Brisbane Magazine #09

fashion paul hunt design damien bredberg business mara bun science professor russell boyce sport darren lockyer arts wesley enoch gourmet jamie trevaskis

ISSUE 09 2011|2012 $6.95

ISSN 1448-5214

9 771448 521006

01

who we are, where we live, shop, work, relax + play

BELLE ÉPOQUE PATISSERIE Step off the busy streets of Brisbane and into a slice of Paris where a delicious assortment of treats, including Brisbane’s most delectable macaroons are made fresh each day by expert Pastry Chefs. Enjoy a smooth Vittoria Coffee or, for those seeking something a little stronger, a selection of boutique French wines are also available.

T. 3253 6988 www.emporiumhotel.com.au MITCH. BY MITCHELL OGILVIE Mitch. by Mitchell Ogilvie is one of Brisbane’s most renowned menswear boutiques and presents contemporary style in a relaxed atmosphere. You will find international labels including Paul Smith, Hugo Boss, Etro, Scotch & Soda, Joe’s Jeans, G&L shoes, and accessories for all occasions. Mitch also provides complimentary alterations as part of its personalised and professional service.

T. 3666 0328 www.mitchellogilvie.com CAMARGUE camargue is Brisbane’s original home of fashion, providing clients with interesting, edgy and eclectic pieces from around the globe. Not just about fashion, camargue also offers its customers a fun, friendly and often quirky experience that one might describe as creative chaos. camargue is quintessential and enduring – fashion fades, but style is eternal.

T. 3252 1100 www.camarguefashion.com.au MITCH. BY MITCHELL OGILVIE

camargue

Brisbane’s urban lifestyle precinct

CAMARGUE

BELLE ÉPOQUE PATISSERIE

EYE CANDY SPEX & CHOX

THREE

EYE CANDY SPEX & CHOX Discreetly nestled between The Wine Emporium and Freestyle Tout is the eyewear boutique, Eye Candy Spex & Chox.

Filled with designer brands including Barton Perreira, Oliver Peoples, Paul Smith, and Cutler & Gross, Eye Candy is a sartorial haven of unique handcrafted frames that speak to those who desire to express individuality in their eyewear.

T. 3666 0677 SUGARED ALMONDS Adding to the mix of fashionable finds at Emporium is quaint childrenswear boutique, Sugared Almonds. Sugared Almonds is teeming with delightful new-season fashion from Australia and Europe, as well as madeto-measure christening wear. For something special, a range of soft toys from Europe and personalised gifts is also available.

T. 3854 1125 THREE three is a refined and elegant version of bistro dining. Serving quality, premium produce and a range of wines to suit its seasonal menus, three offers a comfortable and relaxed environment for diners. three cater for private events and groups, and its in-house cocktail bar offers views over Emporium each day, from midday til late.

T. 3852 3133 www.threebistro.com.au SUGARED ALMONDS

Fashion. Food. LiFestyLe.

TOSCANI One of the most sought-after fashion destinations for innovative womenswear, Toscani is home to exclusive brands from France, Germany, Amsterdam, Italy, Iceland and New York and is a pioneer of global fashion. Toscani offers a unique shopping experience and the boutique’s creative team can style the perfect wardrobe suited to your lifestyle.

Follow Toscani on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ ShopToscani.

T. 3252 4448 www.toscani.com.au TENGDAHL When it comes to fashion, Tengdahl believes simplicity of form and function is the key to creating truly beautiful garments that really mean something to the wearer. Because Tengdahl’s garments are handmade in Australia using the highest quality silks, wool blends, cottons, laces and embellishments, the label has won more than 12 awards for excellence in manufacture and design to date.

T. 3257 0569 www.tengdahl.com ANGELO ANDRONIS DESIGNER JEWELLERY Discover a Bedouin treasure cove filled with unique handmade jewellery and pieces hand selected from international suppliers at Angelo Andronis Designer Jewellery. An award-winning jeweller, Angelo’s host of prestigious awards includes the DeBeers Supreme Diamond Design Award. Those with something particular in mind can meet with Angelo to design an original piece, or remodel an existing piece.

T. 3852 4555 www.andronis.com.au

TONI&GUY THE VALLEY

TOSCANI TONI&GUY THE VALLEY Australia’s most progressive and fashionable hair salon brand TONI&GUY is known for its dedication to providing clients with the highest level of skills, service and products. Owner Kate Burfein’s skills as a technician are second-to-none, and her drive to establish equal standards in customer service are what sets the Fortitude Valley salon aside from any other in Brisbane.

T. 3257 4421 www.toniandguy.com.au

Located between the airport & the cbd, this is where you’LL find brisbane’s best in fashion, dining, Luxury services and accommodation.

1000 ann street, fortitude valley Qld 4006 www.emporium.com.au TENGDAHL

ANGELO ANDRONIS DESIGNER JEWELLERY

Welcome to DOMAYNE速 DESIGN

by Domayne速 Fortitude Valley, where your ideas come to life.

DOMAYNE® DESIGN caters to the residential market, property rentals and commercial property display fit-outs. Whether you require advice for one room or for your whole home, DOMAYNE® DESIGN works within your budget to create a package that fulfils your needs. From the first in-home consultation, right through to the delivery and installation of your new look, Domayne’s® decorators provide exceptional service, unparalleled attention to detail, and first-class customer care.

Let our experienced decorators help transform your living spaces through the seamless collaboration of colour, texture and materials to truly reflect your personality and lifestyle.

DOMAYNE® DESIGN looks after the following:

DOMAYNE® DESIGN services include:

• Indoor and outdoor furniture

• Initial in-store consultation and client briefing

• Bedding

• In-home measure of living spaces to be refurbished

• Soft furnishings • Fabrics and leathers • Wallpaper • Homewares • Re-upholstering • Customised curtain and blind service • Colour consultation on flooring and wall finishes • Custom roller blinds, roman blinds, panel glides and shutters.

lEvEl 1, hOMEMAkEr cItY, 1058 ANN StrEEt, fOrtItuDE vAllEY qlD 4006 tElEphONE: 07 3620 6664 fAcSIMIlE: 07 3620 6688 EMAIl: DESIGNfv@Au.DOMAYNE.cOM www.DOMAYNE.cOM.Au/DESIGN

• Review of existing furniture to co-ordinate with the new look • Co-ordination with Australian suppliers to provide tailored solutions and meet tight deadlines • Written quotes on complete decorating packages • Choose from service packages catered to your residential needs or create a custom package to suit your residential or commercial requirements.

contents ISSUE 09 2011 | 2012

77 06 08

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contents welcome editor’s letter endorsement lord mayor graham quirk

