Mt Gravatt Street Food gears up for its upcoming Greek Night event. Scheduled for Saturday, August 17, the popular open-air venue promises an evening of Mediterranean flavors, lively entertainment, and a festive atmosphere.
The Greek Night event will take place at the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds from 4 PM to 9 PM, offering attendees a chance to experience Greek culture through food, drink, and performances.
A highlight of the evening will be the Hellenic Dancers, who are set to showcase traditional Greek dances, adding an authentic touch to the Mediterranean-themed night.
Mt Gravatt Street Food, located at 1644 Logan Road, has become a local favorite for its diverse food choices, bar offerings, and live music. The venue, which typically prohibits pets, is accessible via Broadwater Road.
Organizers have set the entry fee at $3 for adults, while children 16 and under can attend free of charge. This family-friendly pricing is expected to attract a diverse crowd of food lovers and cultural enthusiasts alike.
After nearly seven decades of serving the community, Pet City Mt Gravatt is looking for new ownership, marking a new chapter for the beloved local institution that hopes to continue servicing local customers and their pets for many more years to come.
The shop, now up for sale, has been a cornerstone of the Mt Gravatt community since its inception as Mt Gravatt Produce Agency in 1957 by Evio Contenati and his brother-in-law Frank.
Photo Credit: Pet City Mt Gravatt
As Pet City Mt Gravatt prepares to pass the torch, Kim Peries, the daughter of Mr Contenati, envisions a future where the shop remains family-owned, perhaps even taken over by a loyal customer who understands its deep roots in the community. She hopes its legacy as a destination store cherished by generations of customers will continue.
The sale marks a bittersweet moment for Mr Contenati and Ms Peries, who have poured their hearts into the business.
The store’s evolution from a produce supplier to a thriving pet emporium mirrors the community’s changing needs. In the 1960s, the shop started selling dog food due to television advertisements on the Graham Kennedy Show. Following this foray into pet supplies, the company started selling clean, graded bird seeds and racing pigeons, which quickly became significant parts of the business.
By the 1970s, with his brother-in-law’s retirement and a growing demand for pet products, Mr Contenati rebranded the store as Pet City Mt Gravatt. The new shop, spanning 1000 sq m, became a destination for pet owners and enthusiasts, a reputation it maintains today.
Ms Peries started working at the shop at the tender age of 13 and played a pivotal role in shaping its unique identity.
Photo Credit: Pet City Mt Gravatt
It was a pioneer in many ways. It was the first pet store in Queensland to offer puppy preschool, and is actively engaged in charity work, bird conventions, and even reptile care training courses for other pet shops. The store’s dedication to the industry was noticed.
Pet City Mt. Gravatt stands out as a leading pet care center, offering a unique all-in-one experience for pet owners. The store has pioneered the concept of a complete pet department store, employing over 40 specialist staff across various pet care areas to provide expert knowledge and advice to all customers.
This commitment to expertise has earned Pet City Mt. Gravatt multiple industry awards and accreditation from the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA). The store boasts an extensive range of pet products rarely found under one roof, catering to diverse pet care needs.
For enquiries about the sale, phone Grant Turner Ray White Commercial via 0457 766 812 or Julie Ryan at 0447 445 453.
Nathan star and Churchie old Boy Zac Stubblety-Cook secured a silver medal while battling COVID in a thrilling Olympic men’s 200m breaststroke final, narrowly missing out on defending his Olympic title.
French swimming sensation Leon Marchand took the gold, completing a remarkable double victory. Marchand dominated the race, finishing in 2:05.85, nearly a second ahead of Stubblety-Cook’s 2:06.79. The Frenchman’s performance comes just two hours after his triumph in the 200-metre butterfly.
Zac Stubblety-Cook battles the virus
The celebration of Stubblety-Cook’s silver medal is tempered by the revelation of a growing COVID cluster within the Australian Olympic team. Stubblety-Cook disclosed that he competed while battling a coronavirus infection, having completed a five-day course of antivirals on the day of the race.
