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Here Are The Upcoming Shows At Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

Looking for activities to do with the kids during the school holidays? Get ready to welcome a new year of space discovery with educational and fun-filled activities at Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium! Here are upcoming events to look forward to at the planetarium in January 2023.

Read: Here’s Where To Go In Rosalie For The Best Croissants

Destination: Universe

Explore the universe without leaving Brisbane! If you want to chart a course through the Solar System or venture past the Milky Way galaxy, don’t miss to book for Destination: Universe.

Dates:

Tue, 17 Jan
Wed, 18 Jan
Thu, 19 Jan
Fri, 20 Jan
Sat, 21 Jan
Sun, 22 Jan

Perfect Little Planet

Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium — Photo credit: www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Ever wondered what it’s like to take a tour of the Solar System? Join the Perfect Little Planet, a new children’s show about our Solar System as seen from the perspective of a visiting family on vacation from another star system. Inclusive of a night sky tour, this 35-minute tour is suitable for children ages 3 and above.

Dates:

Wed, 18 Jan
Thu, 19 Jan
Fri, 20 Jan
Sat, 21 Jan
Sun, 22 Jan

Cosmic Collisions

Cosmic Collisions is a show which illustrates the role collisions have played and continue to play in our universe. Narrated by actor and director Robert Redford, it is one of the great productions of the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Dates:

Wed, 18 Jan
Fri, 20 Jan
Sat, 21 Jan
Sun, 22 Jan

Passport to the Universe

Photo credit: Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium/Facebook

Narrated by Tom Hanks, Passport to the Universe is a thrilling journey across the Solar System, through the Milky Way Galaxy to the edge of the observable Universe.

Dates:

Thu, 19 Jan
Sat, 21 Jan
Sun, 22 Jan

Tycho Goes to Mars

Join Tycho, everyone’s favourite cheeky dog as he discovers Mars. Tycho is in search of water to fly his steam-powered space kennel back home. But how will he find water on Mars, when it looks so cold, dusty and dry? Find out in this show, produced by Melbourne Planetarium at Scienceworks, Museums Victoria.

Dates:

Thu, 19 Jan
Sat, 21 Jan

Worlds Beyond Earth

Narrated by Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, it tells the story of the dynamic worlds that share our Solar System, and the unique conditions that make life on Earth possible. Take a journey far beyond our own planet to marvel at the latest discoveries from our cosmic neighbours.

Date:

Thu, 19 Jan

The Little Star That Could

It follows the story of Little Star, an average yellow star searching for planets of his own. Along the way he meets other types of stars, learns what makes each star special, and discovers that stars combine to form clusters and galaxies.

Dates:

Fri, 20 Jan
Sun, 22 Jan

Read: Inside Thai Terrace, A Place To Grab Authentic Thai Cuisine In Rosalie

For bookings and more details about the events, visit Brisbane City Council’s website.

Published 17-January-2023

Rosalie Gourmet Market Expands After Buying Foodstore

Rosalie Gourmet Market, a long-time landmark along Baroona Rd, is gearing up for expansion after buying its next-door neighbour, Rosalie Foodstore.

Work has actually started with the expansion plans as walls have been torn down between the two shops. New floors, ceiling, lights and shelves will be added in the next few weeks to create a “superstore.”

The extra space, spanning 460 square metres, will provide Rosalie Gourmet Market with a back office and a commercial kitchen.

“We are so excited to bring this new boutique food hub which will combine gourmet food products and some convenience lines. Bear with us while renovate, we know you will love the end result,” owner Raeleen Gough said.

Plans to expand the favourite local shop have been Ms Gough’s goal for years. When she learned that her next-door neighbour, Delong Londrid, was planning to sell Foodstore, the two business people talked and negotiated.

Ms Gough was also able to secure a five-year lease into the bigger space and will still be offering Foodstore products along with new versions of convenience store and gourmet picks. The Foodstore’s frozen line will also be expanded.

Ms Gough said that the pandemic lockdowns gave her business the opportunity to expand because more people working from home patronised their products.

Rosalie Gourmet Market has over 3,000 items from cured meats, cheese, artisan bread, patisserie items, take-home meals, and fresh fruits and vegetables. The shop celebrated 25 years at the end of October 2022.

