A special arts and crafts showcase is popping up at the Mt. Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, where you can score unique Queensland-made gift items for your beloved mum, just in time for Mother’s Day.
The pop-up shops will be open on Saturday and Sunday, the 27th and 28th of April 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The stores will specifically be set up at the garden’s auditorium.
Hosted by the Brisbane Visual Arts Community (BVAC), the Mother’s Day pop-up shop will feature the creations of local artists and crafters like Kate Bray, Wendy Goode, Jan Steer, and Louise Sanders, who are members of different arts and crafts groups in Brisbane and Queensland.
This is an opportunity for the art community in Brisbane to have a regular means to showcase their work to the public.
If you are an artist with a group of more than three members, you may also become part of the BVAC, which has monthly meetings at its home base in the Wellers Hill Arts Hub in Tarragindi.
Are you aware that there’s a Paella Patio popping up every Sunday at MacGregor Terrace in Bardon? If you want to eat or learn to cook this Spanish Valencian dish, a chef will prepare and create the paella right in front of you.
The pop-up paella is open from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Pata Negra Brisbane. The chef will also offer tips and tricks on how to prepare this flavourful rice dish.
The ingredients used in creating the paella, including gluten-free options, are from the Spanish Deli next door. Since the pop-up is at the patio, you may bring your dog for Paella night if you like.
Paella originated from the coastal areas of Spain centuries ago. It is always served in a large but shallow pan and it is the most popular Spanish dish.
This dish is filled with hearty seafood mixed with chorizo and spices like saffron. Some variants, however, may also include chicken.
While you’re at Pata Negra, you may as well order the Spanish wines from the bar to match with the paella or order their other dishes. You may also brush up on your Spanish language as the staff at Pata Negra are fluent.
Bardon joins the rest of Queensland in celebrating Girl Guides centennial this 2019!
Established in 1919, Girl Guides is where young ladies foster friendship, build their character, acquire leadership, learn valuable life skills, and empower themselves to make a difference in society.
The organisation regularly holds meetings, sleepovers, campings, expeditions, hikes, and other activities that match the girls’ interests and abilities. The more experienced Girl Guides are also given the opportunity to travel and join other activities around Australia and across the globe. The sisterhood is part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
One of Girl Guides’ most prestigious members is Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who is also commemorating the group’s 100th year.
“I remember my time as a Girl Guide and the valuable lessons I learnt along the way. Not only were the values taught at home reinforced, I was introduced to a leadership program that has helped shape my political career. I look out at all the fresh, young faces and offer this advice; take hold of every opportunity Girl Guides Queensland offers you; continue to formulate opinions, voice them and embrace the experiences that lay ahead,” Ms Palaszczuk said of her experience.
The Girl Guides program is open to children from 5 to 18 years old. Interested ladies who want to become a part of this community are given a four-week trial before they make a firm decision to stick with the group.
Young girls who still wish to be a Girl Guide but may be set back by other commitments like school work or a family situation, and thus cannot join the activities regularly, can sign up to be a Lones Guide.
Those with limited physical abilities or have special needs may also join as Nowra Guides and buddy up with the rest of the girls. Nowra Guides, however, also a have a separate indoor camping activity.
Being a Girl Guide, however, can be a lasting and life-long experience as the younger ones may eventually become members of the Trefoild guild (18 years old and above), olaves (18 to 30 years old), and unit leaders.
There are 16 regions with at least 140 districts that make up the Girl Guides Queensland. In Bardon, the community is located at Cecil Road near the Bardon Bowls Club and the Brisbane River.
Brisbane’s iconic destinations such as South Bank, the Story Bridge, and Mount Coot-tha take center stage as the inaugural Tour de Brisbane starts rolling this April 2019.
Tour de Brisbane is Brisbane Cycling Festival’s concluding event, which is expected to bring over two thousand amateur and elite riders from all over Australia, Asia, and Europe. The cycling event will take on closed roads, scenic inner-city courses of 8km, 45km, and 110km.
https://vimeo.com/315331000
Watch, Play, Stay | Video Credit: Brisbane Cycling Festival / Vimeo
The National Road Series – The Classics, Australia’s premier domestic road-racing event, will hit Brisbane roads for the first time. Delivered by NXsports, the National Road Series – The Classics is part of Brisbane Cycling Festival’s Tour de Brisbane and will feature both men’s (5 to 7 members) and women’s (4 to 5 members) teams as they tackle a fast and technical course, reverse climb up Mt Coot-tha, and fully closed road.
This 2-day event will begin on Saturday 13 April with the Blast Criterium ride at the Murarrie Recreation Ground and conclude with the main event on Sunday 14 April in South Bank.
The new NRS structure saw the inclusion of the Classics Series with brand new events:Tour de Brisbane and Tour of the Tropics. The Classics Series kicked off on 16 February with the Melbourne to Warrnambool event and will culminate with the Grafton to Inverell race this 11th of May.
Blast Criterium Course
https://youtu.be/w8qBQy1hlIY
Tour de Brisbane Course | Video Credit: Tour de Brisbane / YouTube
Tour de Brisbane is headlined by UCI Gran Fondo World Series and will include a number of supporting events starting 11 April.
