Hamilton Archives - Page 2 of 14

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

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

Meet the Robot Mowers Working Around the Clock at Brisbane Airport

Brisbane Airport

Brisbane Airport has become the first major airport in Australia to trial a fleet of autonomous robot mowers, deploying four machines across its 919-hectare airside precinct in a move that will save more than 60,000 litres of diesel fuel every year.

The robot mowers, now operating on the airfield adjacent to the Hamilton and Eagle Farm precinct, run day and night on a mix of solar energy and the airport’s renewables-backed electrical network. They maintain grassed areas continuously rather than in scheduled bursts, a fundamental shift in how airside vegetation management is handled at one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs.

For Brisbane Airport, which processes more than 23 million passenger movements per year and sits across a land footprint equivalent to 54 South Bank Parklands, keeping the grass cut is not a cosmetic concern. It is a safety requirement.

Overgrown grass attracts wildlife, and wildlife on or near runways is one of the most persistent hazards in civil aviation. The robot fleet addresses that risk around the clock, significantly reducing the amount of time staff need to spend working in active airside zones.

The machines and how they stay in bounds

Each robot mower operates within a defined zone maintained by a combination of onboard sensors, geofencing and a physical barrier. The system keeps the machines away from active runways and taxiways, and they navigate autonomously without manual intervention once deployed. If something unexpected enters their path, they stop or redirect.

The continuous mowing cycle produces a secondary benefit that is less obvious but genuinely useful. Because the grass is cut little and often rather than in periodic heavy passes, the process selectively encourages healthier grass species to establish and allows the airport to reduce its use of herbicides across the airfield. The result, in the airport’s own assessment, is greener and more resilient grass than conventional mowing produces.

“These robot mowers might be small, but their impact is significant,” said Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff. “Unlike conventional mowing, which must be scheduled around air traffic and staff availability, these robotic mowers can operate day and night. This reduces disruption to flights and the need for manual mowing, helping to maintain our airfield while keeping safety front and centre.”

Part of a longer sustainability journey

The robot mower trial is the latest in a series of technology-driven sustainability initiatives at Brisbane Airport stretching back several years. The airport deployed Australia’s first all-electric aircraft refueller through Air BP in 2022 and introduced Oscar, an AI-powered smart recycling assistant, into its terminals the same year.

In 2023, it became the first Australian airport to achieve Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 4: Transformation, the highest level of the globally recognised accreditation programme. It also accelerated its Net Zero target by 25 years, committing to reach net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025.

Brisbane Airport Head of Sustainability Jess Rudd said the autonomous mowers align directly with that longer-term commitment. The 60,000-plus litres of diesel saved annually represent a meaningful reduction in operational emissions from ground maintenance alone, replacing fuel-heavy machinery that has historically run for long hours across the airfield.

“Our innovation programme is about trialling and scaling technology that delivers real results,” said Oscar Maan, Brisbane Airport’s Innovation Lead. “These autonomous mowers show how that approach is already making a difference on the ground.”

What comes next

The current pilot covers a growing portion of the airside land area, with the fleet expected to expand into additional zones over time. How quickly that expansion happens will depend on the programme’s ongoing performance assessments, but the airport has signalled clearly that scaling the technology is the intention rather than keeping it confined to a trial footprint.

Brisbane Airport sits within the City of Moreton Bay and Brisbane City boundary near Hamilton, Pinkenba and Eagle Farm, and its operations connect the region to more than 50 domestic and international destinations.

Further information on Brisbane Airport’s sustainability programme is available here.

Published 26-June-2026

Would You Try a Wagyu Curry Bun? Brisbane’s Newest Food Stall Thinks You Should

OKO OKO has opened at Eat Street Northshore on MacArthur Avenue in Hamilton, debuting what its founders describe as the world’s first wagyu kare pan: a deep-fried Japanese curry bun built around Darling Downs wagyu, eighteen months in the making.

