The Graceville Croquet Club on Appel Street has reached a milestone this year as it recently celebrated its centennial with a thriving membership and a refurbished clubhouse.
Established in 1919, the Graceville Croquet Club is mostly made up of female members until 1965. Today, there are over 50 active members who continue to take part in the regular Come and Play Saturday afternoon games to encourage the younger generation. The membership base has also remained steady in the last 30 years.
In 2018, the Council granted the renovation of the clubhouse to add wheelchair access, function rooms and a kitchen suitable for cooking and prepare food for the events.
Photo Credit: Graceville Croquet Club/Facebook
Games and activities are held year-round in three of the club’s full-size courts. These lawns are also rented out to private functions like hens parties, birthday parties, team building, and other celebrations.
Located near the Graceville Railway Station and the bus stop, the club hosts the following schedule every week if you’d like to check out the activities:
The beginnings of Montrose Therapy & Respite, the disability facility that operates clinics and service centres across Australia with a head office in Darra, make for quite a remarkable story. It all started with a struggling businessman named George Marchant, who has become one of Brisbane’s well-revered philanthropists.
Mr Marchant of England arrived in Brisbane as a 16-year-old with limited resources. However, he persevered as a factory worker to become a soft-drink manufacturer and grew the small business he started in 1886.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
By the 1920s, Mr Marchant’s company had manufacturing plants and offices in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne and Adelaide, aside from Brisbane. He also invented and patented the machine that bottling companies from all over the world would adopt in their plants.
Needless to say, the penniless man from England grew his fortune. But as the world was plagued the Polio epidemic in 1933, Mr Marchant stepped up to offer one of his beautiful homes, which was located in Taringa. This house became a healing centre for the young victims of the disease and was managed by the Queensland Crippled Children’s Society.
Photo Credit: National Library of Australia
The Rise of Montrose Home
Some six kilometres away from the first house, Mr Marchant also acquired a Corinda property in 1937 to accommodate more children with polio. Dubbed the “Montrose Home,” this facility did not just take care of crippled children as its services expanded to dental treatments and education.
Matron Jessie Peters was the very first matron to oversee the children’s care and recovery, especially after the death of Mr Marchant in 1941. A significant portion of his estate was left to the Montrose Home to support its operations.
By 1959, the Corinda location also included treatments for children with asthma, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, muscular disabilities and other debilitating conditions. Ms Peters had retired by then and medical advances in Polio slowly eradicated the disease.
Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland
In the 1970s, the Montrose Home was redeveloped to become a special needs facility for children and adults. The site also opened new dormitories to house people with disabilities.
However, as in-home health and wellness support became a more popular option, residents started moving out of the Montrose Home in the 1990s. At the dawn of the new millennium, the site was demolished in favour of housing developments and Montrose rebranded into MontroseAccess.
Today, the company’s main office is at 10 Station Avenue in Darra as it continues the legacy that Mr Marchant left behind. Now called the Montrose Therapy & Respite, the facility specialises in:
Early intervention for children with disabilities and developmental delays
Therapy services for children and adults
Skill-based programs to support adult lifestyle and social activities
NDIS assistance (disability insurance)
Montrose Therapy & Respite has clinics and service centres at various Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast locations. Visit the official site to check the nearest facility in your area.
Honouring Mr Marchant
Last 17th of July 2019, Queensland Business Hall of Fame honouredMr Marchant for his contributions to the region, which have been estimated at more than $100 million. Apart from his philanthropy, Mr. Marchant was also regarded as a progressive boss who had women employees and paid his workers above the minimum wage.
“I always feel sorry for those whose parents have sheltered them from the need to work for a living,” Mr. Marchant once said in an interview in 1936. “They may surpass me in external polish, but of that knowledge which comes from the great school of human experience, how can they know much?”
Darra has recently topped the list of best Brisbane suburbs to invest in property, according to the latest report from Place Advisory.
Among Brisbane suburbs with high weekly rental yield for a 3-bedroom house, Darra topped the list, with a five percent yield, which experts believe could potentially hit six percent. Whilst Forest Lake, Ellen Grove, and Kuraby also have the same weekly rental yield, Darra is the most affordable with a median price of $350,500.
According to the latest data from realestate.com.au, the median weekly rent for 3-bedroom house in Darra, based on 75 house listings from 1 July 2018 – 8 July 2019 is $340,000.
CoreLogic’s propertyvalue.com.au, on the other hand, reports that the median rent in Darra is $350,000 per week with a median gross yield of 4.2 percent, based on data over the last 12 months.
