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Kangaroo Bridge to CBD Bridge Finally A Step Closer to Being Built

New Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner has big plans for Brisbane and among these are the five new green bridges for the city, including the long-discussed Kangaroo Point to CBD bridge.

The four other proposed bridges will link Toowong to West End, Bellbowrie to Wacol, St Lucia to West End, and Hamilton to Newstead across the Breakfast Creek.

The five green bridges are estimated to cost more than $550 million and will be delivered within the next five to 10 years.

Brisbane City Council committed to fund at least two-thirds of the project and will allocate the initial funding in the next budget in June 2019.

Kangaroo Point Bridge Timeline

The pedestrian and cyclist bridge connecting the CBD and Kangaroo Point has long been anticipated but did not happen due to issues in funding.

2013

Former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk launched the Brisbane City Council’s 2013 Draft City Centre Master Plan which included the Kangaroo Point Bridge as one of its six priority projects.

Based on the information supplied by the Council, a bridge in the location was first proposed as early as the 1800s and a design was developed by 1890.

However, it was never constructed and the Council believed it was due to the severe economic recession of the 1890s and the costs of the 1893 flood.

2014

BCC released a design concept by Richard Kirk Architects.The Council believed the double curved suspension design would add an elegant form to the city’s skyline, have minimal impact on the river’s edge.

The community feedback released by Council revealed the following insights:

general support for the concept and embracing active travel
bridge should accommodate cyclists as well as pedestrians
bridge should provide shade and seating
design should include safety hand rails
additional vehicle bridge crossings should be considered

2018

The State Government offered funding to the Council to develop a business case. Cr Schrinner, who was the public transport chairman at the time, revealed the Council was supportive of the bridge but did not have the funds to build it.

The Council’s forward estimates allocated $32 million for the pedestrian and cycling bridge but it did not appear in the succeeding budgets.

Cr Schrinner said the construction of the Kangaroo Point bridge would cost more than $100 million and the more detailed design will be around $5 million.

Present

The new Lord Mayor promised he will commit to the new bridges regardless of the upcoming election in March 2020.

“These bridges will accommodate, in some cases, public transport but they will also accommodate walking and cycling to get people out of their cars, to reduce traffic congestion and create a cleaner, greener Brisbane,” Cr Schrinner said.

Story Bridge to close for Tour de Brisbane Inaugural

Plan your day ahead this 14th April as a number of temporary road closures, including Kangaroo Point and Story Bridge, are scheduled across Brisbane for the much-awaited Tour de Brisbane inaugural.

To make way for the event and keep riders and spectators safe, temporary road closures, detours, and diversions will be implemented on major roads in the area and then progressively reopened throughout the day. A team of traffic controllers and police from the Queensland Police Service and Altus Traffic Control will be on duty for this event.

Kangaroo Point and Story Bridge road closures are scheduled to be in operation between 6:00 am and 8:30am, whilst general traffic on Merivale Street will be diverted onto Glenelg Street and Gladstone Road.

Westbound motorists will be permitted to use Vulture Street between Stanley Street and Gladstone Road. On the other hand, pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the footpaths during the road closures.

Tour Full Reveal | Video Credit: Tour de Brisbane / YouTube

Road Closure Details for Kangaroo Point

Road	Between	Closure Time	Reopen time
Lower River Terrace	Dock Street and Kangaroo Point Cliffs	6.00am	8.30am
Amesbury Street	Main Street and end of street	6.15am	8.30am
Anderson Street	Holman Street and end of street
Annie Street	MacKenzie Street and Wicklow Street
Baildon Street	Deakin Street and Main Street
Bell Street	Main Street and River Terrace
Bright Street	MacDonald Street and end of street
Ellis Street	Leopard Street and Lower River Terrace
Hamilton Street	Bright Street and MacDonald St
Holman Street	Anderson Street and End of Street

