Did you know that Van Gogh Alive, the most visited multi-sensory experience in the world, is finally coming to Brisbane? Having been shown to 65 cities worldwide, this not-to-be-missed art exhibit is set to excite art enthusiasts in the city as it arrives in Hamilton next month.
This exhibit, which will be popping up at Northshore Hamilton from 29 October to 28 November 2011, will change your preconceived notions about visiting art museums and art galleries, that they are all built for silent observation. Van Gogh’s works have been displayed and enjoyed worldwide for over a century – but never in an immersive way like this.
Photo credit: Grande Experiences
With Van Gogh Alive, expect to be amazed as it presents a vibrant symphony of light, colour and sound, combined and amplified to create what visitors are calling “an unforgettable multi-sensory experience.”
Van Gogh’s works, including an exact recreation of his famous painting, the “Café Terrace at Night,” will be housed in The Grand Pavilion, a specially designed and constructed 25,000 square foot immersive gallery.
Photo credit: Grande Experiences
Designed by Australian designer Anna Cordingley, the Grand Pavilion also houses two immersive areas: The Sunflower Infinity Room and a walk-through immersive recreation of arguably Van Gogh’s most famous painting, “Starry Night.”
Photo credit: Grande Experiences
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased via Ticketek. The show is presented by Grande Experiences, Andrew Kay, BBC Studios, and Fane, in partnership with Lexus.
Interactive sound and light installations will be on exhibit at Northshore Hamilton in September 2021 as the iconic Brisbane Festival returns bigger and brighter than ever to chase away the blues brought by the pandemic.
Light up your September days and nights with Sky Castle, an interactive installation that is making its home at Northshore Hamilton before floating down the river on Brisbane’s Art Boat. This dreamy, interactive sound and light installation features a cluster of inflatable arches that span in colourful symphony across the public space.
Sky Castle (Photo credit: ENESS)
Launched in Melbourne’s Fed Square in 2020 to celebrate its emergence from a third lockdown, Sky Castle already made its way in Shenzhen and in Hong Kong, evoking joy and hope with its light, colour, and music.
Meanwhile, the Airship Orchestra is a collection of inflatables representing “mystical tribe of unearthly characters beamed from the night stars.”
Photo credit: ENESS
In full, the custom light installation showcases 16 inflatables (some up to six metres) extending over a 500 square metre area. The sound experience is its own spatial environment, immersing visitors in an arresting score written character-by-character for a full choir. The generative soundscape synced with light creates an adventure that is aesthetically dynamic both day and night.
Photo credit: ENESS
The interactive art installation is made by Victoria-based art and technology company ENESS. Since 1997, the company has been installing artworks worldwide for signature commercial buildings; urban and cultural precincts; festivals, galleries and museums of modern art.
Both Sky Castle (15-25 Sept) and Airship Orchestra (3-12 Sept) are free to view in Hamilton, but you will need tickets for a cruise. For more information about the events, check out Brisbane Festival’s website or follow the festival’s Facebook page for updates.
Did you know that it’s World Honeybee Day on 21 August 2021? This special day is observed every third Saturday in August to show appreciation to all the honey bees and the beekeepers who tend the hives.
If you feel like drinking a toast in honour of all the bees and the role they play for the ecosystem, celebrate at home with these easy and delicious cocktails that are truly worth the buzz!
Put all items in a cocktail shake with ice and shake
Strain and garnish with a flower
These spirits are all available to purchase from national retailers including Dan Murphy’s and BWS. Dan Murphy’s Hamilton is located at Cnr Kingsford Smith Drive & Racecourse Road, Hamilton. You can shop online and have your order ready within two hours.
For more information about deliveries and direct to boot (contactless pickup), visit Dan Murphy’s website or call +61 1300 723 388.
There’s still a decade to go before the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympic Games, but there are already big plans to make the city Olympic-ready. One of them is to revamp Northshore Hamilton into an Athlete’s Village.
