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Sisters of Mercy Selling 15-Hectare Bardon Hilltop Property

The 15-hectare hilltop property of the Sisters of Mercy in Bardon is for sale. However, residents have expressed their concerns about any potential development at the massive bushland site and its effect on the area.

Read: Bardon Ranks in Top 3 for Most Renovation Projects in Brisbane

The landmark estate in one of Brisbane’s most affluent suburbs spans 14.8 hectares and bears the valuable green backdrop of Mt Coot-tha. Found some five kilometres away from Brisbane CBD’s northwest, the property on 371 Simpsons Road offers an unrivalled view of the city and Moreton Bay.

Cushman & Wakefield is handling the sale of the Sisters of Mercy property, which is expected to fetch multimillion-dollar bids. The site is going up the market for the first time since the congregation had the property in the 1950s.

Following the sale, Sisters of Mercy will be moving to Nudgee, where the renovation of St Vincent’s Convent has been underway. The congregation planned the move due to the reduction of the number of its members.

The Bardon building has been used as the congregation’s administration offices and the dormitory for the novices. Until 2020, the quiet location was also a conference facility and temporary accommodation.

According to the realtors, the Bardon property could be developed into a “multi-residential, retirement, gated community, health and wellness precincts or a major home site for a high-net-worth private investor.” About 13,090 square metres of the property is not covered by the Vegetation Protection Order.

The realtor’s statement has prompted residents to reach out to Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman to express their worries that a new owner could potentially ruin “the high ecological significance of the land.”

Mr Berkman is hosting a community meeting on 30 June 2021 at 9:00 a.m. outside the Simpsons Road location to discuss these concerns. Meanwhile, interested investors have until 22 July 2021 to submit their Expression of Interest.

Flood Resilient Program: Rosalie Resident Benefits from Free Home Renovation

Across Rosalie and Bardon, homeowners are rebuilding and elevating their houses off the ground to become flood-resilient and one resident has been a lucky benefactor of a free renovation, thanks to the pilot launch of the Flood Resilient Program.

An initiative of the Brisbane City Council in partnership with CitySmart, the Flood Resilient Program aims to help residents prepare, bounce back and thrive after a flooding disaster with minimal disruption. For now, the program is by strict invitation only and selected among residents who are “regularly and severely impacted by overland flow flooding.”

Margherita Gellel from Rosalie has been chosen to benefit from the program, giving her and her family some peace of mind. Ms Gellel has been a Rosalie resident for nearly 50 years and has experienced frequent flooding that she’s always apprehensive whenever it rains in Brisbane. However, she and her neighbours have never considered moving away as an option.

Photo Credit: QLD & Brisbane – Flood & Storm Images/Facebook

Now, she’s feeling a lot more relieved because of the program that launched in mid-2019. It would have been such a costly expense for Ms Gellel to rebuild her house from underneath but the renovation costs are shouldered by the Council, CitySmart and the firm of James Davidson Architect (JDA).

JDA has been designing flood-resilient homes for Queenslanders ever since the great flood of 2011. The firm has a different approach in building flood-resilient homes as it makes use of wet proofing or materials that are easy to clean and could withstand water. The company’s innovation has earned the recognition of the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.

Meanwhile, CitySmart has conducted a forum on flood resiliency with the participation of various builders and architects specialising in flooding disasters, per Councillor Vicki Howard. This was a free event covering the following:

How to identify properties at risk from flooding
Flood-resilient building techniques, materials, and the benefit for your clients
How to provide advice to clients and understand your business risks, including planning scheme flood overlays and site water management issues
Comparative costs in flood resilience building and staying competitive when quoting

The forum took place on 24 June 2021 at the East Leagues Club in Langlands Park, 40 Main Avenue, Coorparoo. Keep tabs on the results of this forum via the councillor’s official site or Facebook page.

You may also visit the Council’s website to learn more about the Flood Resilient Program.

Bardon Ranks in Top 3 for Most Renovation Projects in Brisbane

Renovation projects are at an all-time high in Brisbane, with Paddington, Camp Hill, and Bardon taking the top three spots for having the most renovations done in the last nine months, following the reduction of development fees.

