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Australia’s Master Colourist of the Year Creates Award-Winning Work from Toowong

Winning one of Australia’s leading hair colour awards once is a career milestone. Winning it twice in a row is far rarer. That’s exactly what Toowong salon owner Kristie Kesic achieved after taking home the AHIA Creative Master Colourist of the Year title for a second consecutive year.

Presented at the Australian Hair Industry Awards (AHIA) Creative 2026, the title recognises excellence in professional hair colouring and creative artistry. The back-to-back wins reflect years of refining her craft, building lasting relationships with clients, and mentoring the next generation of hairdressers.

Balancing everyday salon work with creative competition

Kesic has worked in the hair industry for 18 years, including 16 years specialising in colour. While competition work has earned her national recognition, Kesic said her focus in the salon remains on her clients.

Creative projects give her the freedom to explore colour in new ways and develop ideas with personal meaning.

“My salon work is all about my clients. I’m dedicated to making them feel good and looking like the very best version of themselves. That’s my why, that’s where the meaning is, but in my creative work, that work is purely for me.”

Master colourist Kristie Kesic prioritises her clients. — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

Her work has also earned recognition beyond Queensland. Aside from the AHIA Creative Master Colourist of the Year titles, she was named Schwarzkopf Professional Australia’s 2025 Colour Ambassador and won the 2024 Colour World UK International Colour Genius title.

The award-winning collection was produced in collaboration with photographer Andrew O’Toole, makeup artist Hendra Widjaja and stylist Teagan Sewell.

The award-winning collection of the master colourist. — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

A salon that has grown with the community

Kesic has owned Cobelle Creative for eight years and says education and mentorship have become an important part of the business she has built. She enjoys helping members of her team develop their own careers while continuing to challenge herself creatively.

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A post shared by KRISTIE KESIC COLOURIST (@kristiekesic_colourist)

Despite receiving national industry recognition, her business remains firmly based in Toowong. From the High Street salon, she works with local clients while also contributing to education and creative projects within the Australian hair industry.

Clients who have shared the journey

Kesic says some clients have been with her for 16 years and have seen both the setbacks and the successes throughout her career. Their support has made this year’s award especially meaningful because they have followed the journey from the beginning.

“My clients love this journey because they are part of it. Some have been with me for 16 years so they’ve seen some of the failures, and they especially love seeing the successes.”

She also says her creative work is deeply personal, with every collection evolving through its own process before becoming a finished body of work. At the same time, she says helping clients feel good about themselves remains the purpose behind her work in the salon.

Still focused on improving

Winning the AHIA Creative Master Colourist of the Year title twice has not changed Kesic’s outlook.

She says success comes from improving on her own previous work rather than comparing herself with others. Each new project gives her another opportunity to strengthen her skills and keep learning.

“For me it’s always about being better than myself. If I can continually push myself and better my skills each time then that’s how I know I’m always getting better.

“I challenge myself, so even after winning last year, I was always going to want to push myself further. I always said I’d stop doing this when I stop enjoying it and right now, I still love it!”

While her latest award has brought national industry recognition to both Kesic and Cobelle Creative, she says the goal remains the same: to keep growing as a colourist while helping clients feel their best.

Published 10-July-2026

Survey Works Kick Off on Sylvan Road as Toowong Bikeway Takes Shape

Brisbane West BUG/Facebook

Survey and service identification works, which began along Sylvan Road in Toowong between late April and late May and site preparation from midyear 2026 onward, mark a tangible step forward in plans to deliver a long-awaited separatedbikeway connecting the Western Freeway Bikeway with the Bicentennial Bikeway.

The works will run along Sylvan Road between Milton Road and Coronation Drive, and along Land Street between Sylvan Road and Patrick Lane, on weekdays throughout that period. The findings will feed directly into the project design, with a community update to follow once that work is complete.

Residents and commuters travelling through the area can expect to see workers using survey and service detection equipment, temporary lane closures with minor traffic delays, and traffic controllers and signage managing the flow. Vehicles with reversing alarms and flashing lights will also be operating in the area during works.