Deputy Premier and State Development Minister Steven Miles compared Northshore Hamilton’s future transformation to South Bank when Brisbane hosted the World Expo 88. It was a temporary event but it changed Brisbane forever. It transformed the South Bank from ‘provincial backwater into a world city.’
“Village construction will crystalise the area’s long-term plan and rejuvenate the existing industrial land,” Mr Miles said.
Northshore’s prime waterfront location and its proximity to the CBD, competition and training venues, and transport connections makes it an ideal location to host thousands of athletes by 2032.
Mr Miles said the already popular precinct, which is home to landmarks such as Portside, Eat Street Markets, and Alcyone Hotel will be given a boost once the Athlete’s Village is constructed.
Situated on a Economic Development Queensland-owned land within the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area (PDA), the Athlete’s Village will serve as temporary home for more than 10,000 athletes and team officials during the Olympic Games and more than 5,000 for the Paralympics.
“Among the key requirements when hosting the Olympics is provision of athletes accommodation and I’m proud Northshore has been locked-in for the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Athletes’ Village,” Mr Miles said.
Mr Miles said hosting the 2032 Games will mean a 10-year pipeline of construction jobs, trade and investment opportunities, and legacy projects that will benefit Queenslanders for decades to come.
“The legacy of the Village precinct is already incredibly important,” he added.
Following the games, there are plans to use the village for residential offering, including aged care, retirement living, social and affordable housing, key worker, hotel, build-to-rent and market accommodation.
Want your favourite food delivered to your door? Luckily, there are restaurants and cafes in North Brisbane offering home deliveries for our safety and convenience. Here are some places to try in Hamilton and Albion.
There’s no need to drive all the way to Surfers Paradise to taste Brooklyn Depot’s gourmet burgers because they have an Express joint in Hamilton, open until 8:00 p.m. which delivers via Uber Eats. Just a tip: Get the hearty Brook Classic. It’s best paired with Brooklyn Depot’s twice-cooked onion rings.
Dubbed as the best fish n chips in Brisbane, Samies Seafood offers different types of fish fillet and chips, as well as a variety of seafood sides, oysters, and burgers available for delivery via Uber Eats. If you need to order for a group, try Samies’ family pack or ultimate variety pack.
Bring the flavours of Colombia and Latin America to your home with takeaway from Petrichor & Co. This breakfast and brunch cafe was named by a local magazine as North Brisbane’s best cafe in February 2021. Need we say more?
When you want to linger with a cup of coffee and take in the smell of fresh baked goods, the cakes, breads, and pastries at Jocelyn’s Provisions will not disappoint. Just do note that Jocelyn’s encourages customers to give them a call instead of ordering online. Plus, they have a minimum order required for each order so better check the website first before placing yours.
Let’s admit it’s not easy to recreate the scallops from Vaquero Dining. These perfectly cooked scallops are best paired with a glass of wine. Didn’t we mention Vaquero lets you order wine, too? They also have a feast banquet menu for two, perfect for a date night at home.
In the mood for amazing Greek food? Check out The Yiros Shop, an Albion based restaurant specialising in fast, fresh, and authentic Greek eats. They have an extensive takeaway menu of Mediterranean dishes, most especially the traditional yiros, a fluffy fresh pita filled with ripe tomato, red onion, parsley, tzatziki and chips.
Hamilton is home to many heritage places. Among them is Bishopsbourne, also known as Edlernell and Farsley. Set on top of a hill with views to the city, this four-bedroom mansion is unique not just for its one-of-a-kind aesthetic but for its stories to tell. Here are five interesting facts about this heritage place.
It’s one of the remaining examples of mid-Victorian stone dwellings.
Back of Eldernell, residence in Hamilton, undated (Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)
Bishopsbourne, located at 39 Eldernell Terrace in Hamilton, is a type of dwelling that is now considered unusual in Brisbane. Featuring a rustic-gothic style which was common during the 19th century, Bishopsbourne has a steep pitched gable roof and tall, medieval chimneys evoking a church-like appearance.
The building is now 152 years old.
