilf Rooney ran one of them, and Ziggy — known to most locals — kept an eye on things at night.

Ziggy the bagman — a familiar sight on the street.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons / Pony31 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91801036

He even foiled a burglary once. It’s hard to imagine that intersection now without lights, let alone with parking.

Trying to leave my mark

Over time, my work extended beyond day-to-day agency life. I became involved in advisory roles with government bodies and development groups, contributed to changes in training and licensing standards, and helped shape marketing approaches that were more research-led and buyer-focused. I was also fortunate to work on projects where understanding how people live informed not just how properties were sold, but how they were designed. All of that grew out of my years working in and around Toowong — the place where theory met real people and real homes.

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One thing that hasn’t changed is Toowong’s cultural diversity. Being a university suburb has ensured that. The streets are still full of young people from all over the world, and that cosmopolitan energy continues to give the area its edge and its warmth.

What do I miss in Toowong?

Jim and Anne’s sandwich shop in Dr Clements Arcade. D’Angelo’s pizza and their veal scallopini. Brian Krebs Hairdresser — flamboyant, talented, and very much of his time, when big hair was everything.

This isn’t nostalgia for its own sake. It’s simply what you see when you stay long enough. Toowong keeps changing — and so do we, alongside it.

Editor’s Note: As Robin McIlwain retires from her role at Ray White Toowong, her vast local experience and range of stories need to see the light of day, and it is with that in mind that we hope to persuade Robin to write further columns for Toowong News.

Published 20-December-2025

NAPLAN 2025: Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology Leads the Way in Latest School Data Release

Photo Credit: Google Maps

The Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology has outperformed institutions across Australia to secure the top spot in nearly every major academic performance category.

Local Excellence

The Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology (QASMT), situated in Brisbane’s inner west, achieved leading results in 2023 and 2024. The data was released by the Australian Assessment Curriculum Assessment Authority (ACARA) on the My School website, which allows families to view how schools perform based on their specific situations. QASMT has a strong history of high achievement since it began. It was established under the Queensland government’s Smart State strategy to provide challenges for high-performing students.

The school is well known for its close relationship with the University of Queensland. This partnership was created to help students move easily into university life. Students at the Toowong campus can use university libraries and facilities, and some even finish university subjects while they are still in high school. Unlike many other state schools, the academy uses the International Baccalaureate framework instead of the standard curriculum.

Changes and Growth

The academy has grown significantly in recent years. While it originally served only senior students in Years 10 to 12, it expanded in 2019 to include Year 7 students. This shift turned the facility into a full secondary school.

To support the growing number of students, which jumped from around 600 to more than 1,200, the campus received major upgrades. These included a new STEM precinct and a Northern Learning Centre designed to look and feel like university lecture spaces.

The National Picture

While the Toowong school celebrates its success, the wider national results paint a different picture. Recent data shows that one-third of Australian students are not meeting reasonable expectations for reading and maths. About 10 per cent of students need extra help to catch up, while another 20 per cent are still developing their skills.

Education analyst Glenn Fahey from the Centre for Independent Studies expressed deep concern about these figures. He noted that students who fall behind early often struggle to catch up by the time they finish school. He suggested that the public should demand better results from the education system because the current approach is leaving too many children behind.

Expert Views on Testing

ACARA chief executive Stephen Gniel explained that the data on the My School website helps the community understand the value of each school. He pointed out that while there were small improvements in numeracy for students in Years 5, 7, and 9, there is still a gap for students in regional and remote areas. He emphasised the need for a collective effort to support disadvantaged students.

Teachers Professional Association Queensland president Scott Stanford described the results as a job well done for high-performing schools. He viewed the test as a snapshot in time that indicates whether getting back to basics in teaching is working. He added that if teachers are instructing correctly, the benefits should show in these assessments.

Published Date 08-December-2025

Toowong Riders Urged to Follow E-Device Rules Ahead of Christmas

A new safety campaign has been launched to remind riders in Toowong to follow the rules for e-scooters and e-bikes ahead of Christmas.