A Route That Already Carries More Than 1,100 Riders a Day

Sylvan Road is no stranger to cyclists. The street has served as a key link in Brisbane’s inner-western cycling network for years, sitting on the Queensland Principal Cycle Network and recording more than 1,130 bike and e-mobility trips on a typical weekday. That level of daily use makes it one of the busiest cycling corridors in the western suburbs, and one of the most pressing cases for improved infrastructure.

Sylvan Road bikeway — *Photo Credit: BCC*

The road currently carries a mix of peak-hour bike lanes and lanes that run between parked cars and moving traffic, a configuration that many riders find stressful, particularly at the intersections of Sylvan Road, Croydon Street and Jephson Street, and at the Milton Road junction. The project aims to deliver separated active transport connections that physically divide walking, riding and driving spaces, making the route safer and more comfortable for everyone from confident commuter cyclists to families and newcomers to riding.

Years in the Making, Now Moving

The push for a safer Sylvan Road goes back at least to 2017, when peak-hour bike lanes were introduced as an interim safety measure. Community feedback gathered in mid-2025 through a dedicated consultation process reinforced what many locals had long been saying: the existing setup falls short of what a route this busy deserves. That feedback, combined with technical data and design guidelines, is now shaping the next stage of planning.

The project’s design phase has received grant support, with construction funding now being progressed and the agreement yet to be finalised.

Next Steps for Toowong Riders and Residents

The survey and service works running through late April and May are critical investigative steps. While this stage is focused on data collection, locals can expect early works and site preparation to kick off from mid-2026. These initial activities will pave the way for major construction, with the project team currently targeting full completion of the separated bikeway by 2028.

Residents who want to stay across the project can contact the project team directly on 07 3178 5413 during business hours, or reach the general inquiry line on 07 3403 8888 at any time. Written correspondence can be sent to the Toowong Intersection Improvements and Sylvan Road Bikeway project team at GPO Box 1434, Brisbane QLD 4001. Full project information, maps and frequently asked questions are available here.

Published 17-April-2026. Updated 7-July-2026

Toowong Tower Proposal Faces Major Redesign After Planning Review

A heavily scrutinised plan to reshape the centre of Toowong with three high-rise towers is facing major changes after planners raised concerns about building height, traffic, public space and infrastructure impacts linked to the proposed redevelopment.

A “Further Advice” letter issued on 8 May 2026 for DA A006836692 identified 48 separate issues requiring amended plans, revised reports, or further information before the application at 47 High St can continue through assessment.

The proposal, lodged by Toowong Central Investment Holding Pty Ltd through Urbis, includes three towers reaching 49, 55 and 58 storeys on the former Woolworths site near Sherwood Road, High Street and Jephson Street.

The concerns span building height, traffic modelling, bicycle access, waste collection, deep planting, flooding, heritage impacts, construction management and noise.

Tower heights clash with Toowong neighbourhood plan

Building height emerged as one of the central issues in the review.

Planning officers stated the proposed towers depart from the heights anticipated for the site under the Brisbane City Plan 2014 and said Toowong was not intended to take on the same density or built form as Brisbane’s inner-city precincts.

The letter also raised concerns about overshadowing and the impact the towers could have on surrounding development sites.

A revised proposal with building heights more aligned with approved and existing development in the local area was requested.

The six-storey podium facing Sherwood Road also drew criticism for appearing imposing at street level and not contributing positively to the streetscape character expected under the Toowong–Auchenflower neighbourhood plan.

Residents divided over scale of development

Public submissions show many residents support redevelopment of the former Woolworths site in principle, but remain divided over the scale and design of the current proposal.

One submission argued the towers were too tall for the area and would damage the visual character of central Toowong while worsening congestion in an already busy traffic corridor.

Another resident, who said they had lived in Toowong for 30 years, argued the development focused too heavily on increasing residential numbers without delivering enough community infrastructure, sustainable transport planning or environmental improvements.

Concerns were also raised about pressure on childcare centres, schools and public transport services, along with limited deep planting and reliance on private vehicles despite the area’s strong transport links.

