Hamilton Archives - Hamilton Today

Apartment Plan Now Targets Site Once Eyed for Childcare Centre at 46–50 Racecourse Road

A Hamilton address once proposed for a childcare centre that would have cared for 98 children is now part of a plan for 29 apartments on Racecourse Road.

Hamilton Today previously reported on a plan for a childcare centre at 50 Racecourse Road. It covered a 618.8-square-metre block, would have replaced the house standing there, and was under council assessment at the time. The centre was designed by Red Door Architecture and included a basement car park with 10 spaces.

Now the same address sits inside a much larger proposal.

What Fortis Wants to Build

Racecourse Road — *Photo Credit:* *DA A007111048*

The plans were lodged in September and show a five-storey building designed by DKO Architecture. Buyers would choose from six two-bedroom apartments, 22 three-bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom home. According to a design statement, the look borrows from traditional Queenslanders, with deep balconies, sliding screens and planter boxes. It also aims to respect the neighbouring St Augustine’s Anglican Church and the nearby Hamilton Town Hall.

Cafes, a Rooftop and Underground Parking

Street level would hold three retail tenancies, covering 268 square metres inside and another 71 square metres of outdoor dining. They are earmarked for food, drink and boutique shops. Up top, a 488-square-metre rooftop deck would have a pool, a sauna, a gym and a private dining pavilion. Two basement levels would hold 75 car spaces and 35 bicycle spaces.

What About the Price?

No prices have been released for the new building. Fortis is also behind Lynsford, across the road at 53 Racecourse Road. That project is approved and being sold off the plan, with three-bedroom homes advertised from $3.45 million. Hamilton Today has reported that submissions on an earlier version of the Lynsford plans raised the church’s heritage setting and traffic on Racecourse Road.

A Busy Stretch

Racecourse Road keeps filling up with proposals. Graya began construction on its The Gallery project at 63 to 71 Racecourse Road in June, and The Urban Developer reports 25 of its 48 apartments have sold. Fortis is separately behind a plan to turn a former aged care facility in New Farm into high-end homes.

For now, the Hamilton proposal is with Brisbane City Council.

Published Date 30-September-2026

Hamilton Pink Party Returns to Oxford Street With Stalls, Music and Family Fun

The Hamilton Pink Party marks International Breast Cancer Awareness Month and gives locals a simple way to show support. It is also a familiar event on the neighbourhood calendar, with a mix of fundraising and community activity that suits a Saturday morning well.

The event runs from 8am to 12pm on Saturday 10 October at Hamilton Neighbourhood Activities Centre, 68 Oxford Street. The morning starts with a cake stall, a re-loved stall, and a plant and produce stall. A fitness session also begins at 8am, with bookings encouraged and a $15 entry fee.

At 9am, the Pink Puppy Parade gets underway. Children and their dressed-up dogs can enter for $2. It is one of the lighter parts of the program, and it gives the morning a clear family focus.

Music, food and local talent

The schedule keeps moving after that. BBQ and Devonshire morning tea begins at 9.30am. HHS students will perform at 10am. Violinist Liz Young will also provide roving entertainment through the morning.

There is also plenty for children. HSS PCYC will run kids’ activities, and a children’s treasure hunt will add another reason to stay a while. Prizes for the best pink outfits will be awarded throughout the day.

That mix of activity is part of what makes the event feel like more than a fundraiser. It gives people time to browse, listen and join in without feeling rushed.

Violinist Liz Young
Photo Credit: lizyoungviolin.com.au

Fundraising with a local edge

Money raised will support Be Uplifted Inc, Breast Cancer Network Australia and Cancer Council. This year, a small portion will also go towards the Hub’s own programs and help keep the lights on.

That detail gives the event an extra local purpose. It supports major breast cancer charities while also backing a community centre that serves the area year-round. The event is supported by the Lord Mayor’s Community Fund, and it has become a steady part of the local calendar.

The Hamilton Pink Party keeps its appeal in its simplicity. It offers a short, busy morning with food, music, stalls and family activities. More importantly, it gives locals a straightforward way to support a cause that matters.

