Leafy suburb Auchenflower is home to some of Brisbane’s popular restaurants, bars, and the heritage-listed — “Moorlands.” Auchenflower has also earned the distinction as one of the most resilient suburbs in Brisbane which recorded phenomenal house price growth from 2008 – 2018, according to the latest report.
Auchenflower posted a house price growth of 73.5 percent for a 2018 median house price of $1,145,000 from $660,000 in 2008, according to the latest report from Domain Group.
There were 77 houses sold from 1 Feb 2018 – 1 Feb 2019, bringing the median house price in Auchenflower to $1,065,000, which is up by $303,500 from its 2010 level and is more than double the Queensland median house price of $490,000, data from realestate.com.au says.
Aside from Auchenflower, a number of other Brisbane suburbs also managed to stay afloat despite the challenges that came and went between the period of 2008 to 2018. Several of these suburbs performed exceptionally well and recorded outstanding house price growth, according to the latest report from Domain Group.
New Farm was the top suburb for house median price growth with an increase of 76.2 percent, from $900,000 in 2008 to $1.586 million by the end 2018. Joining New Farm are Bulimba (74.1%), Auchenflower (73.5%), Wishart (65.1%), Hendra (63.3%), Grange (63.2%), Hawthorne (62.5%), Sunnybank (62.4%), Camp Hill (59.8%), and St Lucia (58.0%).
Other suburbs which posted strong price growths from 2008-2018 are Alderley (56.9%), Norman Park (55.7%), Upper Mount Gravatt (54.7%), Paddington (52.4%), Kuraby (52.4%), Tarragindi (52.3%), Mansfield (52.2%), Greenslopes (51.7%).
Property experts attribute these exceptional growths to several factors such as pleasant amenities, good schools, urban renewal, open spaces and sporting facilities, and the quality of housing and renovations.
Fans of Studio Ghibli, new and old, have something to happy about as the Elizabeth Picture Theatre in Brisbane CBD will be screening some of the most celebrated films from the Japanese animation studio.
From 21 February until 12 May 2019, the Elizabeth will show Studio Ghibli movies Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons.
This is not the first time that the Elizabeth is hosting a film fest dedicated to the much-celebrated animation house. Its Ghibli festival last year was such a hit that the cinema is bringing it back this year.
The festival will also include the first animated feature created by Studio Ponoc, which was founded by former Studio Ghibli lead film producer, Yoshiaki Nishimura.
If you haven’t seen all the Ghibli films, this is an opportune time to catch up. All tickets at $12.
Schedule:
21 February
6:00 p.m.
24 February
4:00 p.m.
9 May
6:00 p.m.
12 May
4:00 p.m.
Spirited Away
Ten-year-old Chihiro and her parents unknowingly came upon a magical world. When Chihiro’s parents started feasting on the food at an empty restaurant stall, they turned into pigs.
Now, Chihiro has to find a way to bring back her parents, before she forgets her name and be forever trapped in the spirit world.
Teenage witch Kiki leaves home as part of her mandatory year of independent life. Accompanied by a talking black cat named Jiji, the trainee witch uses her flying ability to set up a delivery service. She wakes up one day realising that she can no longer fly and not able to talk to her cat.
Running time: 103 mins
Rated TBC
7 March
6:00 p.m.
10 March
4:00 p.m.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower
This 2017 Japanese animated fantasy film produced by Studio Ponoc tells the story of Mary Smith who finds a mysterious flower that can give her the power to become a witch for a night.
This is Studio Ponoc’s first feature film.
Japanese version (subtitled)
Running time: 103 mins
Rated CTC
14 March
6:00 p.m.
17 March
4:00 p.m.
Princess Mononoke
Set in the late Muromachi period, the story follows the young Emishi prince Ashitaka’s involvement in a struggle between the gods of a forest and the humans who consume its resources.
Running time: 134 mins
Rated M (Moderate animated violence)
21 March
6:00 p.m.
17 March
4:00 p.m.
