Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 25 of 42

Paddington Parish Requests Rezoning for Planned Retirement Homes

Jubilee Catholic Parish has requested to change the zoning of some of its churches in Paddington, Petrie Terrace, and Rosalie as it plans to upgrade the properties into retirement facilities with potential commercial and retail outlets.

In a statement on their official site, Jubilee Catholic Parish informed their Paddington neighbours that the projects, backed by the Catholic Archdiocese, will see changes in their properties in the next 30 years.

First, the Parish plans to turn the Lavalla Centre on Fernberg Road into the main administrative and spiritual headquarters. The project will entail upgrades that include a community hub and co-working space with catering facilities.

Next, if the rezoning request receives approval, the old St Bernards Church at 189-195 Kennedy Terrace in Paddington and the St Thomas More Church at 7–9 Chapel St in Petrie Terrace could become retirement villages with four-storey buildings.

“Many facilities are ageing, there are significant costs associated with maintaining our heritage buildings and the needs of the Parish and congregation are changing, as is our local community,” the Parish stated.

“In response to this, we are seeking to update the planning controls which apply to land in the Sacred Heart Church, Old St Bernards Church in Paddington and St Thomas More Church in Petrie Terrace to allow for their upgrade and redevelopment over time. This will support the sustainability of our Parish and to allow us to continue our pastoral presence in the area.”

However, concerned residents lodged a petition with the Council objecting to the four-storey development on the old St Bernards site, citing that if Jubilee Catholic Parish receives rezoning approval and proceeds with the development then the site will:

significantly impact the character of the neighbourhood
damage the streetscape, heritage and environment.
dramatically increase traffic and parking issues in the area.
stop all community use of the two church halls and current facilities

Currently, the Dansing Performing Arts school is leasing the St Bernards property.

Meanwhile, the Parish is also conducting meetings with the community to discuss their plans. Before submitting the development applications, the Parish said that they would like to hear feedback from the community and provided a survey form. Locals may also email the Parish’s projects team at qldengagement@ethosurban.com for enquiries.

Yums! American-Style Chicken Restaurant to Open in Paddington

Did you know that Paddington will soon have an American-style chicken restaurant that specialises in burgers, wings and shakes? Rosalie Village, keep an eye out for Yums!

From the creative and inspired mind of restaurateur Alison Reid, Yums! Burgers, Wings, Fries and Shakes offers Australia a delicious selection of American-style chicken-based dishes such as burgers, wings, and fried chicken topped off with some thick and creamy shakes.

Now, less than a year after the restaurant’s first launch in Woolloongabba in November 2021, Yums! is readying itself to open a second branch in Rosalie Village, the perfect location as an established food hub in the Paddington area.

The Yums! menu offers a variety of chicken dishes, however the one the restaurant takes the most pride in is their signature Butterbun Chicken Burger — a special burger that makes use of their original Butterbun, a soft and delicious potato-based bun which sandwiches crispy buttermilk chicken with pickles and American cheddar cheese.

Butterbun Chicken Burgers aren’t the only dish available at the upcoming American-style restaurant, however, as they also offer chicken wings and chicken tenders. Their wings in particular come with a variety of sauces that customers can choose from such as buffalo, barbeque, sweet and spicy, lemon pepper, and crispy southern — which is available in both original and spicy.

Lastly, the restaurant boasts a selection of signature shakes, which have been aptly dubbed Yums! Thickshakes. These tall, thick and creamy milkshakes are available in flavours like Hershey’s chocolate, peanut butter, malt, and Biscoff, as well as some of the more classic flavours such as strawberry, caramel, vanilla and Oreo.

Ms Reid intends on following an aggressive growth strategy with hopes to open up at least 100 new restaurants across Australia over the next 15 years, before moving on to the international scene. Their plans for the near future include launching four to six more locations in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast.

Yums! will open in Rosalie Village, Paddington on the 19th of June 2021. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements concerning the restaurant.