Updated 28-September-2026

Eat Street Northshore Puts Bluey, Bavarian Food and Halloween on Hamilton’s Spring Calendar

Families and visitors heading to Eat Street Northshore in Hamilton will have a series of spring events to choose from, beginning with school holiday appearances by Bluey and KOOZA before OktoberFEAST and Halloween activities follow.

School Holiday Events Begin at Eat Street Northshore

The spring program starts on Saturday, 19 September, when Bluey returns to the Main Stage for a live games show. The event will include 10 VIP meet-and-greets and a Bluey prize worth more than $1,000.

Performers from Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA will appear on the same stage on Sunday, 20 September. The guest appearance coincides with KOOZA’s limited Brisbane season under the big top at nearby Portside.

The opening weekend will be followed by food-focused events across late September and October, extending the calendar of activities at the Northshore Hamilton precinct.

Eat Street Northshore — Photo Credit: Supplied

OktoberFEAST Spans Two Hamilton Weekends

OktoberFEAST will run for six nights from 25 to 27 September and again from 2 to 4 October.

Eat Street Northshore will serve a range of limited-time Bavarian dishes during the event, alongside close to a dozen imported German beers. Oompah performers, alpine bells and stilt walkers will also feature across both weekends.

Among the highlighted menu items will be Peter Dressler’s pork knuckle at Poulet & Porc, slow-roasted in German pilsner, and Natasha Medwedew’s Jägerschnitzel Burger at Smash Mamas with Rémy Martin cognac gravy.

Other dishes will include Schnitzel Gnocchi from Arancini Bros, German Kranski with housemade sauce and relish from Poulet & Porc, German Potatoes with Sauerkraut from Baked & Loaded and Classic Munich Pretzels from The Original Langos.

Kombi Alley will have a Signature Cronut Pretzel, while Nawty Nuts will offer a Gebrannte Mandeln Hot Cone. Beer Battered Onion Rings from First Bite and non-alcoholic Butterbeer from Miss Flossy are also included in the event menu.

Halloween Extends the Local Events Calendar

The spring activities will continue with Trick or Treat Street from Friday, 30 October to Sunday, 1 November.

Further Halloween food specials are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Entertainment across the listed events is included with a normal entry pass, while food and drink specials are priced separately.

Eat Street Northshore operates every Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Brisbane River at Northshore Hamilton. Its regular weekend program includes live music, local performers and roving entertainment.

The precinct first opened in December 2013 before moving to its current MacArthur Avenue location in 2017. It now trades from 4pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 4pm to 9pm on Sundays at 221D MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton.

Published 15-September-2026

Bridge to Brisbane 5km Puts Hamilton in the Spotlight for 30th Anniversary

Photo Credit: Bridge to Brisbane/Facebook

Families, walkers and recreational runners will gather at Hercules Park as Hamilton becomes the starting point for Bridge to Brisbane’s 5km Blue Run.

The Blue Run 5km will start from Hercules Park on Sunday, 13 September 2026, at 10:00 a.m., sending runners, walkers and wheelers along Kingsford Smith Drive before the course loops through Bowen Hills and finishes at Brisbane Showgrounds. Organisers describe the shorter event as suited to families, walkers and participants wanting to take part in the fun-run atmosphere without tackling the 10km course.

The 2026 event has reached capacity, surpassing the more than 38,000 people who took part last year. Participants in 2025 also raised $1.1 million for hundreds of charities, giving the anniversary edition a community fundraising role alongside its sporting draw.

Hercules Park becomes the 5km launch pad

Hercules Park will serve as the marshalling point for the 5km field, placing Hamilton at the centre of the second major start of race day. Unlike the 10km event, which begins in Murarrie at 6:00 a.m. and immediately sends participants onto the Gateway Bridge, Hamilton’s start comes four hours later and caters to an all-ages field.

The official event page lists no minimum age for the 5km, while participants are advised to arrive about an hour before their allocated start time.

The course leaves Hamilton along Kingsford Smith Drive before heading towards Bowen Hills, giving one of the city’s major arterial roads a temporary role as a community race route. Brisbane City Council identifies Hercules Park as the 5km starting point and the Showgrounds as the common finish for both distances.