Other submissions pointed to the lack of affordable housing within the proposal, arguing planning concessions on height should only be granted if the development delivered stronger public benefits such as lower-cost housing, larger green spaces and improved active transport facilities.

Some residents also argued the towers did not reflect Toowong’s established character or the “village” feel associated with the existing centre.

Supporters say project could help housing supply

Not all submissions opposed the proposal.

One supporting submission argued the project would add more than 1,000 apartments in a well-connected suburb close to major transport links, universities and the CBD.

The same submission said the mix of housing, retirement living and short-term accommodation could help respond to housing demand ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games while supporting Brisbane’s ageing population.

The proposal also includes retail, commercial and healthcare uses alongside public open space elements.

Traffic and heritage concerns remain unresolved

Transport impacts formed a major part of the review.

Planning officers challenged assumptions used in the project’s traffic modelling and questioned the amount of non-residential car parking proposed, describing it as an oversupply compared with planning scheme expectations. Further modelling was requested for nearby intersections including Sherwood Road, High Street, Jephson Street and Benson Street.

Concerns were also raised about bicycle safety, loading areas and refuse vehicle access. The treatment of the heritage-listed Carver and Co building also remains unresolved.

The review criticised plans to remove parts of the upper floor and internal stairs and questioned excavation works proposed beneath the building. Planners stated the development should better respect and restore the heritage place while protecting its visibility within the High Street streetscape.

The Further Advice letter does not amount to a refusal of the project. The applicant must now respond with revised plans, updated technical reports and additional supporting material before the assessment process can continue.

Published 11-May-2026

Toowong Hit Twice in Alleged Slingshot Attack Spree Across Brisbane

Toowong has emerged as a key location in a series of alleged drive-by slingshot attacks after two separate incidents in the suburb left members of the public injured and led to charges against four men.

A Paddington woman was among four people allegedly injured during a series of drive-by slingshot attacks across Brisbane’s western suburbs, prompting Queensland Police to appeal for any additional victims to come forward.

Police allege a group of four men used homemade slingshots and pocket-shot style devices to fire metal objects from a moving vehicle at members of the public on multiple nights between May 27 and May 31.

Four People Reported Injured Across Western Brisbane

According to Queensland Police Service, a 22-year-old woman was struck on the forehead in Paddington on May 27. On the same day, a 36-year-old woman was allegedly struck on the hand in Toowong.

Further incidents were reported on May 31, when a 53-year-old man was allegedly struck in the back in Toowong and a 64-year-old woman was allegedly struck in the jaw in St Lucia.

Police believe additional incidents may have occurred during the same period.

Vehicle Stopped in Chapel Hill

Police intercepted a Hyundai i30 on Chapel Hill Road shortly after 11:00 p.m. on May 31.

Investigators allege they located two handmade slingshots, two pocket-shot style devices and a set of knuckle dusters inside the vehicle.

Two men were detained at the scene.

Search Warrants Lead to Further Charges

Queensland Police later executed search warrants at properties in Redbank Plains and Forest Lake.

Police allege officers located items connected to the assaults, along with cannabis and drug utensils.

Three 19-year-old men and one 20-year-old man have since been charged with a range of offences, including assault occasioning bodily harm, serious assault of a person over 60, common assault and discharging a weapon in a public place.

One of the accused was remanded in custody while the remaining three were granted bail.

Police Appeal for More Witnesses

Investigators say enquiries are continuing and are urging anyone who may have been struck by an object thrown from a vehicle in Paddington, Toowong, St Lucia or Chapel Hill to contact police.

All four accused are expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court later this June.

Published 11-June-2026

Baker Interrupts Alleged Break-Ins At Toowong Shopping Complex

Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

A baker working before dawn at Toowong French Patisserie interrupted alleged break-ins at the Cat & Fiddle Markets complex in Toowong, where several shopfronts were smashed and items including cash, jewellery and shampoo were stolen.

Baker Interrupts Toowong Break-Ins

A baker working at Toowong French Patisserie interrupted an alleged early-morning break-in spree at the Cat & Fiddle Markets complex on Morley Street after hearing glass smashing nearby.