The kare pan, Japan’s beloved panko-crusted curry bun invented in Tokyo in 1927, has never been built around wagyu until now.

OKO OKO’s version is filled with Queensland wagyu sourced from Sandalwood Feedlot on the Darling Downs, one of Australia’s oldest and most awarded producers, combined with a cheesy curry filling, panko-crusted and fried to order behind a Shinjuku-styled pagoda facade unlike anything else in the precinct.

Founder Michael Otway says the dish took six months of development on its own. “The dough, the curry, the wagyu, the cheese, the fry,” he said. “Queensland wagyu changes the dish. No kitchen in Japan or anywhere else has done it this way. What comes out of the fryer at OKO OKO is something Brisbane hasn’t tasted before.”

A dish with a serious backstory

Kare pan has a devoted following in Japan, with its own annual national grand prix and a 50,000-member association. It is one of Japan’s most loved everyday foods, widely available from bakeries across the country. What no kitchen in Japan or anywhere else had done, according to OKO OKO, was make wagyu the centrepiece.

The chef behind the menu brings serious credentials to that claim. OKO OKO’s global head chef previously worked at Nobu London and Yoko Brisbane. The full OKO OKO menu extends well beyond the kare pan into okonomiyaki, yakisoba, yakisoba pan and other Japanese street food classics, all built to the same elevated standard.

The Shinjuku-styled pagoda that frames OKO OKO’s space at Eat Street is described by the founders as a physical expression of the menu itself: respected traditions, modern elevation.

Getting to Eat Street Northshore

Eat Street Northshore at 221D MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton is open Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 10pm and Sunday from 4pm to 9pm. Entry is $6 per person. The precinct is accessible by CityCat to the Northshore Hamilton terminal, a 250-metre walk from the entrance, or by car with 1,400-plus free parks on site.

Published 12-June-2026

Roads, Flood Resilience and Riverfront Works Drive Northshore Hamilton Renewal

The biggest changes currently happening at Northshore Hamilton are not towers rising into the skyline, but the infrastructure works quietly reshaping the precinct underneath them.

As Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) pushes ahead with its Street Renewal Program, construction crews are preparing the western edge of the riverside precinct for the next stage of residential growth.

The works form part of a long-running effort to transform Northshore Hamilton from an industrial riverfront into one of Brisbane’s largest mixed-use urban renewal precincts.

According to EDQ, the Street Renewal Program is designed to deliver the key infrastructure needed to support future housing and development inside the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area.

Current works are centred near Portside Wharf and the western section of MacArthur Avenue, where crews are preparing six new development lots for future mixed-use residential projects.

Several enabling works are already underway, including the removal of ageing wharf infrastructure and temporary road connections through Bincote Street to maintain local access during construction.

Part of the Wharf Street temporary park has also been repurposed to support construction activity, although EDQ says the park itself remains open and operational under existing conditions.

Another visible change has been the construction of “The Yard”, a temporary car park positioned near the corner of MacArthur Avenue and Theodore Street to support access during the upgrade works.

The next major stage is expected to begin in mid-2026, when upgrade works between Finnegan Street and Theodore Street commence.

Those works will include raising sections of MacArthur Avenue to improve flood resilience across the precinct — a key issue for a riverside development area expected to house thousands of future residents.

EDQ says temporary traffic changes will also be required once major road works begin, including a diversion along the western end of MacArthur Avenue while local access is maintained for eastern businesses and residents.

The infrastructure program sits alongside broader plans to unlock more housing supply within Northshore Hamilton, where five recently released development parcels are expected to eventually deliver around 3,000 homes.

The precinct itself spans 304 hectares along 2.5 kilometres of Brisbane River frontage and has been earmarked for more than 14,000 homes over the coming decade.

While cranes and apartment towers will likely define the next phase of Northshore Hamilton’s transformation, the current focus remains on the less visible work underneath — roads, services and flood-ready infrastructure designed to support an entirely new riverside community.

