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Mount Gravatt Outlook Reserve Project Stage One Commences Mid-January 2020

Council has announced that Stage One of the upgrade works on the walking trails of the Mount Gravatt Outlook Reserve, located off Shire Road in Mount Gravatt, will commence in mid-January 2020.

Stage One of the upgrade project will involve the upgrading of the Acacia Track beginning mid-January, for about two weeks; and installation of new stairs at Federation Track which will begin late January, for approximately two weeks.

Construction is scheduled to take place between 6.30am-6pm, Monday to Saturday.

Stage Two of the project will involve improvements to the reserve entry whilst enhancement of facilities at Gertrude Petty Place picnic area and car park will be part of stage three. Timing of stages two and three of the construction are yet to be announced.

Apart from the Mount Gravatt Outlook Reserve upgrade, Council has identified 10 other sites for future park and reserve enhancement projects which also includes:

Colmslie Beach Reserve – An upgrade opportunities plan has already been developed which includes passive recreation opportunities at the beach, installation of sculptures to extend play opportunities, and additional picnic shelters and seating, among others.
Chalk Street Park, Lutwyche – Chalk Street Park is a future park to be located on Wellington Street. Concept plan has been finalised which include new picnic shelters and an accessible drinking fountain; new playground equipment; fitness equipment; bike repair station; and off-street parking on Marita Street.
Eildon Hill Reservoir, Windsor – Proposed improvements under the draft concept plan include providing a viewing platform and upgrading of the walking tracks.
Keperra Bushland, Keperra – Construction works to establish a new rest area within Keperra Bushland Reserve will commence in late January 2020.
Grinstead Park/Shand Street Park (no. 100)/Shand Street Park (no. 131) – Project involves upgrading three parks covering a total area of approximately 20 hectares. Recently announced opportunities plan include proposed pedestrian access with new concrete pathway and shade trees; enhancement of Corbett Street playground with picnic shelter, barbecue and drinking fountain; and upgrade of the existing scout gathering area with new seating and under surfacing.
Stephens Mountain Reserve, Greenslopes – Proposed improvements under the draft concept plan include construction of informal walking and multi-use tracks, improvements to the entry and exit points, as well as a lookout and rest area.
Wembley Park, Coorparoo – Council is currently reviewing ways to enhance and diversify recreation opportunities in the park.
Wishart Community Park, Wishart – An opportunities plan has already been developed which proposes upgrade works including new netball hard courts; new play area and path; formalised car park area; and a new scooter loop at the existing play area.

Top Christmas Events Happening at Mt Gravatt Plaza

As the days wind down until Christmas, Mt Gravatt Plaza has a few more activities lined up to warm up joy. Feel the spirit of the holiday by visiting this shopping centre on Creek Road.

Here are the Christmas activities you can expect during your visit until the 24th of December 2019.

Kids Christmas Craft

When	10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Until the 21st of Dec 2019
Where	Outside Chatterbox

Bring your kids to Mt Gravatt Plaza for a few hours of fun and enriching crafting activities. The children will be taught to make paper baubles or decorate their own gingerbread at this FREE event. There’s no need to book a slot, so feel free to drop by with your little ones.

Charity Gift Wrapping

When	9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Weekdays) 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Weekends) Until the 22nd of Dec 2019
Where	Outside Coles

Since it’s the season of giving, you can take part in a charity drive by having your Christmas gifts beautifully wrapped in exchange for a gold coin donation. One wrapped present equals one gold coin donation. Proceeds will go to The Lions Club of Greater Mount Gravatt Mansfield Inc.

*Photo Credit: Mt Gravatt Plaza/Facebook*

Gifs with Santa

When	10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily Until the 24 of Dec 2019
Where	Outside Coles

The kids would surely love a Christmas keepsake with Santa Claus so head down to the Santa Booth for a photoshoot with the jolly old man. A digital copy of the moving photos (gifs) and still photos will be emailed to the parents. The children will also get a free photo book.

