Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 17 of 35

A Look Back at the History of the Queensport Aquarium in Hemmant

Did you know that during its heyday in the late 19th century, the Queensport Aquarium in Hemmant was well known for having electric lighting, the finest collection of marine creatures, reptiles, birds and other animals, and a near-disastrous but ultimately successful hot-air balloon exhibition ride?

The Queensport Aquarium holds a significant place in Brisbane’s history. Dating back to the late 19th century, the first amusement park located in Hemmant was originally established to transport visitors to a world of maritime adventure and discovery.

The park, which opened in August 1889, featured various attractions, including a seafront promenade, marine exhibits, and live performances, all of which brought the ambience of the Victorian era. The Queensport Aquarium, which closed in 1901, boasted the finest collection of marine creatures, reptiles, birds and other animals.

But the Queensland Aquarium offered more than just animal exhibits. The grand concert hall hosted shows during the weekends, featuring an organ that delighted guests. The Aquarium Band serenaded by the best singers in Brisbane, added to the entertainment. The park’s popularity led to the subdivision and sale of land nearby, known as “The Queensport Aquarium Estate.”

Queensport Aquarium Estate Hemmant — Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

Visitors to the Aquarium arrived by steamer from the city centre, enjoying a package deal that included the return fare on ships like the Natone, the Woolwich, or the Alice. Moonlit excursions to dances in the concert hall became popular activities.

The Queensland Aquarium boasted modern conveniences, including electric light, which was connected in September 1889. During the day, the park offered various activities. Sports days celebrated the New Year, whilst picnics took place on Foundation Day, which was on January 26.

In May 1891, an extraordinary sight delighted the crowd—a hot air balloon. Professor Fernandez, an experienced aeronaut, made his first balloon ascent in the colony. Though the balloon initially deflated and seemed in danger of sinking into the river, it rose again and landed safely, thrilling the onlookers.

Queensport Aquarium Balloon — Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

Despite a significant flood in 1890 that affected the wharf in the city, the Queensport Aquarium remained relatively unaffected. However, a more devastating flood occurred on February 5 and 6, 1893, which caused severe damage.

Queensport Aquarium Flood — Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

The flood tore down fences, leading to the escape of many animals, and ruined the meticulously landscaped gardens. Following this incident, J.D. Campbell and the Aquarium Company advertised the sale of the steamers. Although the picnics and parties were still well-attended, the once vibrant theme park gradually faded from the tourism spotlight at the close of the century.

Today, the land where the aquarium used to be now partly encompasses the Queensland Rocks Park in Murarrie, near the Gateway Bridge.

Published 23-May-2023

Experience the Thrill: 9 Degrees Morningside Bouldering Gym Ready to Open

Calling all fitness enthusiasts and adventure seekers! You will be in for a treat as 9 Degrees Morningside prepares to open its doors soon.

Read: Indoor Sport and Recreation Site Planned for Cannon Hill Homes

Located conveniently next to TotalFusion Morningside, the new bouldering gym is set to launch in mid-2023, providing locals with an exciting recreational opportunity.

9 Degrees, founded in 2015 by Dr Martin van Eijkelenborg with its flagship location in Alexandria in Sydney, has rapidly expanded its presence and currently operates successful gyms in Enoggera, Waterloo, Lane Cove, and Parramatta.

9 Degrees Morningside — Inside 9 Degrees Enoggera (Photo credit: William Koller/Google Maps)

To cater to the needs of its patrons, every 9 Degrees gym provides essential facilities such as bathrooms, showers, change rooms, and lockers. Visitors also have access to dedicated spaces for training, stretching, and warm-up exercises and a wide range of exercise equipment, including weights, pull-up bars, climbing training tools, and other bodyweight-focused gears.

Their specialty cafe also offers the opportunity to savour Sample Coffee’s Pacemaker blend in their gyms located in NSW, as well as Coast Coffee’s Midnight Runner in the Enoggera facility. They provide a variety of milk options, including regular, oat, almond, and soy.

Bouldering, a form of rock climbing without ropes, is gaining popularity worldwide due to its unique blend of physical exertion and problem-solving.

With walls reaching heights of 4.5 metres and expertly crafted over specialised cushioned flooring, each 9 Degrees gym promises an exhilarating experience for climbers of all skill levels.

Photo credit: 9 Degrees Alexandria/Facebook

Unlike traditional climbing, where climbers rely on safety equipment, bouldering enthusiasts will land safely on large crash mats strategically placed at the base of each wall. This setup allows for unrestricted movement and the freedom to climb independently, without the need for a partner.

Read: Work Starts on the Brisbane International Cycle Park in Murarrie

To stay updated about the opening of 9 Degrees Morningside, don’t forget to follow them on Facebook.