The incident happened shortly before 2am on Monday, 27 April and involved three people allegedly breaking into a clothing boutique, a hair salon and a café. Shopfront windows were smashed as the group allegedly moved through the business strip.

The baker was working inside the patisserie when he heard the noise from the nearby shops. The break-ins were interrupted after the group became aware of him, and police were called. The patisserie was not damaged.

Smashed Glass Left Across Morley Street Businesses

Several Toowong businesses were left with broken glass and damage after the alleged break-ins.

At Timbuctoo, a clothing boutique in the complex, cash and European jewellery were allegedly stolen. Some jewellery was later found outside in the car park area.

Sassi Hairdressing, located next to the boutique, was also targeted. Shampoo was allegedly taken from the salon before the group moved on to a nearby café.

A cash register was also allegedly carried out of the third shop during the incident.

Cat & Fiddle Markets — *Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook*

Small Businesses Confront Overnight Damage

The alleged break-ins left the affected business owners facing smashed windows, stolen goods and the disruption of arriving to damaged shopfronts.

The clothing boutique and hair salon were among the businesses visibly affected at the complex, while the café was also broken into. The incident added a difficult start to the day for small operators at the Toowong business strip.

The baker who interrupted the incident had worked at Toowong French Patisserie for more than 20 years. His workplace was not damaged during the alleged break-ins.

Police Continue To Investigate

Police are continuing to investigate the Toowong break-ins.

No arrests or charges have been reported so far. Inquiries remain ongoing into the incident at the Cat & Fiddle Markets complex.

Published 28-Apr-2026

St Ignatius Students Turn Compassion into Action This Easter

Brisbane Catholic Education

Students at St Ignatius School in Toowong have proven that hope is a “doing word” this Easter, marking the season with a vibrant Easter Hat Parade and a major charitable drive for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion.

The school community gathered on Wednesday 1 April to celebrate the season of renewal, while simultaneously answering a call to support those living on the margins. Families donated a mountain of Easter eggs, soft toys, activities, and stickers to create gift baskets for those experiencing poverty, turning a traditional school celebration into a hands-on lesson in global generosity.

The effort is part of a massive coordinated response from Brisbane Catholic Education, with students across its 146 schools uniting to support the 2026 Project Compassion theme: Unite Against Poverty.

Hope as a Practical Choice

For St Ignatius Principal Benedict Campbell, these activities go beyond simple fundraising; they reflect a core conviction that Catholic education must look outward.

“Hope is not about ignoring the challenges people face,” Mr Campbell said. “Rather, hope invites students to walk alongside others with compassion, trusting that love and faith can bring light even in difficult times.”

St Ignatius School Toowong — *Photo Credit: Brisbane Catholic Education*

He noted that the Easter story provides the clearest blueprint for the school’s commitment to service. “At Easter, we are reminded of Jesus’ example,” he said. “He did not turn away from the suffering of the world but responded with care, generosity and self-giving love. That is the kind of hope we aim to nurture in our students.”

A Tradition of Service

This practical approach to faith sits naturally within the school’s identity. With a history in the Toowong parish stretching back over a century, the school continues to model its outreach on the Ignatian tradition of “faith in action.”

By participating in Project Compassion, which supports long-term development programs in over 100 countries, St Ignatius students joined a national movement of approximately 1,700 schools and 1,200 parishes.

For the students parading in their handmade hats, the message was clear: belonging extends far beyond the school gate. Through these small, shared acts of generosity, the Toowong community is helping to place the dignity of the “global family” at the centre of their Easter celebrations.

Get Involved

Families interested in St Ignatius School can learn more by visiting the school’s website or calling (07) 3371 1094, while those who want to support Caritas Australia’s 2026 Project Compassion appeal can head to caritas.org.au/project-compassion to make a contribution.

Published 6-April-2026.

Toowong Apartment Project Koya Residences Launches as Construction Begins

Photo Credit: Koya Residences

A new apartment development in Toowong has been launched and moved into early construction, with Koya Residences introducing a Japandi-inspired design approach to the inner-west suburb.

Japandi Design Defines Toowong Development

The arrival of Koya Residences adds a design-focused residential project to Toowong, combining Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality in a style known as Japandi.

