Police are urgently seeking information from the public about a man who may have been involved in a serious assault that occurred yesterday afternoon at Kangaroo Point.
According to initial investigations, around 4:45 pm on Tuesday, May 14th, a 60-year-old man from Nundah was stopped at a traffic light on Leopard Street in his silver Holden Commodore sedan when his vehicle’s side mirror was struck by a white moped.
A verbal altercation ensued between the two parties. They both then turned right onto Llewellyn Street, where they came to a stop and a physical confrontation occurred.
The victim sustained multiple injuries, including to his head, face, and hand, during the assault.
The moped driveris described as a tall, slim-built man wearing a hi-visibility shirt and a black open-faced helmet at the time of the incident.
Detectives are urging any nearby residents to review any CCTV footage they may have from the area. They are also appealing to any motorists who may have captured the incident on their dashcams to come forward with that footage.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.
High atop the cliffs at Kangaroo Point, the Riviere apartments are turning heads and redefining Brisbane’s luxury living scene. Shortlisted for the prestigious 2024 Australian Interior Design Awards, Riviere offers a unique blend of urban resort and timeless elegance.
Designed by Bates Smart, the project seamlessly integrates architecture and interior design, ensuring every element—from the glazed brick exterior mimicking the cliffs to the open floor plan bathed in natural light—contributes to a cohesive vision.
“We wanted to create a relaxed, casual, and liveable space,” says Bates Smart interior design director Brenton Smith. “The focus was on using high-quality materials thoughtfully, not excessively, ensuring the design will endure for decades.”
This philosophy extends beyond aesthetics. Smith emphasises Riviere as an ecosystem fostering a sense of community. “Modern residential buildings are becoming hubs where people connect and build lasting friendships,” he explains.
Riviere isn’t the only Brisbane project vying for national recognition. The residential design category has also shortlisted Louise Walsh Interior Design’s Birdwood House, a contemporary interpretation of the Queensland family home.
Nestled within a state forest canopy, Birdwood House reflects not just the architect’s vision but also the refined tastes of its owners, one of whom is a former stylist and art collector. Polished concrete floors with embedded rocks and a “crazy paving” arrangement of natural stone exemplify the home’s unique character.
“The focus was on using locally sourced materials and creating a home that blends seamlessly with the environment,” says Louise Walsh. A standout feature is a massive granite island bench crafted from a single block of stone shipped from South Australia and meticulously sculpted by a local artisan.
With a record-breaking 222 projects shortlisted, the 2024 Australian Interior Design Awards promise fierce competition.
Brisbane stands out with several strong contenders, including Wilson Architects’ Brisbane Grammar School STEAM Precinct, J.AR Office’s Gerard’s, Melissa Collinson Design’s The Wolf Dining & Bar, and BVN’s UQ Brisbane City. The city is clearly a hotbed for innovative and inspiring design.
When JADE Ensemble and ZÖJ take the stage at Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC) in Kangaroo Point on May 4, the air will be filled with the distinct yet harmoniously intertwined sounds of ancient musical traditions.
These two formidable acts wield traditional instruments rooted in centuries of cultural heritage to forge adventurous new frontiers of cross-cultural improvisation.
For JADE Ensemble’s Takako Haggarty, the koto is more than just an instrument – it’s a conduit to over a millennium of Japanese musical lineage. The 13-string zither harp originated in China but became an iconic part of Japanese culture.
Photo credit: Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC/Facebook)
With movements flowing like calligraphic brushstrokes, Haggarty coaxes transcendent tones from the koto’s strings through a mastery earned over 40 years of immersion.
Iranian composer and vocalist Gelareh Pour is the driving force behind the innovative ensemble ZÖJ. Her chosen instrument, the kamancheh, has an even more ancient pedigree.
Kamancheh (Photo credit: CC0/Metropolitan Museum of Art/Wikimedia Commons)
This bowed string instrument featuring a distinctive cylindrical shaft and gut fretting is the precursor to the modern violin, with origins dating back over 4,000 years to Mesopotamia. In Pour’s hands, the kamancheh’s haunting voice becomes a conduit for raw emotion.
Whilst the koto and kamancheh represent vastly different musical vocabularies from opposite ends of the Asian continent, JADE Ensemble and ZÖJ find common ground through the boundless language of improvisation. These adventurous artists allow their distinct traditions to intermingle and influence one another in searingly spontaneous ways.
Japanese koto (Photo credit: CC BY-SA 3.0/Smgregory/Wikimedia Commons)
Rounding out JADE’s multi-cultural lineup are Indigenous didgeridoo master David Williams, Nepali tabla virtuoso Dheeraj Shrestha, and Australian guitarist/composer Dr. Anthony Garcia, whose pan-global influences include Mexican and Spanish folk traditions.