Published 22-May-2023

Huge Night of Music in Hemmant

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Eagles, Jimmy Barnes, Elton John, David Bowie, The Angels, Bryan Adams, Billy Idol, The Screaming Jets, The Searchers, Joe Cocker, Noiseworks, Creedence Clearwater Revival…these are just a sample of the artists that Double Vision will be covering at the qp Tavern in Hemmant on Saturday, 27 May 2023.

Did you know The Beatles got their name from Buddy Holy and The Crickets? John Lennon altered the spelling of “Beetles” to “Beatles.”

Did you know Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were classmates at Wentworth Primary School in Dartford, Kent?

Did you know that The Kinks song “Lola” was banned from TV because it had the line “tastes just like coca cola” back when advertising was banned from free to air?

Did you know Joe Cocker didn’t sing in his first band, The Cavaliers? He played drums and harmonica.

Did you know Reg Dwight renamed himself Elton John when he was 25 because his first band had two guys called Elton and John in it?
Before that, he was a solo act called Reggie, playing a pub gig every weekend at the Northwood Hills Hotel in Watford, on the northside of London.

Did you know that The Eagles’ monster hit “Hotel California” was originally called “Mexican Reggae”?

Catch Double Vision at the qp Tavern in Hemmant, bringing back the hits of bygone years.

Saturday
27 May 2023
7pm-10pm
FREE Entry

Michael Hill International Undergoes a Resilient Transformation as a Premium Brand with a Heart

Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, Michael Hill International, a Cannon Hill-based jewellery brand, has emerged as a shining example of perseverance and growth. For over four decades, Michael Hill has played a crucial role in the lives of many Australians, providing high-quality jewellery to help people celebrate their milestones.

The company has undergone a makeover under the direction of CEO Daniel Bracken, rebranding itself as a luxury brand that emphasizes the emotional connection with its clients. Michael Hill is committed to making every moment that matters extraordinary for its clients by improving the customer experience.

In late 2022, the business relocated to a specially constructed global headquarters, manufacturing, and distribution centre in Cannon Hill, where its master jewellers developed new goods. Additionally, the company has stepped up its recruitment to acquire casual workers in Australia and New Zealand.

That same year, Michael Hill achieved a record year, with an increase in operating revenue and gross margin, driven by strategic initiatives across product, stores, digital, and loyalty.

The company’s digital sales have soared, comprising 7.1 per cent of its total revenues, highlighting its ability to adapt to changing consumer behaviour.

This success has been a testament to its commitment to providing handmade, natural products, with every piece created by its master jewellers. Their dedication to in-store training and development has resulted in a loyal customer base that values their expertise and personalized approach.

Founded by Sir Michael Hill, the company’s legacy continues under the leadership of Mr Bracken, who is passionate about the product and dedicated to taking the brand to new heights.

By remaining true to its values and dedicated to its customers and staff, Michael Hill is poised for even greater success in the years to come.

Published 10-May-2023

Low N Slow Meat Co in Morningside Closes Without Warning

After 18 months in operation, Low N Slow Meat Co, the upmarket and innovative BBQ retailer, unexpectedly announced its permanent closure at the Rivermakers precinct in Morningside.

The decision to shut down came just two days after Rivermakers had over thousands of visitors for a food and music festival, where Low N Slow Meat Co was one of the purveyors.

In an Instagram post on 23 April 2023, owner Brent Poulter disclosed that they were not forced out of the precinct and the decision to close the restaurant was their own. The owners also cited “many factors that went out of control” leading up to their decision.

“Any good BBQer will understand if you starve a fire from oxygen it will go out, unfortunately, due to many factors out of our control the oxygen in our fire has been very limited and the fire is just about out, it’s an impossible situation,” he said.

“Low N Slow started 6 years ago in Tingalpa, it was a passion project that bought a love for great quality meat and live fire cooking together in the one spot. It changed the shape of butchers in general with many implementing a low n slow style into their operations, ultimately lifting the awareness of this style of cooking and eating for the greater good.

“It’s been an awesome 6 years of Low N Slow Meat Co, from back in the early days in Tinglapa all the way until now. We have taught and hopefully improved hundreds of people’s BBQ skills and opened the door for many more to venture down the rabbit hole of BBQ.

“Customers have become friends and experiences had that won’t be forgotten.

“In the recent couple of years since being at Rivermakers, the Bulimba, Morningside, and Hawthorne locals have been so supportive and we are appreciative of their patronage.”

The closure comes following reports that Rivermakers landlord Balfour Irvine has been wrapped up in a legal tussle with Council over the butchery since 2021. Enforcement notices were sent to the landlord to stop the butchery from selling meat until the precinct received “all relevant approvals.” The venue was also not supposed to be used as a meat warehouse for the goods sold at Low N Slow.