Popular Red Hill Wine Cellar Clovely Estate Closes After 13 Years

After 13 years of operation in Red Hill, beloved wine cellar Clovely Estate has closed due to a dispute with their landlord. Brett Heading and Susan Mercer will be reopening at a new venue in Goomeri, South Burnett.

Though Red Hill will have to say goodbye to one of its viticultural landmarks, Mr Heading remarked that this was a new opportunity for the business. Tourism has been booming in South Burnett as of late. The fact that the cellar receives its award-winning wine from around that region as well means that it will be easier for them to centralise their business.

Plans have been drafted by the duo to transform their new venue, a 110-year-old building in Moore St, Goomeri, into a hotspot that contains a restaurant, a cafe, a cellar door, and possibly even a gin distillery. This time around, Clovely Estate intends to focus on providing food and hospitality to accompany the wine that they serve.

The building will be redesigned and renovated by the acclaimed Conrad Gargett architect David Gole, whose new design will focus on creating an atmosphere and aesthetic that will cater to and hook locals, tourists, and those interested in hosting events.

Heading and Mercer have expressed their hopes that the new Clovely Estate in South Burnett will be open to the public by October 2021.

Chapter IV: A Paddington Brunch Crowd Favourite

In the mood for a generous plate of waffles or a leisurely brunch to catch up with friends? Dining at Chapter IV, one of the most popular all-day breakfast restaurants in Paddington, is always a treat.

Chapter IV takes great pride in its all-day menu, serving up classic breakfast and brunch comfort food ranging from eggs benedict to stacks of waffles — the latter a restaurant speciality that’s very much in demand among regular customers.

Their Maple Waffle Stack consists of a generous serving of waffles stacked atop one another, partnered with smokey bacon ice cream, ranch dressing, American cheese, crispy chicken skin, and bacon bits.

Those craving for something a little more familiar can also order Chapter IV’s classic Big Breakfast. That’s two free-range eggs prepared their way, served alongside lamb and rosemary sausages, maple-cured bacon, sauteed broccolini, herb-roasted roma tomato, roasted field mushrooms, a hash brown, and house-made tomato relish and sourdough toast.

The restaurant has much more to offer than delicious meals and brunch options. They have a wide selection of hot and cold beverages to complement each meal.

Coffee and tea lovers will love the drink menu which contains a variety of blends and brews such as white coffee, black coffee, chai masala, and an assortment of teas including English breakfast and forest berry.

For those looking for something sweeter, they also have pressed fruit juices, kombucha, and ginger beer. Soft drinks and lemonade are also available. Chapter IV also has milkshakes, which come in vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, caramel, and many other flavours.

Chapter IV can be found at 180 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on meals, deals, dates, and other special announcements concerning the restaurant.

Beach Chairs and BBQ at Popular Petrie Terrace Bar “The Rockket Room”

Craving for a retro, outdoor drinking experience? The Rockket Room along Caxton St in Petrie Terrace offers a cool and laid back atmosphere topped off with beach chairs, BBQ, and beer.

Offering a selection of liquor ranging from beer on tap to some exciting cocktails is The Rockket Room — one of the most popular hangout hotspots in Petrie Terrace. The bar occasionally hosts nights with live music and other special events. For instance, customers interested in watching sports matches for games such as rugby live can do so on select nights — sharing the experience with other bar goers, drinking and celebrating with one another when their respective team wins.

Photo credit: Instagram/The Rockket Room

Other events also include trivia night, which encourages patrons to put on their thinking caps and bring their ‘A’ game.

However, its primary selling point is its atmosphere: an astroturf garden with white fence props, fold-out beach chairs and patio furniture, along with the scent of barbeque on the grill and pizza in the oven. Customers can also indulge themselves with some orders of pizza, all priced under $20.

On the other hand, those who wish to listen to live music in a cool outdoor space can look no further. Local artists and bands periodically set up on select dates and play their songs for the bar’s patrons.

Those on a tight budget, or those simply eager to drink copious amounts of liquor with their friends can rejoice, for the Rockket Room offers a happy hour promotion between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. where customers can purchase drinks for only half the price.