Photo Credit: Bridge to Brisbane/Facebook

Blue Run puts men’s health on the course

The Hamilton start also carries one of the event’s most visible charity themes this year, with the 5km designated the Blue Run in support of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation.

The foundation is using the event to raise awareness of men’s health and prostate cancer and has encouraged participants to wear blue as part of its campaign. Funds raised by Team RBWH Foundation will support the organisation’s work.

The foundation says close to 29,000 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and is using the 5km event to encourage conversations about early detection, research and men’s health.

Participants can run, jog, walk or wheel the Hamilton course, broadening the event beyond competitive running and giving families and community groups a lower-distance entry point into the anniversary race.

Kingsford Smith Drive faces race-day changes

Hamilton residents and motorists can expect traffic and parking changes as the 5km field moves onto Kingsford Smith Drive and surrounding streets.

Brisbane City Council says temporary road closures, lane closures and parking restrictions will affect Hamilton, Eagle Farm, Albion, Newstead and Bowen Hills, with some measures beginning before race day and continuing into Sunday. Kingsford Smith Drive is among the roads affected along the course.

Council says changed traffic conditions across the wider race route will apply between 2:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, while some parking restrictions begin from Saturday afternoon. Motorists are being advised to allow additional travel time and use alternative routes where possible.

BRIDGE TO BRISBANE
TRAFFIC CHANGES

Public transport brings the field into Hamilton

Public transport will play a significant role in moving thousands of competitors into the Hamilton start area.

Translink says the 5km marshalling area at Hercules Street Park is about a four-minute walk from a temporary shuttle stop on Curtin Avenue West, while Doomben station is about a 10-minute walk away. Shuttle buses to the 5km start are scheduled from several parts of Brisbane from 7:00 a.m.

Free public transport is included for registered participants on race day, according to the event information, helping reduce the need for competitors to drive into an area already facing temporary traffic restrictions.

Published 9-Sept-2026

Hamilton Childcare Centre Records Top 2% Family Satisfaction Result

Photo Credit: Guardian Childcare & Education

A Hamilton childcare centre has received Guardian’s 2026 Family Choice Award, with a recent survey of Guardian families also placing the MacArthur Avenue centre in the top 2 per cent nationally for family satisfaction.

Guardian Childcare and Education Hamilton, at 405 MacArthur Avenue, earned the 2026 recognition through results from Guardian’s Family Satisfaction Survey and independent Google reviews. Family satisfaction in the recent survey was measured using Net Promoter Score.

Beyond the latest recognition, much of the centre’s day-to-day life revolves around a long-serving educator team and regular involvement with families. Most educators have worked at the Hamilton centre for between four and nine years, providing familiar faces across its different age groups.

Familiar Faces at Hamilton Childcare Centre

Centre manager Rebecca Taylor oversees the team and places an emphasis on communication with families about children’s development, experiences at the centre and priorities at home.

The centre describes an environment where educators and children become familiar with people beyond their individual rooms. Families can also receive updates about meals, sleep, activities and learning through conversations with educators and the Storypark app.

That continuity sits alongside a mix of cultural backgrounds among educators, which is reflected in some of the activities and food offered at the centre.

Photo Credit: Guardian Childcare & Education

Children have taken part in Spanish-language activities, Japanese culture classes, Zumba and dance-alongs. Chef Chrislyn, who is also an experienced teacher, involves children in baking experiences while preparing food through Guardian’s Nutrition for Life program.

Family participation has extended beyond the regular learning program. The Hamilton team has hosted movie nights and Mother’s Day dinners, as well as an Ekka day at the centre intended to capture the spirit of the Brisbane event.

early learning, — Photo Credit: Guardian Childcare & Education

Learning Across Indoor and Outdoor Spaces

The Hamilton childcare centre has six learning studios grouped by age, along with a separate sleep room attached to the nursery and a large shaded outdoor area with wooden play equipment and a sandpit.

Guardian’s To BE Me program is used across the centre to follow children’s learning and record developmental milestones as they are observed. Educators in the baby area are trained through Guardian’s Baby Ambassadors program, while children aged three to five can access the Flying Start to School kindergarten program within long day care.