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news brisbane city

14

opinion reveal

OVER TOM GUNN C PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALI MITTON

06

82

67

48

85

fashion

business

16

fashion news

32

business news

18

paul hunt

34

mara bun

20

emma rae

36

jonathan tunny

22

matt green

38

nigel spork

39

anthony hayes

architecture + design 24

design news

26

damien bredberg

28

druce davey

30

wayne denning

science 40

professor russell boyce

sport 41

darren lockyer

contents

56

52

26

79

68

24

73

20

arts

gourmet

villages

travel

42

arts news

52

gourmet news

63 explore

88

glass house mountains

44

wesley enoch

54

jamie trevaskis

64 brisbane

89

fraser island

46

richard causer

56

christina hatzipetrou

66 ascot/

90

south burnett

47

emma dean

58

peter agnew

48

adam ferguson

60

danielle crismani

50

jane o’hara

city

hamilton 68

james street precinct

70 emporium 72

fortitude valley

74

new farm/ teneriffe 76

paddington/ rosalie 78

the barracks

80

south bank

82

west end/ south brisbane

84

woolloongabba

86 bulimba

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welcome editor’s letter ISSUE 09 2011 | 2012

welcome published lovingly by

PUBLISHER

{map publish} – map magazine pty ltd ABN: 98 088 035 045 MANAGING EDITOR CARL LINDGREN BUSINESS MANAGER WENDY SCHIPPER EDITOR KATHRYN LINDGREN ASSISTANT EDITOR MIKKI BRAMMER EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS LIBBY DAVIS, MELINDA HALLORAN

Welcome to the 2011/12 issue of Brisbane Magazine!

We have been glossing newsstands nationally now for nine years and continue to celebrate the city of Brisbane and its surrounds. An integral part of the Brisbane media landscape, Brisbane Magazine’s premise is to ask residents and business owners – as well those making an impact in Brisbane and beyond – deliberate questions about their thoughts on Brisbane so we can share the knowledge about who we are, where we live, shop, relax, work and play.

With the floods early in 2011, the people of Brisbane have proven to be the heart of our beautiful city.

We have come together as a community with spirit to support, help, nurture and rebuild amidst and in the wake of those disastrous days. But we have emerged a stronger city as ever and one more closely bonded by the experience. With great courage, residents, cafes, restaurants and shops have quickly washed away and repaired, putting the remnants of those days behind them and stepping forward to become an even bolder city. We continue to develop with our infrastructure projects constantly improving our built environment whilst maintaining and nurturing the beautiful natural backdrop of the rivers, creeks, parks, mountains and nearby coastline. Our villages are exploding with life, with an extraordinary collection of talented and creative businesses capturing our attention. And the cultural fabric of our city is pouring from the likes of the cultural precinct at South Bank, as well as the multitude of lively music, art and entertainment venues around our city.

PRODUCTION MANAGER SARAH HYNE ART DIRECTOR LILA THEODOROS GRAPHIC DESIGNER KATE STOWER COPY EDITOR MATTHEW BRADY CONTRIBUTORS MIKKI BRAMMER, FRANCES FRANGENHEIM, KATHRYN LINDGREN INTERN ASHTON RIGG PHOTOGRAPHER KATHRYN LINDGREN ADVERTISING MANAGER CHRISANTHI DEMOS ACCOUNT MANAGERS LEONIE RUEGG, GEMMA GORDON FINANCIAL CONTROLLER KATHRYN STEVENS brisbanemagazine IS OWNED, PRODUCED AND PRINTED IN AUSTRALIA

ISSN 1448521-4 POSTAL ADDRESS 5 MORSE STREET, NEWSTEAD, QLD. 4006 TELEPHONE 07 3251 4900 www.mapcreative.com.au Contents of Brisbane Magazine are subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publication of editorial does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of views or opinions expressed. The publisher does not accept responsibility for statements made by advertisers.

The Brisbane Magazine welcomes editorial contributions or comments. They should be sent by email to carl@mapcreative.com.au.

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I have loved watching Brisbane evolve over the last nine years and look forward to watching the new and inventive ways we will shine over the coming years. I hope you enjoy this year’s Brisbane Magazine.

carl lindgren MANAGING EDITOR, BRISBANE MAGAZINE carl@mapcreative.com.au

lifestyle.food.fashion The Barracks – Brisbane’s leading entertainment precinct Whether you’re settling in for a leisurely breakfast with friends, a quick lunch, or a romantic dinner, the epicurean choices at The Barracks are certain to keep your tastebuds entertained. And if you’re yearning for some retail therapy, there are plenty of intriguing boutique finds and hidden treasures to pique your interest. Add these to the world-class cinemas, breezy setting and ultraconvenient inner-city location, and you’ll manage to while away the hours before you know it.

MAJORS Coles Palace Cinemas Dining Cabiria The Chelsea Coaldrake’s Espresso Bar FAB Fish and Burger Grill French Twist Hanabishi Hog’s Breath Cafe Libertine Restaurant and Bar Mövenpick Ice Cream Palace Espresso Bar Peasant Pizzeria 1889 SpeciAlity 20/20 Optical Bittersweet – Chocolate Boutique Blossom Beauty Studios Coaldrake’s Bookshop Fiera Foliage Pure Florist Wheel&Barrow The Robe

2 hOuRS fRee pARking

cOnvenience Amcal Pharmacy Barracks Medical Centre Hi-Speed Internet Kiosks Jimmy Rod’s Barber Peerless Dry Cleaners QML Pathology Splash Car Wash Stewarts Wine Co.

endorsement lord mayor graham quirk

WELCOME TO BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA’S NEW WORLD CITY. BRISBANE IS A FANTASTIC PLACE TO LIVE AND AN AMAZING DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT, NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF YEAR. WE UNDERWENT ONE OF OUR TOUGHEST TESTS AS A CITY RECENTLY WITH THE DEVASTATING FLOODS, WHICH INUNDATED MANY SUBURBS, BUT I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOW BACK ON OUR FEET AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS. RENOWNED FOR OUR RELAXED LIFESTYLE AND SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE, IT’S NO WONDER BRISBANE IS AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER DESTINATION FOR BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT, TOURISM, ART AND CULTURE. FROM EXCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITIONS AND MAJOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS TO OUR MYRIAD OF LIVE SPORTING EVENTS, VIBRANT FESTIVAL SCENE AND SHOPPING PRECINCTS, BRISBANE REALLY DOES HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY. OUR $104 BILLION ECONOMY IS FUELLED BY A STRONG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN, WHICH ENHANCES BRISBANE’S INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION AS A DIVERSE, ENERGISED AND VIBRANT GLOBAL CITY. AS A CLEAN AND GREEN CITY, WE’RE CELEBRATED FOR ROLLING PARKLANDS, MANY ON THE BANKS OF THE FAMOUS BRISBANE RIVER, EXTENSIVE BIKEWAYS AND BEAUTIFUL GARDENS. THE CITYCAT NETWORK ALONG THE BRISBANE RIVER IS A GREAT WAY TO TAKE IN THE SIGHTS, AND ONE OF THE MOST PICTURESQUE WAYS TO GET AROUND TO PLACES LIKE NEW FARM PARK OR THE BOHEMIAN WEST END MARKETS. AND DON’T FORGET TO GRAB A BITE IN OUR AWARD-WINNING DINING HUBS IN PADDINGTON, ROSALIE AND COORPAROO. NO MATTER WHAT YOU END UP DOING IN BRISBANE, I KNOW YOU WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME. GRAHAM QUIRK LORD MAYOR OF BRISBANE

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Stay. Meet.