The Rockket Room can be found at 2 Caxton St, Petrie Terrace, open Wednesday to Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. For more information, and for the latest updates and announcements concerning the bar, follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

Why Did a Popular Kelvin Grove Asian Supermarket Close?

Patrons of a popular Asian supermarket in Kelvin Grove have lost their go-to shop for tofu and instant noodles following the closure of Universal Asian Supermarket on Musk Avenue.

Located within the Universal Plaza, the store was a frequent stop for international students from the nearby QUT Kelvin Grove campus. Sales have apparently dropped due to the pandemic lockdown and travel restrictions that saw a decrease in the number of foreign students living in the area.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics cited that the arrival of foreign students in the country dropped to an astounding 99 percent in January 2021 compared to January 2020 since borders were completely shut down.

Thus, in early April 2021, the Kelvin Grove Asian supermarket permanently closed its doors. The South Bank outlet followed a few weeks later, citing the impact of COVID-19.

Concerned locals, however, left a sign on the door of the Kelvin Grove store indicating that, aside from the economic impact of COVID-19, the owner had a dispute with his landlord and also failed to address customer complaints about the loyalty system.

The owner of the supermarket has yet to address the allegations. The store’s official website is still live with a simple message saying that it will be back.

According to a retail expert, Universal Asian Supermarket had the best location in the QUT precinct and it specifically catered to a niche market. However, since the number of Asian students is down to zero, it’s not surprising that the business had to close.

This also highlights how some niche markets are vulnerable to the changing economy brought on by the pandemic. Businesses around universities, which used to benefit from a lot of foot traffic, are currently challenged by the pandemic restrictions.

Noir: Wine Bar With No Wine List to Open in Paddington

Did you know that a new bistro bar is taking shape at Given Terrace in Paddington? Set to take over the former site of the fashion store Maiocchi is Noir, an intimate, dimly lit wine bar that will NOT offer customers any wine list.

Curious? Then watch out for the opening of Noir as owners Eli Rami and Sam Holman plan to welcome wine lovers in their multi-level bistro bar in May 2021.

Noir, located at a heritage-listed building, will have the bar on the ground level, whilst the second level has an outdoor dining space and a seating section where mood songs will be played on vinyl. The lower level is for private dining events, which will be next to the temperature-controlled wine cellar.

If the owners’ names sound familiar, it’s because Eli and Sam are also behind Blackout cafe, which opened in Paddington in 2019. They are also the pair who established The Black Lab roasters and The New Black in Fortitude Valley.

Noir, which means “black” in French, is their newest baby and was actually borne whilst they were preparing the fit-out for Blackout a few years ago. Back then, people kept asking if they were opening a wine bar. After earning a good following of cafe regulars from Blackout, the pair then set out to actually open what Paddington locals have been looking for.

But Noir is going to be a different wine bar with some 20 seasonal labels for customers. Because they plan to keep changing the selection, it would be pointless to print a wine list.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Noir – Paddington Wine Bar (@noir.paddington)

Instead, the staff at Noir will help patrons pick out their wine after discussing their tastes and preference. The bistro bar will also serve platters of food to go with the wine.

If everything goes according to plan, Noir will be open from Thursday to Saturday between 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and could potentially trade on Sundays as well. Follow their Instagram page for updates and announcements.

The Popular Sweethearts Cupcakes Offers Delectable Pastries To Paddington

Sweethearts Cupcakes offers Paddington a series of beautiful and delectable custom-made pastries such as cakes, cupcakes, and sugar cookies fit for just about any occasion.

Providing the Paddington community a series of sweet and delectable pastries is Sweethearts Cupcakes, which opened in early 2020 and persevered despite the pandemic. The shop was founded by Jo James, who’s dreamed of opening a cake shop since she was young after flipping through her mum’s cookbooks and pondering over what she could make.