The centre operates from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, and lists Hamilton, Northshore, Bulimba, Eagle Farm, Hendra, Pinkenba and Albion among the communities it serves.

Its 2026 Family Choice Award and top-2-per-cent family satisfaction result now add a recent recognition to a centre where long-serving educators, cultural activities and family events form part of everyday life on MacArthur Avenue.

Published 13-August-2026

More Than 30,000 Sign Up as Bridge to Brisbane Returns to Hamilton

Photo Credit: Bridge to Brisbane/Facebook

For thousands taking on the shorter Bridge to Brisbane course, race morning will begin at Hercules Park in Hamilton, where the Blue Run 5km will set off as the event marks 30 years with registrations already above 30,000.

The 2026 event will be held on Sunday, 13 September, with organisers aiming for a record 40,000 participants. Registrations reached 30,000 more than a month before race day, only about two weeks after passing 25,000.

For Hamilton, the Blue Run 5km places Hercules Park at the beginning of a morning that will bring together runners, walkers and wheelchair participants before they make their way towards the Brisbane Showgrounds.

A Race Morning Beginning in Hamilton

The Blue Run 5km will start from Hercules Park from 10am and is open to all ages.

Some participants will be chasing their own running goals, while others will be taking part with family and friends or raising money for a cause. The course can be run, walked or wheeled, giving the shorter event a broad mix of participants.

Children aged 11 and under can take part but must remain with a registered parent or guardian for the entire race. Everyday wheelchair users can also enter the general 5km event.

General entries are $75 and remain available until 2pm on Saturday, 12 September, unless sold out earlier. Registration includes an event shirt, race number, timing, finisher’s certificate, medal and free transport.

Blue Run Carries Men’s Health Focus

The Hamilton start also forms part of a fundraising effort centred on men’s health.

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital is a sponsor and Gold Charity Partner of the Blue Run 5km, with Team RBWH Foundation using the race to raise awareness of men’s health and prostate cancer.

Money raised through the team will support work around men’s health awareness, including the importance of prostate cancer testing and early detection.

Charity fundraising has long been part of Bridge to Brisbane. Participants raised about $1.1 million for hundreds of local charities in 2025, when more than 38,000 people took part.

From Hercules Park to the Showgrounds

While the 5km begins in Hamilton, the event’s 10km course starts earlier in the morning from the southern end of the Gateway Bridge at Murarrie.

The La Roche-Posay 10km starts from 6am, taking participants across the Gateway Bridge before continuing to the Brisbane Showgrounds. Its finish line is at the Showbag Pavilion through Gate 5 on O’Connell Terrace in Bowen Hills.

The 10km is also open to all ages, with the same requirement for entrants aged 11 and under to be accompanied throughout the race. Everyday wheelchair users can enter the general event, while a separate racing wheelchair category is available for the 10km.

Three Decades of Bridge to Brisbane

Bridge to Brisbane began in 1997 and has since recorded more than 700,000 participants and more than $14 million raised for charity.

Events Management Queensland will deliver the event for the first time in 2026. Chief executive Ben Mannion has described the growing registration numbers as part of the momentum surrounding the anniversary while maintaining the community character built across the event’s three decades.

For the Blue Run 5km, that community participation will begin at Hercules Park, where families, walkers, runners and wheelchair participants will gather for the 10am start before heading towards the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Published 11-August-2026

Hamilton Hotel Goes Galactic: Australia’s Moon Rover Lands at the Local Pub

Photo Credit: Science in Public

Queensland engineers are bringing the future of space exploration straight to the community by showcasing Australia’s brand-new Moon rover at the Hamilton Hotel.

A Space Mission at the Local

Thursday, 13 August, will see this neighbourhood pub transform into a hub of lunar logistics. How often do you get to see world-class space technology down the road? The experts at EPE Engineers are building a machine affectionately called the “Roo-ver”. Designed to handle the harsh, dusty conditions of the lunar surface, this robot represents a massive engineering leap for the country. Now, it is sitting right in our backyard for everyday people to inspect.

