Kangaroo Point Archives - Page 3 of 17

Silent Guardians in Kangaroo Point: Echoes of WWII Air Raid Shelters

Amidst the lively atmosphere of Raymond Park lie two unassuming structures that whisper tales of a bygone era. Unbeknownst to many, these seemingly ordinary shelters hold a secret history, serving as vital lifelines during the tumultuous days of World War II.

Constructed as part of Brisbane City Council’s extensive air raid shelter network, these Kangaroo Point shelters are a testament to the city’s resilience and preparedness during WWII. Strategically placed throughout the city, these shelters provided safe havens for residents during times of crisis.

The Kangaroo Point shelters, one nestled near Baines Street behind the iconic Pineapple Hotel and the other situated towards Wellington Road, are among the few remaining examples of this wartime architecture. They are a poignant reminder of the challenges and sacrifices the community faces during global conflict.

Interestingly, the Brisbane City Council adopted an innovative design for its public air raid shelters, ensuring their continued usefulness even after the war. The brick walls surrounding the shelters could be easily removed, leaving behind a sturdy cantilevered roof structure that could be repurposed as bus shelters or general shade providers.

While many of Brisbane’s air raid shelters have been lost to time, those in Raymond Park have endured, their original purpose often overlooked by passersby. However, for those who know their history, these structures serve as a tangible link to the past, a silent tribute to the courage and resilience of those who lived through WWII.

Today, as residents and visitors enjoy the park’s amenities, these unassuming shelters stand as a quiet reminder of a time when the world was at war. They are a testament to the enduring spirit of Kangaroo Point and a tribute to the generations who came before.

Updated 13-November-2025

Kangaroo Point Home Spared by Story Bridge Works Thrives in Yeronga

As the 1930s brought a bridge that would redefine Brisbane’s skyline, a 1870s timber home quietly slipped away from demolition in Kangaroo Point.

Built decades earlier on the cliffs above the river, this house was one of several moved when the Story Bridge project reshaped Kangaroo Point’s landscape. Instead of being razed like many of its neighbours, it was relocated across the city to Yeronga, where it still stands today at 34 Stevens Street.

*Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland*

Kangaroo Point Before the Bridge

When the house was first built in the 1870s, Kangaroo Point was a busy pocket of early Brisbane—an industrial hub mixed with grand timber homes that overlooked the river. Sawmills, shipyards defined the suburb’s character, and the steep streets climbing away from the cliffs. Historical accounts show many families living in traditional Queenslander-style houses with wide verandas and timber fretwork, much like the one that would later be moved.

By the 1930s, a major change arrived. Work began on the Story Bridge, designed to link Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Point. The construction required land resumptions and road realignments that cleared many older homes. Brisbane’s urban planners saw progress, but it also meant erasing parts of the suburb’s early architectural fabric.

The House That Moved

Unlike most, this particular home was spared by relocation. Contemporary reports and property archives describe it as having been dismantled and transported to Yeronga in the mid-1930s. Moving entire houses was not unusual in Brisbane at the time; according to the State Library of Queensland, it was common practice to save timber homes by lifting them onto trucks or timber sleds and hauling them to new sites. The move preserved the structure’s original blackbutt floorboards, silky oak doors and pine panelling—details still visible in the current residence.

While records confirm its origin in Kangaroo Point, the exact street and first owner remain unclear. Historians suggest the house likely stood near Main Street or the riverfront, where resumptions were most concentrated during the bridge’s construction. Its journey from those busy streets to the quieter neighbourhood of Yeronga mirrors the city’s own shift from industrial bustle to suburban growth.

Yeronga and the Home’s Second Life

At 34 Stevens Street, the house—known today as “Kingsley,” after the original owner—sits on a 744-sqm block. Current owners Brian and Elaine Egan purchased it in 1986 for A$52,000, maintaining much of its heritage character while updating it for modern living. It’s now listed for sale through a best offer campaign, giving new custodians the chance to preserve one of Brisbane’s few surviving pre-Story Bridge homes.