Leopard Street	Vulture Street and River Terrace	6.15am	8.30am
Llewellyn Street	Main Street and River Terrace
Lockerbie Street	Main Street and River Terrace
MacDonald Street	Bright Street and Annie Street
MacKenzie Street	Annie Street and Main Street
Main Street	Holman Street and Thornton Street
Main Street	Pearson Street and Story Bridge
Mark Lane	Main Street and Lahey Lane
Paton Street	Main Street and River Terrace
Pixley Street	Thornton Street and end of street
River Terrace	Leopard Street and Main Street

Rotherham Street	Deakin Street and Main Street	6.15am	8.30am
Scott Street	Main Street and end of street
Shafston Avenue (inbound)	O’Connell Street and Story Bridge
Shafston Avenue (outbound)	Story Bridge and Deakin Street
Story Bridge	Main Street and Kemp Place
ThorntonSt	Pixley Street and Main St
Walmsley Street	Main Street and River Terrace
Wharf Street	Main Street and end of street
Wicklow Street	Annie Street and Main Street
Wild Street	Leopard Street and end of street

Road Closures Map

Diversion Routes Map

Northbound travel on CLEM7 between 6:00 am and 9:30 am and southbound travel between 6:00 am and 10:30 am, will be free on 14 April 2019. Also, Tour de Brisbane ride participants will access the South East Busway from South Brisbane to Eight Mile Plains, so there will be temporary changes to the bus services operating on the busway between 5:00 am and 2:00 am.

Tour de Brisbane is aimed as a fundraiser for Amy Gillett Foundation’s “A Metre Matters” campaign, and will be bringing in thousands of local and international participants as part of the Brisbane Cycling Festival. The inaugural Tour de Brisbane will feature 8km, 45km, and 110km courses which will start and finish at South Bank.

For more information about the event and road closures, visit the Tour de Brisbane official website.

This New Kangaroo Point Restaurant is a Delight for Seafood Lovers

Photo Credit: One Fish Two Fish/ Facebook

Brisbane’s restaurant scene continues to liven up with bars and diners opening almost every week, like this new restaurant in Kangaroo Point that will surely please every seafood lover out there.

One Fish Two Fish just launched in February 2019, but is already receiving heaps of good feedback from the community. The Great Day Out’s Alastair McLeod approved the restaurant and included it to his favourite new Brisbane restaurants and bars.

If this restaurant got you curious enough, step into their restaurant at 708 Main St, Kangaroo Point and feast your eyes on a range of seafood dishes right from the classic fish and chips to the sophisticated Amalfi-inspired seafood risotto.

The laid-back atmosphere is perfect for bringing your family and friends, be it on a weekday or on a weekend because it’s open seven days a week.

Photo credit: One Fish Two Fish/Facebook

Start things off with their seacuterie platter featuring tiger prawns with finger lime mayo, nam jim dressed kingfish sashimi, salt and pepper calamari, and flounder goujons.

Then devour on the crowd-favourite Quarter Flounder burger, an amalgam of panko-crumbed flounder goujons, lettuce, cheese, house-made tartare and fries. Finish it off with a sip of wine, like their sweet and fortified drinks, the ‘Sweet Pea’ and ‘Old Codger.’

One Fish Two Fish is open Mondays from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, on Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and from Thursday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

For bookings and more information about the new seafood restaurant, check out their website or follow them on Facebook.

Eight-Storey Mixed Use Tower Proposed for Main Street Kangaroo Point

Photo credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au

A development application has been lodged for an eight-storey mixed-use development at 624 Main Street Kangaroo Point.

Based on the application lodged by Urban Strategies on behalf of developer Peter Yang, the multi-residential tower will feature ground floor retail tenancies and will replace the old Kangaroo Point motel currently on the site if approved.

Photo Credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Designed by Red Door Architecture, the tower would have 52 two-bedroom units and 16 three-bedroom units, a total of 68 apartment units in all. The design plans showed there will be 88 carparks and an 85-bicycle parking.

The building will adhere to Brisbane government’s “Buildings That Breathe” design guideline, which calls for provision of lush landscaping, shade and comfort in new buildings that will be built in the city.

It’s been a while since a major application like this was proposed in the riverside Kangaroo Point. If approved, this will likely accommodate the increasing number of people in the suburb.