My Neighbor Totoro
When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wonderous forest spirits who live nearby.
Running time: 86 mins
Rated TBC
28 March
6:00 p.m.
31 March
4:00 p.m.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky
The film follows the adventures of a young boy and a girl who try to keep a magic crystal from falling into the hands of a group of military agents. They search for a legendary floating castle promising enormous wealth and power to those who can unlock its secrets.
The movie has been regarded as a milestone in the steampunk genre, influencing Japanese pop culture and inspiring many films, media and games in Japan and beyond.
Running time: 124 mins
Rated G
4 April
6:00 p.m.
7 April
4:00 p.m.
Grave of the Fireflies
The film follows the story of siblings, Seta and Setsuko, as they struggle to survive during World War II in Japan.
Running time: 89 mins
Rated TBC
11 April
6:00 p.m.
14 April
4:00 p.m.
Howl’s Moving Castle
Set in a kingdom where both magic and early 20th-century technology exist, the film follows the story of young Sophie after she is turned into an old woman by a witch’s curse. She encounters a wizard named Howl, and gets caught up in his resistance to fighting for the king.
Running time: 115 mins
Rated PG
25 April
6:00 p.m.
25 April
4:00 p.m.
Whisper of the Heart
Shizuku is a bookworm keen on becoming a writer. One night, she notices that all of her library books have all been checked out previously by a certain Seiji Amasawa. She eventually meets Seiji and a love story between the two develops.
Running time: 111 mins
Rated PG
2 May
6:00 p.m.
5 May
4:00 p.m.
When Marnie Was There
Anna Sasaki is sent to the country for health reasons. There, she meets a mysterious girl named Marnie. As their friendship unravels, Anna learns the truth about her family and foster care.
Japanese version (subtitled)
Running time: 103 min
Rated PG
Calling all vintage and recycled fashion wear enthusiasts and bargain hunters; the 2019 edition of BBCGS is happening this 23rd of February and then again on 23rd of March at Bizzell’s Garage on Latrobe Terrace.
A great array of recycled vintage and preloved items from famous brands will be on sale to keep you busy browsing such as Ralph Lauren, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas, The North Face, Champion, Lacoste, FILA, Wrangler, Hugo Boss, and Guess, to name a few.
If that’s not enough, they will also be throwing in a good mix of decorative pieces, records, DVDs, CDs, jewelry, and succulents. Prices range from $1 to $100+, which of course depends on the rarity, brand, and condition of the item.
So save either dates, or better yet, come to both events. The Brisbane’s Biggest Clothing Garage Sale event at Bizzell’s Garage 93 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington is on 23 February and 23 March 2019.
Lil J’s Vintage, formerly known as Ralphy Baby, started out as a blog documenting hard-to-find Ralph Lauren clothing items. Lil J’s Vintage owner Jacqueline Cowan transformed a hobby into a full-fledged online store with monthly pop-up stores and markets happening around Brisbane focusing on affordable and rare streetwear garments.
Paddington had the most average views per property listing than any other suburb in Brisbane, making it the most in-demand suburb for houses in 2018, according to the latest report from realestate.com.au.
With an average of 4,884 views per property listing in 2018, Paddington claims the top spot as Brisbane’s most in-demand suburb as Indooroopilly and Windsor trail behind with 4,648 and 4,486, respectively.
Paddington has also recorded a remarkable price growth over the past 12 months, ending 2018 with a median house price of $1,150,000 from $1,000,000 a year before. CoreLogic’s Propertyvalue.com.aualso shows similar median price change for Paddington with a 15 percent increase in the last 12 months — higher than the national average median price change of 4.30 percent — for a median sale price of $1,200,000.
Paddington houses are also selling fast, ten days faster than the Greater Brisbane average, in fact, at 26 days median time on market. A total of 178 houses have been sold from 1 February 2018 to 1 February 2019.
Rounding out the top 10 most in-demand suburbs are Coorparoo, Red Hill, Toowong, Wilston, Newmarket, Holland Park, and Chandler.