For the Yeronga community, the house is a link to a different Brisbane—when moving a building was sometimes the only way to save it.

Why It Still Matters

The story of this house is more than a property listing; it’s a thread in the city’s evolution. Kangaroo Point’s transformation into an inner-city enclave came at the cost of many such dwellings. That one of them endures, standing quietly in Yeronga, offers locals a tangible connection to Brisbane’s 19th-century past and the resilience of its timber-built heritage.

Preservation groups have long argued that such structures are key to understanding how Brisbane adapted to modernity without losing its wooden heart.

Published 6-Nov-2025

Virtual Reality Program in Kangaroo Point Transports Patients to Australia’s North-West

Photo Credit: Damien Thompson/LinkedIn

In Kangaroo Point, a virtual reality initiative developed by Brisbane-based charity founder Damien Thompson is helping hospital patients experience Australia’s north-west, including the Kimberley and Kakadu, without leaving their hospital beds.

From Hospital Bed to Outback Adventure

The Holiday from Hospital program was founded by Damien Thompson, who overcame leukaemia at the age of 23. During his long recovery, he discovered the calming effect of virtual reality after using a headset that transported him beyond his hospital room. The experience inspired him to create an initiative that could help others facing similar circumstances.

In 2019, Thompson established the Chimera Legacy Foundation, developing VR experiences to ease stress and isolation for hospital patients. The program first offered international escapes to Paris, Rome and London, providing a mental break from the daily challenges of treatment.

Bringing Australia’s North to the Bedside

After repeated requests from patients to “travel Australia,” Thompson embarked on a journey across the country’s north. He captured 15 new virtual destinations across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, including Purnululu National Park, El Questro, and Kakadu National Park.

His travels not only fulfilled a personal dream of exploring remote regions but also gave patients the opportunity to virtually visit these landscapes from their hospital rooms in Brisbane and beyond.

Kangaroo Point virtual reality — *Photo Credit: Damien Thompson/LinkedIn*

Healing Through Immersive Experience

Patients participating in the program wear a VR headset that delivers 360-degree footage, creating the illusion of movement through natural or urban settings. The immersive visuals help reduce anxiety and boredom, providing comfort during long hospital stays.

Hospitals such as the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Townsville University Hospital have already implemented the program. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with patients reporting feelings of calm and connection through the virtual journeys.

virtual reality therapy — *Photo Credit: Damien Thompson/LinkedIn*

Expanding Horizons for Patients

The Chimera Legacy Foundation plans to extend the initiative to more hospitals across Australia, including regional areas. Supported by donations and volunteers, the foundation continues to film and produce new virtual destinations to enhance accessibility.

Thompson remains committed to his goal of ensuring patients of all ages can experience the serenity of travel and nature—right from their hospital bed in Kangaroo Point.

Published 25-Oct-2025

Partners in Song to Fill St Mary’s at Kangaroo Point

Photo Credit: Katie Stenzel

Australian soprano Katie Stenzel will join pianist Stewart Kelly for an afternoon recital at St Mary’s Anglican Church in Kangaroo Point, celebrating their shared love of art song.

Partners in Song at St Mary’s

The historic St Mary’s Anglican Church at Kangaroo Point will host the next performance in its Recital Series on Saturday, 1 November 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The concert, titled Partners in Song, features soprano Katie Stenzel and pianist Stewart Kelly performing a program of art song from Germany, France, and America, including works by Strauss, Grieg, Poulenc, and Copland.

*Photo Credit:* *Marnya Rothe Photography* via *Katie Stenzel*

A Musical Reunion

Stenzel and Kelly, who first met while studying at the Queensland University of Technology, will perform together professionally for the first time. Their collaboration highlights years of friendship and shared dedication to chamber music and vocal performance.

Kelly, originally from the Gold Coast and now based in Melbourne, is a pianist, educator, and festival director. He founded Music by the Springs, a chamber music festival held annually in Victoria, and has worked extensively with leading musicians and singers across Australia and abroad.