Stubblety-Cook’s resilience in the face of adversity and his sportsmanship shine through as he commends his rival, Marchand, for his historic performance.
This new facility will offer walk-in services for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, operating from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
The Mt Gravatt nurse-led clinic will provide free healthcare services staffed by highly qualified nurses. It aims to treat a range of conditions including conjunctivitis, colds, simple respiratory conditions, cuts, bruises, strains, and skin conditions. Notably, the clinic will also address women’s health concerns, offering access to contraception and care for menopause and period pain.
Photo credit: Negative Space/Pexels
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Service and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman stated, “Not only will this boost access to treatment and care, it will also help to reduce demand on our emergency departments.” She added, “We heard loud and clear from rural communities and thousands of Queensland women and girls who told us they need more options to access healthcare.”
Photo credit: RDNE Stock project/Pexels
The clinic is designed to improve healthcare accessibility for the local community. Patients requiring care beyond the clinic’s capabilities will be promptly referred to appropriate services, including emergency departments, general practitioners, rapid access clinics, or mental health services.
A fourth clinic location has been announced for Gympie, furthering the commitment to providing accessible healthcare across the state. The free nurse-led clinics will be available for Queenslanders aged two and over for walk-in appointments starting from 30 September.
Corrine McMillan MP, State Member for Mansfield said the new nurse-led clinic will complement the community’s new Eight Mile Plains Satellite Hospital which is now open and the hospital expansions at the QEII Hospital and the PA Hospital which are now underway.
Residents are advised to stay updated on the Queensland Government’s website for the exact location of the Mt Gravatt clinic. An announcement will be made closer to the September opening.
A recently released image of the planned redevelopment reveals that the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) in Nathan will become the smallest Olympic stadium since Amsterdam 1928, with just 40,000 seats planned for the Brisbane 2032 Games.
The image, designed by architecture firm Populous, shows a permanent covered grandstand, with most spectators seated in uncovered temporary seating. This design significantly departs from recent Olympic venues, as most athletics fans will be exposed to the elements.
Smallest Capacity
With only 40,000 seats, the QSAC in Nathan will have the smallest capacity for an Olympic athletics stadium in nearly a century. This limited capacity is expected to restrict admission for the general public severely.
For comparison, the Stade de France in Paris will seat approximately 80,000 people for this year’s Games, while the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will host 77,500 people during the 2028 Olympics athletics events.
At the current estimate, each seat at QSAC would cost approximately $115,000. This is significantly higher than other recent stadium projects, such as Perth’s Optus Stadium, which cost about $26,650 per seat when completed in 2017.
Photo Credit: RTI Queensland Government
Officials caution that the current design is not final. A representative from the Department of State Development and Infrastructure emphasised that the image is for discussion purposes only. They explained that the ongoing project validation process involves input from various government and external stakeholders, often using visual aids to facilitate these consultations.
The project validation report for QSAC is currently underway, with technical analysis and costings expected to be completed by the end of 2024. A spokesperson for the Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority stated that the report would be considered by the authority’s board and the government in the first quarter of 2025.
As the project progresses, more detailed renders will be developed with input from various stakeholders, including Stadiums Queensland, technical advisors, and the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee.
Cost and Design Concerns
The Queensland government estimates the QSAC redevelopment will cost about $1.6 billion. However, this figure does not include the temporary seating, which will be funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace stated that questions have been raised about the need for a flat, concrete podium to underpin QSAC, accounting for $1 billion of the estimated cost. The remaining $600 million would replace the current western grandstand.
Grace insisted that Queensland taxpayers would not bear any additional costs. However, Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie expressed skepticism, suggesting the final cost could be higher based on the government’s track record with other projects.
The Committee for Brisbane’s chief executive, Jen Williams, expressed concern that public discussion is now focused on costs rather than the long-term benefits of new infrastructure. Williams noted that images of iconic French landmarks used for the Paris Games are prompting Queenslanders to consider how their city will be viewed globally.
Future Plans and Ongoing Debate
After the Games, the QSAC in Nathan will be downsized to 14,000 permanent seats. The State Government chose this option after abandoning a $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild and rejecting a proposal for a new $3.4 billion stadium at Victoria Park.