The suburbs of Durack, Richlands, Inala, Doolandella, Acacia Ridge, Willawong, Pallara, Larapinta, Heathwood follow with a weekly rent yield of 4.7 percent.
During the first quarter of 2019, the rental market in Brisbane continued to tighten, as Inner Brisbane and Brisbane LGA record their lowest vacancy rates — 2.1% and 2.5%, respectively — years after the local market was hit by supply glut.
Place Advisory attributes the strong performance to the increasing rate of population growth in these two markets; conversely, the rate of supply of new dwellings entering the market is declining. The tightening supply has also resulted in rental price growth during the first quarter of 2019, across all property types.
The Council has set aside $5.5 million to fund the Oxley Creek Transformation Project which will see the 150-hectare Archerfield Wetlands converted into a recreational, educational, and environmental parkland.
The Archerfield Wetlands Parkland is a priority project under the Oxley Creek Transformation Master Plan. Archerfield Wetlands, located between the Ipswich Motorway in Oxley and Bowhill Road in Durack, was once a wastewater treatment and waste disposal site.
In line with the Oxley Creek Transformation Project, the Archerfield Wetlands draft Precinct Plan has been released and the community is invited to have their say about the project by:
completing a short online survey between Monday, 17 June 2019 and Monday, 15 July 2019
attending one of the community engagement events
sending an email to info@oxleycreek.com.au
send it in writing at Oxley Creek Transformation, GPO BOX 1434, Brisbane Qld 4001
Oxley Creek Transformation Master Plan | Video Credit: Oxley Creek / YouTube
Under the proposed Archerfield Wetlands Concept Plan, the project will deliver a new parkland with recreational facilities, community, educational, and commercial hub; picnicking facilities; elevated walkways and outlooks;, and Facilities for the Oxley Creek Catchment Association..
Archerfield Wetlands Parkland
The parkland will include an industrial-themed playspace; multipurpose facility for events and activities; an outdoor amphitheater; and a community, educational, and commercial hub.
The Atrium – education, gathering, learning, and relaxation space | Photo Credit: Oxley Creek Transformation / oxleycreek.com.au
Creekside Park
The existing parks located at Gleneagles Crescent and Alban Street will be merged to form the new Creekside Park with features such as spaces for picnicking, boardwalks, walking trails, as well as a canoe and kayak launch facility.
Blunder and Hanleys Outlook
Blunder and Hanleys Outlook | Photo Credit: Oxley Creek Transformation / oxleycreek.com.au
Blunder and Hanleys Outlook sits on the northern edge of the main wetland and its elevated topography will provide nature lovers, walkers, picnickers and birdwatchers expansive views across the wetlands.
Wetland recreational trails
Picturesque trails for adventurers, bird-spotters, and joggers punctuated by public artwork and interpretive cultural experiences along the journey.
Restoration and enhancement activities
Rehabilitation works on the land previously degraded by years of contamination will be progressively undertaken to reinstate the natural systems and enhance the capacity of the wetlands as water basin.
Community Engagement Events
The following are the scheduled events for the community consultation on the Precinct Plan:
Information Kiosk at Oxley State School Fete – 11am-4pm on Saturday, 22 June 2019 at Oxley State School Ovals, Cnr of Colwel Street and Oxley Road, Oxley
Information Kiosk at Blunder Road Shopping Centre – 9am-12am on Saturday, 6 July 2019 at Blunder Road Shopping Centre, 150 Blunder Road, Oxley
Incorporation of the feedback and release of the final Precinct Plan is set to be completed by late 2019.
Oxley State School will attempt to get into the Guinness World Record for the Largest Bush Dance and you can be of help by joining the big party at the school grounds on Bannerman Street.
Happening on Saturday, the 22nd of June, the bush dance is one of the highlights of the Oxley State School Fete organized by the Oxley State School P & C Association. However, there will also be other fun activities and competitions as the school community raises funds to improve the facilities.
The Oxley State School Fete will have a cooking fest and vegetable growing contest. Sports and games will also be underway as the fete runs from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Market and food stalls will be set up to serve cakes, jams and other delicious snacks for the visitors. Performances and side shows will also happen in a portion of the school grounds.
Aside from the Largest Bush Dance world record attempt, Australian conservationist and host of “Gardening Australia” Jerry Colby will be gracing the event for a Q & A session.
