QUT Kelvin Grove Archives - Paddington Today

Urban Village Decline in Kelvin Grove Raises Concerns for Traders and Residents

Kelvin Grove’s urban village is experiencing a downturn, with shop closures, rising vacancies, and reduced student numbers affecting local traders and the broader community.

Background and Development of Kelvin Grove Urban Village

Kelvin Grove’s urban village was established in 2003 as part of the redevelopment of the former Gona Barracks site. The project aimed to deliver affordable housing, educational facilities, and a mixed-use precinct. It included the QUT campus expansion, the Roundhouse Theatre, and a combination of residential and commercial properties, and was recognised with planning and design awards.

Falling Foot Traffic and Business Challenges

The village’s commercial viability has long depended on international students attending the nearby QUT campus. A fall in student numbers, influenced by higher visa fees and stricter migration policies, has led to reduced spending and lower foot traffic.

Businesses such as Domino’s and DannyBoys, which had been fixtures in the precinct, have closed. Vacant shopfronts are now common across Musk Avenue, Blamey Street, and Carraway Street. Traders have reported that higher rents and limited discretionary spending by students have contributed to business closures.

Expert Insights and Structural Factors

Planning experts have pointed to structural challenges within Kelvin Grove’s urban village. The precinct lacks the population density or major attractions that support foot traffic in older urban villages such as those in Sydney and Melbourne. Without a significant drawcard or substantial parking, maintaining commercial viability has proven difficult. The design focused on serving the immediate local population, which has come under pressure as economic conditions have changed.

Kelvin Grove property — Photo Credit: Google Maps

Community Sentiment and Social Concerns

Residents have raised concerns about rising crime and antisocial behaviour in the village. Reports have included thefts, break-ins, discarded syringes, and overnight disturbances near local businesses.

Data shows that crime rates in the central hub are higher than in surrounding streets. While the Saturday markets continue to draw some visitors, weekday activity has decreased significantly.

Property Trends and Future Outlook

Despite challenges, unit prices in Kelvin Grove have increased, with investors drawn by anticipated infrastructure developments linked to Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics. Local agents noted that commercial space in the area is tightly held and often leased quickly when available.

Experts have indicated that the future viability of the precinct may depend on reducing its reliance on student populations and introducing broader attractors or improved access to support foot traffic.

Published 4-July-2025

Residents Seek Reduced Speed Limit on Kelvin Grove Road

A concerned local resident has launched an online petition calling for a reduction in the speed limit along a dangerous stretch of Kelvin Grove Road.

Read: Kelvin Grove Teenager Henry Coward Launches Toll Cashback Program to Help Motorists Save on Toll Costs, Promote Local Businesses

The e-petition, which has garnered significant local support, aims to lower the current limit to 40 km/h between Herston Road and the Normanby 5-way intersection.

The push for this change comes on the heels of a tragic incident in January 2024, when 32-year-old QUT PhD student Arjun Srinivas lost his life in a traffic accident whilst crossing the road at the intersection of Musk Avenue and Kelvin Grove Rd.

This intersection, which serves as the main entry point to the QUT Kelvin Grove campus, is a high-traffic area not only for the university, but also for two local schools and the Kelvin Grove urban village.

Concerned resident and petition organiser, Caroline Gardam, expressed the community’s frustration with the “poor design of this road corridor” and the “de-prioritisation of pedestrian safety and amenity” that has been an ongoing issue for years.

“Research shows the lower the speed limit, the higher the chance of pedestrian survival,” Ms Gardam stated.

In addition to the speed limit reduction, the petition also calls for the review of other dangerous intersections and road corridors in residential and high-pedestrian areas across the state, as well as the consideration of other safety measures such as speed cameras, speed breakers, and skywalks.

The petition has garnered the support of the organisation Space4cyclingbne, which advocates for improved safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists across Brisbane.

The group acknowledged that whilst Kelvin Grove Road is managed by the Brisbane City Council, they believe the Queensland Government should take a proactive role in reviewing this and other similar high-risk intersections and corridors.

Read: Red Hill Resident Wins Case Against Billboard Installation Next to His House

“Urban Village might sound nice on the brochures, but Kelvin Grove Road looks and feels every bit like an urban motorway, creating an intensely hostile environment for anyone attempting to walk or cycle in the area,” the group wrote on a Facebook post.

As the community awaits a response from the state government, the push for improved pedestrian safety along Kelvin Grove Rd continues to gain momentum, with residents determined to ensure that no other lives are lost to the dangers of this critical thoroughfare.

Published 8-April-2024

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.