For these musical trailblazers, the goal is to create resonant social impact by showcasing the potential for harmony amidst cultural diversity. As Pour articulates of ZÖJ’s performances, “It is totally improvised…every show is different.” Their musical alchemy transmutes age-old tones into audible symbols of unity.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity in BEMAC to experience the future outer-limits of cross-cultural music-making where decades of dedication to upholding hallowed musical traditions collide with ultramodern innovation and infinite imagination.
Kangaroo Point’s skyline is about to get a significant boost. Aria Property Group, a developer known for its focus on sustainability, has upped the ante on its upcoming Canopy House project.
By acquiring the land next door to the original site, Aria has expanded its footprint to a sizeable 2,300 sq m across 50–62 Leopard Street. This land grab allows them to breathe new life into the project with a revised design that boasts a bigger building, more apartments, and enhanced resident amenities.
The addition of four floors to the previously approved 29-level tower by Rothelowman Architects is the most notable change. This tweak eliminates the building’s original staggered design, resulting in a more streamlined structure. Additionally, the floorplate expands from level 14 upwards, allowing for more spacious three-bedroom apartments.
The number of apartments will jump significantly, from the original 136 to a whopping 196. A 75% increase in two-bedroom units, from 64 to a much more substantial 112 will be the main factor driving this increase. Three-bedroom apartments will also see a healthy increase, rising by 27% from 66 to 84.
Naturally, with a larger building comes a need for more parking. The revised design increases the parking allocation from 226 to 295 spots, ensuring residents have ample space for their vehicles.
But the benefits extend beyond just apartments and parking. The expanded footprint allows for a more generous podium area. This translates to a dedicated resident’s park complete with a barbeque kitchen and alfresco dining, a playground for the young ones, and comfortable seating areas for socialising.
The documents submitted to Brisbane City Council suggest the revised design offers several advantages. Town planner Saunders Havill Group highlights an “improved facade” that provides a more aesthetically pleasing silhouette and a significant boost to the project’s “Green Factor,” likely referring to Aria’s commitment to sustainable practices.
Furthermore, acquiring the neighbouring land unlocks over 130 metres of additional street frontage along Mark Lane, Leopard Street, and Vulture Street. This opens doors for improved pedestrian access and even paves the way for Mark Lane to potentially transform into a vibrant destination laneway, similar to the popular Fish Lane in Brisbane’s inner-city.
The previously isolated dwellings that occupied the acquired land, according to Saunders Havill Group, had limited development potential. By incorporating them into the Canopy House project, Aria unlocks a more cohesive and impactful development for Kangaroo Point.
Construction is slated to begin in August of this year, with the iconic crane gracing the Kangaroo Point skyline by March 2025. Residents can expect to move into their brand new Canopy House apartments by the end of 2027.
Brisbane is set to sizzle with artistic energy, thanks to the city’s Creative Sparks Grants program. Among the 19 local artistic groups and individuals selected to receive funding is the Brisbane Vocal Jazz Festival, auspiced by the Brisbane Jazz Club in Kangaroo Point.
This annual festival, now in its 9th year, has become a beloved August tradition in Brisbane. For four to five days (9-13 August 2024), top national and international jazz vocalists take the stage alongside local talent at the Brisbane Jazz Club, showcasing unique voices and techniques.
Standing out as the sole event of its kind in Australia, the Brisbane Vocal Jazz Festival champions vocal artistry and variety within the jazz genre.
Photo credit: Brisbane Vocal Jazz Festival/Facebook
The festival aims to cultivate an inclusive environment that empowers jazz singers of all backgrounds to push their talents to new heights. While nurturing up-and-coming vocal talents, the festival also showcases world-renowned national and international performers for its ever-expanding, devoted audience base.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of a cappella music, an aspiring jazz singer keen to learn from the masters, or simply someone who enjoys the powerful folds and acrobatics of the human voice, the Brisbane Vocal Jazz Festival is not to be missed. What began as a humble “Jazz Singers’ Jazz Night” years ago has blossomed into a major event under the artistic direction of Ingrid James.
The $10,000 Creative Sparks grant will support the 2024 edition of the festival, helping it reach broader audiences whilst celebrating Brisbane’s vibrant jazz community and musical diversity.
Creative Sparks Grants program
From theatrical productions and dance theatre to circus performances and live music events, the Creative Sparks Grants program, an initiative of Brisbane City Council and Arts Queensland, is investing in 19 creative projects across the city’s suburbs.