Relax at

3

of

Brisbane’s finest!

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A secluded oasis in the heart of the city offering luxuriously appointed 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and executive suites with spacious furnished balconies and spectacular views. Enjoy access to contemporary dining, a resort-style swimming pool, sauna, spa, gymnasium, sundeck and 3 superb function rooms.

Call 1800 672 726 Stylish studio guestrooms and 1 bedroom apartments with spectacular views over Brisbane’s skyline.

Cosmopolitan dining and relaxed bar, recreation deck with heated swimming pool, sauna and gymnasium.

Spacious function facilities with tropical outdoor terrace, ideal for intimate cocktails or formal events.

Call 1800 888 298

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Spacious, well-appointed, deluxe and superior guestrooms with views over Brisbane’s CBD and inner suburbs. Modern restaurant, vibrant bar and espresso bar, fully equipped business centre and recreation deck with gymnasium, rooftop pool and sauna, 10 versatile function rooms, 2 grand ballrooms and 2 sophisticated boardrooms.

Call 1800 777 123

For all conference and accommodation enquiries contact Mirvac’s Queensland Regional Sales Office on 07 www.mirvachotels.com

3222 1181 or email qldsales@mirvac.com

managed by Mirvac Hotels & Resorts

news brisbane city

111 + 222 The wait is finally over for one of Brisbane’s most closely guarded development proposals. Billbergia Group has proposed two towers on the site now called 111 + 222, which is set to be Brisbane’s tallest building. The tallest tower, with 92 levels, will incorporate a five-star, 395-room hotel, residential apartments, as well as restaurants and bars lining a thru-site link. This tower has a maximum height of 300 m, putting it in the category of ‘super tall’ buildings. The top floor parapet is at 293.4 m making it Australia’s second-tallest skyscraper and third tallest in overall height. The shorter office tower has 37 levels. The development has been designed

by Bates Smart Architects and boasts a design with a curvaceous form clad with overlapping glass planes for the taller building.

ABC SOUTH BANK HEADQUARTERS A place where meals are shared, milestones are celebrated and the occasional nap is taken, many offices act as a home away from home.

For the employees of ABC Queensland, who currently operate out of eight different offices after abandoning the Toowong headquarters in 2006, a new office in the South Bank Parklands is nearing completion.

The purpose-built facility will reunite all of the ABC employees and form part of South Bank’s cultural hub, which includes QPAC and Queensland Conservatorium of Music. The building will feature environmentally conscious design elements, as well as a ‘glass bowl’ that will make the news studios visible to the public from the outside of the building.

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ARTIST IMPRESSION BY KANE SULLIVAN, LUCID METAL

brisbane city news

BRISBANE FESTIVAL Brisbane’s CBD skyline has changed significantly in recent years with the addition of new buildings and bridges. This September the Brisbane Festival will again showcase the city’s cultural offerings. As well as bringing the Spiegeltent to town, the Santos City of Lights lightshow will come to Brisbane as part of the festival. The first laser-light show of its kind in Australia, the laser-art show will imbue the city with a kaleidoscope of colour. South Bank will offer the best vantage point to watch the light sculptures and listen to the series of musical scores.

TANK RESTAURANT AND BAR When good food meets good company in an atmospheric setting, all that is left to do is sit back and relax, as the ingredients for a good night out come together to create a memorable experience. The product of the creative minds of Genny Nielson and chef Alastair McLeod, inner-city Tank Restaurant and Bar serves elegant Japanese-inspired seasonal produce in an environment that is equally as elegant.

Dishes such as Organic Chicken with Sweetcorn, Peas, Wild Weed and Wakame Salad, are complemented by a contemporary space infused with clean lines and Orazia Gold marble.

Cross River Rail At the end of a busy day, losing yourself in the pages of a good book on the train ride home can be the perfect way to start unwinding. In a bid to improve the efficiency of Brisbane’s rail network and reduce the crowding on trains – leaving more space for reading – the Cross River Rail project will almost double the capacity of the rail network. The plan includes the construction of an underground tunnel running from Yeerongpilly to Victoria Park and four new underground inner-city train stations, including a new station in the heart of the CBD at Albert Street.

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Coffee pods (ESE) Coffee beans Coffee pod machines Coffee love

From Italy For Business For Restaurants For Hospitality For Home

Showroom and warehouse

66 Hope Street, South Brisbane

1300 866 173

lucaffe.com.au

opinion reveal STEFANIE JUNNI

TONY SMITH

MARY COLLIER

WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE? My role is to coordinate

WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE? I oversee all of

WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE? Together with Peter

all advertising in press, radio, online, outdoor and TV and collateral for QM Properties – one of the largest privately owned developers in Queensland. HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? For 25 years. FAVOURITE PLACES? The Barracks on Petrie Terrace has some of Brisbane’s best restaurants and the Palace Cinema, where you can have a glass of wine while watching a movie. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? It has a small-town feeling but is a charming city with world-class offerings.

The abundance of sunshine means I can spend more time outside enjoying barbecues and picnics. IF YOU

QPAC’s interaction between the organisation and our patrons once they arrive at our venue. This is inclusive of all food, beverage and visitor services, which is our wonderful team of front of house ushers. HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? For 39 years (give or take a few years of travelling). FAVOURITE PLACES? My favourite places are definitely the beaches and the mountains, all within an hour’s drive. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? I like the lifestyle, weather and that it is a great place to raise my young family. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? It would be great if we could resolve our escalating traffic and mobility issues. WHAT’S MISSING? The Australian Grand Prix being run through the CBD streets and looping across the Story Bridge. It helped to put Melbourne and Adelaide on the world stage and would do wonders for Brisbane and Queensland tourism as an event city. We can’t continue to just rely on the Great Barrier Reef and our beaches to bring the world to us. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF? We need more late-night dining venues. Not all kitchens should close at 10:00 pm. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE

Dick, I host 4BC’s breakfast radio program.