Goat Curry: A Must-try at the Old Monk in Paddington

Old Monk may be a newcomer to Paddington, having just opened in April 2022, but this modern Indian restaurant is already getting noticed for its extraordinary fare. Topping the list of popular dishes is an unusual one for most: the Himachali goat curry.

Read: Inside Thai Terrace, A Place To Grab Authentic Thai Cuisine In Rosalie

Himachali goat curry is slow-cooked on the bone and steeped in onion and tomato masala (blended spices). At Old Monk, it’s served in a handi, a deep round pot commonly used in north India.

This gluten-free dish is lovingly prepared by the owners according to their ‘mum’s recipe.’ It’s a dish close to their hearts and it’s often prepared on special occasions.

Curry is Old Monk’s signature dish and the neon writing across the wall of their dining area says it all. “I love you but don’t touch my curry.”

Photo credit: Old Monk Modern Indian/Facebook

“Old Monk is best described as India on a plate with Brisbane in Mind,” their owners proudly say. The restaurant offers a curation of their interpretation of Indian cuisine, with small and large servings of food designed to be shared, mixed and matched, so people dining together get to sample ‘a little of everything and not too much of something.’

Those who love curry can opt for the curry leaf masala toasted with shredded lamb with crispy roti. Also popular is the goan fish curry, a spicy fish curry with chilli, fenugreek seeds and tamarind pulp.

Aside from their curries, other standout items on the menu include lamb shank korma, Colonel Tso’s cauliflower, butter chicken, and the kadai chicken (chicken sauteed with onions, capsicums, fresh ginger, and coriander).

Lamb shank korma (Photo credit: Old Monk Modern Indian/Facebook)

“Love the ambience of the place and food is to die for. My favourites and highly recommended is pan fried momos, lamb shank korma and chef recommended goat curry is definite to hit those umami cravings…”
Sushen, local guide

Foodies who are in for a sweet treat always end up trying the rasmalai, flattened balls of Indian cottage cheese soaked in clotted cream flavoured with cardamom, or the kulfi, their house-made Indian ice cream.

There is also a variety of options for drinks, which includes beer, wine, gin, vodka, tea, coffee, and the housemade lassis (Indian drink made from a yoghurt or buttermilk base with water).

Read: I Had Never Heard of This Donburi Place in Rosalie But the Food is Incredible!

Old Monk is located at 1/151 Baroona Rd, Paddington. They are open daily from 4:30 p.m. Follow them on Instagram @oldmonkbne for updates.

Inside Thai Terrace, A Place To Grab Authentic Thai Cuisine In Rosalie

Thai Terrace, located just below Cinebar Rosalie Village, is a restaurant serving authentic Thai and Cantonese cuisine in a contemporary dining setting.

Read: You Need to Check Out This Donburi Restaurant at Rosalie

A favourite among locals and tourists alike, this restaurant has been a longtime staple in Rosalie Village, having been established in 2002.

Thai Terrace is a great place for those who are especially fond of pad thai or those who need their quick fix of Thai curry and noodles.

The restaurant’s vibrant pad thai (Photo credit: Thai Terrace/Facebook)

Pad thai, the famous stir-fry noodle dish, is served with tofu egg, shallots, your choice of protein, and their special sauce. Here, proteins include chicken, beef, prawn, duck, tofu and you can opt for vegan and gluten-free.

thai terrace — Photo credit: Foodie Adventure/Google Maps

Their Thai style curries, are such a hit, especially the Massuman beef curry, which comes with melt-in-your-mouth slow cooked chunks of beef, with potatoes, onion, peanuts, and crispy fried onion, simmered in coconut milk and balanced to perfection with an artisan Massuman paste.

Dine on the restaurant’s elevated terrace, where you can take advantage of Brisbane’s great weather but if you prefer a more intimate dining experience, dine at their stylish indoor dining area.

The Chef’s Recommendations notably has lots of seafood, with selections like the Chilli Calamari, Prawn Superb, Tamarind Prawns, and Lemon Fish.

End your meal with black sticky rice, deep fried ice cream, choc cookie sundae, or salted caramel sundae.

Thai Terrace is a licensed restaurant, with a wide selection of beers, wines and spirits specially selected to compliment the menu, though BYO wine is welcome.

Read: Here’s Where To Go In Rosalie For The Best Croissants

They are open daily, except on Tuesdays from 4:45 to 9:00 p.m. For more information, visit their website or check out their Facebook page.