This is another FREE event and every participant has a chance to win a $200 gift voucher from Mt Gravatt Plaza retailers if they publicly share their gifs on social media. Use the hashtag #mtgravattplaza to be considered for the draw. Winners will be picked on the 24th of Dec 2019.

While you’re there, you may also shop for ingredients for your Christmas Day feast. Mt Gravatt Plaza has two grocery stores, a butcher shop, a seafood market and a bakery.

The centre also provides ample covered parking spaces for Christmas rush shoppers. The stores open at 9:00 a.m.

Mt Gravatt’s Hallowed Grounds Espresso Expands and Revamps for a Better Dining Experience

Hallowed Grounds Espresso in Mt Gravatt is a familiar local hangout that’s usually teeming with people who want their coffee fix and delicious bites. Since the middle of 2019, this cafe on Logan Road has undergone an expansion and revamp with its new look, new menu and new opening hours.

Today, there is plenty of room for dining or relaxing at Hallowed Grounds, including room for locals to bring their precious pooches in for some flavoured treats. Though the classic food choices remain, such as the avocado smash and the great-tasting Elixir coffee, the new menu caters to food adventures that will have patrons coming back.

The newest breakfast special, the Tuscan bowl (polenta, flat mushroom, poached eggs and kale), is perfect for energising your day, whilst its spicy El Camino (minced beef with tomato, eggs, avocado, sour cream and jalapeños) kicks up the heat to satisfy your cravings. Hallowed Grounds serves all-day breakfast fares like pancakes, bacon, cheese and eggs. The lunch menu has heaps of options from sandwiches, pasta, dish-fish taco, Asian fried wonton coleslaw, and steak with fries.

*Photo Credit: Hallowed Grounds Espresso/Facebook*

The counter cabinet has more than just muffins for dinners looking to grab a quick bite. The pastry selection is more diversified with, among other choices, vegan cupcakes, lamingtons, Hummingbird cake, and Moroccan orange and pistachio slices.

*Photo Credit: Hallowed Ground Espresso/Facebook*

Now that Hallowed Grounds is open till late night on weekends, diners can enjoy some drinks with a platter of nibbles. In keeping with the relaxing vibe, live music plays every Friday night featuring some of Brisbane’s talented singers and songwriters.

Hallowed Grounds Espresso’s new opening hours are updated on its Facebook page.

“Had a great experience having brekkie with wife and baby. Friendly staff served us with a smile. Ordered coffee and eggs Benedict in brioche. Both really good. I even ordered a second coffee. The place is very spacious with a back sitting area. We had no trouble finding a place to sit. Can even call in to reserve a spot if you want more certainty. We sat inside near the front so baby can look around at people and watch cars go past outside.”
~ Naveen Warusavithana, Google Reviews

“Congratulation to the extension of this business. Walked in and glad to see the spacious dine-in area. Ordered a flat white and a plain croissant with jam & butter. Needless to say, I took a seat inside (seems the first time to get a chance to sit indoor). Food & beverage came to the table very quick and the coffee is no doubt keeping a consistent standard. Although the croissant is average, it may achieve a higher mark if the service at the counter can be more passionate.”
~ Ronnielui2003, Zomato

“Haven’t been for a while but thought I’d give it a go on the way home. Love the reno & additional seating. Still great coffee and my avo on toast didn’t disappoint. Will be back.”
~ Lisa Cooke, Facebook

East Meets West for Brekky at Little Glass Room Espresso Bar in Mt Gravatt

Do you enjoy a fusion of Asian and Western cuisine for breakfast? If you’re hankering for a different flair, Little Glass Room Espresso Bar in Logan Road, Mt Gravatt is where east meets west and you will not be disappointed about starting your day at this restaurant.

Little Glass Room Espresso Bar opened its doors in the middle of 2019 to offer diners an extensive breakfast, brunch and lunch menu, where they can have both Asian or Western food or a combination of both. The idea was borne out of its owners’ frustration on breakfast food after experiencing a lack of choices from other cafes in Mt Gravatt and the nearby suburbs. The owners, by the way, are behind the community favourite and award-winning Modern Thai restaurant next door.