Across the city, some 2,000 renovation projects have reportedly been undertaken, driving more demands for tradies and boosting the building and construction industry during an economically challenging period as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said that various residents across 150 suburbs, especially from Paddington, Camp Hill and Bardon, as well as Pallara and Bulimba, have enjoyed the renovation discounts launched by Brisbane City Council in July 2020.

“It’s all part of my Council’s plan to support Brisbane residents and boost local business when they need it most,” the mayor said.

Mike Roberts of the Housing Industry Australia Queensland said the Council’s initiative was a big win for the economy, the tradies who still have jobs, and for the homeowners. As residents are spending more time at home due to their new work-at-home set-ups, they’re also taking on home improvement projects.

Among the most common renovation projects were adding more rooms to the house, modifications in the carport, installing a pool or deck (shared living areas), and adding a shed in the backyard.

Here’s how the suburbs have stacked up with renovation projects from mid-2020 to mid-2021:

SUBURB	# OF RENOVATION PROJECTS
Paddington	56
Camp Hill	51
Bardon	50
Bulimba	42
New Farm	42
Wynnum	41
Pallara	41
Ashgrove	39
Kedron	37
Hawthrone	37

Realestate.com.au reports that the renovation boom is also happening across the country with a national average cost of $63,188 per project. In Queensland, the average renovation project cost is $60,560.

Israeli Restaurant Yababa Offers Rosalie Village Delicious Vegan Meals

Did you know that Yababa, one of the latest restaurant additions to the Rosalie community, serves delicious, plant-based, Israeli cuisine?

After relocating to its new spot along Baroona Rd, the vegan Israeli restaurant Yababa opened its doors to the Brisbane public once again in early April 2021, offering people a slew of 100% plant-based dishes made entirely on-site.

One of the restaurant’s specialties is their delicious pocket pita bread as there are many different fillings to choose from, ranging from the classic falafel, to shawarma, all the way to hummus and salads. Prices range from $10 to $20 depending on the filling inside each sandwich, with the most expensive being the falafel meal deal which comes complete with small chips and a can of soda.

Other meals in their menu include Middle-Eastern classics such as hummus bowls which also come with many options. Customers will be able to indulge themselves with classic hummus, however they will also be able to order mesabecha — a hummus bowl served with a mix of warm chickpeas, tahini and garlic-lemon sauce. There is also Yababa’s Shakshuka, a spicy tomato and capsicum-based meal topped with two vegan eggs on a frying pan with pita bread, pickles, and tahini.

Savoury meals aren’t the only thing available at Yababa, for the restaurant also has much to offer in the way of vegan desserts and sweets to top off main courses. They even offer vegan tarts, donuts and cakes made with substitute ingredients for those with dietary restrictions. One of their most eye-catching desserts is the Iced Donuts Rocky Road.

Reviews have generally been positive, with many happy customers lauding the restaurant’s friendly staff and delicious food.

Absolutely delicious food. I had the gluten free veggie pattie plate and every single component of it was amazing. The staff were also really friendly and the chef came out to say hi and check on how the meals were going. Can’t wait to come back.
Niki K.

Thank you my Pita was amazing. So tasty 🙂. I appreciate how much you cared that it was fresh for me!! Your service was lovely.
Katie C.

Absolutely delicious! Great hospitality and service, fresh ingredients- winner!
Maya C.

Yababa can be found at 1/151 Baroona Rd, Paddington, open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays to Thursdays, and 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Fridays to Sundays. For more information, and for the latest updates on meals, deals, dates, and other special announcements concerning the restaurant, follow their Facebook page.

Go for a Night Run in Bardon with Orienteering: Night Navigation

Did you know that a special night-time orienteering event will be held at Jubilee Park in Bardon, and that it will be available to participants from all age groups?

On the 1st of June 2021, a special sporting event dubbed “Orienteering: Night Navigation” will be hosted in Bardon, with a nighttime course running across Jubilee Park. Participants can choose to run, jog, walk, or even stroll about at a leisurely pace either individually or in a group.

For the uninitiated, orienteering is an endurance sport and a mental workout all at once, requiring participants to challenge themselves by making use of their navigational and map-reading skills while simultaneously running at high speeds and plotting out the best route under pressure.

