The local hub aptly named Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters, located at 58 Rainworth Road in Bardon, will cease brewing after the 22nd of Sept 2019.
Owners Alex and Stephanie Ridgway announced their decision to their loyal customers in a Facebook post, citing their need to create a work and life balance for their young and growing children. The Bardon location opened in 2015.
Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters regulars, however, may still find their delicious roasted coffee and cafe meals at its Albion location on Sandgate Road. The Ridgway couple plan to lease their store in Bardon whilst ensuring that the Albion site will get the focus and attention it needs.
“It is a great space and we would love to continue serving you there if you come to that side of town,” the couple stated, adding that they would want to continue building a sense of connectedness in the community, which they have experienced while running the Bardon store.
“It is incredibly heart-warming when we observe: children exploring the back garden with wonder; elderly members of our community reporting their sense of nostalgia in the shop; people finding a little pause from the busyness of their day; newborn babies becoming a part of the community; a neighbour tending so lovingly to the side garden; and regular customers coming down to the cafe to meet with their neighbours every day.”
Trading hours at the Albion site, which may be found at the back of the Albion Fine Trades, is from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Meanwhile, their online store will still be up so Bardon locals who regularly buy their blends may also arrange for delivery.
If you’re looking for a bit of indulgence, the sumptuous dishes exquisitely prepared at Lutece in Bardon may just satisfy your craving for a delightful dinner. Choose from the four-course Lobster Celebration, the Canard à la Presse (Duck on the Press), the Winter Special lunch menu, or the Dinner by Sunset list.
Lutece serves traditional French food with a modern twist, which is prepared so meticulously by Chef Romain Bapst. If it is your first visit then you need to try the creamy crab lasagne signature dish and the classic escargot.
While the restaurant’s food choices are limited and change seasonally, you’ll appreciate the set menus because you just have to order and wait comfortably as every meal is served at your table, including the desserts.
Lutece also has a vegetarian and kids menu, as well as an extensive wine list to pair with your meals.
Photo Credit: Discover Brisbane/Facebook
Photo Credit: sucre_belle/Instagram
From the moment you step inside this chic establishment, you’ll get first-class service. Price points might be a bit more expensive than other restaurants, but the fine dining experience is very much worth the price.
To be clear, Lutece isn’t cheap but you’ll get great value for your money. On Wednesday nights, a jazz band serenades diners. What’s more, the restaurant is located in the foothills of Mt Cool-tha with a great view of the western suburbs so be sure to reserve a seat by the window to make your dining experience even better.
Photo Credit: Lutece Bistro & Wine Bar/Facebook
Lutece’s trading hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. For reservations, phone (07) 3161 1858 or email bookings@lutece.com.au.
“My husband and I went there this past weekend for lunch and the food was unbelievable. I highly recommend the Lobster Bisque and Crab Lasagna. We will definitely be back! Great views too. Best french restaurant in Brisbane, by far.”
~ Nicole Maria, Google Reviews
“The food was delicious, the service impeccable and the ambiance amazing. We will certainly be back especially as we live so close. What a gem! Perfect for a special occasion! They even gave us a treat with Happy Anniversary written in chocolate with a sparkler. So special!”
“Something really special. The view is spectacular. The menu spectacular. Get an uber – you don’t want to be the designated driver. Very well priced for food of this quality.”
If you’ve ever had a hankering for Hungarian comfort cooking, come and dine at Bardon’s Smoked Paprika. Named after Hungary’s most popular spice, Chef Gabor Traub has carefully selected his family’s recipes to serve at his restaurant whilst adding his own creative touches.
Located at 65 MacGregor Terrace, Smoked Paprika is an all-day breakfast restaurant that serves home-cooked meals with distinct Hungarian influences.
Chef Traub changes the menu regularly to keep the choices interesting but the cafe’s signature meal, the Smoked Paprika breakfast, is a must-have for first-timers. This order has spiced beef with a rich layer of goulash served on Turkish bread, poached eggs, roasted tomatoes and grilled halloumi with hollandaise sauce.