The approach centres on simplicity, natural materials and restrained interiors, with an emphasis on comfort and long-term liveability. These principles are reflected throughout the development, shaping both the building’s exterior and the internal layouts designed for everyday use.

The project includes 40 one-, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments arranged across five levels, maintaining a scale that aligns with the surrounding residential streetscape.

Brisbane property — *Photo Credit: Koya Residences*

Construction Activity Underway In Toowong

Construction has commenced at the Toowong site, with early works progressing as the project moves beyond its initial launch phase. A piling rig is now in place as groundwork continues.

Brisbane Builders is delivering the project for developer Lantona, which has positioned the development around considered scale, material quality and long-term liveability.

A display suite is nearing completion and is expected to open by appointment, providing a preview of selected finishes and key design elements.

Toowong Location Connects Lifestyle And Access

Located on Josling Street, the development sits within an established Toowong neighbourhood known for its access to green space and transport connections. The site is near riverfront parklands and the Bicentennial Bikeway, supporting outdoor movement and everyday convenience.

Toowong’s connectivity extends to major destinations including the CBD, St Lucia and West End, with transport options available by train, ferry, bus and bicycle. The suburb also provides access to education facilities and established local amenities.

Rooftop Amenity Expands Living Space

Shared amenities are concentrated at rooftop level, where a communal retreat is planned to include a pool, dining areas and outdoor spaces oriented towards neighbourhood and city views.

These areas are designed to support both private use and small gatherings, extending the living environment beyond individual apartments.

Within each residence, open-plan layouts and private outdoor areas are designed to bring in natural light and extend the living space.

Boutique Scale In A Changing Market

Koya Residences enters the Toowong market at a time when smaller-scale developments are becoming less common, with many recent projects in the suburb favouring larger building forms.

The project’s measured scale sets it apart within this environment while maintaining access to key urban amenities.

The development is slated for completion in early 2027, with sales and marketing managed by Keenan & Byrne.

Published 16-Apr-2026

Toowong Motorists Feel the Bite as Brisbane Toll Petition Hits 1,509 Signatures

Wikipedia

Frustrated Brisbane motorists have put tolls back in the spotlight, with a petition calling for the removal of all tolls from the city’s bridges and tunnels attracting 1,509 signatures and drawing fresh attention to the cumulative cost of crossing the Brisbane River.

The petition, lodged by a Redbank Plains resident and tabled in March 2026, calls for tolls to be removed from Brisbane’s five tolled crossings: the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges on the Gateway Motorway, the Go Between Bridge, the Clem7 tunnel, the Airport Link tunnel and Legacy Way. Together those five crossings have recorded around 490,000 motorist journeys since June 2025. Toll costs on the Airport Link alone rose 33 cents to $7.16 on 1 January 2026, continuing a pattern of annual CPI-linked increases that has steadily lifted the cost of using Brisbane’s tolled network year on year.

For Toowong residents, the Go Between Bridge is the crossing closest to home. The 300-metre span connects Coronation Drive at Toowong to the Inner City Bypass at Milton, carrying around 12,000 vehicles per day and providing one of the fastest cross-river connections available to inner-west commuters. Opened in July 2010 and now operated by Transurban Queensland under a concession running until 2063, the bridge was built at a cost of $338 million and was controversial from the outset, with the toll arrangement drawing community pushback at the time of its construction.

The Cost of Getting Around

The toll debate sits against a wider picture of worsening congestion. Brisbane commuters lost an average of 84 hours to traffic delays in 2024, a 14 per cent increase on the previous year. That figure suggests toll roads are not reliably delivering the congestion relief that justifies their cost in the minds of many drivers, particularly those who pay tolls daily and still find themselves stuck in traffic on connecting roads.

RACQ public policy head Dr Michael Kane offers a measured counterpoint. He notes that toll roads primarily function as a funding mechanism for major road projects rather than a guaranteed solution to traffic flow, and that removing tolls would not eliminate the construction debts that still need to be serviced. Making all toll roads free, he argues, is unlikely on its own to improve network performance, though he acknowledges that a broader review of how south-east Queensland plans and funds major road infrastructure is worth pursuing.