Science Takes Over the State

The pub exhibition kicks off a massive wave of curiosity across the state. National Science Week runs from 15 to 23 August, drawing millions of Australians to thousands of events. Forget boring textbooks. Communities are turning complex research into brilliant, hands-on fun. Sunshine Coast students actually built an electric flying taxi. Up in Townsville, distillers are making gin using native bush tucker and Indigenous botanical knowledge.

Have you ever wondered what happens in your brain during a game of Dungeons and Dragons? Researchers in Fortitude Valley have the answers. From virtual reality dives into a professional rugby player’s mind in Toowoomba to tracking venomous platypuses near the Enoggera Reservoir, the strange and spectacular sides of science are on full display.

Olympic Science in the Tropics

Everything officially kicks off in Cairns on Saturday, 15 August. Barlow Park, a future Brisbane 2032 Games venue, will host the STEM in the Tropics pop-up fair. Visitors can get their hands dirty learning about eco-tourism, conservation, and First Nations bush foods. Sports science also takes the spotlight.

Olympic diver James Connor will share his experiences alongside Paralympic gold medallist Korey Boddington. Having survived a severe childhood brain injury that forced him to relearn walking and talking, Boddington conquered competitive track cycling to become a world record holder.

Protecting Wildlife and Fighting Disease

Environmental research provides another major drawcard. Deep in the Enoggera Reservoir, experts are working tirelessly to save the Tasmanian devil from cancer. They are even investigating the strange venom of the platypus. Health science is just as active across the state. Saint Lucia researchers are figuring out how to outsmart drug-resistant superbugs, while a Cairns team is reading mosquito DNA to track diseases. Could a Townsville project distilling gin from Indigenous botanicals change the beverage industry? It is just one more way local science is reshaping everyday life.

Published Date 10-August-2026

Space Robots and Microplastics Tackle Global Problems at Hamilton STEM Event

Photo Credit: Science Week

Queensland engineers building Australia’s first robotic moon rover and scientists tracking microscopic pollution will show how neighbourhood projects solve massive global issues at a community showcase in Hamilton.

What does the future of local business look like? The Science Week Business Showcase aims to answer exactly that on Thursday, 13 August. Hosted at The Hamilton Hotel, this free evening strips away the academic jargon to connect everyday residents with high-level technology. It is a rare chance to see how science, technology, engineering and maths drive the Brisbane economy.

Far beyond the city limits, Australian technology is preparing for a lunar journey. Representatives from EPE Engineers will break down the mechanics behind the Roo-ver, an artificial intelligence project commissioned for national space efforts. Their work proves that cutting-edge robotics are being developed right in the suburbs. It is a massive leap for local industry.

How do microscopic pollutants impact everyday health? Dr. Cassandra Rauert, a senior research fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, plans to address this invisible threat. She will explain her efforts to track microplastics and detail how collaborations with nearby industries are helping to manage the crisis.

Meanwhile, Queensland Chief Scientist Prof. Kerrie Wilson will outline strategies for sustainable economic growth. Her focus remains strictly on balancing conservation science with long-term financial stability for the state.

Connecting ordinary citizens to world-class research is the primary goal of the night. Backed by Inspiring Australia – QLD, the gathering invites students and business owners to explore future careers and real-world problem-solving at 442 Kingsford Smith Drive. Attendees can speak directly with the experts driving these projects. It promises to be an eye-opening look at the diverse sides of the STEM sector.

Published Date 28-July-2026

Third Festival, Three Beneficiaries: Hamilton Fundraiser Returns

Photo Credit: Pexels

On the lawn of a church that has served Hamilton and Ascot since 1895, a much newer local tradition will return this August. The Rotary Club of Hamilton is preparing to hold its third annual Craft Beer Festival at St Augustine’s Anglican Church, bringing craft brewers, food and live music together for an afternoon of community fundraising.

More than 300 guests attended the October 2025 festival. Funds generated that year were distributed to three local charities, with Immediate Past President Victor Gado crediting the patrons, sponsors and donors who contributed to the event.

The festival will return to the Racecourse Road church on Saturday, 22 August, running from 11 am to 4:30 pm.

Three Beneficiaries for the Third Festival

This year’s proceeds will support Peggy’s Place, St Augustine’s Church and Brothers Support Network.