On Sunday 14 April, Tour de Brisbane will culminate with 8km (FREE Community Ride for ages 6 and up), 45km (Amy’s Rides – Piccolo), and 110km (Amy’s Rides and UCI Gran Fondo) scenic courses.
TdB 8km Family Fondo
TdB 45km Piccolo
Amy’s Rides is a non-competitive recreation ride available to everyone, 12 years old and up, whist the UCI Gran Fondo World Series Age Category is competitive where the top 25 percent finishers will have an opportunity to represent their respective countries at the 2019 World Championships in Poznan, Poland.
TdB Gran Fondo
Through the State’s partnership with the Amy Gillett Foundation, Tour de Brisbane hopes to raise funds for the A Metre Matters, a campaign promoting safe cycling in Brisbane.
Sundays at the Bardon Community Markets are worth the trip. Aside from finding fresh produce for your pantry, you can also enjoy a hearty breakfast and spend an enjoyable Sunday morning with your family, dogs included.
This community market pops up on Baroona Road at the Norman Buchan Park every Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Aside from the food, people come to the Bardon Community Markets for different products to use at home or to look for gift ideas. Some visitors stay awhile longer to have coffee and mingle, or have a chat at the stalls.
Bardon Community Markets may be smaller compared to other Sunday markets in Brisbane but shoppers appreciate the laid-back, friendly vibe that makes this event one of the best ways to meet and make friends whilst getting your shopping done.
The stallholders change every week so each visit will bring fresh surprises. Stalls are run mostly by local farmers and growers, along with small business owners. Locals interested in becoming a seller at the Bardon Community Markets may email bardonmarket@gmail.com or call 0421289207 to inquire about the space.
Defying the market downturn gripping some capital cities, Bardon managed to rank among the best performing Brisbane suburbs for house price growth in 2018, according to the latest Domain report.
With a 10.1 percent year-on-year house price growth, Bardon was the seventh best performing suburb in Brisbane, with a median price of $990,500. On the other hand, latest suburb data from realestate.com.au shows the median house price for Bardon at $1,015,000 which is more than double the QLD median price of $490,000. A total of 230 houses changed hands from 1 Feb 2018 to 1 Feb 2019.
Sandgate tops the list of 10 best performing suburbs for houses in 2018, in terms of year-on-year price increases, with 18.8 percent growth and a median price of $750,000. Just as impressive, North Ipswich managed to register a year-on-year price change of 17.30 percent or a median price of $366,500, for a second place finish, followed by Graceville, Paddington, and Bardon; all posting above 10 percent growth.
Burpengary East, Carseldine, and Brookfield round out the top 10 with 9.4 percent, 8.9 percent, and 8.8 percent growth, respectively.
For the December quarter 2018, Brisbane property market posted an almost flat year-on-year growth, after it registered gains in the previous quarters. Whilst industry experts point the reason of the slowdown to the tighter credit access that’s crippling housing market in other capital cities, optimism remains high for Brisbane housing market. Queensland remains to be a favourite among interstate migrants and overseas buyers; with QLD’s strong fundamentals, Brisbane housing market is seen to remain stable, if not growing.
Bardon is among Brisbane’s best performing suburbs in 2018 in terms of units rental increase, according to the Domain Rental Report for December quarter 2018.
Bardon recorded one of the highest rental increase for units with 5.60 percent year-on-year and 12.70 percent five-year increase, or a median rent price of $333, the report said. On the other hand, data from realestate.com.au shows the median unit rental price per week in Bardon at $480, based on 136 unit listings from 1 February 2018 to 8 February 2019. Bardon’s median unit rental price is higher than QLD average of $370.
Photo Credit: Google Earth Pro
The top performing suburbs for units rentals list shows Holland Park taking the top spot with a 12.10 percent increase year-on-year, followed by Clontarf with 3.90 percent year-on-year increase. South Brisbane, Balmoral, Herston, Bulimba, Alderley, Coorparoo, Fairfield, and Mount Gravatt rounds out the list. Overall, the median asking rent for units rose to 5.4 percent over the past year.
As for house rentals, Manly, Ascot, and South Brisbane were the the top three best performing suburbs with year-on-year changes of 14.50 percent, 14.20 percent, and 13.70 percent, respectively. The rest of the list include Nudgee, Tarragindi, Fairfield, Petrie Terrace, Dakabin, Banyo, and East Brisbane.
After suffering from a supply glut, the dwelling demand is slowly picking up in Brisbane, absorbing supply and pulling rental prices up. Also, according to property valuation firm SQM Research, Brisbane’s rental vacancies fell to 2.7 percent in January 2019 down from 3 percent in June 2018 and 3.5 percent in May 2017. As Queensland overtakes Victoria as the most popular destination for interstate migration as of June 2018 — thanks to better economy, employment opportunities, and access to good schools — Brisbane housing market is starting to become a landlord’s market with rental asking prices expected to rise, as vacancy rates continue to fall.