However, planning experts representing Rivermakers insisted that the storing, processing and distribution or selling of meat products were considered “ancillary use.” The representatives filed a separate development application (DA A005804996) in early 2022 for Material Change of Use of the site a food and drink outlet. The DA, which received nearly 5,000 submissions, is currently on appeal.

Published 2-May-2023

Rock Out to AC/DC With Riff Raff At The qp

Love AC/DC ? Check out the cover band Riff Raff for your AC/DC fix at the qp Tavern in Hemmant.

Happening on April 22 – 7 pm in the Beer Garden, it will be an evening spent paying tribute to the iconic rock anthems and hits that AC/DC is known for. True to form, the band itself is named after the 1978 hit, Riff Raff.

Love AC/DC ? Check out the cover Band Riff Raff at The qp Tavern. April 22 - 7 pm in the Beer Garden. — Photo credit: Supplied

“Expect plenty of interaction with “Angus”. It’s almost impossible to keep him on stage. Among the action on the dance floor is his natural habitat.”

“lead vocalist, Mark Thomas Smith is a bona fide legend of the industry and has lent his vocal skills to many and varied pursuits. Not the least of which include ACCA DACCA and the Bon Scott experience.”

The set list on the evening itself may not include all of these but it’s fair to assume you will be able to rock out to most of these anthems.

Thunderstruck
Hells bells
Riff raff
Shot down in flames
Hell ain’t a bad place to be
Sin City
Gone Shootin’
Live wire
If you want blood
Back in Black
Dirty deeds
Problem child
TNT
Gimme a bullet
Whole lotta Rosie
Jail Break
Shoot to thrill
High voltage
Touch too much
Witches spell
The jack
Let there be rock
You shook me all night long
Highway to hell
For those about to rock
Walk all over you
Its a long way to the top
Bad boy boogie

Here is a sample of Riff Raff’s work here:

Published 31-March-2023

Invocare Support Centre: New Funeral Services Facility in Morningside

Photo credit: carolynabooth / Pixabay

Did you know that a modern funeral services facility, the largest centre of its kind to open in the state, is now in Morningside? InvoCare Support Centre offers families the highest quality end-of-life care.

InvoCare Support Centre currently caters to clients of George Hartnett Metropolitan Funerals, Simplicity Funerals, Value Cremations and White Lady Funerals. The facility provides a place where the deceased can be taken and prepared instead of being taken to individual local funeral homes.

There’s a special washroom available for families to wash and dress their deceased loved ones for funeral services. There’s even an option to customise the casket or coffin.

Once ready for final presentation, the deceased will be loaded into one of the 12 custom-made hearses, to be transported to the site of the funeral service. Each hearse is worth up to $500,000 and is already equipped with LED lighting (with a disco lighting option) and a sound system.

The built-for-purpose facility also features lifts that can carry up to 500 kilograms and other safety features meant to reduce manual handling and potential injuries.

About InvoCare

Sydney-based InvoCare is the leading provider of funeral services in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. They also operate private memorial parks and crematoria in Australia and New Zealand as well as pet cremation services in Australia.

Currently, InvoCare has 300 funeral locations, 17 cemeteries and 29 crematoria across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, and employs around 1,855 people globally.

In Australia, InvoCare has three national brands, over 40 funeral brands and 15 cemeteries and crematoria including White Lady Funerals, Simplicity Funerals and Value Cremations.

Published 26-March-2023

SecondBite, Two More Food Rescue Organisations In Morningside Get Funding Boost

Morningside food rescue organisations SecondBite, Foodbank Queensland, and FareShare Australia, have all received grants which would be used to feed more people in need and also save food from landfill.

Read: Morningside Mum Launches Children’s Book Donation Drive to Honour Memory of Her Baby

The three are among the 10 food rescue organisations selected for the second round of the Food Rescue Grant program, which aims to help organisations across the state stop good food from ending up in landfill, and instead help Queenslanders in need.

The funding will help organisations purchase or upgrade infrastructure and equipment as well as hire important staff to help collect and distribute food.

SecondBite

SecondBite, a national food rescue organisation with a location at Riverside Place in Morningside, will receive $491,639 to upgrade freezer infrasructure and purchase a 14-pallet truck to increase the distribution of meals in south-east Queensland.

The organisation estimates that by June 2024, some 1701 tonnes of food will be saved from landfill with this funding.

Foodbank Queensland

The organisation, which is currently based at Beverley St, will receive $408,096 to purchase a 6-pallet refrigerated vehicle and upgrade their coldroom, giving them the capacity to collect more food from their donors and distribute it through member charities and school breakfast programs.