Kangaroo Point is the most densely populated suburb in Brisbane, according to the 2018 report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The latest data revealed there are 9152 people living within just 1.3 square kilometres in the suburb.

Due to the growing population in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane City Council is planning to allow developments that can go up to 20 storeys. The existing Kangaroo Point Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan limits buildings in the peninsula to 10 storeys.

For further information on the proposed tower in 624 Main Street Kangaroo Point, see the Full Development Application – A005136820.

Story Bridge to Get $80M Worth of Restoration

Photo credit: Kgbo/Wikimedia Commons

The Story Bridge has stood the test of time but as it approaches its 80th year in 2020, Brisbane City Council has initiated a 5-year, major restoration to continue to help residents get home quickly and safely.

With an aim to prolong the life of the 79-year-old bridge connecting Fortitude Valley to Kangaroo Point, BCC is planning to blast bare, paint and restore it.

Planning for the Story Bridge restoration began in February 2019, wherein the Council will discuss stripping old paint, cleaning it and giving it a 105,000-square-metre face lift.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the restoration will require more than 33,000 litres of paint. The Story Bridge’s steely-grey colour will be retained but they will scrape and blast off the old paint and then completely repaint the bridge the same colour.

Cr Quirk said it was vital that the Council continued to maintain the Story Bridge to ensure it continued to stand as an iconic figure on Brisbane’s skyline.

“Works are expected to commence after Riverfire and will be carried out in stages over a five-year period to ensure the Story Bridge can continue to be used by traffic and feature in some of our city’s favourite festivities,” Cr Quirk said.

The Story Bridge will not close during the paint job but some lanes will be closed during some stages.

Story Bridge History

The bridge’s construction, which lasted for more than five years, began in May 1935. The design for the bridge was based heavily on that of the Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal, completed in 1930. John Bradfield, the appointed consulting engineer to the Bureau of Industry, recommended a steel cantilever bridge.

Kangaroo Point during construction of the Story Bridge Brisbane, 1938 (Photo credit: slq.gov.au)

Back then, 400 people were employed to build the bridge at the height of the construction, making it one of Queensland’s main employment-generating projects during the 1930s Depression.

The bridge was named after John Douglas Story, a senior and influential public servant who had advocated strongly for the bridge’s construction.

Kangaroo Point Natural History Trail: An Honor to Brisbane’s Pioneers

Photo Credit: Google Street View

Locals are naturally proud of Kangaroo Point as a suburb with lots of wanderlust potential. Kangaroo Point Cliff, for instance, attracts tourists because it’s a great destination for rock climbing and abseiling. Then there is Story Bridge with its panoramic view of the river.

For locals and visitors alike, there is a lot more to Kangaroo Point than meets the eye. Did you know that Kangaroo Point is one of the oldest suburbs in Brisbane? The city is home to a number of heritage trails, walking trails, and history trails.

When you want to know more about Queensland’s pioneering scientists and researchers, the Kangaroo Point Natural History Trail is worth seeing. It extends from the C.T. White Park up to the Brisbane Jazz Club. At the same time, it’s an opportunity to pack a picnic and bond with loved ones while you walk back in time.

It is the Brisbane City Council’s project in an aim to recognize the contribution of Queensland’s pioneers through a series of interpretative and botanical signs in the parks.

Kangaroo Point During the 1800s

Before the British settlement in early 1800s, it was occupied by Turrbal people. Explorer John Oxley described them as “the strongest and best-made muscular men” he had ever seen in any country.

The first land sales took place in 1843 when the British settled in Brisbane. Surveyor James Warner built the first house at Kangaroo Point in 1844. He was known for his deep religious convictions, his extensive knowledge of botany, and his role of the first secretary and treasurer of the Queensland Institute of Surveyors.

James Warner’s story can be seen when you hop in to the Natural History Trail. Aside from Warner, here are the other personalities features in Kangaroo Point Natural History Trail:

Frederick Manson Bailey

A colonial botanist of Queensland from 1881 to 1915, Bailey contributed his encyclopedic knowledge to the long list of published works on Queensland flora. This helped in the colony’s fledging agricultural and pastoral industries.