Premier Steven Miles defended the decision, stating that Queenslanders did not support spending large amounts on a new stadium.
“To be frank, no one tried harder than I did to convince people that the Gabba was a good idea,” Miles said. “But it was clear to me, from talking to Queenslanders, that they did not think that was a good use of money.”
Local community groups remain vehemently opposed to the previously proposed Victoria Park stadium, which would have occupied part of the expansive inner-city green space. However, the QSAC option presents its own challenges, including limited public transport access.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has estimated that at least an additional $400 million would be required to provide adequate public transport to the venue, a 3.1-kilometre walk from the nearest train station.
This comes as more than 350,000 Australians are now living in group households, a figure that has reached an all-time high amid soaring rents and a housing affordability crisis.
Some people propose co-living to solve the housing shortage, where residents share some spaces while having private rooms. However, critics argue that it is primarily a strategy for property owners to maximise rental income.
Property developers like Gallery Group promote co-living as a “good value” proposition for singles and couples, likening it to a shared workspace. The company’s model involves converting single-family homes into multiple self-contained rooms, each with an ensuite and secure storage in the kitchen. According to the developer, this approach creates “three separate income streams” and offers “high-income meeting capital growth.”
Gallery Group’s co-living rooms are currently listed at $300 per week, potentially generating $900 a week in rent for property owners. Other developers in Australia, including Heaps Good Homes and Victorian House and Land Specialists, are making comparable claims of high returns.
The growing popularity of co-living has led to a surge in demand for shared accommodation in certain areas. In some suburbs, the number of available rooms falls short of the demand, while in others, there are more seekers than available rooms.
Mt Gravatt is one such suburb where the number of people seeking co-living arrangements significantly exceeds the number of available rooms. This situation is mirrored in other areas, such as City Beach in Perth, Sydney’s CBD, and the Rocks.
Bondi Beach currently stands out as the most competitive area for finding shared accommodation, with 174 rooms available and 944 people looking. Melbourne’s CBD also has a high number of rooms for rent and a large number of people searching.
As the housing crisis continues, the debate over co-living as a viable solution or a profit-driven scheme is likely to intensify.
Thousands of thrill-seekers and families are expected to flock to Mt Gravatt as the Brisbane Thrill Festival transforms Westfield Mt Gravatt into a sprawling carnival ground, offering an unprecedented array of rides and attractions for just $5 entry.
The 10-day extravaganza is scheduled to run from 9th to 18th August 2024, promising an affordable and action-packed experience for visitors of all ages.
Festival organiser Avid Leisure has curated a diverse lineup of over a dozen rides, including crowd favourites such as the Ferris Wheel, Dodgem Cars, and the hair-raising Slingshot. For the younger attendees, gentler options like the Wacky Worm and Paw Patrol rides ensure no one misses out on the fun.
“We’re thrilled to bring this level of excitement to Mt Gravatt,” said an Avid Leisure spokesperson. “Our goal is to provide unforgettable memories for families without breaking the bank.”
Beyond the rides, the festival boasts an impressive array of attractions, including sideshow games, free entertainment, and a variety of food trucks serving up classic carnival treats. Showbag enthusiasts won’t be disappointed, with organisers promising “the biggest and best bags around.”
The Brisbane Thrill Festival will operate weekdays from 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM, with extended hours on weekends and public holidays, running from 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
Local resident Sarah Thompson expressed her excitement: “It’s fantastic to see such a large-scale event coming to our community. I can’t wait to take my kids and experience all the rides and games together.”
Preparations for the Mt Gravatt festival are underway, and community leaders are proactively anticipating a positive impact on local businesses and increased foot traffic. The festival’s convenient location next to Westfield Mt Gravatt is expected to attract visitors from across Brisbane and beyond, providing a constructive boost to the area.
At Runcorn State School, her primary years left her teachers in no doubt she could run fast. By the time she had moved to Clairvaux Mackillop, she was already considered a state-level spinter, but the next leg up to become considered one of the fastest women in Australia was when she dead-heated for the 100 metres in the Under 17s Australian Athletic Championships in Sydney in 12.07 seconds.