*Photo Credit: Trish O’Brien via Stewart Kelly*

Stenzel’s Performance Journey

Stenzel is recognised for her versatility as a coloratura soprano, with experience across opera, operetta, and musical theatre. She has performed with Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, and State Opera South Australia, and appeared at the Brisbane Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, and Taipei Drama Festival.

She recently appeared in the Brisbane Festival production The Telephone, a comedic chamber opera that played to sold-out audiences at City Hall. Following her recital in Kangaroo Point, she will return as the featured artist for the 2026 Festival of Outback Opera.

St Mary’s and Its Musical Heritage

Located on Main Street, St Mary’s Anglican Church was designed by Richard George Suter, built in 1873 by Alfred Grant, and added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. The church’s recital series has grown into a respected community tradition, welcoming audiences of all backgrounds and celebrating Brisbane’s strong connection to classical music.

Published 22-Oct-2025

Kangaroo Point Riverfront Sub-Penthouse Achieves $8.5 Million Sale

Photo Credit: Place

A prestigious riverfront apartment in Kangaroo Point has sold for $8.5 million, claiming the top position amongst Brisbane’s luxury unit sales in the first full week of October.

The three-bedroom sub-penthouse at 18E/39 Castlebar Street commanded the highest price amongst apartment sales finalised during the week, according to property tracking data from Prestige Property AU. The sale represented one of four apartments featured in the top 10 recorded sales across Queensland, with the combined apartment sales totalling more than $20 million.

Real estate agents Simon and Courtney Caulfield from Place Estate Agents handled the sale, which concluded so swiftly that scheduled open homes were cancelled after a buyer made an offer the vendors accepted.

Located within the exclusive Castlebar Cove complex, the property spans 470 square metres of internal and external living space. The residence boasts a unique position as the only apartment on its floor, accessed by a private lift that opens directly into the home.

The sub-penthouse features commanding north-east river frontage stretching more than 20 metres, with panoramic views across the Brisbane River. The interiors showcase travertine and timber finishes throughout the expansive layout.

Inside, residents enjoy multiple living spaces including an open-plan area with a fireplace that extends to a covered balcony wrapping the entire river-facing side of the home. The outdoor entertainment area includes a built-in barbecue and servery, designed for year-round use.

The northern-positioned gourmet kitchen features stone benchtops, timber details and Miele appliances, with space for casual bench seating as well as a formal dining table accommodating more than 10 guests.

The primary bedroom suite opens onto the riverfront terrace and includes substantial wardrobe space and an ensuite bathroom fitted with a bath, walk-in shower, double basin and its own Juliet balcony. Two additional bedrooms, each with ensuites and built-in robes, provide accommodation for family or guests.

Additional spaces include two extra living areas, a library, full laundry, powder room and ducted air conditioning. The property includes secure basement car parking for multiple vehicles plus a lock-up garage totalling 85 square metres.

A notable inclusion is the exclusive-use 60-foot marina berth with three-phase power—an uncommon feature for inner-city riverfront apartments.

Castlebar Cove residents have access to resort-style facilities including a fully equipped gymnasium, lap pool, riverfront lawn, steam room, sauna, and hot and cold plunge pools. The complex’s grand foyer features a piano and entertainment spaces.

The substantial sale reflects continued demand for premium riverfront property in Kangaroo Point, where Castlebar Cove has established itself as one of the suburb’s most sought-after residential addresses.

Published 13-October-2025

Public Divided Over Kangaroo Point Flying Fox Proposal

Photo Credit: Vertigo

Public opinion is divided over a proposal to build a wheelchair-accessible flying fox across the Brisbane River, linking Kangaroo Point with the CBD.

Public Reaction and Background

The concept of a flying fox at Kangaroo Point is not new. Brisbane tourism operator John “Sharpey” Sharpe first floated the idea in 2004 and has continued to pursue it as part of the city’s tourism offerings. The plan has now been revived through the Destination 2045 Tourism Icons Investment Fund, which has $80 million set aside for approved projects.