I Had Never Heard of This Donburi Place in Rosalie But the Food is Incredible!

Photo Credit: Uncle Don / Facebook

“I had never heard of this place but the food was incredible. The charred Edamame starter was one of the best things I’ve eaten in a while. The donburi was amazing and came with pickles, furikake and miso. Its a really awesome place and very yum. I will definitely be back again soon!” – Harry Chiem

If you’re a fan of Japanese rice bowls but haven’t checked out Uncle Don yet, then it is about time you do. Visit this restaurant in Rosalie and get your fill of their casual yet tasty Donburi meals.

Donburi is a simple meal prepared using steamed rice and then topped with meat, vegetable and sauce before serving in a large bowl called “don”. And when it comes to preparing this delicious Japanese dish, Uncle Don elevates the art to another level.

Starters include charred broccolini in truffle soy; baked cauliflower with miso chickpea cream and herbs; a Japanese crunch pork cutlet sandwich and fried eggplant with sweet miso and spring onion.

Baked Cauliflower with Miso cream | Uncle Don / Facebook

Starters include charred broccolini in truffle soy; baked cauliflower with miso chickpea cream and herbs; japanese crunch pork cutlet sandwich and fried eggplant with sweet miso and spring onion.

Charred Broccolini with house-made truffle soy sauce | Uncle Don / Facebook

The dons are divided into seafood, chicken, beef, pork and vegetarian options. You might want to try their salmon sashimi don served with sushi rice, shiso leaf, soy cured yolk and ikura. Or their steamed rice topped with oven-baked soft salmon prepared with kimchi, kewpie, tenkasu, roasted seaweed flakes and shallot.

Tenkasu baked salmon don | Uncle Don / Facebook

If red meat is your thing, then try the wagyu steak don in teriyaki butter, soft-cooked free-range egg, roasted seaweed flakes and shallot; and sweet soy-marinated pork, fukujinzuke, soft-cooked free-range egg and shallot.

Grilled Buta Don (marinated pork don) | Uncle Don / Facebook

Other options include premium panko crumbed chicken with housemade katsu sauce, scrambled free-range egg, fukujinzuke and shallot; and grilled shiitake mushroom with ginger yuzu, marinated mushroom and shallot.

Don’t forget to try matcha tiramisu don which is a dessert made with mascarpone, castella and matcha for an enjoyable sweet finish.

“Authentic Japanese don! We love the environment and the food are very eye catching! I love how they present their food, it is like an art piece! I would definitely go back again to try the salmon don as it was out of stock when I visited. There are plenty of parking outside the restaurant.” – Yap venture

“We came here as it was highly recommended by a friend. The food was so delicious, neatly presented, and came out quickly. The matcha tiramisu is a must try! It’s so creamy but not too sweet. Tables fill up quickly, so best to book ahead.” – Janette M.

Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar Says Goodbye To Bardon, Hello to Fortitude Valley

After bringing a little slice of Spain to Bardon for almost four years, Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar is moving to a new location in Fortitude Valley.

Read: Here’s Where To Go In Rosalie For The Best Croissants

Famous for its paellas and homemade sangrias, Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar opened in Bardon in 2018, and has since been recognised as home to the most authentic Spanish tapas in the city.

Dining at Pata Negra feels like being transported back into the side streets bars of Seville, Madrid or Barcelona, with their traditional tapas and wines and beers which are all imported from Spain.

The restaurant is gearing up for its August 5-7 opening weekend in Brunswick St in Fortitude Valley, after closing its MacGregor Terrace location in July 2022.

tapas bar — Photo credit: Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar/Facebook

The new location, around a 10-minute drive from the original, will still feature all their signature items, their huge, traditional family paella to the tapas, such as tortilla de patatas (potato omelette), croquetas, and albondigas (Spanish meatballs).

“I have been to the Bardon restaurant. Fabulous food. Look forward to trying the Fortitude Valley one,” one of their customers wrote in their social media page.

pata negra brisbane — Photo credit: Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar/Facebook

They will continue to offer their famous Paella cooking class, a master class held every Wednesday night and guided by a Spanish chef. Here, students do not only get to learn how to cook authentic paella, but also a few of the tricks of the trade and its rich history.

flamenco dance — Flamenco show (Photo credit: Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar/Facebook)

More than the food and their paella master class, locals have come to enjoy their flamenco show every month and occasional wine tasting classes.