Silvester Diggles

His flair for music result in the founding of the Brisbane Choral Society in 1859 and the Brisbane Philharmonic Society in 1861. Aside from being an artist and musician, he was known as one of the notable naturalists during the 19th century.

Harry Oakman

He served as the Council’s Superintendent of Parks from 1946 to 1962. The distinctive subtropical style of many Brisbane parks and streetscapes were all because of his passion for lush tropical foliage and flowering plants.

Cyril Tenison White

White was best known for his expertise on identifying plants by sights. His thousands of illustrations were published in his grandfather Frederick Manson Bailey’s Comprehensive Catalogue of Queensland Plants. He served as a botanist for the Queensland Government from 1917 until his death in 1950.

Oscar Werner Tiegs

Tiegs, born at Kangaroo Point in 1897, was a world-class entomologist and zoologist. As a child, he had a great fascination with insects and that passion eventually led to his outstanding career in zoology.

Kangaroo Point in the Present

It does not come as a surprise that it was once home to Queensland’s best naturalists. With their beautiful surroundings, parks all over Kangaroo Point are perfect destinations for simple relaxation, family-friendly games, and city cycling.

Story Bridge Top-ranked For Most Crash Reports

Motorists driving along the Story Bridge, the nation’s longest cantilever bridge, are urged to “slow down and take care merging.” The heritage-listed bridge that links Kangaroo Point to Fortitude Valley has been top-ranked for having the most crash reports, the latest report revealed.

Between 1 January 2015 and 31 October 2018, insurance claims records show that there have been 36 crash reports on the Story Bridge, the State’s peak motoring body, RACQ reported. Captain Cook Bridge and Gateway Bridge followed with 29 and 14 reported crashes, respectively.

“These bridges are often heavily congested, high volume, multi-lane crossings, making them hot spots for multi-vehicle crashes,” RACQ spokesperson Lucinda Ross said.

“Most are peak hour rear-end collisions, or sideswipes where drivers fail to give way changing lanes. Drivers need to take care merging and leave plenty of room between cars,” she said

Rounding out the top six are William Jolly Bridge (11), Walter Taylor Bridge (10), and Go Between Bridge (4).

Ms Ross suggested that apart from public transport, the government also needs to invest on projects that will provide alternative routes to minimise congestions and offer vehicle access to and from Brisbane City such as upgrading Roma Street, North Quay, Stanley, and Vulture streets.

Sea Legs Brewing Co. Opens At Kangaroo Point

Photo Credit: Instagram/sealegsbrewingco

Kangaroo Point has another brewpub in town. Sea Legs Brewing Co. recently set up shop to further boost Brisbane’s profile as the fastest-growing craft beer destination in Queensland.

But the Sea Legs Brewing Co. site isn’t just a pub located on Main Street. Beneath the shop near the Story Bridge heritage site is a warehouse with a 15-hectolitre brewery system that can ferment 9,000 litres of different kinds of beers every day.

Co-owners Chris Davies, Jon Fuchs, Dave Machin, Harvey McKibbon and Tim Wyatt have been planning to open Sea Legs Brewing Co at Kangaroo Point three years ago. However, it took the group a while to secure council approvals.

Despite some delays and obstacles, construction was finally completed by the end of 2018. Finally, Sea Legs Brewing Co. opened its doors to the public in late December.

The bustling venue is close to other hangouts like the Brisbane Jazz Club and the Story Bridge Hotel. But Sea Legs Brewing Co. stands out because it brews its beers on site.

During its opening day, the pub offered more than 130 freshly-brewed batches of craft beer to its guests. Sea Legs Brewing Co. caters to all types of beer drinkers, wine lovers and even non-drinkers, with its lagers, IPAs, spirits, cocktails, and hand-selected wines. Aside from the drinks, the pub also serves burgers, wings, and hand-stretched pizzas.

