Rosalie Village Archives - Paddington Today

Rosalie Village: New Public Artwork Unveiled Celebrating Community and Culture

Artists Eleanor and James Avery have unveiled a contemporary sculpture in Rosalie Village, highlighting the area’s commitment to community spirit and creative expression. The new artwork emphasises Rosalie Village’s rich history and social fabric and signifies a significant advancement in enhancing public spaces through artistic collaboration and community involvement.

Responding to the community’s insights and collaborating with the public art curator Artfully, Eleanor and James crafted “Rosie-Lee” (2023).

This artwork celebrates Rosalie Village’s identity by incorporating local history, geographical references, and the area’s social culture into its design. The sculpture represents a meeting point that connects the past, present, and future, and it includes elements that reflect the local café culture as well as the area’s natural and architectural beauty.

“Rosie-Lee” is a sculpture that pays tribute to Rosalie’s exceptional personality. The artwork comprises three rose-shaped forms made of painted aluminium and stainless steel.

The 2-meter-tall structure draws inspiration from various local elements such as the rose windows of the nearby Sacred Heart Church and the historical Red Jacket Swamp, now known as Gregory Park. The design of the sculpture is a clever play on Australian rhyming slang, with “Rosie-Lee” representing “cup of tea,” which symbolizes social gatherings and community connectivity.

Eleanor and James Avery Rosie-Lee Rosalie Village — *Photo Credit: BCC*

In late 2023, Brisbane City Council completed a streetscape improvement project to revitalise the Rosalie Village in Paddington. This initiative sought to transform the area into an attractive, comfortable, and connected hub for locals and visitors. The project is part of the broader Village Precinct Projects program, reflecting the Council’s dedication to fostering vibrant neighbourhoods.

The process began in September 2022 when the Council invited the local community to contribute ideas for public space improvements. Through phases of feedback collected in February and September 2023, residents voiced their support for upgrades that would enhance the streetscape’s amenity, accessibility, and safety. This inclusive approach ensured the project accurately reflected the community’s needs and desires.

The streetscape project has introduced several enhancements to Rosalie Village, including:

Upgraded footpaths for better accessibility and connectivity.
New garden beds and additional street trees to improve the area’s visual appeal.
The installation of new seating, urban stools, bins, and bike racks.
Enhanced pedestrian and traffic safety through additional signage and line marking.
Commissioned public art to boost the area’s aesthetic and identity.

These improvements are expected to significantly contribute to the quality of life in Rosalie Village, making it a more inviting and vibrant place for everyone.

To discover more about the Rosalie Village, Paddington public art installation “Rosie-Lee” by Eleanor and James Avery, residents and visitors are encouraged to engage with the space and explore its cultural offerings.

Published 28-March-2024

Step into Patio, Rosalie Village’s New Neighbourhood Bar

If you’re a fan of deliciously crafted beers, Patio by the Range Brewing team is the bar to be in Rosalie Village. With ten beers on tap, including the ever-popular Jam (a thick, sour beer bursting with a medley of berries), this neighbourhood newcomer offers a beer lineup that promises to keep customers wanting more.

Read: Here’s Where To Get Your Boozy Brunch In Paddington

The bar, which opened its doors in Rosalie Village in June 2023, also features a selection of pale ales, IPAs, and a delightful collaboration with Japan’s Black Tide brewery. Wine enthusiasts will be pleased to find two wine taps offering a bright vino rosso and a crisp vino bianco, both created in collaboration with Latta Vino.

Owned by Gerard Martin and Matt McIver, the masterminds behind the original Range brewery and taproom in Newstead, as well as a Melbourne taproom, Patio aims to capture the essence of old-school Australian pubs whilst infusing an Italian-inspired alfresco atmosphere.

Stepping into Patio, you will be greeted by a captivating ambiance that evokes the feel of an open-air pavilion. The meticulous design and construction, spearheaded by Martin, McIver, and their team in a remarkable three-month period, have resulted in an inviting space that will leave you in awe.

Patio doesn’t stop at offering fantastic brews; they also bring delectable food to the table. Partnering with Jacopo’s Pizza, the bar serves up their full menu, making it a go-to spot for satisfying your pizza cravings.

As you enter the front patio area adorned with burgundy-tiled tables, a timber bench seat, and an enchanting fairy light-wrapped tree, you will be enticed to venture further into the courtyard, ready to create lasting memories with friends and loved ones.

Meatball Sub Special (Photo credit: patiobyrange/Instagram)

In addition to pizzas, Patio tantalises the taste buds with a range of delectable snacks such as salads, breads, and skewers. Then don’t miss their Meatball Sub special, featuring mouthwatering beef and ‘nduja fried meatballs, drizzled with basil oil and Parmesan, served on a fresh French baguette.

With a diverse selection of beers on tap, a delectable food menu, and a thoughtfully designed ambiance, Patio is set to become the go-to destination for friends seeking a memorable night out.

Read: From the Meat at Billy’s Team: New Sandwich Bar Now Open in Rosalie Village

Patio is located at 146 Baroona Rd, Paddington. They are open from Wednesday to Sunday. Follow them on Instagram @patiobyrange for updates.

Published 19-June-2023

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.

The Most Interesting Sites To Visit on the Rosalie Heritage Trail

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.

Rosalie Village Garden Centre: A Garden Paradise in Paddington

A secret garden that lies at Baroona Road in Rosalie—in the midst of busy restaurants and specialty shops—the Rosalie Village Garden Centre is every plant enthusiasts’ paradise.

Whether you are an experienced gardener, a newbie, or just looking for some greenery to fill your yard, or maybe searching for a nice present for a friend, Rosalie Village Garden Centre is definitely the place to go. The Rosalie Village—a busy suburban shopping and dining destination—is home to this secret garden where you will find rows of plants, fruit trees, flowering shrubs, and succulents. Even garden accessories, pots, and ornaments of varying colours, shapes, and sizes are available here.

A narrow brick pathway sandwiched between two shops leads to this greenery haven. Even if you have zero knowledge in gardening, you’d be happy to know that they have experts to answer all your gardening-related questions.

Rosalie Village Garden Centre was established in 1994 but the centre was originally set up in the late ‘60s and was run by the “Friends of brain injured children” in the ‘70s. From the ‘80s up to the early ‘90s, it was known as Bush Magic, until it was purchased by Margaret Wright and created a specialized cottage garden style nursery. In 2000, Ben Wright bought the Centre from his mother. With his experience in exotics and water gardening, the Centre expanded its offerings enabling it to cater to a wider range of interests.

About Rosalie

Rosalie was a suburb of Brisbane before it became a neighbourhood within Paddington in 1975. Its name is believed to have been derived from the name Rosalie Plains pastoral station owned by pastoralist and politician John Frederick McDougal. Rosalie residents, businesses, and homes have several times been victims of several floods and water damage particularly the 1890, 1975, and 2011 Brisbane Floods.