To book a table for Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar’s opening in its new location in Fortitude Valley, visit the website or follow them on Facebook.

Bardon Property Market Continues Stronger Performance Amidst Tight Market

The Bardon property market has maintained a strong performance for the 12-month period ending March 2022, amidst a tight market and off the back of flooding incidents earlier this year.

Bardon Median House Price

From April 2021 to March 2022, Bardon’s house price growth was at 33.33 per cent, pulling the median house price from $1.2 million to $1.6 million, per data from Property Market Updates. Sales volumes also remain high 204 properties sold within 30 days on market, compounding on the high demand that has dominated Brisbane’s housing market for some time.

Median house price Bardon — Photos Credit: Property Market Updates

Buyers hunting for a home in Bardon sought three- or four-bedroom homes, closing deals in less than a month and way above the average Brisbane media value for a house. But one buyer nabbed the highest-price home for the period, which is a 5-bedroom property with a rooftop deck that boasts sweeping views of the city and the picturesque surrounding Mt Coot-tha.

Bardon Median Unit Price

Bardon’s unit market had an uptick for this period at 4.74 per cent following a slump in the previous quarter. The unit median price has settled at $742,500 for this period with 56 properties sold for an average of 44 days onmarket.

median unit price Bardon — Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

Though the housing market has outperformed the unit market every month, the latest figures reveal a gaining momentum as the city recovers from the impact of the pandemic with the re-opening of the borders.

Bardon Property Market Post-Flooding

In 2011, Bardon’s growth post-flooding was at a slow 2.4 percent. The median house price for this period was $735,00 down from $775,000. It took Bardon a few years to pull its median house price upward again.

The rain bombs in late February 2022, which caused millions of dollars in flood damage, were expected to bring down Brisbane’s property market, in general. Yet, Bardon quickly recovered and even had a massive growth rate one month later, as reflected in the Property Market Updates.

Industry insiders said that this was indicative of the market’s significant growth in the last 11 years. With the current imbalance of supply and demand, property prices have been resilient.

Quality buyers who are willing to pay a premium for their investments have also contributed to Bardon’s price growth. In the next few months, however, Bardon could experience a short-term favorable shift because buyers, especially from interstate and overseas, will likely prefer hilltop locations to avoid a flooding disaster.

Latest Research Data Reveals Bardon’s Top 3 Childcare Centres

Photo Credit: Bardon Community Kindy Inc. / Facebook

Looking for a centre-based child care service provider? Here are Bardon’s top three childcare centres, as ranked by a childcare search and compare platform.

Based on KindiCare Rating data released in May 2022, Bardon ranks among the top Qld suburbs offering quality childcare, with six childcare centres in the area having a combined average rating of 9.06.

Here are the top three early childhood learning and care providers (9 or higher) in Bardon based on real-time KindiCare Rating data.

Bardon Community Kindy Inc.

Bardon Community Kindy Inc. received a KidiCare rating of 9.7 compared to an average rating of 8.8 for the Bardon area. The not-for-profit organisation is licensed to provide care for up to fifty children.

In August 2021, Bardon Community Kindy Inc. also received the National Quality Standard (NQS) rating of Exceeding NQS, which means its service went above the requirements of NQS in at least four of its seven quality areas.

Location: Bowman Park, 247 Simpsons Road

Opening Hours: 7.15 am to 5.40 pm, Monday to Saturday

Phone: 07 3369 4697

Ithaca Creek State School P&C Association OSHC

Ithaca Creek State School P&C Association OSHC received a 9.5 KindiCare rating and is also rated as Exceeding NQS standards. The centre is licensed to provide centre-based child care for up to 120 children.

Location: Ithaca Creek State School, Lugg Street

Opening Hours: 7 am to 8.45 am and 3 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Friday; Holiday hours are from 7 am to 6 pm

Phone: 07 3368 1060

Communify Childcare Qld

Communify Childcare is a Long Day Care Queensland Government-approved Kindergarten Program provider. The 21-children-capacity centre received a KindiCare rating of 9.3 and an Exceeding NQS rating.