This foodie spot serves an all-day breakfast menu featuring the classics like eggs benny with homemade sauce or avocado smash. The standout breakfast meal, however, is a delicious bowl of Forbidden Rice (black rice pudding with coconut cream and in-season fruits) that is richly satisfying and gives all the energy you need for the day.

*Photo Credit: Little Glass Room Espresso Bar/Facebook*

On the other hand, lunch selections at this Thai-Western cafe include soft shell crab burgers on brioche buns, delightful stir-fried Thai rice noodles, healthy chicken tom yum and a reliable Pad Thai.

Little Glass Room Espresso Bar has quite an inviting vibe. When you step into the restaurant, you’ll get a sense of calm and peace, which would be perfect if you’d like to enjoy your meals amidst a quiet atmosphere.

Open at 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, except Monday, Little Glass Room Espresso Bar also serves The Cat’s Pyjamas coffee blends from Seven Miles, a selection of tea, lattes, juices, Thai iced coffee, and fresh coconut juice. The establishment is also dog-friendly, with an outdoor deck area for lounging and hanging out.

“We just had brunch here today and would highly recommend this place. It is dog-friendly and we were able to take our foster dog Zoe for her first outing to this cafe. The staff was extremely friendly and very accommodating as we had two kids and a giant dog with us!! It has been a while since I have received such genuine and amazing service. The food was amazing as well!! 5 stars for this place and take your woofstars with you too so they can enjoy an outing as well.”
~ Nameeta Prakash, Facebook

“Great selection and a generous portion of Thai plus little French-influenced food is fab. The deco was good, staff was very attentive and polite. I will definitely return and will proudly recommend to like-minded diners. Enjoy.”
~ WH C, Google Reviews

“Atmosphere and decor are lovely. Staff is excellent very attentive and most professional. But most importantly the food is fantastic kudos to the chef very impressed, clean fresh and dynamic food. We would highly recommend the Little Glass Room. We will return.”
~ Dizzyr32, Trip Advisor

Wishart Community Park in Kavanagh Road to Get an Upgrade

The southern end of the Wishart Community Park in Kavanagh Road will be upgraded with a playground facility, a bike path and a better carpark. Brisbane City Council announced that this project’s concept plan has been finalised after a public consultation in September 2019.

Work on the Wishart Community Park is expected to begin in early 2020 and it is one of 11 park and reserve improvement projects of the Council.

Among the improvements expected at this facility are a rubber path for the playground, sandstone for the block seating and retaining walls, and heaps of shaded trees. The playground itself will have new equipment for multi-play purposes for children from two to 12 years old, such as climbing equipment, cubby house, rockers, swings and spinners. The colours of the equipment will be matched to the natural environment and the adjacent Bulimba Creek.

Council has not announced the expected completion date of the park improvements. However, the community will be updated with more information once work begins.

Wishart Community Park Bikeway

Meanwhile, the construction of the Wishart Community Park bikeway connection near the playground site will begin on the 25th of Nov 2019. The work will continue until February 2020, weather permitting.

The new bike path will be three metres wide and will directly connect the southern end of the Wishart Community Park to the Bulimba Creek Bikeway network. Whilst 10 trees will be uprooted during this construction, Council will be planting 87 trees as a replacement once the bike path is completed.

During the construction phase, parts of the park will be fenced off for the safety of the public. For concerns on this project, locals may phone the project team at 1800 669 416 (during working hours) or the Council on 07 3403 8888 (outside of working hours).

Wishart Community Park covers of 4.4 hectares of the 12 hectares of land set in between Kavanagh Road and Maibry Street at the corridor of Bulimba Creek.

Cinnabon Rolls In Mt Gravatt, 3 Other Brisbane Sites

American bakery chain store Cinnabon, best known for its cinnamon rolls, is opening its first four sites in Brisbane. The Mt Gravatt outlet is reportedly set to begin trading in January 2020 at Westfield Garden City on Kessels Road.