Peter and I chat with our listeners about anything and everything – news, sport, and entertainment.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? I have lived here all my life. FAVOURITE PLACES? Our parks. Nothing represents Brisbane better than open, sunny spaces, green trees waiting to be climbed and our creeks, be they flowing or dry. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? The people of our city. We have a glorious climate and I truly believe the warmth of the climate is reflected in the warmth of Brisbanites – be they native or adopted. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? If it was possible to start over, I’d love to widen the roads in our inner-city streets to create a boulevard style atmosphere. WHAT’S MISSING? Effective public transport. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF? We need our local and state governments to work together cooperatively for the benefit of Brisbane.

It happened during the height of the floods and we benefited enormously. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED

IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The explosion of our local dining scene,

MOST EXCITING DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS?

MARKETING MANAGER QM PROPERTIES

COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? The weather in January and February – too hot and humid! WHAT’S MISSING?

It’s nearly impossible to have dinner late in Brisbane.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF? More places for an evening picnic with tables, lights, barbecues and with amenities. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The urban-renewal developments

such as at Woolloongabba, The Barracks precinct and Teneriffe. I think it brings a bit of history into modernday Brisbane and provides an interesting backdrop.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE CITY’S MOST EXCITING DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS? I think the

laneway development is really creative and gives Brisbane a European feel. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE GROWTH BRISBANE HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? The improvements to infrastructure to support

the growing population, such as the new bridges, the tunnels, and road improvements, as this cuts down my driving time to work. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN THE FUTURE A lot more cosmopolitan and rivalling the southern cities in regards to shopping, fine dining and especially coffee. We will keep growing and become more sophisticated. This, combined with our ideal weather, will continue to attract more visitors, particularly those south of the border.

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DIRECTOR – PATRON SERVICES QLD PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (QPAC)

which is now of a high enough standard to rival our southern counterparts. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE CITY’S MOST EXCITING DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS? Brisbane’s impressive and

unified recovery after the January floods. We’ve seen our communities really come together and support each other. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE GROWTH BRISBANE HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? It’s finally grown up. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN THE FUTURE A city that is

the envy of all others and a destination that is on everyone’s radar to visit.

BREAKFAST RADIO PRESENTER 1116 4BC

IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? An attitudinal shift. We are a city

with self belief and once you believe in yourself, so will others. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE CITY’S The redevelopment of the Wintergarden in the Queen Street Mall. It is reflective of what we need to achieve in our retail heart – a clean, inviting mix of shops, recreation and dining. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE GROWTH BRISBANE HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? With strong growth has come an enormous

increase in corporate activity and I think many people underestimate the importance of private sector investment to the vibrance of a city. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN THE FUTURE To harness the spirit of community demonstrated during the Brisbane floods to create an economically prosperous city, where diversity is celebrated.

reveal opinion

EUGENE PHUA

JOANNE PRATT

BRAD HOPPER

WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE? I‘m involved in all

WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE? BEMAC works with

WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE? I lead the business

aspects of the business, in particular servicing our coffee wholesale clients. You will also find me in our flagship cafe in Wandoo Street most weekends.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? Since 1983.

FAVOURITE PLACES? My home. It’s a place where family and friends can come and relax and stay as long as they want to. Limes Rooftop Bar and e’cco bistro are great spots too. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? It’s a major city with opportunities for my young family but still small enough to have a great lifestyle and sense of belonging. IF YOU COULD

migrant and refugee artists and their communities, producing, presenting and promoting multicultural arts and world music and mentoring and developing artists. I oversee all aspects of the organisation’s operations and artistic direction. HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? For 21 years. FAVOURITE PLACES? Sandgate and Shorncliffe. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? The diversity, both geographic and cultural. Between the river, the bay and the mountains, what more could you want?

Add to that the wealth of cultural diversity, food, music, art and people. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE

development side of our company, which involves investigating new and exciting opportunities to expand our group of IGA supermarkets. HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? All of my life. FAVOURITE PLACES? The markets at Eagle Farm are fantastic and the riverside restaurants and cafes along Eagle Street Pier are great too. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? The climate and the eclectic mix of people and places that we can access within one hour of the city. IF YOU COULD

THING ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

centrepiece of Brisbane and utilise the waterways more often. WHAT’S MISSING? Daylight savings.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF? Small business evolving in a way that services the needs of a changing population in an always-developing environment. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE

DIRECTOR CAMPOS COFFEE

CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A more frequent public-transport system within a 10 km radius of CBD. WHAT’S MISSING?

More incentives and assistance for a small business to employ more staff, without the hurdles. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF? Unity within local councils, state and federal to work together, not for their own personal agenda, but for the people they represent.

If there was more unity within governments, our local economy will dramatically increase. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The increased mining activity

and overseas investment in our state has resulted in overseas companies setting up offices in Brisbane.

This has effected, and hopefully will continue to effect, our business indirectly. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BRISBANE MULTICULTURAL ARTS CENTRE (BEMAC)

Make public transport cheaper. How do the fares we have now encourage people to be ‘green’?

WHAT’S MISSING? A migrant and indigenous history museum. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF? Sleep ... WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? Being able to apply my passion for the arts across another area of passion for me – cultural diversity. Also, discovering all of the amazing talent that exists in every corner of this beautiful city. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE CITY’S MOST EXCITING DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS? The floods, or rather the

MANAGING DIRECTOR THE HOPPER GROUP

CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would love the river to become the

IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU?

The road infrastructure is getting better all the time. I am an avid user of the Clem7 tunnel and as the construction on other roadway projects continues, and our public-transport system continues to grow, Brisbane will become even more user friendly. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN

resulting sense of community. In this age of ‘online everything’, I think a real positive outcome of the floods was the renewed sense of community all across the city, from neighbour to stranger. WHAT DO

THE CITY’S MOST EXCITING DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS? The community has really bound together

ABOUT THE GROWTH BRISBANE HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? The population growth has

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE GROWTH BRISBANE HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? It certainly

YOU LIKE ABOUT THE GROWTH BRISBANE HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? I think definitely the increased cultural diversity! DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN THE FUTURE I would hope that local and

has provided the platform for speciality coffee roasters to launch and develop the city’s coffee culture.

DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN THE FUTURE To stay as a clean and friendly city, but ‘effervescent’ in the sense that people also see it as a happening place and would like to invest in Brisbane.

state governments would reprioritise the value of arts and cultural investment in Brisbane. We are perfectly positioned to rival Melbourne in terms of being an internationally recognised hub for the arts, but that requires a deliberate and serious commitment to making it happen.

BEEN THE CITY’S MOST EXCITING DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS? ‘The people’ of Brisbane have shown

how friendly, generous, united and resilient we all are when there are troubled times like the floods.

and has rebounded unbelievably well from the disaster of the January floods. WHAT DO YOU LIKE

brought new blood to Brisbane in the form of great restaurants and different retail outlets that we didn’t previously have access too. You no longer need to travel south to experience all these great things. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN THE FUTURE A sustainably diverse city that retains its relaxed atmosphere whilst offering a broad range of cultures and lifestyle options.