Peggy’s Place provides a safe place for families affected by domestic and family violence.

Brothers Support Network helps males with disability live independently through trained male support workers. Its services extend across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

For St Augustine’s, the festival serves two roles. The church is again providing its grounds as the venue while also receiving support for the restoration of its existing facilities and future improvement plans.

Father David Ruthven said the funding would contribute to that work as the Racecourse Road precinct continued to develop.

Hamilton Craft Beer Festival — Photo Credit: Pexels

Craft Beer Returns to the Hamilton Lawn

The 2026 program will feature a selection of craft beers from artisan brewers, along with barbecue food and music.

Wine and non-alcoholic drinks will also be available. Grazing boxes supplied by The Grazing Italians can be purchased as a ticket add-on, but they must be ordered before the festival and collected on the day.

Raffles will be drawn during the event, with the Rotary Club of Hamilton also accepting donated prizes and sponsorship enquiries. Harcourts Local is sponsoring the festival.

VIP tables offering food, drinks and maître d’ service will be available alongside general admission.

For patrons aged 18 and over, entry includes a voucher for the first drink and a keepsake glass. Responsible service of alcohol requirements will apply, and identification may be requested.

People under 18 can attend when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Adult and under-18 guests will receive separate wristbands.

Early-bird entry costs $30, while two tickets cost $60. The early-bird rates are limited to the first 100 bookings, with tickets and grazing box pre-orders available through Eventbrite.

Published 9-July-2026

Bluey’s Brisbane Home Remains In Northshore Hamilton

Bluey’s World will remain in Northshore Hamilton, extending Brisbane’s exclusive run as the home of the family experience inspired by the locally made series.

Bluey’s World will continue operating exclusively in Brisbane until 3 February 2028, keeping the attraction at Northshore Hamilton after strong demand since its opening.

The experience, based on the television series Bluey, opened in November 2024 and has welcomed more than half a million visitors. It remains located at 281 Macarthur Drive, Northshore Hamilton, where families and fans can take part in a guided experience shaped around the world of Bluey.

The extension keeps Bluey’s World in the city where the series was created, written, animated and post-produced. The show follows Bluey, a blue heeler dog, with her mum, dad and younger sister Bingo, using play and family life as the centre of its stories.

Bluey’s World at Northshore Hamilton — Photo Credit: Supplied

At Northshore Hamilton, the experience brings elements of the series into a physical setting through set designs, interactive games and activities for children and adults. It is designed as a guided visit rather than a general exhibition, giving visitors a structured way to move through the world connected to the Brisbane-made program.

Since opening, Bluey’s World has drawn visitors from across Australia and overseas. More than a quarter of visitors have travelled from interstate, adding to the attraction’s visitor base beyond Brisbane.

Research covering 7 November 2024 to 17 March 2026 recorded 501,107 direct visitor nights linked to the attraction. Total direct and incremental expenditure across Queensland was placed at $156.9 million over the same period.

The extension also means tickets are now available through to 2028, with prices starting from AUD$44.90 plus booking fee.

Bluey’s World Brisbane visitor experience — Photo Credit: Supplied

Bluey’s World Remains Connected To Brisbane

The continued Hamilton run keeps Bluey’s World closely tied to the place where the series was made. Bluey is produced by Ludo Studio for ABC KIDS Australia and co-commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios.

The series has been produced in association with Screen Australia and Screen Queensland. BBC Studios Kids & Family holds global distribution and merchandise rights, while the show airs in Australia on ABC.

Bluey’s World ticket announcement — Photo Credit: Supplied

Bluey’s World is produced by BBC Studios and HVK World. The attraction extends the screen world of Bluey into a visitor experience while keeping its exclusive location in Brisbane.

The social media announcement from official Bluey and Bluey’s World Brisbane accounts also confirmed that tickets were available through to 2028. Responses to the announcement included fans asking whether the Brisbane experience would remain open until then, alongside positive reactions to the extended run.

For Hamilton, the extension keeps a major Bluey-linked visitor attraction at Northshore for the next phase of its Brisbane run. Bookings for Bluey’s World Brisbane are available through Ticketek.

Updated 3-July-2026