Brisbane dwellings’ price growth over the past 12 months was almost flat, with a median price of $490,000 or a price change of 0.1 percent year-on-year and -0.2 percent quarter-on-quarter. Houses median price was up 0.3 percent year-on-year whilst unit median price was down with a -0.5 percent change, according to the Australian Property Market Report – January 2019. Brisbane inner city was the best performer among metro regions with a price change of 2.0 percent year-on-year.
At first sight, several buildings and places around Rosalie may seem ordinary, but historical trails such as the Rosalie Heritage Trail will reveal rich stories of the past, all worth revisiting.
The Rosalie Heritage Trail is a 2.1 kilometre-trail that may take a full-hour walk to explore.
Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland
First Stops on Nash Street
Begin your walk on the Rosalie Heritage Trail at the corner of Baroona Road and Nash Street. A commemorative plaque set on this site will tell you that Rosalie had three incidences of the worst flooding — in 1893, 1974 and 2011 — that burdened the village.
Since Rosalie is geographically low-lying, torrential rains expectedly bring some risks. However, amid the damages and the muddy ground, this force of nature will never dampen the spirit of the community as neighbours help clean up Rose Village each and every time.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Rae Allen
Walk further to Nash Street and visit the Rosalie School of Arts and Commemorative Hall. Opening in 1928, this historic landmark is a memorial to the heroes of World War I. Then, head next door to the Beverly Theatre, the site of the first outdoor movie establishment. Today, however, this area is filled with choice dining places.
Then walk across the other side of Nash Street to find a building with a red roof. This used to be the Tram Shelter No. 6, which was built during the Great Depression and stopped operations when buses came to Paddington in the 1960s.
Crossing Elizabeth Street and Given Terrace
From Nash Street, cross Elizabeth Street, where you’ll find the site of The Little Citizen’s Free Kindergarten, one of the first kindies in Brisbane, which was built in 1935. Today, it’s the C & K Rosalie Community Kindergarten and Preschool.
Turn right when you reach the intersection on Fernberg Road to spot the Marist Brothers Monastery. Walk across the trail to the Given Terrace and you won’t miss the Sacred Heart Church. Restored as a brick building from a modest wood building in 1918, this Catholic institution remains a vital presence in the community.
Photo Credit: Google Plus/Rogerova Cesta
About 100 metres away is the Our Lady of Help Christian Convent, which was built in 1919 for the Sisters of Mercy. Five nuns from the congregation arrived in Brisbane during this period to educate Brisbane children at the nearby Sacred Heart School.
More on Fernberg and Haig Road
Retrace your steps from Given Terrace and back to Fernberg Road to find Lucerne. This gorgeous detached house is one of the oldest private residences in Brisbane. Built by the bricklayer James Young around 1862, a part of Lucerne today is a bed and breakfast place.
Continue on Fernberg Road and walk along the beautiful stone kerbs and garden beds. These were built to beautify Brisbane for Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 1954.
Past the Fernberg planting boxes, cross Baroona Road and you’ll get to the former site of the Milton Congregational Church at the corner of Baroona and Haig Road. Opened in 1887, it was one of the earliest churches in the district. The church was demolished sometime in the 1960s.
Proceed along Haig Road to Gregory Park, named after Queensland’s Surveyor General and one of Australia’s most influential explorers, Sir Augustus Charles Gregory. Gregory Park has ample green space, tennis courts and other sporting facilities, picnic areas, and shaded playgrounds. It’s hard to believe that this used to be marshland.
Walk further along Haig Road and you’ll be in the site of the once premier international tennis centre in Queensland, the Milton Tennis Centre. Since hosting its first Davis Cup match in 1952, the tennis centre managed to host more Davis Cup matches than any other city in Australia. Today, the site is called Frew Park, named after Robert Frew, who was lovingly named as the ‘father of Queensland tennis.’