That tension, between the real daily cost to individual motorists and the financing reality of large-scale infrastructure, sits at the heart of the debate the petition has reignited.

A Long-Running Debate for Toowong

The Go Between Bridge has attracted scrutiny before. When it was built, community concern focused on whether the toll arrangement was fair for a crossing designed to connect the inner west rather than serve longer motorway journeys. Critics at the time pointed out that without adequate connecting roads, the bridge risked pushing additional traffic onto local streets in West End and Toowong rather than relieving congestion on them.

That concern has not entirely disappeared in the years since. The bridge carries respectable daily volumes, but Toowong residents who use Coronation Drive regularly will recognise the congestion that builds around the bridge’s entry and exit points during peak periods. The arrival of major new developments along the Coronation Drive corridor, including the Monarch Residences at 600 Coronation Drive, will drive further vehicle movements to a stretch of road that is already under pressure.

Why This Matters to the Toowong Community

For Toowong households, the toll question is not abstract. Residents who commute across the Go Between Bridge to Milton or the inner city each working day clock up more than 200 toll charges annually. At current rates, the annual cost for a regular Go Between Bridge user hits hundreds of dollars on top of fuel, parking and registration costs, and that figure compounds if other parts of the Brisbane toll network also feature in their regular routes.

Whether the solution is toll removal, toll reform or better investment in public transport alternatives that reduce the need to drive, the petition reflects a genuine frustration from motorists who feel the cost of getting around Brisbane has grown faster than the quality of the experience. Toowong’s location, sitting between the Legacy Way tunnel to the north and the Go Between Bridge to the east, means residents interact with the toll network more directly than most.

Motorists wanting to track the petition’s progress or add context to the debate can view the petition details at parliament.qld.gov.au by searching petition number 4408-26.

Published 18-March-2026.

Proposed 17-Storey Tower at 44 Glen Road Divides Toowong Residents

Sammut Group

A development application seeking to more than double the height of an approved riverfront apartment building at 44 Glen Road, Toowong, from 8 to 17 storeys has drawn mixed reaction from nearby residents, with concerns about traffic, flooding and excavation impacts sitting alongside support for the site’s long-overdue redevelopment.

The applicant lodged application A006928427 in December 2025 to amend an existing approval for the site, formerly known as The Dell, after relocating the heritage property from the address. The amended design, prepared by Bureau Proberts Architecture with planning by Urbis, would increase the number of apartments from 22 to 42, expand basement parking from 60 to 101 spaces across three levels and consolidate communal open space to a rooftop terrace.

The site sits in the High Density Residential Zone under the Toowong-Auchenflower Neighbourhood Plan, which permits buildings up to 15 storeys. While the proposal is technically 17 storeys, Urbis notes in its planning report that it presents as 15 due to the slope of the site and the rooftop amenity design. The site is less than 400 metres from Toowong railway station, directly adjacent to Brisbane Street and within walking distance of Toowong Village, with 15-storey buildings already in the immediate streetscape.

Why the Design Changed

JLL and Colliers marketed the original approval for a 22-apartment, eight-storey scheme for sale in August 2025 and described it as development-ready with potential to increase the building height subject to further approval. The site then changed hands, and the new development team reviewed the project’s viability as the market had shifted considerably since the original design approval.

New Toowong development application near Glen Road — *Photo Credit: Sammut Group*

Toowong’s apartment market has moved sharply in that time. Unit values in the suburb surged 16.8 per cent over the past year, with rents rising 11.7 per cent to $670 per week. Across Brisbane more broadly, apartment prices climbed 15 per cent in 2025, following 16.6 per cent growth the year prior, while vacancy rates sit at a historically tight 0.9 per cent. The Coronation Drive corridor immediately west of the Glen Road site is also absorbing significant new supply, with the Monarch Residences development at 600 Coronation Drive adding to what is rapidly becoming one of Toowong’s most active development strips.

Against that backdrop, the development team’s rationale for scaling up the project reflects the same calculation reshaping apartment developments across Brisbane’s inner west. Urbis describes the changes as reflecting increased efficiency of land use to complement the emerging character of Toowong, a character that now includes several towers of 15 storeys or more in the immediate vicinity.