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news fashion

CHANEL In 1921, Gabrielle Chanel invented the scent of modernity and gave it a number: 5. She also believed that a mademoiselle should never leave home without her lipstick or her perfume. And now high-end French fashion house Chanel will be the word on Brisbane shoppers’ lips. After six years of searching for the right Queensland location, Chanel is opening its doors. The Chanel Fashion Boutique and the Chanel Fragrance and Beauty Boutique will open in QueensPlaza in late October. With the store stocking the same collections as those released by Chanel concurrently across the globe, Brisbane shoppers are sure to be smitten. And this is just the start, with a wave of global fashion retailers entering the Brisbane CBD market.

WINTERGARDEN REDEVELOPMENT For many months, curious shoppers meandering past the Wintergarden refurbishment in Queen Street Mall have curiously pondered what delights were being created behind closed doors. A $100 million redevelopment that will change the face of the lower end of the Queen Street Mall, the revamping of the Wintergarden is inching ever closer to completion.

Stage one is now open, introducing a mix of new retailers, including dapper men’s label Rodd & Gunn, to the mall. Stage two is set to open during the first half of 2012, revealing a bright new centre teeming with natural light and intuitive design. Five food, leisure and fashion precincts have been incorporated into the centre to create a unique retail experience.

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fashion news

TOM GUNN tom gunn is no wallflower shoe label – it’s making waves in the fashion industry on fashion blogs, magazines, at fashion weeks and on the street. Recent wins for tom gunn include opening its debut retail store in James Street, Fortitude Valley, winning best footwear designer in the 2010 2threads Fashion Awards, and a collaboration at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. tom gunn is also stocked at 14 top boutiques across Australia, including Jean Brown, Miss Mouse and Violent Green in Brisbane.

Foxton Danger Those who fill their

wardrobes with a dizzying array of colour will herald the arrival of luxury resort label Foxton Danger onto the Australian fashion scene. The creation of Brisbane-based designer, Emma McLean, Foxton Danger received a torrent of praise after appearing on the runway at the Rosemount Australia Fashion Week earlier this year. With flowing handprinted silk materials, feminine patterns and signature vibrant colours at the heart of the label, the collection is imbued with wanderlust and the whimsy of sun-drenched resortstyle holidays.

HERMES Brisbane’s luxury row on Edward Street has a new elite member, with Hermes opening its doors last December. Famed for its coveted handbags and luxurious scarves, the French fashion house, founded in 1837, joins high-end neighbours Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co and Louis Vuitton. The new store, covering more than 200 sqm across two floors, forms part of a wider strategy for Edward Street to be home to a number of international luxury brands. As with every other global Hermes retail space, the interiors of the Brisbane boutique were designed by French architectural agency RDAI, under the direction of Denis Montel.

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8/11/2011 4:50:54 PM

fashion paul hunt INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHRYN LINDGREN

paul hunt PAUL HUNT’S NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH COUTURE FASHION AND WEDDING FROCKS. THE BOY FROM COUNTRY NEW SOUTH WALES HAS BEEN RUNNING HIS OWN SHOW AS AN INDEPENDENT DESIGNER IN BRISBANE FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, CREATING MOSTLY BESPOKE PIECES THAT WOW AS MUCH AS THEY WOO. YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE FALLEN UTTERLY IN LOVE WITH PAUL’S DECADENT EVENING AND BRIDAL GOWNS, WHICH ARE OFTEN CAPTURED IN GLOSSY MAGAZINES AND FASHION BLOGS OR SENT SWISHING DOWN RUNWAYS AT EVENTS SUCH AS AT BRISBANE’S ANNUAL MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION FESTIVAL, WHERE PAUL IS A REGULAR EXHIBITOR. The energetic designer – who is always impeccably dressed – can mostly be found beavering away in his elegant studio, which doubles as his design space and retail boutique. It is perched atop other alluring boutiques at James Lane, Fortitude Valley’s newest laneway precinct. Paul’s passion is for creating stunning bridal gowns, which he lovingly hand-finishes using the finest materials. He also makes dramatic bespoke evening gowns and party frocks for race days and spring outings. He is known for having the versatility to turn his precise design eye from bold prints and bright colours to demure palettes and understated elegance without losing his audience. Clients flock from near and far – Paul says two-thirds of his customer base live in Brisbane and the rest fly in from all over Australia. Each year the adrenaline sets in around the latter half of the year as Paul steps it up a notch to nail his couture collection for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival in August and to 18

deliver frocks for his spring brides from September onwards. In 2011, for the first time, Paul will turn off the phone and shut his shopfront doors for a few weeks over this period as he bunkers down in his store to meet those deadlines with the greatest amount of creative energy he can muster.

“I’m being very self-indulgent, but I figure over the last six years I’ve been very user-friendly and I think now is the time it has to change, otherwise we’re not going to stick to the schedule we have planned. We have very big ideas and we want to execute them,” he shares. Paul is looking forward to seeing his design outcome as much as his clients and critics; he admits most of his collections and creations evolve as he creates because that’s the quirk of couture – “… things change once you get going”. His weakness is fabrics – that’s where his true passion lies. “It’s always been textiles driven,” he says of his work. “Fabric is just beautiful. Without it you don’t get the design. People get very carried away in illustrating bits and pieces but if you don’t know what fabric you’re going to use, if you don’t know the outcome of what the fabric is, then I don’t know if you know what your craft is. I think the root of the whole game comes from knowing your fabric, knowing what it does. There’s something beautiful about silk – you can get it so that it’s so gossamer and fine that it looks like it’s going to float on air, or so rough and textured that it can keep you warm, or so thick it gives you the stiffest ball gown. It’s quite interesting to know that one fibre can do all of these things.” For designers, international travel is almost essential for sparking fresh creativity and at the very least is a fantastic excuse for ‘research and development’. Paul visits key fashion centres such as New York, Milan, Paris or London each year. He finds the fabrics created in New York particularly awe-inspiring. “We pick up fabrics and see what’s around.

Because we are couture, we have to have things that others don’t have – it’s our point of uniqueness. And over the years I’ve been very fortunate to build up relationships with people where I can find fabrics that Giorgio Armani uses, or Chanel fabrics or other imported pieces.” Paul recalls as a young boy growing up in Glen Innes in New South Wales that he was more interested in art and craft than playing outside, although he can’t remember if he had a childhood dream as such. “I was always a creative child and it

paul hunt fashion

was going to manifest itself in one way or another,” he says.