Bird’s eyeview of Frew Park, former site of the once famous Milton Tennis Centre. (Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council)
There are also other interesting sites worth checking out as you go done memory lane on the Rosalie Heritage Trail. These include the Glenworth villa, the Boondah timbre house, and the Baroona, which is one of Rosalie’s oldest houses, and the Fernberg, Government House.
While some of the sites along the trail are private properties and inaccessible to the public, walking through this trail can give you a glimpse of the rich history of Rosalie.
Has the time come to bring “big boot”, the former Boots Camping marker, back to Paddington?
Suggestions to bring the iconic boot back to Paddington surfaced when the property where it currently stands recently went up for sale. With the Boots Camping no longer operating at the site, historical societies believe that it’s time to bring the “big boot” back to its roots. It made sense, they say, to return it to Paddington because of its historical connection with the suburb. A community skating park now stands at the former big boot site.
Whilst the Council already took the initial steps to bring the boot back to Paddington, after considering the cost of relocating “big boot”, however, it was deemed that the proposal was not a viable option at this time.
Former site of “big boot” in Caxton St | Paddington, Queensland
The five-metre fiberglass boot first stood on the roof of Spaghetti Emporium restaurant at the corner of Caxton and Hale streets, in 1976. The marker was a tip of the hat to the former boot and footwear factory — the Morris Boot Factory, that was built in 1930 and eventually closed after four decades. Apart from the fiberglass boot, the Spaghetti Emporium also served beverages in boot-shaped glasses.
Controversy hounded the establishment after rumours of empty dog food tins being found in the industrial bins by food and hygiene inspectors, circulated. The building later became the Brisbane Underground nightclub after the restaurant closed in 1979. In 1990, the building was demolished to give way to the Hale Street city bypass and “big boot” was moved to Chermside at the corner of Gympie and Rode Roads.
Watching the latest blockbuster movie whilst comfortably seated and enjoying a tasty meal, sweet treats, and cocktail. Sounds like a perfect movie date at the comfort of your home, right? Well, it’s the Blue Room Cinebar movie experience, actually and you can have it right here in Paddington .
Blue Room Cinebar Paddington is your best alternative to super-sized crowded cinemas and it has a lot more to offer than just the latest flick and state-of-the-art facilities. This locally-owned boutique cinema offers a luxurious movie experience and great service albeit reasonably priced.
The state-of the-art cinema has five screens, equipped with semi-reclining seats, foot rests, and seating capacity ranging from 24-60 patrons. Blue Room Cinebar shows the latest movie releases and indies. Yet, the intimate and comfortable viewing is just half of the experience.
You also get to enjoy meals and drinks whilst watching and not having to leave your seat. Food and drinks (yes, they are licensed to offer liquor too!) should be ordered and paid for before you enter the screening room. Popcorn, of course, is also available along with coffee, loose leaf tea, and sweet treats like mary poppins sundae, muffin, and brownie.
Mains and Handmade Pizza options include: Fish & Chips (battered flathead, salad, fries with lemon wedge and roasted garlic mayo), Asian Platter (ample plate with duck and vegetarian spring rolls, chicken dumplings, vegetable gyoza and asian salad with sweet chilli/soy fusion); Meat Me In St. Louis Pizza (bbq sugo base, pepperoni, ham, streaky bacon, beef, roast chicken, and mozzarella); and Cheesy Rider PIzza (pizza base, with a blend of 3 house cheeses and garlic butter).
If you haven’t been at Blue Room Cinebar or want to treat a visiting friend to a movie, then go ahead and book your tickets now, because some screening sessions can sell out fast due to limited seating.
The Brisbane vintage market scene is alive and thriving as ever, and Paddington is home is to many of these antiques and vintage shopping destinations. These antique shops and emporiums offer rare, quality vintage furniture, retro fashion, and collectables.
Empire Revival
Located at the former Plaza Theatre, Empire Revival — formerly known as Paddington Antique Centre — has been operating since 1985. Australia’s granddaddy of antique stores is truly a treasure hunter’s paradise, where one can discover a wide range of vintage items, thanks to its more than 50 dealers providing quality and interesting finds.