‘Part of a panorama of the house and garden of Eldernell, Hamilton, Brisbane’, undated, (Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)
Bishopsbourne has been standing since 1869, making it one of Brisbane’s oldest homes. Did you know that it was originally built for Sir William Hemmant, a draper and politician? He was a British-Australian politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1871 to 1876.
It was home to five Archbishops.
The Right Reverend Philip Strong, army chaplain, Bishop of New Guinea and later Archbishop of Brisbane (Photo credit: https://anglicanfocus.org.au)
It was purchased by the Anglican Church in 1964 and has been the residence of many archbishops. The first archbishop to occupy the residence was Philip Nigel Warrington Strong, who was the fifth Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane from 1962 to 1970. He was followed by Felix Raymond Arnott, who served as archbishop from 1970 to 1980.
Others who live in the mansion were John Basil Rowland Grindrod (1980-1989), Peter John Hollingworth (1989-2002), and lastly Dr Phillip John Aspinall, who was in office since 2002. Dr Aspinall moved to a smaller mansion in Ascot in 2007, which was also renamed Bishopsbourne.
The old name came from a settlement in Cambridgeshire.
Both Hemmant and his wife Lucy originated from Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire, England near which the town of “Eldernell” is located. It is likely that Hemmant named the property in Hamilton ‘Eldernell’ in memory of the original English location. The house was renamed Bishopsbourne in 1964 when it became the new home of Archbishop Strong.
It’s a reminder of the elite status the suburb of Hamilton once held.
Hamilton remains as one of the most expensive suburbs in Brisbane at present. However, there was a time when it achieved an elite status and properties like the Bishopsbourne are the demonstration.
Hemmant assigned James Cowlishaw to be the architect of the mansion. Cowlishaw was not just a prominent architect during his time, but also a businessman and politician in Queensland.
In 2007, the Anglican Church sold Bishopsbourne for $11.2 million, making it one of the most astounding sales around the area at the time. The 5,597-sqm property features a central hallway that leads to the rooms, two fireplaces, and two bathrooms. The mansion was sold just a month after it was listed for sale.
Two exciting developments are coming north of Brisbane: Bloom on Wesley, five kilometres away from the city centre; and Riverlight North, six kilometres from the Brisbane CBD.
Residents-only infinity pool at Bloom on Wesley (Photo credit: bloomonwesley.com.au)
Location: 7-21 Wesley Street, Lutwyche
Construction is underway for Bloom on Wesley, the newest development from Raise Projects. It is situated 300 metres from Lutwyche Market Central, which has undergone refurbishment now adding the likes of big retailers such as Aldi, Woolworths, and Coles. A total of 36 units will be available at Bloom on Wesley, consisting of spacious three-bedroom apartments.
Currently selling, Bloom on Wesley has some of the most modern amenities, such as state of the art security, luxurious designer lobby, rooftop entertaining area, as well as gymnasium. Price of units start at $695,000.
Apartments at Riverlight North are priced from $422,500 for a one-bedroom apartment to $750,000 for a three-bedroom. Then there are two units offered at $1.5 million, for a penthouse on Level 11. Penthouses in Riverlight offer uninterrupted waterfront views, and features a parkland, and bordered by the Royal Queensland Golf Club.
A development that values outdoor space and recreation, Riverlight North’s highlight is its ‘sensory garden’ – a shared landscaped community garden space to incorporate fresh herbs such as rosemary and mint along with other plant species like aromatic jasmine and frangipani. Residents can enjoy facilities that include a 20m swimming pool and sundeck, fully equipped gym, and an alfresco BBQ area.
Developed under the Frasers Property Australia and part of the $700 Hamilton Reach master planned community, the 85-unit apartments at Riverlight are set to be completed by July 2021.
With their permanent home in Breakfast Creek, Albion still under construction, GoBoat has launched a fleet of new eco-friendly picnic boats stationed at the Dockside Marina in Kangaroo Point.
Though construction isn’t finished for their upcoming permanent venue along Breakfast Creek in Albion, GoBoat has opened a limited-time pop-up venue at Dockside Marina in Kangaroo Point to give Queensland a taste of what the vessels this Danish company has to offer.