Location: 180 Jubilee Terrace

Opening Hours: 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday

Phone: 07 3510 2711

The four other facilities rated by KindiCare are:

St Joseph’s Bardon Outside School Hours Care – 8.8 rating
PCYC Inala – Bardon School Age Care – 8.6 rating
Little Ducks Childcare Bardon – 8.6 rating
Eden Academy Bardon – 7.9 rating

About KindiCare Rating

KindiCare is a two-sided marketplace platform for parents and guardians in search of early childhood education and care providers. Their KindiCare Rating is a unique rating system designed to show the relative quality, performance and customer satisfaction of individual childcare centres or service providers as compared to all childcare centres and services in Australia.

To assess the providers, factors including government service quality audits and reviews, community feedback collated from various sources and the type of childcare service as well as the characteristics of their offering were considered.

The KindiCare numerical ratings, with 10 being the highest, are as follows:

9.0 and above: Excellent
8.5 – 9.0: Very Good
7.5 – 8.5: Good
5.0 – 7.5: Fair
5.0 and below: Poor
NR: Not Rated

Gold Coast-based Operator Eyeing New Childcare Centre In Bardon

A Gold Coast-based childcare centre operator is looking to expand its services across South East Queensland, with new centres planned for the region including one in Bardon.

Read: Bardon’s Childcare Cost Among Highest In QLD

Harmony Early Learning Journey, based at Hope Island in Gold Coast, is eyeing to invest $85 million across several locations in Australia.

Aside from Bardon, the organisation is planning to establish additional centres in Bulimba, East Brisbane, Griffin, Thornlands, Graceville and Yeerongpilly as well as the Broadbeach Waters and Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

Harmony has not announced much about the Bardon childcare centre, but three (Broadbeach Waters, Griffin, and East Brisbane) are expected to open in 2022 and all of them will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Harmony’s site selection was based on suburbs with the strongest population growth in Australia. Bardon’s population as of 2021 is estimated to be at around 10,723.

The organisation is eager to expand in Queensland, despite claims that the state’s childcare sector is facing an oversupply.

In January 2022, the Australian Childcare Alliance revealed there’s an oversupply of childcare centres in Queensland since 2017, not to mention the additional 200 centres currently in planning stages.

Earlier this year, another developer was bombarded with objections from locals regarding its proposal for a childcare centre along Chiswick Road in Bardon. Residents worried that the centre will be built in a ‘dangerous intersection’ and the additional traffic it would bring, given that there are already three primary schools in the area.

Meanwhile, Bardon is among the suburbs in QLD with the highest childcare cost, averaging at $123.50/day as of May 2022.

Issues Raised on Proposed Stuartholme School Sporting Precinct Development in Bardon

The Freer’s Farm Action Group has outlined several issues concerning the proposed redevelopment of the Freer’s Farm farm site in Bardon into a sporting precinct for Stuartholme School.

The group cites that they are not opposed to the plans per se (MID-1021-0542 – Stuartholme School) but there are potential problems that the developers need to address before the redevelopment gets a green light.

Among the most concerning issue is the sports field’s impact on flood levels, especially on the properties downstream. The group said that the flood modelling used in the proposal “don’t reflect actual historical flows.”

Photo Credit: The State of Queensland (Planning) / planning.dsdmip.qld.gov.au

Additionally, the earthworks within the flood zone call for filling land that will raise its level higher than the neighbouring properties. Essentially, this will remove the flood plain and increase the risk of flooding onto the other sites.

Freer’s Farm is near Sir Samuel Griffiths Drive and picnic areas at Hoop Pine and Silky Oak within the Mt Coot-the Reserve. The sports field may also cause parking and traffic issues at these sites.

The residents are also concerned about light and noise pollution when there are games at night that will likely bring ecological impacts to the wildlife, parkland users, and the neighbourhood. For years, most of the area at Freer’s Farm is completely free of artificial light at night.

Last week, some of the locals have met with representatives of the developer, Ethos Urban, Stuartholme School, and the consulting firm, Blight Tanner, to clearly discuss the concerns of the community. Cr Peter Matic was also in the said meeting.

According to the Freer’s Farm Action Group, the flood modelling used in the proposal is not accurate, thus they have asked for a revised model. The planners said they are willing to work with the community to deliver a final model that will be agreeable to all concerned.

The planners also acknowledged providing more information on the sports field lighting information. They have agreed to defer the start of construction to August 2022.

The MID submission, on the other hand, has been extended until 19 May 2022. Follow the guide on how to make a submission from this group.