Photo credit: CC BY/Virginia State Parks staff/Wikimedia Commons

The sport has been described as “running while playing chess”, and while it is easy to pick up, it remains consistently challenging as participants can go at their own pace. People can even engage in friendly competition by using a detailed map and compass to navigate a course with designated control points marked on the map.

Victory is achieved by visiting all control points in order as quickly as possible, and the person who accomplishes the goal in the shortest amount of time is declared the winner.

Orienteering: Night Navigation will start at the picnic shelter near the Fletcher Parade car park, and the venue of the course will be at Jubilee Park, 52 Crown St, Bardon. The event will run from 6:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m and it will be open to participants from all ages, however children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets are priced at $5 for solo entries and $12 for family entries — no booking required. For more information, visit the Queensland Orienteering website here

Sweetshop Specialty Coffee: Popular Bardon Café Offers All-Day Menu

Sweetshop Specialty Coffee, based in Bardon, offers its customers classic brunch meals complemented by piping hot cups of their caramelly house blend.

Offering a delectable modern brunch menu, this café serves up delicious all-day options such as their Brisket Benny, which consists of spice-rubbed brisket, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, jalapeno cornbread, confit garlic and rosemary.

Brisket Benny.
Photo credit: Instagram/Sweetshop Specialty Coffee

Their more savoury meals are contrasted by their sweeter, more dessert-like Sweetshop Waffles served with PBJ ice cream, macerated strawberry and choc hazelnut crumb. Other sugary options include their smoothies. The Cuban, for instance, is made up of banana, pineapple, papaya, apple and coconut water all blended together.

Sweetshop Waffles.
Photo credit: Instagram/Sweetshop Specialty Coffee

As their name suggests, the café also serves specialty coffee. Their house blend, Seven Seeds Espresso Blend, possesses a sweet and balanced flavour with hints of caramel. It consists of a fifty-fifty split between beans from Gallito De La Roca, Peru, and Palermo, Colombia. Seven Seeds’ coffee in particular highlights good acidity, clarity, and sweetness.

Photo credit: Instagram/Sweetshop Specialty Coffee

Reviews from customers have been generally positive, with comments speaking favourably of the restaurant’s coffee and atmosphere. One person remarked that it was a “Relaxing space to be in” and complimented the café on its expert baristas and convenient location. Another wrote that “The staff are highly trained with vast knowledge on the blends they use and how to make them.”

Photo credit: Facebook/Sweetshop Specialty Coffee

The café can be found at Shop 3/1A, Stuartholme Road, Bardon, open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays, from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 8:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m. on Sundays.

To learn more about the café, visit their website here. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on meals, deals and dates, as well as any other special announcements.

Jorgji Provides New Alternatives to Plastic Food Containers

Now that the state government has announced a total ban on single-use plastic items beginning September, Jorgji, a composting company managed by a Bardon resident, has stepped up to offer a line of eco-friendly products that people can use instead.

Earlier in March 2021, the Queensland Government announced their new plastic pollution reduction plan, dubbed “Tackling plastic waste”. Starting the 1st of September 2021, all single-use plastic items such as plastic straws, cutlery, bowls and plates, stirrers, and food containers will be banned throughout the state.

As a result, the need for viable alternatives arises. A greener alternative to single-use plastic foodware items are containers fashioned from more natural materials. The composting company Jorgji intends to do its part by selling compostable packaging made from 100% sugarcane bagasse.

Member of Parliament Julian Simmonds was able to meet with Ross Fazel, the Bardon resident who manages Jorgji, earlier in April.

It was great to meet with Bardon resident Ross yesterday to discuss his innovative business Jorgji. Jorgji’s unique…
Posted by Julian Simmonds MP on Thursday, April 8, 2021

Businesses in the food service industry will be able to make use of fully compostable food containers perfect for takeaway, ensuring that they’ll be able to stay in business while adhering to the upcoming single-use plastic ban. Some of Jorgji’s bagasse foodware items include but are not limited to biodegradable bowls, boxes, and coffee cup lids.

For more information, visit Jorgji’s website. Follow their Facebook page for the latest updates and announcements.