Photo Credit: Smoked Paprika/Facebook
The flavours of every dish in this foodie spot are guaranteed to gratify your cravings. But your eyes will also light up because of the fantastic way Chef Traub plays up the colours in the food and desserts he creates.
Locals think this foodie spot is easily one of the best breakfast places in Brisbane but you must come and try it for yourself. Smoked Paprika opens all week from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Photo Credit: Smoked Paprika/Facebook
“Highly recommend smoked paprika to everybody! I’m a huge fan! The best thing about this place is their creativity…you will always be surprise with the presentation of their meals and of course the taste. Also very friendly staff. Definitely the best cafe in Brisbane!”
“My new favourite Brisbane cafe! The service here was next level, the were staff always accommodating us at each stage of the dining experience.
I had one of the green smoothies to start. It was very natural, smooth & not overly sweet. I chose the Sweet Potato Hash for Breakfast. A crowd favourite 3/4 from our table selected it. How delicious, avo, goats fetta, sweet potato hash & a large serving of bacon definitely hit the spot.
Worth the wait in gold, but make sure you book ahead.”
~ Nicholas Doran, Google Reviews
“Innovative take on breakfast/brunch. Was impressed by the use of ingredients such as kale etc. Lovely beverages to go with the meals. I must add that the staff were very patient as it was well past closing time and I was taking my sweet time doing justice to my dish.”
You may not have tasted Iranian food quite like the one served at The Persian Restaurant at MacGregor Terrace in Bardon. For Middle Eastern cuisine that has set the bar in the area for nearly a decade, The Persian Restaurant is a favourite of locals but also gets frequent visitors from outside Brisbane.
Diners come back to this busy establishment for its rich, authentic Iranian food flavours and aroma. Regulars return for a filling serving of kababs and grilled eggplant, or a banquet of Persian or Middle Eastern platters with dolmeh, kashk-e-bademjan, hummus, falafel, and a choice of gluten-free bread.
The menu at The Persian Restaurant has a varied selection of appetizers, salads, and the main course like lamb or chicken paired with Basmati rice. Dessert choices are also a delight and the Iranian Baklava with rose water syrup comes highly recommended.
Photo Credit: The Persian Restaurant/Facebook
Photo Credit: The Persian Restaurant/Facebook
Photo Credit: The Persian Restaurant/Facebook
The ambience at The Persian Restaurant is also a celebration of colourful Iranian culture, where walls are filled murals that depict its history.
Persia was home to one of the earliest cultures in the world and the preparation of Persian food has been developed and passed on from generation to generation. Dining at this place can be a pretty special experience.
The Persian Restaurant is open from Tuesday to Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and from Friday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
“Went for lunch with a friend for her birthday. Food is delicious, love the lamb shank, so tender and juicy. Love the dips with the soft pillowy flat bread. And the chicken cooked with pomegranate, it is so unique and tasty. Very lovely service. Highly recommended”
“Occupying a large space in the old Bardon Shopping Centre on Busy McGregor Terrace, this multi-purpose space provides a very authentic experience with friendly staff, good food and… is BYO. Hurrah! Although influenced by the country’s Arab Muslim neighbours, Iranian food also owes much to its Indo-European origins. Herbs spices fruit and nuts feature to flavour proteins and rice giving a delightfully different experience at a low price. Huge servings! We will be back tomorrow.”
“We are from Sydney and passed by The Persian Restaurant a couple of years ago and liked the look of the place and the menu, so decided on a future visit to Brisbane, we’d check it out. We finally got to visit the restaurant around a week ago as we were back in Brisbane. We weren’t disappointed as the food was very good. The meat was cooked really well and everything was really tasty.”
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.
Did you know that the heritage-listed Rainworth House in Bardon is over 150 years old?
Built in 1862, the historic home is currently one of the few surviving original timber houses in the area.
Rainworth House is a rare example of a 1860s dwelling of the steeply pitched short-ridge roof variety. The home was originally built as a farmhouse and is now part of suburban Brisbane.