Published 7-May-2026

Northshore Hamilton’s Housing Push Moves Into Delivery Phase as Infrastructure Works Gather Pace

Photo Credit: EDQ

The conversation around Northshore Hamilton is no longer just about plans on paper. Across the riverfront precinct, the focus is shifting toward the roads, services and flood-resilient infrastructure needed to support one of Brisbane’s biggest urban renewal projects.

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) and engineering firms involved in the precinct say the project has now entered a critical transition point, with major groundwork underway ahead of large-scale vertical development.

Five riverfront development sites released earlier this year are expected to eventually deliver around 3,000 homes across six hectares along MacArthur Avenue. The sites sit inside the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area, a 304-hectare precinct earmarked for long-term mixed-use growth.

Recent updates from EDQ and project partners highlight the scale of infrastructure now being rolled out behind the scenes.

Engineering firm ADG Engineers said its work has focused on climate-resilient roads, streetscapes and digital infrastructure capable of supporting future mixed-use development across the precinct.

The company said the project has involved working through difficult ground conditions, existing trunk services and sustainability targets while preparing the area for future residential growth.

According to project material released by EDQ, Northshore Hamilton stretches 2.5 kilometres along the Brisbane River and is planned to accommodate more than 14,000 homes and around 24,500 residents over the coming decade.

The development sites released to market earlier this year include parcels along MacArthur Avenue, roughly six kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD and eight kilometres from Brisbane Airport.

EDQ has promoted the sites as a rare opportunity for large-scale riverfront development close to Portside Wharf, with panoramic city and river views forming a key part of the pitch to developers.

The precinct’s planning framework has also been reshaped in recent months through amendments to the Northshore Hamilton PDA Development Scheme, which the state says will help accelerate housing delivery and reduce planning delays.

The revised scheme is intended to support faster approvals and coordinated infrastructure delivery across the PDA, with the government arguing the changes could help unlock up to 10,000 homes more quickly.

The housing pipeline forms part of Queensland’s broader push to increase supply ahead of continued population growth and the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At ground level, however, much of the visible activity remains focused on preparing the precinct itself.

Works already underway at the western end of Northshore Hamilton are helping create development-ready lots for future residential construction. Preparatory works tied to the MacArthur Avenue upgrade are also progressing, including the removal of ageing wharf structures and temporary road connections to maintain local access during construction.

EDQ says flood resilience remains a major part of the project, with future road upgrades designed to improve how the precinct performs during major weather events.

The broader vision extends well beyond housing alone. Plans for the precinct include retail, hospitality, riverfront parklands and public spaces intended to turn the former industrial waterfront into a high-density riverside community.

Future riverfront parklands tied to the development are expected to follow in 2029.

Published 1-May- 2026

Brisbane Finally Has a Proper Lobster Roll — and It’s Worth the Wait

Sea Salt, Brisbane’s first restaurant dedicated entirely to the lobster roll, has opened at Eat Street Northshore, serving a hot, buttered Connecticut-style roll made entirely from Queensland ingredients on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The timing is right for it. Brisbane has been missing this particular thing: a serious, single-focus lobster roll built with real intent rather than as a menu afterthought. Sea Salt’s founders, local Brisbanites Yuling and Nathan, spent 18 months working out why it did not exist yet. They ate lobster rolls across Brisbane, Australia and internationally.

Most were cold, pre-made or padded with processed seafood extender. The rolls that used real lobster were often barely slider-sized. They came back with a clear idea of what they wanted to build instead.

“When we set out to create a lobster roll for Eat Street, we didn’t want to imitate what already existed,” co-owner Yuling said. “We wanted to do better. Every element, from the lobster to the bread to the butter, was chosen and refined with intention.”

Straight from Queensland Waters to Your Roll

The lobster is Queensland’s tropical rock lobster, hand-caught by divers in the Torres Strait and Far North Queensland. It is the only diver-caught lobster species in Australia and comes from one of the most carefully managed fisheries in the country: no nets, no traps, no bycatch.