Bansal Group, operated by a Queensland family company, is bringing the franchise Down Under by rolling out its first four outlets in Brisbane’s north, south and west. Aside from Westfield Garden City, Cinnabon Australia stores will also rise at Nundah’s Toombul Shopping Center, Westfield Chermside and Mt Ommaney Centre.

Cinnabon Australia’s Facebook Page confirmed the bakery’s opening in Nundah before Christmas and the Mt Gravatt outlet by January.

Most of these Cinnabon Australia sites will most likely be kiosks vacated by other food outlets. The franchise takes pride in its reputation as a quick-service restaurant that produces fresh baked goods in-house every 30 minutes.

*Photo Credit: Cinnabon Australia/Facebook*

In January 2019, Bansal Group announced that it will be “opening multiple stores in Brisbane” by the end of the year. According to reports, the company quietly posted several job ads online with “multiple positions available” to prepare for its launch.

Bansal Group has massive plans to set up 50 stores across the country for the next five years. Company director Gaurav Bansal said that there is a strong market for the famous cinnamon rolls amidst the deluge of doughnuts and muffin stores in Australia.

TAFE Queensland DesignTech Precinct at Mt Gravatt Officially Opened

Did you know that Stage One of the state-of-the-art TAFE Queensland’s DesignTech Precinct in Mt Gravatt has officially opened?

The $1.5-million fashion design hub was opened by Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman last 10 October 2019. The new DesignTech Precinct, which currently trains 120 students, will help shape the future of fashion in Queensland, Ms Fentiman said.

Photo credit: The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) 1997-2019 / statements.qld.gov.au

“With more than 6,000 fashion, industrial and jewellery designers in Queensland, growing our fashion industry is crucial to the state’s economy and job creation,” she said.

Stage One involved the construction of a new public entry and reception area, refurbishment of a contemporary-style gallery exhibition space, and a fit-out of the garment maintenance and repair room.

Another $15 million will be invested at the Mt Gravatt campus, Ms Fentiman said, including the $5.1 million that will be allocated for the Stage Two of the DesignTech Precinct, which will begin in early 2020.

TAFE Queensland DesignTech Precinct — Photo credit: The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) 1997-2019 / statements.qld.gov.au

“The $15 million investment includes $4.4 million to improve the campus experience including upgrading of the cafeteria, new signage, improved lighting for pedestrian thoroughfares and main car park and the relocation of campus security and installation of CCTV,’’ Ms Fentiman said.

The opening of the new precinct will bring the number of fashion study options at the Mt Gravatt campus to four: the three-year Bachelor of Applied Fashion, the Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising, Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising and the Certificate III in Applied Fashion Design Technology.

“It’s great to see there was an increase of 35% in Certificate III in Applied Fashion Design and Technology enrolments in 2018/19,” Member for Mansfield Corrine McMillan said.

“And Mt Gravatt campus is home to 15 international students undertaking Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising and Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising.”

Two of TAFE Queensland’s notable past students who made a mark in the fashion industry are Lorna Jane Clarkson — creator of activewear for women brand, Lorna Jane — and Bianca Whyte, who is the co-founder and creative director of Whyte Studio label and former design assistant for the Kardashian Collection.

Wishart: Among the Top Brisbane Suburbs for Auction Clearance Rate

Wishart is among the top Brisbane suburbs in terms of auction clearance rate, the latest Domain data crunch revealed.

In its latest report, Domain analysed the number of auctions data in each suburb, as well as the number of properties sold by auction and its correlating clearance rate, over the 12-month period to August 2019.

What the study revealed is that whilst Brisbane is not known as an auction-led city, it has in recent years shown growth in auction activity, particularly in suburbs where buyer demand is high.

Kenmore and WIshart, in particular, turn out to be the top Brisbane suburbs as far as auction clearance rates is concerned with 62 percent — more than double Brisbane’s average of 30 percent during the same period.