Rainworth is especially significant because of its long and personal connection with Sir Augustus Charles Gregory KCMG CMG FRGS MLC. To date, the residence still bears the stamp of Gregory the practical bushman rather than the prominent public figure.
Sir A.C. Gregory is recognised in several names of places such as Gregory Street, Toowong and Gregory Park, Milton, and the locality of Rainworth itself.
History of Rainworth House in Bardon
Rainworth, residence of Sir Augustus Charles Gregory, Bardon, ca. 1885 Rainworth and outbuildings as seen through the banana palms in front of the property. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 63037
Sir Augustus Charles Gregory is a famous explorer and surveyor-general of Queensland from 1859 to 1879. He built the home in 1862 and was the sole farmhouse in the area at the time.
He named the property Rainworth after a small town in Nottinghamshire which is close to his birthplace at Farnsfield, England.
Sir Augustus Gregory. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 16036
Sir A.C. Gregory was a dominant, conservative member of the Legislative Council. Furthermore, he was also a vital personality in Toowong’s local government, a leading Queensland freemason, and an influential amateur scientist.
Despite his high profile, he chose to live a rather simple life in his rustic farm cottage. Serving as his rural retreat and residence, Rainworth has been a place where he could think, invent, create, and write. He lived in the farmhouse until his death in 1905.
Except for the closed-in front verandah, Rainworth House remains largely untouched since Sir A.C. Gregory lived there. It still features an interior of rough cut wide planked walls and ceilings.
Early view of Rainworth homestead and outbuildings, Torwood, ca. 1875 Rainworth was in Baroona Road at Torwood. The home was built for Sir Augustus Charles Gregory who was an explorer and also became the first Mayor of Toowong in 1902. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 63785
Following Gregory’s death in 1905, the subsequent owner, Robert Philp, merchant and politician, rented the property, as did ensuing owners. When the ensuing owners subdivided the estate, they relocated the house from nearby to its current location in Barton Street.
In 1949, Frederick and Mildred Howell rented and later purchased the property. Their descendants continue to occupy the premises.
Rainworth House in Bardon is added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. It remains to be a significant landmark of the area to this day.
From being a residence to a number of notable personalities to becoming a parish and then a school, Bardon House has indeed established itself as the most significant home in the suburb of Bardon.
The family that built the home named it Bardon as it reminded them of Bardon Hills in Leicestershire where they used to live in England. The suburb eventually carried the Bardon name as well.
Located at 41 The Drive, Bardon, the iconic residence continues to serve the community and is now a part of the St Joseph’s primary school complex.
Early Days
Joshua Jeays, 1909, builder of the Bardon House. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of QLD. Image No. : 109863
Bardon House was built in 1863/64 by Joshua Jeays, builder, architect, and early mayor of Brisbane. It is thought that he constructed it for his wife Sarah, who died prior to its completion.
After arriving in Moreton Bay from England in 1853 with his wife and four children, Joshua Jeays established himself as a reputable builder and contractor in Brisbane. Among his notable creations was the Old Government House.
From 1854, Jeays and his family lived in a house at North Quay.
Apart from being a renowned builder, architect, and contractor, he was also involved in local politics. Jeays became an alderman of the Brisbane Municipal Council in its foundation year, 1859 and also served as Mayor in 1864-1865.
View of Bardon House from the drive, 1930. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 196955
Jeays purchased two country lots in the Brisbane suburb in the first land sales for the area in November 1862. He later acquired 38 more acres of land from Francis Lyon in early 1863. This was where he built the Bardon House.
Jeays reportedly constructed Bardon House around 1863/1864. The house’s name came from Leicestershire County’s highest landmark, Bardon Hill, which was close to Joshua and Sarah Jeays’ respective hometowns of Loughborough and Beeby in England.
Unfortunately, Sarah Jeays died in July 1864 while her husband was serving as the mayor of Brisbane. After her death, Joshua Jeays retired from business and never resided at Bardon House, remaining at their North Quay residence until his death in 1881.