Safety Focus for E-Devices in Toowong

A safety campaign has been rolled out ahead of Christmas to encourage safer use of e-scooters and e-bikes in Toowong and across Queensland. The initiative follows concerns about fatalities, serious injuries and the use of illegal devices, particularly involving young riders. The Bicentennial Bikeway, a popular commuter route along the river from Toowong to the CBD, is one of the key locations where the safety messages apply.

Toowong e-scooter safety — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

Recent Safety Concerns

In the past three years, Queensland has recorded 18 e-scooter deaths and several e-bike-related fatalities. Authorities have also raised concerns about young people riding illegal e-motorbikes on public streets and roads, especially in South East Queensland.

Between 1 January and 31 December 2024, Queensland recorded 302 road fatalities, which was 28 more than the previous year and 34 above the five-year average. Over the same period, there were 8,573 hospitalised casualties from road crashes, 331 more than the previous year and 1,002 above the five-year average.

These figures sit behind the decision to reinforce road safety messages across all transport modes, including e-scooters, e-bikes and e-motorbikes.

Campaign Details in Queensland

The Know Your eRules campaign is being led by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Advertising is running on Spotify, social media and bus shelters through the Christmas period to remind riders that e-mobility devices can be deadly when used illegally or incorrectly.

Queensland Police will issue penalties and fines to people who break the rules, including parents who allow children to ride illegal devices. The campaign encourages adults, particularly parents, to check the official guidance and ensure any device they buy for Christmas is legal and used safely.

Queensland road safety — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

E-Scooter Rules for Toowong Riders

For e-scooters and other personal mobility devices, riders must be at least 16 years old. Children aged 12 to 15 may ride only under adult supervision, while children under 12 are not allowed to ride these devices.

Only one person can ride an e-scooter at a time, and a properly fastened helmet is compulsory. E-scooters can travel at a maximum of 25 km/h, with a limit of 12 km/h on footpaths and shared paths unless signs say otherwise. Fines of more than $660 can apply for speeding.

E-scooters may be used on footpaths, shared paths, separated bike paths, on-road bike lanes with speed limits of 50 km/h or less, and local streets with speed limits of 50 km/h or less where there is no dividing line. Riders must leave their phone alone, not drink and ride, obey give way and stop signs, and give way to pedestrians.

E-Bike Requirements and Illegal Devices

E-bikes must rely mainly on pedal power and have a motor with a maximum continuous output of 250 watts, providing assistance only up to 25 km/h. Throttle power is permitted up to 6 km/h to help the rider start moving, but above that speed pedalling must activate the motor.

These devices may be ridden wherever bicycles are allowed, but not on motorways or in areas marked with “no bicycles” signs. Riders must follow signed speed limits and general road rules. High-powered devices that exceed 250 watts, rely on throttle power alone above 6 km/h, or use internal combustion engines are considered non-compliant. Total fines can be more than $1,640, and police may impound or confiscate illegal devices.

KNOW YOUR RULES

E-Motorbikes and Risks for Young Riders

E-motorbikes are high-speed electric 2- and 3-wheelers that are separate from low-speed, pedal-assisted e-bikes. Road-legal e-motorbikes must comply with Australian Design Rules, be registered, carry compulsory third party insurance and have features such as headlights, brake lights, indicators, mirrors and a vehicle identification number. Riders need the correct motorbike licence class, and penalties apply for using unregistered, uninsured or unlicensed vehicles.

Some e-motorbikes are sold for off-road use only and cannot be used on roads or public paths in Queensland unless conditionally registered for very limited access to off-road tracks. The fact sheets note that children have been killed riding non-compliant e-motorbikes, and parents can be fined if they allow a child to ride such devices in public.

Local Routes in Toowong

The Bicentennial Bikeway is a popular commuter route that runs along the river between Toowong and the Brisbane CBD. This shared path is widely used by cyclists, e-bike riders and e-scooter users travelling between the western suburbs and the inner city. Parts of the Brisbane River Loop also make use of the same riverside corridor used by riders from Toowong.