“I’d watch my mother sew and my grandmother do bits and pieces.” He designed for friends and family. “I’ve always had a thing for eveningwear so I think my earliest design memory is making evening gowns for the girls in my extended family to go out in and also formal dresses for my school friends.”

Paul lived in Sydney after high school and moved to Brisbane in 1994. He worked at Gardams Fabrics by day, and also in a visual-merchandising job, while sewing and designing his gowns by night. He is self-taught and acted like a sponge, picking up sewing tips and skills wherever he could. He recalls Brisbane’s fashion industry was full of people willing to share their knowledge. “I was lucky to work in a store with lots of creative people who knew their craft … so there were positive influences all around.” These days, Paul gives back to the industry, helping to inspire young designers through various speaking engagements at industry workshops and conferences.

Paul can empathise with the feelings of fear, doubt and burning passion that wrack young independent designers.

He launched his label in 2004 and says it took a big leap of faith. “I think it would be totally arrogant to think it was anything but,” he says, referring to the tough nature of starting your own business. “It was definitely a hard call to make. But nothing in that sort of scale of things is easy to do, so you just have to bite the bullet and make it happen.

I was lucky to have good family and friends who believed in me and supported me, so I was quite fortunate.” An interesting lesson for Paul has been that some decisions aren’t right for the time. For example, his decision in 2007 to launch a readyto-wear collection didn’t fly, as the GFC made it difficult to sell products without a point of difference. “So we really haven’t concentrated on that at all; instead we’ve gone back to our roots in couture in the past two years.” Asked what he still wants to

achieve with his work, Paul says he doesn’t think in such terms.

Rather, his job is to learn everyday. “Really, if you’re a creative person you’re just going to do it and you know, as you get older, that you’ve honed your craft but then it just keeps evolving … it’s neverending; you’re learning something all the time.

Nothing is done just one way.” Paul considers himself fortunate because he loves his job, especially his work with bridal clients.

“Because, as cheesy as it sounds, we are in people’s most private moments and that relationship forged in those few months is really quite lovely.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Brisbane is becoming strong and vibrant again, especially with our fashion profile being raised in recent years. Those interested in fashion locally and nationally are more aware of what Brisbane fashion has to offer.

WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The Mercedes-Benz Fashion

Festival, where Brisbane’s South Bank is transformed into a glittering stretch of runways, discussions and stylish cocktail parties, making fashion accessible to everyone. The festival has made the rest of the country sit up and realise that we do have an amazing fashion scene in Brisbane and that shoppers don’t need to travel down to Sydney and Melbourne to satisfy their fashion needs. WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? Brisbane is warm and friendly in all senses, from our amazingly beautiful climate, where we can access fashion from all seasons whilst still enjoying the outdoors, to the wonderful personalities of the people within Brisbane. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? The Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams exhibition on at the Gallery of Modern Art. Also, the Winter/Spring Season at the Brisbane Powerhouse and, of course, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival on August 20–26, 2011.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival.

Suburb New Farm/Teneriffe.

Restaurant Beccofino and Montrachet.

Cafe Little Larder.

Bar Jamie’s Espresso Bar. Escape Byron Bay. Weekend activity Friends, dinner and a movie.

Picnic Spot New Farm Park.

Retailer The Cloakroom.

Landmarks Brisbane River.

Describe your vision of Brisbane in 2017 Brisbane continuing to edge towards being an even bigger thriving metropolis that rivals the likes of Sydney and Melbourne.

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fashion emma rea INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM

emma rea YOUNG FASHION DESIGNER EMMA REA IS LIVING BETWEEN TWO HOMES – HER HOMETOWN OF BRISBANE AND HER CURRENT ABODE IN SHENZHEN, SOUTHERN CHINA, JUST A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP FROM HONG KONG. LIVING AMONGST A NEW CULTURE IS PROVING DELIGHTFUL CREATIVE STIMULATION. Emma popped home to Brisbane earlier in the year to show her new collection at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week and meet her newborn nephew, the first grandchild for her parents.

“My mum is so excited,” she laughs. Emma is thrilled to note her own baby – her namesake fashion label – was well received at Fashion Week. “The response was brilliant and I think I picked up some new clients, which is really exciting,” she shares, later confirming uber-sleek boutique Izabel + Sebastian at Brisbane’s South Bank is a new stockist, along with original Brisbane stockists, Fallow and Bessie Head. Emma’s new spring/summer 2011 collection sticks to her neutral palette of whites and blacks, and is a mix between sporty and mod streetwear. It is crafted with “utterly wearable fabrics,” including modal, bamboo and cotton linens. Not one to play it safe, Emma finds it difficult to define her style because it keeps changing. “It changes all the time,” Emma notes. “But it’s not about trends; it’s that you’re always pushing yourself. I stick to the same aesthetic every time then that’s not really doing anything groundbreaking, is it?”

Emma made the gutsy move of launching her label after graduating from Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE in 2008.

She hadn’t planned to be her own boss, and recalls her lecturer’s advice to cut her teeth on other people’s labels, but there weren’t 20

many other options available. “Good jobs are as rare as hen’s teeth,” Emma says. “I decided to start the label and see how I went and at the time I was lucky enough to have a connection with Nat Denning who owns boutiques in Brisbane.” Nat Denning pre-ordered the first season for her stores Fallow and Bessie Head, and two quality boutiques in Bondi followed suit. Emma recalls being amazed that her early stockists paid for pieces in advance, before the collection was even produced. “That was a sign for me that people believed in me.” Asked what she loves about her job, Emma notes dreamily: “I feel like I am creating this thing; the label is my baby. I love that I’m doing what I wanted to be doing and I love the fact I work for myself. I love meeting people who inspire me. And I love doing research on a collection … That’s when I go back to when it was just a hobby.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Business in Brisbane is great!

Because it's still a relatively small city, there is a strong sense of community and loyalty from our customer base. Brisbane’s cultural and leisure lifestyles translate into plenty of faithful clients who enjoy their investment in fashion. WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? We have amazing beaches, rainforest and peaceful rural areas in close proximity, and many stimulating cultural and leisure options, from art galleries, markets, outdoor sports and recreation facilities, to beautiful parks, restaurants and shopping destinations.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE?

Until October this year at GoMA there is a show entitled Surrealism: the Poetry of Dreams, an exhibition of surrealist works from the Musée national d'art moderne, Centre Pompidou, Paris. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 I would be sad to see Brisbane lose its charming, relaxed attitude to the fastpaced lifestyle of so many capitals. Having said that, I very much appreciate the modernisation and growth of diversity that has occurred in recent years. My hope would be that a balance can be maintained in all these areas.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Coming home from overseas.

Suburb Paddington.

Restaurant Tukka.

Cafe Pearl Cafe.

Bar The Bowery.

Escape Mount Tamborine.