Bardon House’s Prominent Residents
Charles Lilley on his wedding day, 1858. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 111372
In early 1866, Jeays’ daughter Sarah and husband [Sir] Charles Lilley (later Premier and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland) lived in Bardon House. However, the Lilley’s occupancy of Bardon House appears to have ended by mid-1867.
Following the Lilley’s is a succession of notable Brisbane residents and their families occupying the property for various periods of time. Famous personalities who occupied the residence included Thomas Harlin, the First headmaster of Brisbane Boys Grammar School, and [Sir] Thomas Mc Ilwraith (later Premier of Queensland).
Hon. Thomas McIlwraith. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 21383
Moreover, John Stennett from the pharmaceutical firm Elliot Brothers and his family occupied Bardon House from 1878-1886. Subsequent residents from the mid-1880s to early 1900s were stock and sharebroker Brownlow Cole and customs officer Charles William Rich, as well as Johannes Christian Brunnich, a government agricultural chemist.
When Joshua Jeays died in March 1881, his Bardon estate remained in the ownership of the Jeays/Lilley family until 1911.
The Exley Family
Bardon in the 1930s. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 133637
Bardon House was leased to Arthur Exley who lived there with his wife Elizabeth, five daughters, and son from 1903 to 1925. They are amongst the longest tenants at the property.
Exley had an extensive career with the Department of Public Instruction and was the headmaster of the nearby Ithaca State School when his family moved to Bardon.
Elizabeth also played a prominent role in the community. Her works were related to social services for women and children. She helped establish the first Queensland branch of the Anglican missionary organisation the Mothers Union and the District Nursing Association.
The Exleys remained in the Bardon House until Archbishop James Duhig purchased the property in 1925. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 105251
After the death of the estate’s owner, Edwyn Lilley in 1911, Arthur Exley, master builder Arthur Barltrop, and solicitor Patrick O’Sullivan acquired the Bardon property holdings. The three formed the company Bardon Estate Limited and subdivided much of the land for new housing.
Allotments were offered for sale in four stages between 1912 and 1921. The original Bardon House driveway was gazetted as a road called The Drive as part of the subdivision. Five acres of land were retained as surroundings for the house.
The Exleys remained at Bardon house until the property was purchased by Archbishop James Duhig, for the Roman Catholic Church in 1925 for £2250.
After its establishment, church services were held in St Mary Magdalene’s Church instead of the Bardon House. Photo credit: CC-BY/bertknot/Flickr
The first mass was celebrated at Bardon House in March 1925 by Monsignor Lee of nearby Rosalie Parish. The mass was held in the central room of Bardon House, with the mantelpiece and table substituting as an altar.
Along with the official designation of the suburb, the parish of Bardon was declared in 1926. It was the 38th Parish of the Archdiocese.
Appointed in 1925, Father Max Irvine, the Chaplain at Stuartholme Convent, became the first Parish Priest of the parish of Bardon. He also resided at Bardon House. However, by the following year, services were no longer held in Bardon House, since a church-school named St Mary Magdalene’s (originally spelt Magdalen) was constructed within the grounds.
Bardon House as a School
Bardon House as St Joseph’s Convent, Bardon, 1959. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 74791
Original plans for the parish of Bardon included using it as a school but this did not happen until 1938. When Parish Priest, Dr O’Donoghue vacated Bardon, Archbishop Duhig invited nuns of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception to occupy the place.
The Franciscan Sisters moved in on 19 January 1938 to establish a convent and new primary school, to be known as St Joseph’s.
St Joseph’s School was opened on 24 January 1938 with 31 male and female pupils. With the help of an anonymous donation of £1000, a separate school building located between Bardon house and the church was constructed on the site by the end of the year.
As part of Bardon House’s adaptation for a convent and school use, the north facing verandah was enclosed to accommodate a classroom. Moreover, the eastern verandah was also enclosed with lattice around whilst the stone walls of the enclosed verandahs were also rendered.
Bardon House Now
After the war era, St Joseph’s School continued to develop and grow. Several school buildings and sporting facilities have been constructed on the grounds since this time. Furthermore, most structures on the school site now date from post-2000 era.
Today, the earliest surviving school building is the 1958 Forrest building, immediately west of Bardon House.