Next Steps for Riders and Parents

The campaign encourages riders and parents in Toowong and across Queensland to check the StreetSmarts website for detailed information on legal devices and riding rules. The message is clear: choose legal devices, understand the rules and follow them, particularly during the Christmas period when many e-scooters, e-bikes and e-motorbikes are bought as gifts.

Published 1-Dec-2025

Olympic FC and Brisbane Boys’ College Form New Football Partnership in Toowong

Photo Credit: Olympic FC/Facebook

Olympic FC and Brisbane Boys’ College in Toowong have launched a strategic partnership to enhance football and educational development, offering players and coaches new opportunities to access elite training programs and facilities across Brisbane.

Expanding Football Opportunities in Toowong

The partnership between Olympic FC and Brisbane Boys’ College establishes a collaborative platform for youth and coaching development. The agreement provides BBC students and staff with access to Olympic’s elite facilities at Goodwin Park while expanding the club’s schools program.

This initiative aligns with Olympic FC’s focus on strengthening its ties with educational institutions to promote football participation and learning opportunities across Brisbane.

Toowong football partnership — *Photo Credit: Olympic FC/Facebook*

Development Pathways and Coaching Support

Through the collaboration, BBC players will have the chance to trial and train with Olympic’s academy and development squads. Olympic coaches will work closely with BBC staff during training sessions and matchdays, ensuring a consistent approach to technical and tactical growth.

BBC coaches will also attend workshops led by Olympic’s UEFA Pro Licence Technical Director, Scott Guyett, further enhancing their professional development.

Building Community and Collaboration

Both organisations share a commitment to fostering football at all levels and supporting the next generation of players. Leaders from both sides have highlighted the benefits of shared training, community initiatives, and mutual learning for students and coaches alike.

The partnership also aims to create long-term pathways from school programs into professional and community football environments, reinforcing Toowong’s growing contribution to Brisbane’s football network.

Outlook

The alliance between Olympic FC and Brisbane Boys’ College represents a joint effort to elevate player and coach development, encourage collaboration, and build stronger links between education and sport in Toowong and across Brisbane.

Published 4-Nov-2025

Australia Post’s Peak-Me-Up Coffee Van Arrives in Toowong

Photo Credit: Australia Post

Businesses in Toowong received a caffeine boost this November as Australia Post’s Peak-Me-Up coffee van stopped by to serve free St Ali coffee and T2 tea during the busy retail season.

Australia Post Fuels Businesses in Toowong

Australia Post’s travelling Peak-Me-Up coffee and tea van made its way to the Toowong Business Centre at 24 Ebor Street as part of a Queensland-wide initiative aimed at supporting businesses through peak trading periods. The stop formed part of the organisation’s national Peak Performance campaign, which celebrates the effort of business owners and workers handling the year-end surge in orders and deliveries.

The Toowong visit took place on Thursday, 20 November, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., offering complimentary St Ali coffee and T2 tea. The initiative gave business owners, eCommerce operators, and retail teams a brief opportunity to pause and recharge before returning to the demands of the season.

Supporting Peak Season Operations

Peak season represents the most intense period for online and retail trade, coinciding with major events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas. During this time, Australia Post’s logistics network operates at full capacity to ensure timely parcel deliveries nationwide.

The Peak-Me-Up van’s Queensland route included stops at the Archerfield Business Centre on 19 November and the Gold Coast Business Centre on 24 November. Across these visits, expert baristas served the exclusive St Ali Peak-Me-Up blend alongside a selection of T2 teas, providing a small moment of appreciation for those working to meet seasonal demand.

Toowong coffee van — *Photo Credit: Australia Post/Instagram*

A National Effort to Connect and Recharge

The Peak-Me-Up coffee van travelled across Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland throughout October and November. Beyond delivering caffeine, it offered a chance for businesses to take a moment of connection and refocus amid the busiest time of year.

Australia Post stated the initiative serves as a gesture of gratitude to the thousands of Australian businesses that help sustain the economy and eCommerce sector during the holiday period.

Looking Ahead

Following its Queensland visits, the Peak-Me-Up campaign continues across business hubs in other states, bringing with it a reminder that short breaks can help maintain performance through the peak season rush. Businesses in Toowong and surrounding areas are encouraged to stay informed about future visits and initiatives supporting local operations.