Jo James and one of the cakes available for order at the shop.
Photo credit: Instagram/Sweethearts Cupcakes

Jo offers cakes, cupcakes and biscuits for just about any occasion, whether it be a birthday, a baby shower, a wedding, or a corporate event, with each cake customised and specially made to meet specific requirements. Those with certain dietary restrictions can request for special vegan and gluten-free options.

Customers interested in ordering cupcakes from Sweethearts Cupcakes can do so via this form, with costs varying depending on the cupcakes ordered. Sugar cookies are also available, priced at $4 each.

Orders for both pastries start at a minimum of 12, with a delivery fee of $15. Special requests for the printing of company logos or decorations that require printing will need to be ordered at least one week in advance.

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Raspberry Icing, one of the many pastries available at the shop.
Photo credit: Sweethearts Cupcakes

Sweethearts Cupcakes can be found at 153 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. onwards with the exception of Saturday, in which the shop opens at 9:00 a.m. For more information, visit their website. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on deals and other special announcements.

The Old Substation in Paddington to Get Funding for Repairs

The heritage-listed Old Substation in Paddington will receive $1.5 million from the Federal Government for maintenance, repairs and refurbishment, as part of the $40.7-million funding for various infrastructure projects around Brisbane.

The Old Substation is one of 41 other sites that will be refurbished in the coming months. The projects will also cover parkland developments, community centre upgrades, roadwork projects and accessibility improvements.

Council has yet to determine when the repair work will start.

Built as an electrical substation in the 1930s, Paddington’s Old Substation was operational for more than 30 years. By the 1980s, it became the home of Hands On Art, an initiative that offers art programs and classes, exhibits and performances, markets and other events to support the suburb’s thriving creative community.

The art hub is still open even today and continues to deliver services to the community. However, as the building has aged, safety issues have become a primary concern for the locals that frequent the Old Substation.

“Grants like this provide a much-needed economic boost to our city, which is so important as we band together to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said. “These local projects put money into the pockets of local suppliers and residents, with the projects to support an additional 320 jobs throughout 2021.”

The Old Substation was entered into the Queensland Heritage Listing in 1993 as a significant, historical site that contributed to the progress and development of Brisbane and the inner west. Constructed of bricks and steel, the substation was the seventh in the network of tramways in Brisbane and was designed to assist the Petrie Terrace substation.

Your Feedback Needed for More Improvements at Paddington Terraces

More improvements for the Paddington Terraces Village Precinct Project (Paddington Terraces VPP) are in the works after an additional $250,000 commitment from the Council. In line with this project to create a more liveable neighbourhood, residents are encouraged to share their feedback on this public space through an online survey prepared by the Brisbane City Council.

The survey, which takes just five minutes to answer, will remain open online until Friday, 9 April 2021. Locals may also give their inputs on how to make the new village precinct distinct, inviting and useful for all the residents and visitors by phoning Council at 07 3403 8888 or emailing the project team at VPP@brisbane.qld.gov.au for comments and suggestions.

The Paddington Terraces VPP is a collaboration involving the Council, the local Paddington 4064 business group and the Federal Government.

In 2020, the revitalisation paved the way for the opening of The Terraces Night Markets at Given and Latrobe Terraces from Castlemaine Street to Collingwood Street. This initiative delivered the following key features:

warm-white energy-efficient LED bud lighting to street trees along Given and Latrobe terraces
creative murals to three building facades celebrating the centre’s history and character
gobo artwork projections by local gallery artists onto the landmark heritage Paddington Antique Centre and Paddington Substation building facades
illuminated ‘Welcome to the Terraces’ character signage with heritage trail map providing a warm gateway into the neighbourhood centre

After this latest community engagement, Council will study the feedback and deliver the opportunities proposal in the form of posters around Paddington Terraces. Ideas for improvements usually centre on the Paddington’s character, heritage, artisan and boutique stores and local village community vibe.

Council will also prepare for the installation and construction of the next phase of improvements, which is scheduled to begin in late 2021.

If the project goes without any hitches, Paddington Terraces VPP will be ready for the locals to enjoy by the end of 2021.