Intensive training followed to “shave” hundreds of a second under the 12-second mark as her coaches, Sharon and Chris Dale, pushed her down to an 11.92 PB. Her parents and grandparents were omnipresent at her meets.
She went on to have a brief stint playing University 7s for Bond Uni in 2018 and then played in the NRL touch premiership for the Brisbane Broncos, leading to a 2019 grand final win against the Paramatta Eels.
However, ironically, she only caught the eye of Australian coach, Tim Walsh, when playing for the Balkans Honet Badgers in a tournament in South Africa.
Initially, she travelled with the Australian team to a tournament in Vancouver as a 13th non-playing member of the squad.
Kaitlin’s confidence grew as she gained more big game experience and her game-winning try in Cape Town in 2023 took that to a new level.
Her Olympic campaign will kick off at midnight on Monday Brisbane time, 29 July, with a game against South Africa in Pool B.
Shave and the Aussie squad will then take on Great Britain at 3:30 a.m. Brisbane time later that morning and Ireland at 10:30 p.m. Brisbane time on the same day.
The results of the three pools will then determine the quarter finals – the top two from each group and two of the three third places advancing to the last eight. Fingers crossed that Kaitlin will be on the field for the final, scheduled for 3:45 a.m. on Wednesday 31 July Brisbane time.
Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel opened their doors at Westfield Mt Gravatt, offering a large-scale venue with a capacity for over 300 people to enjoy a distinctive mix of mini-golf, challenge rooms, and karaoke.
Holey Moley, known for its themed mini-golf courses, will feature 18 holes inspired by pop culture. The venue aims to create a nostalgic atmosphere with vibrant lighting and music, catering to those looking for a fun, competitive outing with friends or family.
Alongside the golf course, Holey Moley will offer a range of food options, including pizzas and sharing plates. The Caddyshack bar will serve a variety of drinks, including their signature cocktail, the “Rub A Dub Tub,” presented in a miniature bathtub.
Hijinx Hotel, a concept that has seen success in other parts of Australia, will make its debut in Mount Gravatt. This attraction features a series of themed rooms where groups of two to six can engage in quick-play challenges. Popular rooms include the “Zig-a-Zag ah Ball Pool,” “Candy Ball Pit,” and “Poke-the-dot.”
The new complex will be located on Level 2 of Westfield Shopping Centre, Upper Mount Gravatt. This addition is expected to transform the shopping center into a more diverse entertainment precinct, attracting visitors from across Brisbane and potentially boosting local businesses.
Bookings for both Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel are now open, with high demand expected for the opening weekend. The venue’s management encourages interested patrons to book in advance to secure their spots.
For more information or to make bookings, visit the official websites of Holey Moley and Hijinx Hotel.
A multi-vehicle crash involving a bus in Wishart this morning has resulted in one person being hospitalised and caused significant traffic disruptions in the area.
The incident occurred at 7:03 AM at the intersection of Newnham Road and Colwyn Street. According to the Queensland Fire Department, one person was trapped in a vehicle and required extraction by firefighters.
Queensland Ambulance Service reported that paramedics assessed five people at the scene. One patient was subsequently transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital in stable condition.
The crash has led to traffic delays in the Wishart area, with commuters advised to seek alternative routes.
This incident was followed by another bus-related crash in Taringa about an hour later, compounding traffic issues across Brisbane.
The Wishart crash adds to a concerning trend of bus-related incidents in Brisbane in recent months. On July 7, a Brisbane City Council bus collided with a concrete barrier at MacGregor. In a more severe incident on March 8, a pedestrian was fatally injured when a bus mounted the footpath in the city centre.
Local authorities are investigating the cause of the Wishart crash and are urging drivers to exercise caution, particularly around larger vehicles like buses.
Residents and commuters in the Wishart area are advised to stay updated on traffic reports and plan their journeys accordingly as cleanup and investigation continue at the crash site.