Support, But Not Without Reservations

One nearby resident who regularly cycles and walks along Glen Road expressed strong support, noting the site had been overdue for development given its walkable proximity to Toowong Village and the train station. Their only concern was the parking. At 101 spaces, the proposal sits close to double what the planning scheme requires for a site of this zone and location, which that submitter described as excessive given the high-quality public transport on the doorstep.

Traffic, Flooding and Ground Movement

Those who opposed the application raised three distinct concerns. On traffic, one submitter argues that the projected 70 per cent uplift in vehicle movements has not been adequately modelled at the Glen Road and Brisbane Street intersection, particularly as the nearby Monarch development at 600 Coronation Drive adds further load to the same corridor. The submitter also questions the proposed driveway width, arguing that it exceeds 30 per cent of the front boundary and that the application’s compliance claim does not align with the traffic report or the provided drawings.

Flooding drew separate concern, with published histories of The Dell, produced by the Toowong and District Historical Society, documenting multiple flood events at the address over the past century. With a larger basement now proposed below peak river height, the submitter argued the application’s flooding mitigation strategy needed considerably more rigorous treatment.

A third submission raised excavation impacts, with a neighbour reporting noticeable vibration in surrounding buildings during preliminary site works in early 2026. Given the amended design requires a tri-level basement, that submitter called for pre-construction structural surveys of neighbouring buildings, independent vibration assessments and ongoing ground movement monitoring throughout excavation. Many surrounding buildings date from the 1970s and 1980s and were not designed with deep basement excavation in mind.

A Corridor Mid-Transformation

Glen Road is not the only address on the street attracting development attention. A separate application for a 15-storey residential tower at 21-25 Glen Road proposes 28 three-bedroom apartments and draws on the same riverside context and proximity to Toowong station. Student accommodation at 33 Glen Road brought a 14-level tower to the street several years ago. The pattern points to a corridor in mid-transformation, with the built form shifting steadily upward and questions about how that transition is managed growing more pressing with each new application.

For Toowong residents watching the Glen Road streetscape change around them, the 44 Glen Road application is another chapter in that story. For more information, please click here.

Published 18-March-2026.

High Street Tunnel in Toowong Gains New Life With Immersive Street Art

Photo Credit: the_tervo.co/Instagram

An overlooked pedestrian tunnel in Toowong has been converted into a large-scale immersive street art space, with Brisbane artists Sofles and Drapl covering the walls and ceiling with bold murals that are attracting attention from locals and visitors. The High Street tunnel, located between the Royal Exchange Hotel and Toowong Village and Train Station, has shifted from a plain walkway into a public art destination designed to brighten daily commutes and encourage community connection.

The project was recently completed following about a week of painting and planning, according to social media posts from organisers and community representatives.

Local Artists Lead Public Space Transformation

The artwork was created by Brisbane-based street artists Sofles and Drapl, both recognised for their work locally and overseas. The pair were selected to transform the tunnel into a fully covered mural environment, using vibrant shapes and layered colour patterns to change the space’s feel.

The project goal is to trial creative ways to improve public infrastructure and reduce the number of plain or ageing spaces across the city. Posts promoting the artwork suggested the tunnel transformation was part of a broader effort to rethink how pedestrian links and underpasses are maintained and used.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Drapl (dr🍏) (@drapl)

The goal was to support local artists while improving shared public areas without increasing costs for residents.

A New Visual Landmark in Toowong

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A post shared by Tervo (@the_tervo.co)

The tunnel sits beneath High Street, linking foot traffic between the Royal Exchange Hotel and Toowong Village, close to Toowong Train Station. Visitors have been encouraged through social media to walk through the tunnel to experience the artwork in person, with organisers highlighting the layered design that surrounds pedestrians from every angle.

Community reaction shared online noted that the colourful design makes the walkway feel safer and more welcoming. The project is being viewed by organisers as a trial for future public art upgrades across Brisbane’s transport and pedestrian networks.

Published 11-Feb-2026