Experts say that low turnover and the attraction of Mansfield school catchment to families with school-aged children have pushed the average clearance rate for Wishart upwards, with some properties selling for $200,000 to $300,000 over their reserve.

The same can also be said about Kenmore where buyers see value for money, considering the 10 percent price difference between Kenmore and Chapel Hill. Other suburbs with high clearance rates include Kallangur-60%, Chapel Hill-57%, Chermside West-55%, and Wavell Heights-54%.

The report notes that these suburbs, including Wishart and Kenmore, have low number of auctions. It is therefore important to look at other factors that affect the auction activities on a particular suburb, such as the number of properties listed, how many of these properties were withdrawn, and the number of auctions that were held.

As far as Brisbane suburbs that recorded the largest number of auctions, Camp Hill leads the list with a total of 104 auctions in the 12 months to August 2019. Other auction-heavy suburbs include Sunnybank Hills, Paddington, Calamvale, Wynnum, New Farm, Bardon, and West End.

Free Tour and Open House Showcase Mount Gravatt Cemetery’s 100-Year-Old History

If you want a glimpse of local history from an unusual perspective, Brisbane City Council is arranging a free tour and open house of the Mount Gravatt Cemetery and Crematorium on Saturday, the 12th of Oct 2019.

Tag your friends or family along and join the bus tour to the cemetery and the walking tour to the crematorium from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the said date. The event will cover the interesting history and development of this over 100-year-old Brisbane burial grounds. You will gain access to some private areas during the Open House, such as:

The cremator from the viewing area
The original burial register display
The plaque displays

You’ll also be treated to a family history research demonstration and view an actual burial set-up.

*Photo Credit: Rachid Ghariss/Google Maps*

Mount Gravatt Cemetery and Crematorium is one of the few denominational cemeteries in Brisbane. Respecting various religious, ethnic and cultural beliefs, visitors will get to discover some unique headstones and monument sites on this tour.

Whilst this is for free, courtesy of the Council, you’ll need to book a spot for the special access.

Since 2010, Brisbane City Council has mounted guided tours and open houses to celebrate and showcase significant sites reflecting the best of the city’s architecture, engineering and history. For more info about the walking tours and open house, follow this link.

Tyron Plaza Shopping Centre on Tryon Street, Upper Mount Gravatt Development Application Lodged

A development application to establish a shopping centre on an underutilised site involving the extension and modification of the existing buildings on Tryon Street, Upper Mount Gravatt has been lodged.

The application seeks approval to establish a shopping centre, “Tryon Plaza Shopping Centre,” to be located at 9 Tryon Street, Upper Mount Gravatt and will involve the extension and modification of the two existing buildings and construction of three kiosks at the front of the 7,337sqm site.

9 Tryon St, Upper Mount Gravatt QLD 4122 Australia

The proposed building will have a maximum height of 7.7 metres (two-storeys). The kiosks will comprise three small shops fronting Mt Gravatt Capalaba Road. Other details of the plan include outdoor seating areas, 229sqm office space, 557.7sqm supermarket, and 15-metre high blade signage.

Tyron Plaza Shopping Centre on Tryon Street, Upper Mount Gravatt — *Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / /pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au*

Whilst the proposal does not involve basement parking, 110 car parking spaces will be provided within the open ground car parking areas. Access to the site is via the existing two-way access on Tryon Street on the eastern side and a new access on Palmdale lane on the western boundary.

*Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / /pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au*

The proposal provides for the establishment of a shopping centre on a currently underutilised site and will significantly increase activation to Mt Gravatt Capalaba Road by extending the existing building to within 6m of the road frontage and providing kiosks directly adjoining the road frontage,” the Assessment report by Plan A Town Planning said.

“The proposed development will significantly increase activation to Mt Gravatt Capalaba Road by extending the existing building to within 6m of the road frontage and providing kiosks directly adjoining the road frontage.”