This funding aims to bolster Brisbane’s creative industries, test new ideas, and enable artistic enterprises to grow and prosper.
As the Brisbane Vocal Jazz Festival and other grant recipients take centre stage, Brisbane’s creative spark is sure to ignite the entire community’s imagination.
After a painstaking three-year renovation odyssey, Lamb House, one of Kangaroo Point’s most iconic heritage homes has finally emerged from its transformation, reborn as “Home.”
The extensive restoration of the 19th century residence is now complete after new owners Steve and Jane Wilson took on the massive project to revive the property they purchased in 2021.
Located at 9 Leopard Street, the residence was initially constructed in 1901 for John Lamb, who jointly owned the prosperous drapery business Edwards & Lamb located on Queen Street. It was designed by renowned Queensland architect Alexander Brown Wilson. Many of his works are also listed on the state’s heritage register.
The tower before the renovations (Photo credit: home_kangaroopoint/Instagram)
The Wilsons purchased the rundown property with dreams of restoring it to its former glory. The journey began with emergency stabilisation work to secure the crumbling site. Extensive roof repairs followed, with the home surviving a flood event in the midst of re-tiling. But that was just the start of the multi-million dollar renovation saga.
Photo credit: home_kangaroopoint/Instagram
According to lead architect James Davidson of JDA Co, the property was in such a dilapidated state during the early renovation stages that it seemed to be crumbling around them as they worked.
The owners of ‘Home’ with their project team (Photo credit: home_kangaroopoint/Instagram)
Undeterred, the project team pressed on, structurally repairing and restoring original features like the roof, verandah, facade and interior elements.
The remainder of the door’s stained glass was recreated (Photo credit: home_kangaroopoint/Instagram)
Contemporary additions were constructed to modernise the living spaces, whilst landscaping refreshed the grounds. Beyond basic repairs, the house required reinstatement of its architectural fabric.
When the Wilsons first embarked on the renovation, they projected the costs would be around $15 million. Whilst they declined to disclose the final price tag, they acknowledged that the total expenses exceeded their original estimate, with building costs having risen substantially in recent years.
After three years of perseverance, the monumental renovation is finally complete. The Wilsons’ extreme home makeover will be showcased on an upcoming episode of ABC’s Renovation Australia in May 2024. The public can follow the home’s Instagram (@home_kangaroopoint) for ongoing updates about this historic revival.
Work on the new Kangaroo Point underpass is progressing well, providing a critical link for pedestrians and cyclists travelling beneath the iconic Story Bridge from Main Street to Deakin Street.
The project involves creating a dedicated pedestrian and bike path running beneath the Story Bridge, linking Main Street to Deakin Street in Kangaroo Point.
Construction crews have carefully cut openings in the bridge’s sidewalls, allowing natural light to stream into the previously inaccessible space underneath. The next phase involves levelling the floor, installing drainage, relocating utility services, and building a separating wall from the adjacent council depot.
When completed in 2024, the underpass will feature separated paths for pedestrians and cyclists, an accessible viewing area, and illustrative wall panels highlighting the rich history of the Story Bridge itself.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the underpass represents an important connection between an iconic piece of Brisbane’s heritage and its future green transport network.
“This Story Bridge is not only part of Brisbane’s heritage but its future, so it’s fitting that 95 per cent of the concrete sections removed from the bridge will be recycled and could be given a new life in other parts of the city,” Cr Schrinner stated.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
The underpass is a critical link in extending the Kangaroo Point Peninsula’s active transport network to the city centre via the new green bridge. It will provide a safe, level pathway avoiding stairs and roads.
“With the Olympics and Paralympic Games on the horizon there is a need for a convenient ongoing connection that would be able to link walkers and riders heading from The Gabba to the CBD,” Cr Schrinner explained.
Travel projections estimate the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge could generate over 6,100 active transport trips per day by 2036, reducing car trips across the river by up to 84,000 annually. Approximately 2,800 of those green bridge trips are expected to flow through the new underpass each day in 2041.
For locals and visitors alike, the underpass will offer a unique way to experience Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge from a new perspective when it opens this year.
The penthouse at Sorano House in Kangaroo Point has secured a record-breaking $14 million off-the-plan sale, underscoring the soaring demand in Brisbane’s luxury residential market.
This sale price translates to an unprecedented $45,000 per square metre, surpassing the previous record of $35,000 per square metre set by Spyre Group’s Moray House project last year.
The luxurious two-storey penthouse at 12 Hamilton Street boasts 180-degree views of the Brisbane River and city skyline. It includes four bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and exclusive amenities such as a private rooftop with a pool, spa, sauna, outdoor dining area, and firepit.