Published 31-Oct-2025

Brisbane Boys’ College Puts Toowong Heritage House Goldicott on the Market

Brisbane Boys’ College (BBC) has placed the heritage‑listed Goldicott House in Toowong on the market, only three years after acquiring the property. The private school has re‑evaluated its use of the 19th‑century estate that remains one of the area’s notable historic homes.

Read: BCC Saves Toowong’s Cultural Heritage Building – “Goldicott House”

Sale Details

The current offering includes the heritage home and its immediate grounds, while BBC retains an adjacent 6,629 m² block. The school originally considered incorporating the estate into its boarding facilities, but it has now opted to return the house to private residential use. Located around five kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, the property combines substantial land, period architecture, and a prominent position in Toowong.

The estate spans approximately 5,711sqm of land and includes around 737sqm of built space. The house features wrap‑around verandahs, mature gardens and commanding views of Brisbane, reflecting both its Victorian era pedigree and its continued landmark status in Toowong. Offers for the property are due to close on 26 November 2025.

Goldicott House: History and Significance

Goldicott House was constructed in 1885 for engineer Charles Lambert Depree and his family. Depree used a construction method he patented in 1871, and the house is recognised as one of the earliest poured‑concrete domestic buildings in Queensland. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, entered on 26 November 1998.

In the early 1900s the property changed hands, and by 1903 the estate was acquired by the Sisters of Mercy and became known as Mount St Mary’s Convent. The grounds and building have been the subject of heritage protection over the years, including court decisions rejecting rezoning and subdivision proposals in 2018 and 2020.

BBC, together with the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA), finalised contract terms for the 1.23‑hectare site adjoining the school in May 2022. The purchase price was reported at $17 million, with the previous developer having acquired the property for roughly $8 million.

Read: Court Rules No to Goldicott House Rezoning and Development in Toowong

Goldicott House remains an important piece of Toowong’s architectural story. Its next caretakers will inherit not just a home, but a tangible link to Brisbane’s engineering and architectural past—while the estate’s heritage value continues to be safeguarded under its current listing and physical prominence in the suburb.

Published 30-October-2025

Global Cocktail Bar Death & Co. Chooses Toowong for First Brisbane Venue

Photo Credit: Death & Co/ Facebook

Acclaimed US cocktail institution Death & Co. has selected Toowong for its first-ever Brisbane bar, announcing it will take over the subterranean space beneath the Regatta Hotel.

The celebrated bar, which first established itself as a New York City institution, will begin serving patrons in Brisbane later this summer. Its arrival is part of a wider Australian expansion, which includes a Melbourne venue set to begin operating in November. The move into Australia is a collaboration with the major hospitality group Australian Venue Co.

A New Era for a Familiar Space

For many locals, the most exciting detail is the venue’s location. The new cocktail bar is currently taking shape in the space beneath the Regatta Hotel, a spot previously home to The Walrus Club. This signals a significant new chapter for the popular Toowong landmark, bringing a different style of world-class service to the riverside community.

From East Village to Brisbane River

Death & Co. first made its name in Manhattan’s East Village in late 2006, quickly building a reputation for its creative team and commitment to quality. The brand’s philosophy focuses on restoring a sense of class and flavour to the specialty cocktail, aiming to create exceptional experiences for its patrons. While it has since grown with venues in Los Angeles, Denver, and Washington D.C., the company states its deep desire to be a centre for its communities has remained.

To ensure this standard is met in Queensland, newly hired Australian managers recently completed extensive training in the United States. This preparation aims to faithfully recreate the brand’s well-known service style and philosophy.

What to Expect

Once operating, the Toowong team will serve the brand’s iconic signature drinks, including the Naked & Famous and the Oaxacan Old Fashioned. Patrons can also look forward to a range of new menu additions that have been created with local inspiration. Community members are advised to watch for more details as the summer launch approaches.