The attraction would involve participants being harnessed to a dual-line system for a glide from the Kangaroo Point cliffs to the city, with the return trip via the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge, which opened on 15 December 2024. Sharpe has described it as the world’s first flying fox designed from the outset for wheelchair users, drawing on earlier adaptive systems used in his Vertigo dining experience.

While the proposal has been under development for years, the announcement that it could be ready ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games has reignited debate. Supporters welcomed the concept as a step toward positioning Brisbane as a leading adventure destination, while critics voiced concerns about its practicality and relevance.

flying fox proposal — *Photo Credit: Google Maps*

Community Sentiment

Supporters have praised the project as an exciting addition that would showcase inclusivity and create a unique tourism experience. Some online comments described it as “cool” and “awesome,” while others said they hoped it would go ahead.

Critics raised safety concerns, questioning what would happen in the event of a fall and pointing to the condition of the Brisbane River, with references to debris, water quality, and wildlife. Others said the proposal was unnecessary, arguing funds should instead be directed to infrastructure improvements such as roads and bridges.

Questions were also raised about why the idea, first proposed in 2004, had not been realised sooner.

Kangaroo Point flying fox — *Photo Credit: Space4cyclingbne/Facebook*

Accessibility and Engineering

Accessibility is central to the design, with features intended to allow wheelchair users to take part safely and comfortably. The plan builds on the success of adaptive systems developed for the Vertigo restaurant at Brisbane Powerhouse, where a liftable wheelchair was created to give mobility-impaired guests access to the suspended dining platforms.

Early engineering work has already been undertaken, including assessments to avoid vegetation removal along the Kangaroo Point cliffs. Sharpe has also outlined additional ideas for the precinct, including a climbing “sky ladder” and a high ropes course.

Timeline and Next Steps

The flying fox proposal will require consultation, environmental assessment, and statutory approvals before it can proceed. Sharpe has indicated he wants the attraction operating years ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games, to ensure adequate preparation and operational experience.

Published 30-Sep-2025

Luxury Apartments, Heirloom, with Story Bridge Views Coming to Kangaroo Point

Photo Credit: Molti

Kangaroo Point is set to transform with one of Brisbane’s final riverfront parcels earmarked for five luxury apartments, named Heirloom, priced from $9.5 million each, bringing a new chapter of high-end living to the community.

Developer Molti has confirmed plans for a six-storey residential building at 4 MacDonald Street, Kangaroo Point. The project will feature one apartment per floor, each spanning about 340 square metres.

Designed by Bureau Proberts and Carr, the layout places living and sleeping areas along the building’s edge to maximise views of the Brisbane River and CBD.

Heirloom Kangaroo Point — *Photo Credit: Molti*

The Molti project aims to balance luxury with neighbourhood value by adding to the character of Kangaroo Point. The crescent-shaped balconies, inspired by the nearby Story Bridge, mimic the landmark’s curves while providing uninterrupted city outlooks.

The development also dedicates an entire floor to health and wellbeing, with a gym, sauna and cold plunge pool modelled on spa and longevity centres.

The site, measuring 797 square metres, is currently occupied by a small complex of two-bedroom apartments that changed hands in mid-2024.

With Brisbane City Council allowing a maximum of eight storeys in the high-density zone, the proposed six-storey design complies with planning requirements. Developers said they were confident the views would remain unobstructed as the block sits opposite parkland.

Approval for the project has already been granted, and construction is expected to begin shortly.

Sales are scheduled to launch in mid-October 2025, with the riverfront residences positioned among the most expensive new apartments in Brisbane.

Published 30-Sept-2025

Craig & Karl’s Colourful Takeover Connects Brisbane at Kangaroo Point

Photo Credit: Brisbane Festival

Kangaroo Point has become a focal point of Brisbane Festival 2025, featuring a large-scale installation by international art duo Craig & Karl as part of a citywide creative takeover celebrating colour, community, and connection.

A City Transformed Through Art

Artists Craig Redman and Karl Maier, known globally as Craig & Karl, have returned to their hometown for Brisbane Festival 2025 with their most extensive project to date. The pair have created 75 artworks across 20 key sites, including striking inflatables and geometric designs that now brighten the Kangaroo Point Bridge and other major landmarks.