The fair is a free event but the talk with Colby will require tickets. Interested parties may email oxleyssfete@gmail.com for information.
Six existing QR stations including Yeronga, Yeerongpilly, and Rocklea will receive a makeover to meet accessibility standards in time for the completion of the Cross River Rail.
To coincide with the $5.4-billion Cross River Rail project, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and Member for Toohey Peter Russo announced the facelift and accessibility upgrade plans for Fairfield, Yeronga, Yeerongpilly, Moorooka, Rocklea and Salisbury stations.
The Cross River Rail will deliver a new 10.2-kilometre rail line extending from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills with four new high-capacity stations located on Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street, and Roma Street.
The rail line includes 5.9 kilometres of tunnel under the Brisbane River and CBD. Along with the construction of new stations, upgrades will also be done on Dutton Park and Exhibition stations.
Brisbane Development / YouTube
“Queenslanders are backing public transport like never before with a record 182 million trips across the South East last financial year,” Mr Bailey said.
“Cross River Rail already includes plans to build an additional platform at these southside stations, so it makes sense that we also invest in accessibility upgrades to the existing station platforms at the same time, so they can be delivered by the Cross River Rail contractor.”
The station upgrades, Mr Bailey said, are designed to minimise network disruption with new platforms also to be prefabricated off-site. He added that the upgrades will make it easier for commuters with a disability, parents with prams, and travellers with luggage to use the public transport system.
“Station accessibility will be boosted with new overpasses, lifts, kiss’n’ride infrastructure and bike facilities included in Cross River Rail’s proposed package of works.
“Cross River Rail’s southside improvement plans will unlock extra rail capacity and deliver the essential infrastructure that can support high frequency services on the transport network.”
The proposed station upgrades would be assessed by the independent Coordinator-General. A community information forum on June 6, 2019 at Annerley Hall, 8 Waldheim Street, Annerley is also planned, according to Mr Russo.
“This is an important opportunity to find out what’s planned for the southside and to have your say on Cross River Rail’s once-in-a-generation transformation of high-frequency transport in our community,” Mr Russo said.
Feedback on the station upgrade plans can be uploaded to the website of the independent Coordinator-General until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 14, 2019.
Old Cleveland Road and Logan Road, Stones Corner (between Montague Street and the O’Keefe Street roundabout)
Oxley Road, Corinda (between Hassall Street and Martindale Street intersections).
The announcement comes after similar speed limit reduction was implemented on Ann Street in the Brisbane CBD last November 2018. Pedestrian scramble crossing was also introduced at the Albert Street and Charlotte Street intersection, and the Albert Street and Mary Street intersection.
Beginning 20 May, variable message signs will notify motorists of the upcoming speed limit changes.
Yet to be finalised is the speed reduction through the intersection of Mains Road and McCullough Street in Sunnybank whilst the construction of a pedestrian crossing on Adelaide Street between Albert and Edward Street is also well underway.
These projects are part of the Citywide Pedestrian Safety Review interim report recommendations announced in September 2018. The Citywide Pedestrian Safety Review is aimed at identifying programs and projects that will help improve pedestrian and road users safety.
Call for separated infrastructure for pedestrians
In response to the Council’s announcement, the State’s peak motoring body — RACQ, called on the Council to consider implementing separated infrastructure for “vulnerable road users and motor vehicles,” in addition to speed reductions.
“Prevention of serious pedestrian incidents by removing the risk is the priority,” Mr Turner said.
“In addition to looking at reduced speed limits in high pedestrian risk areas, we want to see a greater focus on safety measures such as pedestrian fencing and a review of on-street parking which would better separate pedestrians and vehicles.
“Prevention of crashes is better than having them occur at a lower speed. Separation can keep traffic flowing while also protecting pedestrians,” RACQ spokesperson Paul Turner said.
Three different markets open every weekend at Sherwood Road in Rocklea and if you’re looking for fresh food, clothes, home items, and unique gifts, especially this coming Mother’s Day, it’s high time to clock a visit to the Brisbane Marketplace. You may even get a chance to win a swag bag worth $200 for yourself or for your mum.
From the 5th to the 12th of May 2019, visitors to any of the markets taking place at the Brisbane Marketplace can enter the Mother’s Day Giveaway contest. Just fill out an entry form at the Information Booth for the draw.