By June 2024, it’s estimated that some 141 tonnes of food will be saved from landfill with the help of this grant.

FareShare Australia

SecondBite — Photo credit: FareShare/Facebook

Non-profit organisation FareShare, which has a location in Brisbane’s Morningside aside from the one in Melbourne, will receive $360,000 for specialised equipment, food ingredients and staff costs, to enable them to produce foods with an increased shelf-life, for distribution to south-east and regional Queensland.

Read: What’s Next For Brisbane’s 98-year-old Tugboat Forceful?

FareShare estimates that by June 2024, they will be able to save around 75 tonnes of food from going to landfill with this funding.

To see the full list of the organisations which have received the funding for the second round of the Food Rescue Grant program, visit Queensland Government’s website.

Published 21-March-2023

What’s Next For Brisbane’s 98-year-old Tugboat Forceful?

With the maintenance of ‘Forceful’ already costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Queensland Maritime Museum Association (QMMA) board has decided that the 98-year-old tugboat should be dismantled and recycled in early 2023.

Read: Queenslanders Move to Save Cairncross Naval Graving Dry Dock in Morningside

Forceful, the last coal-fired steam tugboat in Queensland, has reached its fate after the QMMA board agreed that “it could no longer afford” its maintenance and storage costs. Over the last 20 years, the association has reportedly spent nearly $1 million on the tug.

Queensland Maritime Museum is one of the largest maritime museums in Australia operated by volunteers for more than 50 years now. However, they only rely on grants, sponsorship, fundraising, venue hire and membership and entry fees to operate.

Forceful’s arrival at The Yard (Photo credit: The Yard Brisbane/Facebook)

The tugboat is currently at The Yard in Murarrie, but QMMA is already in talks with a company who will dismantle and recycle the ship by April or May 2023.

When it arrived at The Yard in January 2021, it’s announced that it would be assessed to determine the cost of repairs it will take to bring her back to working condition.

However, because of the flood-risk concerns raised by the Maritime Safety Queensland, the association was not able to bring her back to the river. MSQ believes the vessel would cause significant risk to downstream infrastructure and maritime safety, especially during a flood.

History

Forceful was built by Alexander Stephen & Sons on the famous River Clyde in Scotland in 1925 and served the port of Brisbane for 45 years. Besides its coal-fired boilers, its triple-expansion engine is a rare surviving example of the ships of its era.

In 1941, she was drafted into the Navy and served in Fremantle and Darwin, conducting top secret missions, before returning to civilian duties in Brisbane in 1943.

Forceful’s service gradually decreased by the 1960s, when more efficient diesel engined tugs were introduced in Brisbane. She retired from service on 28 September 1970 following frequent idle periods.

Read: $200-M Rivergate Superyacht Facility, Marina, And Shipyard Expansion In Murarrie Approved

Her life as a museum ship began in 1971 when she was handed over to the QMMA. Upon being donated to the museum, she was preserved as a working vessel, making regular trips down the Brisbane River to Moreton Bay.

Published 15-March-2023

Work Starts on the Brisbane International Cycle Park in Murrarie

Photo Credit: CrLisaAtwood/Facebook

Construction has begun for Queensland’s very own Olympic-standard Brisbane International Cycle Park at the Murrarie Recreation Reserve.

In February 2023, Brisbane’s cycling enthusiasts had their last ride at the old cycling track before the fences went up to close part of the site in preparation for the upgrades. Per Cr Lisa Atwood, the construction of the bigger facility is expected to be underway for at least 12 months.

The Brisbane International Cycle Park project came together with the cooperation of three levels of government, according to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. It will link to the existing cycling track, spanning 1.4 kilometres, at the Balmoral Cycling Clubhouse, as well as the shared cycling tracks on Wynnum Road and the Bulimba Creek bikeway.

The project is also expected to deliver:

international level criterium tracks and a 500-metre inline skating track
a new multi-purpose clubhouse for events
an upgraded car park which will formalise the car park and install up to 200 spaces, re-purposing the existing track to a multipurpose shadow track to allow for multiple recreational users and uses
new fencing, walkways and planting
new multi-level, multi-purpose clubhouse for various community use

During the construction, the Bulimba Creek Bikeway, the Wynnum road connection and the Northcliffe Street bridge connection to the Avenue pathway will still be accessible.

“The Brisbane International Cycle Park project aims to establish the reserve as a premier destination for international cycling, enhance the capacity of the reserve to meet sporting and recreation needs, and provide the community with safe pedestrian access, and cycle links to the wider Brisbane bikeway network,” Council stated.

“Once complete, the Brisbane International Cycle Park at Murarrie Recreation Reserve will support Brisbane’s cycling community in the lead up to and long after the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games.”

Published 9 March 2023