Bardon Exhibits Steady Home Price Growth for Q1 2021

Photo credit: TripleThree/Wikimedia Commons

Bardon recorded a house price growth of 25 percent in the first quarter of 2021, making it one of the top choices for homebuyers looking to invest in Brisbane’s inner-west.

In 2021, the quarterly growth rate for Bardon is at 25.8-percent whilst the median house price is $1.17million.

Meanwhile, topping this year’s list is Chelmer, with a 65.1% growth rate and a median house price of $1.27m. Just this year, Chelmer already recorded two significant sales and the latest one is a contemporary house along Laurel Ave sold for $1.85 million.

Read: Rainworth, Bardon, Bardon West Identified as Among Safest Suburbs of Brisbane

Bardon is considered one of the best suburbs for raising a family or settling down. Besides its proximity to the CBD, Bardon has an appealing environment and accessible public transport system.

In February 2021, a four-bedroom, a post-war home located at 55 Outlook Crescent in Bardon sold for $2 million. The 1,264-sqm property was subdivided into two lots.

A separate report by Realestate.com.au finds that around 20 percent of people who live in Bardon are established couples and families. Around 18.7 percent are older couples and families whilst the remaining 15.6 percent are maturing couples and families.

Bardon is one of Brisbane’s school catchment zone, no wonder why families choose to live in the area. It’s home to Rainworth State School, one of the top-performing primary schools in Queensland.

Many long-time residents stay in Bardon because of the excellent schools within the suburb’s catchment area, such as Rainworth State School, Brisbane Girls Grammar, and St Joseph’s in Gregory Terrace.

Bardon to Experience Road Closures for New Tour de Brisbane

In order to accommodate the Tour de Brisbane, major roads along Bardon and beyond will temporarily be closed down, including Milton Road, Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Birdwood Terrace, and Mt Coot-tha Road.

To guarantee the safety and security for both riders and spectators, Nxsport’s cyclist event organisers of the Tour de Brisbane — scheduled for April 11, 2021 — have taken extra measures to close major roads and divert traffic along the route with the help and management of the Queensland Police Service and Altus Traffic Control.

Major roads across Brisbane will temporarily be closed to accommodate the tour participants and spectators, including roads near Bardon such as Milton Road, Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Birdwood Terrace, and Mt Coot-tha Road. For a complete schedule of all temporary road closures, visit their website.

It is estimated that over 7,000 cyclists of various ages and skill levels will join the event across Brisbane and partake in a 110-kilometre bike ride around closed city roads.

The cyclist event was created in partnership with Splatt Lawyers as a fundraiser for a transplant research initiative titled The Common Good — a project of the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation. Goals have been set to raise $200,000 to support the initiative.

Roads closed for the 110-km cyclist event are marked in red.
Photo credit: Google Maps/Tour de Brisbane

The Tour de Brisbane is scheduled to take place on the 11th of April, 2021, and official entries are to close on the 31st of March. Those interested in partaking or learning more about the event can visit their website. For more information and for the latest updates concerning the event, follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Disabled Ramp Caught In Auchenflower Train Sparks Safety Concerns

Whilst no one was injured when a disabled boarding ramp got caught on the door of an Auchenflower train, concerns have been raised over the safety of the State Government’s accessibility upgrades.

Commuters regularly taking the Auchenflower train said that the disability-compliant New Generation Rollingstock (NRG) trains are apparently not the correct height, causing a section of the raised platforms to have a gap of about 30 centimetres and rendering problems with the ramp at the door.

One commuter said that the platform appears to have a “camel hump” and assumed that it’s only temporary until the upgrades are done.

But as the Auchenflower station commonly caters to the elderly and mobility-challenged patients who need to go to the Wesley Hospital on Coronation Drive, locals said this accessibility failure must be corrected as soon as possible. As the main transport hub near a hospital, the Auchenflower train station should have full-length compliant platforms.

Work on the platform’s central section started the weekend following the incident on 10 Feb. Scott Riedel, QR Head of South East Queensland, said that the upgrades will continue at the station for the rest of the year. Aside from the raised platform with boarding points, the project is expected to deliver a new footbridge, several lifts, better lighting and CCTV.

Meanwhile, the acquisition of the NRG trains was approved in 2018 despite lacking in compliance with the disability access standards. At that time, the Auchenflower train station upgrades were still in the design phase.