Weekend Activity Brunch or bushwalk.

Picnic Spot Mount Glorious.

Retailer Fallow.

Landmark Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

What change has occurred in Brisbane in recent years that has had a positive impact on you? The explosion of growth, both population-wise and culturally, means that our audience has widened, and our thirst for inspiration can always be quenched.

As a designer, I draw heavily on cultural pursuits for inspiration, and this growth has meant that my yearning for inspiration can always be fulfilled.

fashion wrism INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM

matt green BRISBANE ENTREPRENEUR MATT GREEN LAUNCHED HIS INDEPENDENT SHOE LABEL, WRISM, AS A ONE-MAN BAND IN SEPTEMBER 2010. IT WAS ONE OF THE KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF HIS LIFE, BUT THERE WAS NO CONFETTI OR FANFARE – IT’S NOT HIS STYLE. “I didn’t really want to have a launch ... for it to be about me,” Matt explains. “I just want to modestly go to market and for it just to happen itself.” Matt’s unassuming approach is doing his label no harm – Wrism has secured more than 20 stockists in top boutiques across Australia, including Brisbane’s Bo & Arro in West End and Angus Black in Fortitude Valley. Wrism’s second collection will land in stores in late 2011. The label captures a niche in the market for independent footwear that is supremely designed and tailored and at an affordable price point. Wrism shoes use high-quality 100 percent lamb-hide leather for a softer wear. They’re also sleek and modern, fit for boys and men, and effortlessly blend the edginess of a street-smart aesthetic with a dressier look and a no-fuss style.

Matt launched Wrism over an 18-month timeframe and says his biggest business hurdle was that he started from scratch.

He had no experience in fashion and design, and no fetish for footwear. His friends and family naturally thought he was joking when he toyed with the idea of launching a shoe label.

But Matt explains: “I knew within myself that I’d always been ambitious. I wanted to challenge myself and pursue something creative and that idea kind of compounded within me.” In 2007 he quit his job in marketing and media to study design full-time 22

over three months at Shillington College in Brisbane.

“So I followed that inner calling, I guess you could call it,” he says. He set about developing a business plan and lived like a “mega bum,” scraping by on his savings, money from odd jobs and a little help from his dad. He grew his business idea through the Australian Government’s NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) and embarked on an exhausting and exhilarating 18-month ride, learning to develop designs and samples, secure manufacturers, suppliers and stockists, and go to market. While every day brings new challenges, Matt is chuffed with how much smoother the sailing is compared to the startup phase. With his second collection in the wings, the future is looking bright. “I feel so much more comfortable and confident this time around,” he says with relief. “It’s such a nice feeling.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Pretty good for Wrism. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? In the nine years that I have called

Brisbane home, I'd have to say its people. When I first arrived, I think it was at its peak of being a sleepy country town. Since then, I think its people have evolved naturally. New interesting ventures and things are popping up everywhere as the years go by, giving Brisbane a much better vibe and a stronger sense of substance and culture. It's great for everyone.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Wrism’s next drop for summer – keep an eye

out! It is a bit exciting anticipating the organic evolution of Brisbane. It seems to me that the people of Brisbane are now more inclined to have bit more of a crack at doing something unique and challenging. Not just in the arts but across all industries and that ultimately is shaping the city of Brisbane's future. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 My vision for Brisbane is casually smart, genuinely understated, with a strong libido that effortlessly appeals.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Daft Punk at Brisbane Riverstage.

Suburb New Farm and Paddington.

Restaurant Montrachet and Hosakawa.

Cafe Pearl Cafe.

Bar Uptown at Crosstown Eating House.

Escape Noosa Hinterland.

Weekend Activity Surfing and/or on a boat.

Picnic Spot Northshore Hamilton.

Retailer All of Nat Denning's stores.

Landmarks Nine Lives Gallery.

What makes Brisbane unique? Its casual approach and its acclaimed coastlines,both north and south.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANTANU STARICK

news design

HOUSE OF THE YEAR When the design of a home seamlessly merges with functionality, a dream is transformed into reality.

From its lofty perch on North Stradbroke Island, the DHAN Plus home invites the natural world into its space, boasting neverending ocean views. Brisbane architecture firm Donovan Hill was awarded ‘House of the Year’ in the 2011 AIA Brisbane Architecture Awards for the design of the house. Thoughtfully created, the home is complemented by its natural surrounds, and incorporates modest and thoughtful materials with functional design.

QUENCH DESIGN COLLECTIVE From coffee cups to gadgets and furniture, design infiltrates every nook of our lives. Quench Design Collective was founded by six of Queensland’s most prominent designers with the aim to mark Brisbane on the map of global design hubs. The design collective will foster an active network of designers, and will also put the best Queensland designs on an international stage at Designtide Tokyo during the 2011 Tokyo Design Week.

WAMBAMBOO

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR Part of the Queensland Government’s Design Strategy 2020, the Premier’s Design Awards celebrate significant contributions to Queensland’s design culture. Acknowledged for her successful commitment to fostering design thinking, Nicola Lloyd of Lloyd Grey Design has been awarded the Smart State Design Fellow for 2011. Awarded $40,000 for her contribution to growing the state’s design sector, the award acknowledges Nicola’s business endeavours, lecturing position at the Queensland College of Art, and her professional innovation. Striving to approach design with an open-minded perspective, Nicola generously invites community members, students and fellow designers to join her quest for quality design.

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Wambamboo’s furniture and object range highlights bamboo’s versatility as a natural high-end material using bamboo poles, cross-laminated boards and veneers, whilst promoting the environmental benefits of this rapidly renewable resource. The tectonic mobile/pendant is inspired by tectonic plate movement and has just taken out Wambamboo’s 5th Design and Design International Award recognising leading product and graphic design.

zero-emission building Setting an environmentally responsible example for its students and the rest of Australia, Griffith University is on track to build Australia’s first selfpowered, zero-emission building. Solar panels fitted to the building’s exterior will generate the energy the building will require to fuel its power supply.

Vice Chancellor Professor Ian O’Connor hopes the building’s technology could also be used in remote communities without access to a power grid.