Each lobster is air freighted directly to Eat Street, supporting the fishing communities of Cairns and the Torres Strait.

Sea Salt lobster — Photo Credit: Supplied

The roll itself is built around a custom brioche baked by a Brisbane bakery, proportioned specifically for the ratio of bread to filling Sea Salt wanted. The lobster is finished in clarified butter with fresh garlic, paired with Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise and finished with a ribbon of lemon. Everything on the plate is sourced from Queensland.

This focus on provenance puts Sea Salt in the premium tier of Eat Street’s line-up, sitting comfortably alongside heavyweights like Picco’s and The Cheese Wheel. It’s a high-end addition to the precinct, swapping standard street-food fillers for a serious, top-shelf serve.

The facade of the restaurant carries that local connection too, built from timber sourced from Queensland workers’ cottages, a deliberate nod to the riverside heritage of the precinct around it.

Find It at Eat Street

Sea Salt sits inside Eat Street Northshore at 221D MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton, on a historic wharf built from repurposed shipping containers along the Brisbane River, 15 minutes from the CBD and 12 minutes from Brisbane Airport. If you are coming by water, the Northshore Hamilton CityCat stop is a short 250 metre stroll from the eastern entrance.

It serves from 4pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 4pm to 9pm on Sundays. Keep an eye on the clock for special events, with trading hours often extended for major dates including the upcoming Mother’s Day weekend in May (12-8pm). For updates, follow Eat Street on Instagram or visit eatstreetnorthshore.com.au.

Published 30-April-2026

Portside Wharf To Host Mother’s Day Market By The River

Families in Hamilton are being invited to spend a relaxed morning by the river, with Portside Wharf preparing to host a Mother’s Day market that blends local shopping with simple, family-friendly activities.

Portside Wharf Hamilton Brings Local Market To The Riverfront

Portside Wharf in Hamilton will host its Mother’s Day Market on Saturday 2 May, with the riverside precinct set to fill with more than 20 stalls from 9am to 1pm. The event is free to attend and will take place at 39 Hercules Street.

Held in partnership with The Market Folk, the market will showcase a range of locally made goods, giving visitors the chance to pick up something thoughtful for Mother’s Day while supporting small makers. Stalls will feature items such as ceramics, candles, handcrafted jewellery, crochet flowers, and sweet treats, offering a mix of practical and personalised gift options.

A Morning Designed For Families In Hamilton

Beyond shopping, the Portside Wharf Hamilton event is set up as an easy outing for families looking to spend time together. Children’s activities will include a baseball pitching pop-up, along with balloons and free treats, creating a casual and welcoming environment for younger visitors.

Free pilates classes will run throughout the morning at Studio Pilates, with terms and conditions applying, offering something for those wanting to take part in a more active experience. Rosé Gelateria will also introduce a special Mother’s Day rosewater pistachio flavour for the occasion.

Across the precinct, retailers will be taking part with Mother’s Day offers, adding to the overall experience and giving visitors more ways to browse and enjoy the day.

Giveaway Adds Extra Appeal For Visitors

A Mother’s Day hamper valued at more than $1,000 is also part of the event, giving attendees the opportunity to win a collection of gifts and experiences.

The hamper includes dining vouchers, pilates classes, a family cinema pass, jewellery, candles, and other items, bringing together contributions from Portside Wharf businesses and participating brands. Entries are open through Portside Wharf’s social media.

A Simple Way To Spend Time By The River

Set along the river, the Portside Wharf Hamilton market offers a straightforward way for locals to combine gift shopping with time outdoors. The format brings together stalls, activities, and small experiences into one morning, making it easy for families to drop in, explore, and enjoy the precinct at their own pace.

With free entry and a mix of things to see and do, the event provides a local option for those looking to mark Mother’s Day without travelling far from Hamilton.

Published 30-Apr-2026