Published Date 23-October-2025

Legacy Way Tunnel Reaches $1 Million Milestone for Veterans’ Families

Photo Credit: Transurban/Facebook

The Legacy Way Tunnel, linking Toowong and Kelvin Grove, has generated more than $1 million in donations for Legacy Brisbane through toll contributions since opening ten years ago.

A Tunnel With a Community Role

The Legacy Way Tunnel connects the Western Freeway at Toowong with the Inner City Bypass at Kelvin Grove. Beyond reducing congestion and saving drivers time, the tunnel has delivered ongoing financial support for veterans’ families.

Each trip contributes one cent to Legacy Brisbane, and over millions of journeys the initiative has reached a seven-figure total.

Impact on Veteran Families

Legacy Brisbane supports nearly 4,000 family members across Queensland, including widows, partners, and children of veterans.

*Photo Credit: Legacy Australia/Facebook*

The funds provide education opportunities, care programs, and personal development support. They also help ease cost-of-living pressures, ensuring families receive practical assistance during difficult times.

Voices From the Community

Transurban representatives said the milestone shows how everyday travel helps achieve lasting community outcomes. Legacy Brisbane leaders explained that the partnership has strengthened their ability to reach more families and expand services.

The funding, they said, ensures long-term social and financial support continues for those impacted by a loved one’s service.

Community Impact

With more than 76 million vehicles having travelled through since opening, the Legacy Way Tunnel has become both a vital transport link and a steady source of funding for veterans’ families.

The $1 million milestone demonstrates how routine daily travel can deliver lasting benefits for the community, ensuring Legacy Brisbane can continue its support well into the future.

Published 16-September-2025

Toowong Teen’s Portrait of Dad Captures Heart of Brisbane Portrait Prize

Photo Credit: Brisbane Portrait Prize

In Toowong, a quiet art classroom has given rise to a story now reaching the walls of the State Library of Queensland. Brisbane Boys’ College student Louis Ko, 15, has been named a finalist in the Brisbane Portrait Prize, with his work Dad recognised in the Next Generation category.

What was intended as a birthday gift to his father has grown into a work of public admiration, selected from dozens of entries for its depth and tenderness. The portrait will be part of the Brisbane Portrait Prize exhibition from 20 September to 9 November.

A portrait born from distance and gratitude

Louis’s portrait is painted in acrylic on canvas, measuring 51 by 61 centimetres. The sitter is his father, Eunsung, who has been separated from him by distance but not by devotion. Louis explained to organisers that although he and his father live apart, they remain connected through his education, something his father worked tirelessly to make possible.

He chose to paint his father gazing upward, describing this gesture as a symbol of respect and pride. For Louis, the act of painting became a way to express words that often go unsaid — an acknowledgement of sacrifice, care, and quiet strength carried over the years.

“Though we’re separated by distance, we are connected through my education — something he has worked so hard to make possible,” Louis said. “This portrait is my thank you, a way of showing that I see everything he’s done and that I admire him not just as a dad, but as someone who’s shaped the path I’m walking now.”

Behind the scenes at the State Library

On 12 September, organisers announced that all 77 finalist works across categories had arrived at the State Library in a single five-hour delivery window. Condition checks and preparations are now underway, with opening night scheduled for Friday, 20 September.

The scale of the exhibition reflects the breadth of portraiture in Brisbane, with professionals and students alike contributing works that capture not only faces but also stories.

Louis’s Dad will hang among them, standing alongside works from some of Queensland’s most promising young talents. Visitors will be able to view his portrait in the Next Generation gallery, where the future of Australian portraiture is given its space to shine.

Local pride in Toowong

News of Louis’s achievement was shared proudly by Brisbane Boys’ College, which celebrated his recognition as a reflection of both skill and dedication. The school has encouraged the Toowong community to visit the exhibition, underscoring the importance of supporting young artists as they step into a broader public view.

For Louis, the journey from school art studies to a state exhibition has not only marked an artistic milestone but also enabled him to place his family’s story into a broader conversation. His portrait speaks to love, distance, and gratitude — universal themes expressed through the personal lens of a Toowong teenager with a paintbrush.

Published 16-Sept-2025