The installation, which runs until 27 September 2025, forms part of the festival’s Public Art Trail presented in partnership with Griffith University Art Museum, BCC, and Tourism and Events Queensland.

Craig & Karl Kangaroo Point — *Photo Credit: Brisbane Festival*

Kangaroo Point Bridge Installation

At Kangaroo Point, the walking bridge has been transformed into a series of large inflatable arches, described as one of the duo’s most ambitious projects in nearly three decades. The colourful display symbolically connects Brisbane’s city centre to the Kangaroo Point headland, celebrating the city’s riverfront identity and creative culture.

This major public intervention is part of ANZ’s Walk This Way and reflects Craig & Karl’s hallmark aesthetic of bold colours, symmetry, and playfulness.

Rear Vision and Double Vision Exhibitions

The Kangaroo Point display is complemented by Craig & Karl: Rear Vision, an Outdoor Gallery exhibition running from 14 June to 20 October 2025 across Brisbane’s streets, laneways, and car parks. The exhibition, co-curated by Carrie McCarthy and Angela Goddard, showcases works exploring community, identity, and imagination.

At Griffith University Art Museum, Craig & Karl: Double Vision runs from 28 August 2025 to 7 January 2026, mapping three decades of the duo’s creativity and marking the 50th anniversary of Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art and Design, where both artists began their collaboration.

Public Art Trail and Guided Tours

Beyond Kangaroo Point, the Public Art Trail extends to locations such as Brisbane Airport, Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane Quarter, Fish Lane Arts Precinct, and South Bank Cultural Forecourt. The artworks collectively create a visual journey celebrating Brisbane’s evolving creative landscape.

Although sold out, guided tours held between 5 and 27 September 2025 offered participants a closer look at these installations, tracing the artists’ journey from their early Brisbane days to their global career. Each tour ran for 90 minutes, following accessible paths through key city highlights.

Creative Homecoming

Now based in London and New York, Craig & Karl’s return to Brisbane is regarded as a creative homecoming. Their playful pop art style—rooted in the city’s subcultures of the 1980s—continues to evolve through international collaborations with brands like Nike, Apple, and Vogue.

Through Rear Vision, Double Vision, and the Public Art Trail, the duo’s installations invite locals and visitors alike to rediscover familiar cityscapes through a new lens of colour and imagination.

Published 25-Sep-2025

‘World-first’ Wheelchair-accessible Flying Fox to Link Kangaroo Point and CBD before Brisbane 2032

A ‘world-first,’ wheelchair-accessible flying fox has been proposed for Kangaroo Point, targeting lift-off before Brisbane 2032.

Brisbane adventure entrepreneur John “Sharpey” Sharpe has outlined plans for a dual-line flying fox stretching over the Brisbane River from the Kangaroo Point cliffs to the city. Sharpe says the attraction would be a world first for wheelchair accessibility, positioning Brisbane to showcase inclusive adventure tourism in the lead-up to 2032.

Known locally for Riverlife, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb and the high-perched Vertigo dining experience, Sharpe says the flying fox would be a world first of its kind because of its built-in accessibility.

The proposal has been taking shape in the background for years and is now being progressed through Queensland’s new Tourism Icons Investment Fund under the state’s Destination 2045 plan.

The goal is to open ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the attraction designed from the ground up to accommodate wheelchair users.

How it would work

The concept uses two parallel cables for a one-way glide from the cliffs to the CBD. Guests could then make the return journey via the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge, which officially opened on 15 December 2024 and now provides a direct link between the two banks.

Photo Credit: Facebook/ space4cyclingbne

Accessibility is built into the design brief: the flying fox would incorporate hardware and procedures so wheelchair users can take part safely, comfortably and without being treated as an exception.

The pitch builds on a recent run of inclusive tourism moves in Brisbane. Earlier this year, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb launched a wheelchair-accessible experience — another claimed global first — reinforcing that major attractions here are starting to design for all abilities from the start.