Photo Credit: Instagram/sealegsbrewingco

Patrons can also buy bottles of brews at the brick-and-mortar store to enjoy at home. The owners also revealed they will be introducing experimental and seasonal beer flavours too.

Sea Legs is the first of more new dining and shopping sites opening on Main Street. Brisbane City Council has been pushing to bolster this part of the city as part of its improvement projects.

Enjoy the Cockroach Races at Kangaroo Point on Australia Day 2019

One of the most popular activities for the Australia Day festival in Brisbane, the Cockroach Races, is coming up on Saturday, 26 January 2019. The Story Bridge Hotel in Kangaroo Point will once again be packed with this and other fun activities and entertainment as they celebrate the much-anticipated event.

Photo credit: Story Bridge Hotel/Facebook

Celebrating its 38th year, the Cockroach Races will be having a full day of entertainment for everyone to enjoy. Live music, sporting races, competitions with great prizes, Aussie themed food vendors, and lots more await at the Story Bridge Hotel.

Event Details

What: Cockroach Races 2019

When: Saturday, 26 January 2019; gates open 11:00 a.m.

Where: Story Bridge Hotel, 200 Main St, Kangaroo Point

Cockroach Races 2019

Competitions

This year, the annual Cockroach Races will be hosting its first Thousand Guineas Short Horn BBQ Cook-Off. The competition will see eight people show off their skills on the grill. The best cook will win a dinner for up to 10 people worth $1,000.

Think you’ve got what it takes to win this cook-off? All you have to do is convince them why you are the best BBQ cook in all of Brisbane. Your answer may include photos or videos. Remember to submit your entry to the Story Bridge Hotel before 23 January 2019.

Can’t cook? Round-up your friends instead and join the Best Dressed Team Costume competition for a chance to win a $2000 party at the Story Bridge Hotel. Those who want to join should be there by midday and report to the Stewards’ desk to register.

Furthermore, lovely ladies can also enter for a chance to be crowned as the next Queen of Cockroach racing. The lucky winner will win $200 on the day.

Of course, the event won’t be complete without the main event. The Cockroach Races is the biggest event of the day so make sure to come in early.

Food and Entertainment

Photo credit: Abbiocco Food Truck/Facebook

There will be food trucks and street stalls offering the Story Bridge Hotel’s Australian Street Food Menu. Live music and DJs will be in the Hotel as well as on the street stage.

Australian artists Busby Marou will be headlining the entertainment line up. Other artists joining the event include Nick Trovis, Aussie Boogaloo, Forever Road, Mick Evans, The Dan Munn Duo, and Aaron Wright.

Gates are open at 11:00 a.m. and entry is a simple gold coin donation. All proceeds will go to Youngcare.

The Brick Bar and Ball Pit Party is Coming to Kangaroo Point

A pop-up lego bar and ball pit exclusively for adults is coming to Kangaroo Point.

After making waves in Melbourne, The Brick Bar is bringing their pop-up bar and ball pit to Brisbane on Saturday, 12 January 2019.

Credit: JAMES FARRELL/YouTube

The Brick Bar will be serving up a great deal of nostalgia with its one-of-a-kind brick bar and ball pit party at The Story Bridge Hotel, Kangaroo Point for one night only.

View this post on Instagram

1,000,000
A post shared by The Brick Bar (@thebrickbars) on Sep 14, 2018 at 7:06pm PDT

If you’ve missed building with your blocks a lot, this pop-up will feature over 1 million blocks so you can once again get creative with your friends. Take note that lots of prizes are in store for the best builders.

The bar will also showcase sculptures made completely from building blocks.

This adult playground includes a giant ball pit that you can dive in, ready to bring out the kid in you, except this time you’re allowed to drink. Moreover, local DJ’s will also be present, spinning tunes all day.

Limited tickets for The Brick Bar and Ball Pit Party will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis and the event will only run for one night. This is probably one of those parties that you’d hate to miss out so make sure to book early.

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and should attend prior to the 6:00 p.m. time slot. Ticket price for this event includes an entry for 90 minutes and food and beverage will be available for purchase at the bar.

Buy tickets for $32.18 – $43.51.