Photo Credit: Ferroarch.com
Sam Sgroi, Managing Director of Trezetto Developments, described the sale as indicative of a “new age” for Brisbane’s luxury residential market, highlighting the Sorano House penthouse’s unique appeal and irreplaceable location.
Photo Credit: Ferroarch.com
Phillip Rand, Project Sales Director at YPM Group, noted that the buyer, a Brisbane local, had been searching for a distinctive riverfront property for over two years. The sale sets a new internal sales rate record for Brisbane and aligns the city’s property values with those in Sydney’s most prestigious waterfront suburbs.
Sorano House was launched to the market in October 2023. Four of the six single-storey apartments have already sold for an average price of $8.6 million. Construction is currently underway and is anticipated to be completed in early 2025.
After more than a decade of planning, the developers behind the Gaia apartments project in Kangaroo Point can finally realise their vision, having secured approval from Brisbane’s local officials.
It was not an easy path to approval for the Gaia development, as the development application received hundreds of submissions from residents who opposed the project due to several reasons, including potential traffic, access and parking impacts.
The developers eventually amended their plans, with two rather than three, 15-storey towers (aligning with surrounding approvals and the maximum height intent of the Neighbourhood Plan), and significant improvements to the ground plane.
Artist’s impression of Gaia (Photo credit: DKO Architecture)
The development by Pikos Group will see two 15-storey residential towers constructed at 108 Lambert Street, comprising 215 luxury apartments oriented to capture sweeping views of the Brisbane city skyline and river.
Gaia, meaning “connected to earth,” aims to provide a holistic wellness precinct grounded in nature, according to Pikos Group CEO Michelle Wooldridge. The riverfront site will feature the city’s largest private parklands along the Brisbane River.
Photo credit: DKO Architecture
The DKO Architecture-designed towers will offer luxury interiors with natural stone, timber flooring and premium appliances. Exclusive resident amenities will include a riverside pool and terrace with plunge pools, an indoor/outdoor gym, BBQ and dining areas, rooftop gardens, yoga lawn, outdoor cinema, private dining room and work lounge.
Communal open space (Photo credit: DKO Architecture)
The developers are also currently in discussions with the Brisbane City Council about extending the riverwalk at the Gaia development site, with the goal of providing a pedestrian promenade along the river that would connect to the city and the Docklands City Cat Ferry Terminal.
Pikos Group founder and Executive Director Pedro Pikos said the vision for the 5,284 sqm riverfront site has been over 10 years in the making, gradually amalgamating eight separate lots.
Mr Pikos stated that Gaia would transform the rare waterfront location into an inner-city sanctuary that embraces its incredible connectivity to the river and city. He also said it would deliver Brisbane’s premier residential address and set a new standard for riverfront living.
The newly inaugurated $17-million ferry terminal at Kangaroo Point has been rendered partially unusable due to a decaying boardwalk leading to the dock. Although the terminal itself is ready for travel, the adjoining boardwalk has been closed since May 2023 for safety reasons, making the terminal less accessible.
The Dockside Ferry Terminal reopens on Tuesday, 2 April 2024, and its regular CityHopper services set to resume on the same day. However, the rotting timber boardwalk between Cairns Street Drydock and Rotherham Street has prompted immediate calls for action and intervention.
The Council has publicly voiced its concerns, highlighting the State Government’s ownership of the boardwalk and the critical need for repairs. A Council spokesperson stated that they have raised the need for urgent repairs to ensure the boardwalk’s accessibility and safety.
In response to the immediate danger posed to commuters, semi-permanent barriers have been erected at the new terminal’s entrance to prevent access to the unsafe sections of the boardwalk.
Photo Credit: CrTrinaMassey/Facebook
The issue has ignited frustration among Kangaroo Point residents, who pride themselves on their scenic riverside locality and the riverwalk, significantly enhancing its appeal. A collective letter from the community accused government agencies of neglect and failure to maintain this vital asset, citing years of ignored warnings about the boardwalk’s deteriorating condition.
The Department of Resources (DOR), after years of resident complaints and increasing injuries due to the boardwalk’s state, has only recently initiated action by issuing a safety notice to the lessee, Ken Allsop of Dockside Marina.
The Minister for the Department of Resources, Scott Stewart, acknowledged the public’s frustration, emphasising the expectation that the lessee adheres to safety obligations and that the department enforces these if compliance still needs to be met. The department has outlined a repair timeline expected to conclude late this year, although specifics remain undisclosed.
Brisbane River Pty Ltd, Allsop’s company, confirmed ongoing consultations with stakeholders, suggesting an ongoing effort to resolve the boardwalk’s safety concerns.