The swag bag contains the following delightful prizes:
Flowerlovers voucher ($50)
30-minute massage from Healing Hands Thai Day Spa ($35)
fiddle leaf fig from My Plants ($75)
Brisbane MarketPlace “Market Money” ($50) to be spent at the markets before the 12th of August
The Brisbane Marketplace has been around for years but there’s always something new to see from the different vendors participating during the night market for Friday, the fresh market for Saturday and the discovery market for Sunday.
The Brisbane Night Market is at 385 Sherwood Road, where at least 40 food stalls offer every gastronomic delight to satisfy your cravings, including alcohol. It opens from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. A live band performs during this event, which may be a great way to kick off a relaxing weekend with a group of friends.
Across the street at 250 Sherwood Road is the Saturday Fresh Market which opens from 6:00 am to 12:00 p.m. Here, you’ll find an assortment of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat, as well as other produce from over 380 stalls.
Every Sunday morning, the fresh market becomes the Sunday Discovery Market where you can score antique items, homewares and collectible, vintage clothing and other second-hand goods. Artisanal craft stalls offer wonderful knick-knacks that you can gift to every member of your family, including your furry pets.
There’s something for everyone at the Brisbane Marketplace. Drop by with the whole family and enjoy the food, shop and meet the local vendors of your community!
Contrary to the common notion that the Brisbane property market has yet to take off, many suburbs have already shown signs of growth, including Graceville, the latest suburb-by-suburb analysis from Hotspotting’s Terry Ryder said.
Sandgate tops the list of higher-end markets with annual house price growth of more than 10 percent with a median of $755,000 or a rise of 19 percent. Graceville recorded a 13% price growth with a median house price of $950,000. Other suburbs in the list include Bardon (11%), Hendra (13%), Kenmore HIlls (10.5%), Norman Park (10%), and Paddington (11%)
Whilst most sources show misleading generalised figures — indicating either little to no growth —many suburbs in the Greater Brisbane area, in particular, are performing very well, the report said.
Street View | Graceville, Qld
An analysis of the quarterly and annual price data of 269 suburbs show that 83 recorded more than five percent growth with 20 of them posting double-digit increases. On the other hand, 100 suburbs record less than five percent growth whilst 47 posted less than five percent negative growth and the remaining 39 suburbs dropping more than five percent.
Of 39 suburbs that posted declines of more than five percent, 27 were considered as units market, led by Bowen Hills (-20%), Bulimba (-15%), East Brisbane (-15%), Woodridge (-10%), Greenslopes (-11%), Hamilton (-11%) and Woody Point (-18%). These figures indicate that the supply glut for the past years has not been confined in inner-city areas alone.
The analysis suggests that things are already starting to lookup for the Brisbane housing market, contrary to what many might think. Affordability and better rental yield as compared to other big cities will be the main drivers for growth.
Beginning 13 May 2019, customers of Queensland Rail coming from Darra Station, Chelmer stand to benefit from the extra train services that will be added to the Springfield line and six other train lines to carry more passengers during the busy hours.
The additional weekly train services was announced ahead of timetable improvements planned this 2019. These changes will be available in the TransLink Journey Planner beginning mid-April.
The extra 32 weekly services to the Redcliffe Peninsula, Cleveland, Springfield, Shorncliffe, Ferny Grove,Gold Coast, and Airport lines would add 14,000 seats during peak hours in the morning and afternoon.
Monday to Friday additions
Line
Departing station
Departure time
Arrival station
Arrival time
Redcliffe Peninsula
Kippa-Ring station
7.10am
Central station
8.05am
Cleveland
Cleveland station
6.39am
Central station
7.34am
Cleveland
Central station
5.09pm
Cleveland station
6.05pm
Monday to Thursday additions to the services already running on a Friday
Line
Departing station
Departure time
Arrival station
Arrival time
Springfield
Springfield Central station
6.51am
Central station
7.32am
Shorncliffe
Shorncliffe station
7.39am
Central station
8.16am
Shorncliffe
Central station
6.58am
Shorncliffe station
7.35am
Friday additions to the services already running Monday to Thursday
Line
Departing station
Departure time
Arrival station
Arrival time
Ferny Grove
Ferny Grove station
7.25am
Central station
7.56am
Gold Coast
Varsity Lakes station
5.55am
Central station
7.14am
Airport
Central station
7.16am
Domestic Airport station
7.40am
Airport
Domestic Airport station
7.49am
Central station
8.13am
Cleveland
Central station
5.32pm
Cleveland station
6.35pm
The additional train services is Queensland Rail’s response to customer feedback, and was the result of analyzing patronage data, wait times, and operational efficiencies.