Rather than enrolling their children in a private school, an increasing number of parents are willing to spend a bit more for homes in Brisbane’s most sought-after school catchments, such as the top-ranked Rainworth State School in Bardon.
Rainworth State School recently took the top spot as Brisbane’s best public primary school in 2018, as revealed by Better Education, and interstate home buyers don’t seem to mind paying a premium for a home that is within the popular school catchments, such as this one in Bardon.
Good schooling is one of the primary considerations for parents of school-aged children looking to buy a new home, and is one of the primary drivers for Brisbane dwelling demands, industry experts say.
Queensland School Catchment Map
Photo Credit: Queensland Government / qgso.qld.gov.au
In the last 12 months, house median sale price in Bardon rose 9.47 percent, and 12.55 percent for units median price, according to CoreLogic. As for market demand, there have been 965 visits per property compared to QLD average of 386, according to realestate.com.au data from 1 January to 31 December 2018.
Rounding out the 2018 top 10 public primary schools in Brisbane: MacGregor State School, Ashgrove State School, Ironside State School, Wishart State School, Indooroopilly State School, Sunnybank Hills State School, Chapel Hill State School, Graceville State School, and Robertson State School.
On the other hand, the 2018 top Brisbane state high schools is led by Brisbane State High School, followed by Mansfield State High School, Indooroopilly State High School, Cavendish Road State High School, Mount Gravatt State High School, Kelvin Grove State College, The Gap State High School, Kenmore State High School, Brisbane School of Distance Education, and Stretton State College.
Australia Day is coming up on Saturday, 26 January 2019. For West Brisbane locals, there are several things that you can do at Mt Coot-tha to celebrate the holiday.
Here a few things that you can do at Mt Coot-tha on Australia Day.
Australia Day Run with the BTR Royal Family
Saturday, 26 January 2019 (6:00 a.m.)
Photo credit: Geoff Russell/Facebook
To celebrate Australia Day the Brisbane Trail Runners (BTR) royal family, Team Duffus will be leading a run in Mt Coot-tha’s trails.
The run will start at 6:00 a.m. from the toilet block at J C Slaughter Falls. Runners will be divided into three groups and each will be led by three separate members of BTR’s Team Duffus.
The run will last for about 1.5-2 hours and all participants will meet back at the starting line. Those who wish to join will need to bring their own food and water.
Saturday, 26 January 2019 ( 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
If you prefer to explore Mt Coot-tha, this informative guided walk is for you. The Free Guided Discovery Tours explores the beautiful Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha which is led by volunteer guides.
Tours start at the Visitor Information Centre.
Bookings are not necessary. To learn more, call 07 3403 8888.
Saturday, 26 January 2019 ( 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
Enjoy a free concert from the Brisbane Metropolitan Bands at the Bandstand on Australia day. You can bring a picnic and have a great time with your family whilst enjoying the afternoon’s live music.
Bookings are not necessary for the event. For more information, you may call Helen Johns on 0466 181 578.
Over two thousand amateur and elite cyclists are expected to participate in this year’s inaugural Tour de Brisbane, the city’s newest cycling event that will showcase Brisbane’s most iconic destinations including South Bank, the Story Bridge, and Mount Coot-tha.
As part of the Brisbane Cycling Festival, the Tour de Brisbane, which is headlined by UCI Gran Fondo World Series, will include a number of supporting events beginning 11 April and will culminate on Sunday 14 April via scenic courses of 8km, 45km, and 110km. The courses will take riders to some of the city’s landmarks and iconic spots. Participants may then head to the Anna Meares Velodrome to witness their favourite professional cyclists race at the Six Day World Grand Final.
“The Tour de Brisbane will put Queensland on the map with Brisbane joining the ranks of France’s La Bourgogne and Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro in hosting a UCI-sanctioned Gran Fondo event,” Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said.
“The event will showcase Brisbane’s beautiful scenery and attract cyclists and their supporters from around the world.
“The Tour de Brisbane together with the three other cycling events will make up the Brisbane Cycling Festival and will inject upwards of $8 million into Queensland’s economy each year over 2019-2021,” Ms Jones said.Tour de Brisbane Course
Video Credit: Tour de Brisbane / YouTube
“With four different distances, everyone from kids and families to the pros can have a pedal and see our city on two wheels,” NXsports Race Director Mike Crawley said.
“We are proud to partner with the Amy Gillett Foundation to promote safe cycling in the city and to raise funds for the Ride for a Metre Matters campaign,” Mr Crawley said.
Tour de Brisbane aims to raise funds for the Ride for a Metre Matters — a campaign promoting safe cycling in the city — through the State’s partnership with the Amy Gillett Foundation.
“Brisbane is already well known for its blockbuster sporting events and we’re thrilled to add an event that encourages spectators to get out of the stands and onto their bikes,” Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
“Events like the Tour de Brisbane are a great driver for Brisbane’s economy and contribute more than $150 million of economic impact each year by supporting local jobs as well as the accommodation, retail, hospitality and service sectors,” Cr Schrinner said.
The Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council have secured the festival for an initial three-year period.