Bardon House was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. The iconic residence-church-school remains to be a part of the St Joseph’s primary school complex.
The Victorian Gothic style stone house continues to impress passersby with its fine workmanship and architectural style.
A koala survey is being conducted to help create green zones that will protect bushland in Bardon, Mt Coot-tha, Wishart and other locations with high koala activity.
Brisbane City Council is using sniffing dogs to detect koala presence in 20 sites. The dogs are trained to locate koala scats (koala poo), which they can detect even after several months that the koala has moved away. Aside from detecting koala presence, the research is also studying gender, migration patterns and diseases plaguing the at-risk marsupial species.
“Between May and July, two highly trained detection dogs sniffed out 20 sites that Council has acquired as part of its Bushland Acquisition Program, to provide information on koala health, genetic diversity, breeding and movement behaviour,” said Acting Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
“The survey identified the presence of koalas at 17 of 20 sites explored, of which ten sites registered a significant amount of koala activity.”
Extremely high koala activity was observed in half of the bushlands surveyed over the past months. Among the areas with high koala activity are areas in Bardon, particularly in the Mt Coot-tha Reserve, Monoplane Street Park, and Bardon Esplanade Park.
Other areas with high koala activity include Belmont, Burbank, Mount Coot-tha, Wishart, Kuraby, McDowall, Anstead, Moggill, Alderley, Nathan and Mt Gravatt.
“Just three sites in the city’s southwest region were found to have no recent koala activity, Wally Tate Park (Kuraby), Blunder Creek Reserve (Doolandella), Fort Road Bushlands and Rocks Riverside Park (Seventeen Mile Rocks),” Cr Schrinner said.
The koala survey is important as it will guide the council in its Bushland Acquisition Program. The council purchases bushland and with significant koala activity.
“By identifying locations with high levels of koala activity in areas including Bardon, McDowall, Moggill and Alderley, Council can preserve koala habitat with targeted land purchases to create green wildlife corridors and wildlife movement zones along roadways,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Close to 500 hectares of bushland has been purchased by Council since 2016 and an additional 250 hectares is planned for purchase by 2020, with priority given to areas adjoining confirmed koala habitat.”
Things that have been stolen from these locations include laptops, wallets, handbags, jewellery, cash, game consoles, bicycles, tools, and vehicles such as cars and motorcycles.
Thieves usually enter homes through unlocked doors or garages or by smashing doors and windows. They may also access garages and storage cages by cutting or manipulating locks and padlocks.
Other times, stealing may happen even when the residents are home.
The police have provided these simple tips to make your home more secure:
Install reliable security screen doors on main external entrances.
Remember to key-lock your security doors and remove the key from the lock.
Fit deadlocks on all external doors.
When moving in to your home or apartment, install new locks on entrance doors.
Never leave notes that indicate your absence.
Always take your door key with you, do not hide it, and never put your name and address on your key ring.
Get to know your neighbours.
Observe and report suspicious activity.
Keep foliage trimmed back around your property so others can view suspicious activity.
Keep vehicle keys secure.
Don’t leave garage doors open or unlocked.
Don’t prop or leave open communal doors to garages.
Use high-quality locks and chains to secure storage cages.
Use screening material to cover storage cage contents.
More Safety Tips
Photo credit: mypolice.qld.gov.au
As thieves continue to target Inner West Suburbs, police have increased patrols in the area and strongly advise residents to be vigilant.
Locals are also encouraged to appropriately secure their homes, storage areas, and vehicles, as well as record details of electronic equipment and take photos of valuable items such as jewellery.
Residents who want to check the level of security in their home may take advantage of the police’s ‘Free Home Security Audit Service’. Just call the Indooroopilly Crime Prevention Unit on 3377 9421 or the Ferny Grove Crime Prevention Unit on 3872 1542 to make an appointment.
To report any information for the police, call the Policelink on 131 444 or use the online form.
You can also anonymously provide information about a crime to Crime Stoppers. You may contact the organisation 24/7 by calling 1800 333 000 or by visiting their website.