“We’ve been so blown away by all the emails, calls & messages from Brisbanites wanting to celebrate occasions or organise get-togethers on our boats that we couldn’t let you wait any longer!” the company announced.
Each boat stands 5.5 metres long, fashioned from recycled materials such as wood and bottles. Shading will be installed to shield those aboard from the elements.
The boats are eco-friendly and quiet, and the fact that they are powered by German electric engines means they do not produce any smog, nor do they make loud noises. This, combined with the fact that boating licenses won’t be required to operate them, makes them suitable for public use.
By July 2021, GoBoat will have four additional boats to augment the present fleet.
Those interested in renting the boats can do so for the price of $109 an hour, $189 for two hours, and $229 for three hours. People will be able to bring their own food, beer, and even pets for the ride. Up to eight passengers will be able to fit in a single vessel, making them ideal for group picnics.
Though the official launch of GoBoat Brisbane in their permanent site at Breakfast Creek, Albion has yet to be announced, their pop-up placeholder is located at Dockside Marina at 44 Ferry St, Kangaroo Point.
For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements concerning the upcoming picnic boats.
Brisbane schools continue to experience rising numbers of enrolments and the latest data reveals Hamilton State School has had an 88 percent increase in students in five years.
The school on Oxford Street in Hamilton, which caters to multi-age classes until Year 6, currently has 175 students with enrolment booming to 22 percent within the last 12 months alone.
However, Hamilton State School is still a relatively small school with a manageable number of students per class compared to other primary school institutions across Brisbane. The QueenslandEducation Department has been conducting major redevelopments and building new schools to take the pressure off sites with an overwhelming number of students, where lunch breaks have been staggered because of the lack of space.
Photo Credit: Facebook
For instance, West End State School’s redevelopment would be completed in 2022 with an expected student growth of more than 1,700. In 2016, the school’s population was around 800 students.
Across the state, an additional 10 new schools are earmarked to open by 2024 amidst a budget of $18.3 billion.
The data also shows that some of the most crowded schools in Queensland are taking in children outside their catchments, despite plans that ensure children who live near the school gain priority access.
Education Minister Grace Grace said that some parents are choosing to gain access to these schools because of their specialised and high-quality programs. There are also families who may have moved away from their catchment zones whilst their children are still enrolled in their old schools.
Cresta Richardson, the president of the Queensland Teachers’ Union, said that school principals must take charge of the enrolment management plans. However, the reality is schools have different rules for accepting out-of-catchment students
Despite its reputation as a blue-chip ward, Hamilton had the most need for footpath repairs, based on the latest data from the City Standards, Community Health and Safety committee.
From 2020 to 2021, Hamilton apparently had 72 footpath works compared to the previous year’s record of just 20. Morningside, Walter Taylor, Moorooka and Deagon also had over 50 footpath repairs and maintenance work in the same period:
SUBURB
# OF REPAIRS
Hamilton
72
Morningside
65
Walter Taylor
64
Moorooka
59
Deagon
57
Wynnum Manly
49
Calamvale
49
Marchant
48
Holland Park
47
Paddington
46
McDowall
46
Brisbane City Council did an average of eight repairs in a day for a footpath with an average length of 16.7 meters. The 2020-2021 budget for maintenance and reconstruction of these paths was at $40 million.
To date, there are 1,104 footpaths still in need of work across Brisbane where some are scheduled for work in the 2021-2022 financial year.
According to Councillor Kim Marx, the chair of City Standards, Community Health and Safety, the repairs and maintenance that were completed do not necessarily equate to an unsafe path. However, if the area puts the residents at risk then the footpath repairs would have to be undertaken within 24 hours of the report.
Photo Credit: Tania Rose/Pixabay
During the 2019-20 financial year, Council received 111 reports on injuries incurred on uneven or broken footpaths. These injuries ranged from fractures or broken teeth, and a handful came from scooter riders and users of mobility equipment.
Residents can file a report online for a footpath in need of repair or phone Council via 07 3403 8888. Ms Marx encouraged residents to report damages immediately.