Photo Credit: Empire Revival / Facebook
Photo Credit: Empire Revival / Facebook
With the recent rebranding comes the expansion of Empire Revival’s range of offerings which now include contemporary furniture, homewares, and jewellery which may be new, recycled, or pre-loved.
Photo Credit: Empire Revival / Facebook
Photo Credit: Empire Revival / Facebook
Empire Revival | 167 Latrobe Tce, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Photo Credit: Empire Revival / Facebook
Empire Revival opens daily from 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Retro Metro
A heaven for shoppers hunting for retro fashion clothing for men and women. Retro Metro is where to find a great mix of authentic vintage clothes from the roaring ‘20s to the fabulous ‘80s, and even new retro-style clothes.
Photo Credit: Retro Metro Paddington / Facebook
Photo Credit: Retro Metro Paddington / Facebook
Photo Credit: Retro Metro Paddington / Facebook
Photo Credit: Retro Metro Paddington / Facebook
Avid collectors will also be thrilled to find here a variety of vintage furniture, gadgets, accessories, and knick-knacks.
Photo Credit: Retro Metro Paddington / Facebook
Photo Credit: Retro Metro Paddington / Facebook
Retro Metro Paddington | 297 Given Terrace Paddington, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
A perfect place to cool down this summer, the Ithaca Swimming Pool in Paddington offers facilities for your recreational swimming or exercise.
Photo Credit: Ithaca Pool / ithacapool.com.au
Located just opposite Suncorp Stadium, Ithaca Swimming Pool is open every 1st September and goes into May of the following year. The pool facilities include a 25-metre heated outdoor pool with salt water, six lanes, disabled ramp, and a shallow end.
Photo Credit: Ithaca Pool / ithacapool.com.au
Whilst there is a lot of spots to relax and bask in the sun, you’ll also find shady and grassy areas where you can sit down and have a few chats with your family or friends after a swim. There are plenty of swimming, squad training, and group fitness classes available for adults and children to enjoy.
Photo Credit: Ithaca Pool / ithacapool.com.au
Also, there’s a barbecue area and food kiosk available, in case you need to grab something to eat. Ithaca Swimming Pool is open 5:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Friday; 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday – Sunday; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on public holidays. The pool is closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Anzac Day.
Photo Credit: Ithaca Pool / ithacapool.com.au
Entry fees:
Adult (15 years and over): $5.70
Child (2-14 years): $4.10
Child (under 2 years): free
Concession: $4.70
Family pass (1 adult and 2 children): $12.10
Additional adult: $5.10
Additional child: $3.60
Authorised Companion: free
Multi-visit passes:
10-pass adult: $52.00
20-pass adult: $95.00
Season pass adult (member): $355
Season pass adult (non-member): $395
Season pass child (member): free
Season pass child (non-member): $200
Two-hour-limit car parking is available at Dowse Street (off road) and Caxton Street from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., on-street parking on Caroline, Chrystal and Moreton Streets (parking limited apply).
Paddington is gearing up for an even better housing market in 2019 as strong market demands continue to increase property prices in the suburb.
A recent REIQ report on the latest housing market statistics showed Paddington’s median house price to be amongst the highest in Brisbane at $1,150,000. This shows a 14.7% increase over the last 12 months and 49.5% over the last 5 years. In the 2nd quarter of 2018, there were 32 homes sold in the suburb.
According to property experts, Paddington continues to attract both younger and older buyers due to its affordability as well as its proximity to the city.
Moreover, the suburb also saw a surge of overseas buyers looking for properties with the best rates.
Apart from the affordability of homes, experts have also cited three main factors that lead to better price growth. These are the availability of good retailing, good schools, and good public transport.
Currently, Paddington’s high demand market gets 1,223 property visits per month. This is relatively higher than the average demand in Queensland which is 385 visits per property.
These figures show that the suburb will indeed have a promising market property in the next year.
Aside from Paddington, other Brisbane suburbs to watch out for are Chandler, Indooroopilly, Graceville, and Kippa-Ring.