The Vertigo connection

Sharpe is also the man behind Vertigo Restaurant at Brisbane Powerhouse — a vertical dining experience where guests are clipped into safety gear and seated on platforms suspended roughly 17 metres above the ground.

Vertigo offers an “Access Vertigo” option that uses a purpose-built lifting wheelchair: guests transfer with staff assistance, are raised to the dining platform, and the chair locks securely into the table for the meal before a controlled descent.

That hands-on experience with adaptive equipment and procedures is informing the flying fox proposal’s accessibility features, with the goal of ensuring wheelchair users can participate from day one.

Where the project sits now

Funding pathway: The proposal is being prepared for consideration under Queensland’s Tourism Icons Investment Fund, part of the state’s Destination 2045 agenda.
Consultation and approvals: Exact launch and landing points would be confirmed through community consultation, engineering, environmental assessment and statutory approvals.
Design considerations: Early engineering work has reportedly focused on minimising vegetation impacts along the Kangaroo Point cliffs.
Timing: The stated aim is to be operating well before Brisbane 2032 so staff, systems and partnerships are in place ahead of the Games.

Why it matters for Kangaroo Point

If approved and built, the flying fox would add a fresh “river-to-city” experience to Kangaroo Point’s outdoor line-up — launching from the cliffs, soaring to the CBD, and strolling home over the new bridge. Just as importantly, it would continue Brisbane’s shift toward designing major attractions with accessibility at the centre rather than as an afterthought.

Key facts at a glance

What: Proposed dual-line, wheelchair-accessible flying fox across the Brisbane River
Where: Kangaroo Point cliffs to Brisbane CBD (one-way)
Return route: Via the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge (opened 15 December 2024)
Proponent: John “Sharpey” Sharpe (Riverlife, Story Bridge Adventure Climb, Vertigo)
Target opening: Before the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Status: Concept progressing through funding, design, consultation and approvals

Developer Seeks Approval for Design Amendments at Kangaroo Point Tower

Photo Credit: YPM Group

AS Mountain Pty Ltd, owned by Sam Sgroi and Peter Schmidt, has taken Sorano House seek approval for more than 40 design changes to the near-complete Kangaroo Point apartment tower.

Latest Application

The developer lodged the application on 26 August 2025, with proposed modifications including the removal of a column in the ground-level swimming pool, repositioning of the rooftop pool and deck on level eight, widening of the lobby, and a reduction in the size of the dining and meeting room.

Architect affidavits filed stated that the adjustments will not alter the number of apartments, bedrooms, floors, or the height of the building. Additional changes include moving air-conditioning units behind screening and minor amendments to the sun hood profile.

Brisbane apartments — *Photo Credit: YPM Group*

Project Background

Sorano House is located at 12 Hamilton Street, Kangaroo Point. The development comprises seven full-floor apartments, with each residence spanning an entire level. AS Mountain Pty Ltd purchased the site for $16.69 million on 10 May 2022.

Court approvals were granted in 2021, 2023, and 2024, despite opposition from some neighbours during BCC’s initial consideration of the project. The development is being delivered by Trezetto Developments, also directed by Sgroi.

Sales and Market Position

The project has already seen strong sales, including a two-level penthouse sold off the plan for $14 million and another apartment for $9 million. Each residence features views of the Brisbane River and city skyline.

Earlier marketing material highlighted interior finishes such as a 5.5-metre natural stone kitchen bench, oak flooring, and premium appliances. Shared amenities include a rooftop pool, spa, sauna, gym, outdoor dining, and a private wine cellar. Apartments were originally marketed from $7.75 million, with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2025.

Community Context

Local residents had previously opposed the development, but their objections were unsuccessful. The developer has said the new design changes are intended to respond to demand in the inner-city apartment market. Architects involved in the project described the adjustments as functional refinements with minimal visual impact.

Outlook

The Planning and Environment Court will review the application and determine whether the requested modifications can proceed as Sorano House approaches completion on Kangaroo Point’s riverfront.

Published 11-Sep-2025