Rivermakers Archives - Morningside News

Rivermakers Precinct Launches New Farmers and Artisan Markets

The Rivermakers Precinct is set to unveil its highly anticipated Farmers and Artisan Markets, establishing a new social and shopping hub in Morningside.

Known for its blend of industrial and retail spaces, the Rivermakers Precinct, will host the grand opening of the Rivermakers Farmers and Artisan Markets on 21st July from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Irvine Family, owners of the precinct, have transformed the area into a vibrant community focal point that combines local produce and artisan crafts with industrial innovation. By partnering with Goodwill Projects, they aim to fulfil the community’s long-standing wish for a genuine market experience.

Rivermakers Precinct Morningside — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

Features and Attractions

The market promises an array of attractions, including live music on two stages, roving entertainers, and a range of activities for children such as jumping castles and an animal farm.

Over 150 vendors will offer a variety of goods from handmade sourdough and unwaxed apples to artisanal soups and spice mixes. Notable local businesses like The Bakeologists, Low & Slow Meat Co, and Gourmet Taste Creations are some of the highlights, ensuring that attendees can purchase products directly from the producers.

Located at 82 Colmslie Road, Morningside, the Rivermakers Precinct is easily accessible with two traffic lights to the Gateway Motorway. It boasts 450 free parking spots to accommodate a large number of visitors.

The markets will continue to be a weekly event, happening every Sunday following the grand opening, providing a consistent and vibrant weekend destination for Brisbane residents and visitors alike.

With its scenic riverside location and a wide array of offerings, it is set to become a staple for those seeking quality, freshness, and community spirit every weekend.

Published 17-July-2024

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

Total Fusion Morningside Sets Opening Date After 2-Year Court Battle

A date finally has been set for the long-awaited opening of Total Fusion Morningside, two years after a court battle with Australian Country Choice. Not only that, they’re recruiting 100 new staff members!

Advertisements for job openings have started running as Total Fusion Morningside, the largest and most highly advanced gym in East Brisbane, plans to hire 100 staff members to serve its clientele beginning the 1st of February 2023.

The gym was granted the approval to open in August 2022, after Judge Nicole Kefford dismissed the appeal of Australian Country Choice (ACC), to stop the gym’s operation at the transformed Rivermakers precinct.

Total Fusion Morningside, Morningside, — *Photo Credit: TotalFusion Morningside/Facebook*

ACC was against having a gym close to its manufacturing facility, citing that there could be frequent complaints from gym members about the noise and odour from its neighbouring meat manufacturing plant. ACC was also concerned about the size of the gym in an industrial precinct.

However, Total Fusion head Leon McNiece said that the plant is not even visible from the carpark at Rivermakers. Thus, gym goers are likely not going to complain about the meatworks.

Mr McNiece said that the court decision has reaffirmed that the community wants to have a premium fitness and wellness facility in Morningside. In preparation for the opening, tours to the facility will be underway in the coming weeks.

Aside from the fitness areas for yoga, pilates and other group workouts, the wellness site will also have saunas, compression booths and massage areas, a cryotherapy section (cold temperature therapy), recovery tools, and an on-site nutritionist.

The gym is set to operate daily from 5:00 a.m. to late evening.

Judge Approves Opening of Total Fusion Morningside Following Long Legal Battle

Following a two-year court battle with Australian Country Choice, a judge has ruled that Total Fusion Morningside may proceed with opening the largest gym complex in the industrial area of East Brisbane.

In her decision, Judge Nicole Kefford turned down the appeal of ACC despite gaining support from a town planning expert. The 5,577-square-metre fitness complex is within the new recreation and leisure precinct Rivermakers, owned by mogul Balfour Irvine. Rivermakers is 500 metres away from the ACC’s facilities.

ACC’s owner, the billionaire Trevor Lee, has lobbied against the development following the fallout of his long friendship with Irvine. Lee insisted that the gym was not appropriate for an industrial precinct.

Photo Credit: TotalFusionMorningside/Facebook

Judge Kefford noted that ACC had town planner Greg Ovenden on retainer, who tried to convince Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles to establish a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) for the Morningside location.

However, the judge said that Rivermakers’ development was not inconsistent with the TLPI. She also didn’t have any confidence in Mr Ovenden “to express objective opinions about the appropriateness of the proposed development,” as the town planner.

Judge Kefford gave Total Fusion Morningside a two-year condition to operate as a gym with only 300 patrons at a time. She said that after two years, the gym’s building must be reverted for industrial use, which would support the workers in the area.

For updates about the gym’s opening, follow the Facebook page.