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design damien bredberg INTERVIEW BY KATHRYN LINDGREN PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY DAMIEN BREDBERG

damien bredberg IN TODAY’S WORLD OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY, PHOTOGRAPHERS NEED TO HAVE MORE THAN TECHNICAL ABILITY WITH CAMERAS TO PRODUCE A GREAT PHOTOGRAPH. IT IS THE ABILITY TO MANIPULATE MULTIPLE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES TO MAKE ONE PERFECT IMAGE THAT TAKES VIEWERS ON AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY. DAMIEN BREDBERG HAS THIS TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, CREATIVE FLAIR, AS WELL AS AN EYE FOR QUIRKINESS, MAKING THE IMPACT OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHY ALL THE MORE IMPRESSIVE. Damien works at the ‘lucky end’ of the photography spectrum. He is a commercial photographer whose style could be described as surreal and dreamlike, sometimes almost animated. His approach to photography is fun and, after a conversation with Damien, you quickly realise that his quirky mind is at the heart of his skill. But his style is also extremely well thought-out and he plans it to tell a story. “My goal with every project is to take photography to the next level, to change the normal image that you might see everyday to something totally new and different,” he states. Damien’s passion is to tweak the colour and the style of an image using an illustrative approach that looks somewhat like a drawing or a painting. “It takes this industry beyond photography and it’s what we need to do as professionals to differentiate ourselves,” he says. He recognises that, nowadays, with the abundance of userfriendly photographic applications, many people can pick up a camera and apply some basic Photoshop skills to produce a really good photo. Within a rapidly diminishing market, Damien has been able to differentiate himself through his passion and unique skill set. “The trick of all artists is to visualise the finished product and know where you want to take the work. That way you can take all 26

the steps necessary to get you there,” says Damien. A trip to Hong Kong when he was 20 was where Damien bought his first camera. “Nothing of note,” Damien recalls of the camera’s specifications. But when he returned to Brisbane, he decided to do some films of his friends surfing, so he bought an underwater housing for a video camera. Once he realised he couldn’t afford the video camera to go inside the housing, he just bought a disposable underwater camera to take some stills to see if he liked it. “I loved the stills side of things,” he remembers. By chance, at around the same time, Damien won a trip to Bathurst to spend time with a V8 racing team. He spent time with the pit crew, being part of the team and even sleeping in the same room. With his Hong Kong camera in-hand, Damien took some photographs of this major event.

“The team saw my photos and offered to buy some from me, and so did various magazines,” beams Damien. “I thought, wow, this is pretty cool, maybe I can make a living out of taking photographs,” he says. And so Damien’s journey began. He did a one-year preliminary course at Moreton Bay TAFE and then two years at University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, returning to Brisbane each weekend for unpaid work with a wedding photographer. “What college wasn’t teaching me was coming from this work experience,” he says. “Through my networks I was working with about seven wedding photographers, doing their post-production, re-touching work and designing their wedding albums,” Damien recalls. Eventually after 3–4 years he was doing less and less retouching and more photography on his own. Damien then founded the business Cru Creative with an old school friend. Cru was a small boutique agency that undertook print, web and photography out of the basement of his parents’ home. “We grew Cru to about 16 staff and moved into a proper office at West End where I had my own studio,” Damien says. It was through this collaborative approach to business and the different products and services offered that Damien started winning more and more clients based in the advertising industry and clients who wanted full campaign images. “For me that was the next step,” he says. Cru evolved again to drop the print work and focus solely on website design with a side photography business, BergandWest, with fellow photographer Dean West. With the increasing restrictions and distractions of growing businesses, Damien sold out

damien bredberg design

of both companies in 2008 to focus solely on what he wanted to achieve in photography. “When people ask me what I do, I say I’m a commercial photographer and I shoot anything but weddings and traditional portraits,” laughs Damien. With commercial photography covering so many genres and styles, Damien recognised that he needed to be flexible and adaptable. He found himself working with the likes of sole traders and on corporate portraits, right through to a full advertising campaign where he was asked to come up with the idea, shoot it, light it and retouch it. “A lot of people come to me for my style, but our industry doesn’t often get the right to ‘do whatever we want’,” he says. When asked how he evolved to be like a creative agency, Damien comments: “It was just doing what came naturally. I didn’t need to go looking for inspiration.” Putting it down to his humorous upbringing with a quirky father and funny friends, Damien has fallen into a photography genre to which he is perfectly matched. “I’m far from serious and far from being a formal person so, for me, quirky, funny and crazy images are just how I express myself,” he admits. When asked about his favourite projects, Damien’s list is long and varied. The Wine & Dine’m piece was all about indulgence and obsession and for Damien it was “a client with a reasonable budget for Brisbane, but left me with complete creative control. It’s my dream to have more clients like that”. The Brisbane City Council’s Brisbane’s Least Wanted litterbug campaign was very quirky and “100% my style,” says Damien. It featured five comical litterbug personas: the Flagrant Flinger, the Wedger, the Pretender, the Foul Shooter and the Butthead, all of whom have no place in our beautiful city, or any city for that matter. About his Movember gangster self-promotion piece, Damien explains: “Every year I commit myself to raise money for the Movember charity. We form a group and I bring them to life in my photos in a way that expresses where I’d like to go with my photography.” While very focused now on what he wants to achieve in photography Damien wasn’t always so clear. “I had a close friend at school who had all

the latest computer equipment and 3D programs and it led to an interest in graphics and art space, but I didn’t get the OP I needed to do graphic design,” Damien admits. “I was a bit of a ratbag at school, I suppose,” he laughs. He attributes his quirkiness to his father “My dad was very hands-on with art, painting and drawing. While he didn’t push it on me, I guess I get my creative flair from him.” Both personalities are obviously depicted in Damien’s submission to an Australian Institute of Professional Photography contest – an image that showed the lengths to which a father will go to help his son. Picture an older man of skin and bone, fully naked – apart from aviator goggles and cap – straddling a vintage scooter, and hunched over in a racing position with a look of pure goof smeared across his face. That man was Damien’s dad and the image won Damien the title ‘Australian Editorial Photographer of the Year’. Well deserved I’d say.

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Business has been surprisingly busy with a growing demand and respect for professional photography.

Despite the many challenges and symptoms of the GFC that are still looming, clients are more educated and resourceful with their budgets and are focused on building longer, quality relationships.

WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? Undoubtedly our weather, people and generosity. The devastating floods earlier this year in Brisbane demonstrated our bond and true fighting spirit. I can see how this has translated into both our social and business lives. WHAT POSITIVE CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? With the establishment of

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Queensland Reds winning.

Suburb Rosalie.

Restaurant Sono Japanese Restaurant.

Cafe Vagelis Cafe and Bar. Bar Laruche.

Escape Brookwater Golf Course.

Weekend Activity Renovating.

Picnic Spot New Farm Park.

Retailer Universal Store.

Landmark GoMA.

Describe your vision of brisbane in 2017 With the emerging creatives and upand-coming talent of today, Brisbane will be a cultural hub of art, recreation and sport.

GoMA, Brisbane’s art culture has emerged to showcase worldwide talent and exhibitions and, for artists like myself, this has been instrumental in keeping my enthusiasm and passion for art alive and inspiring. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Surrealism – The Poetry of Dreams at GoMA and, of course, Queensland’s domination in sport – Brisbane Roar, Queensland Reds Rugby and Queensland winning State of Origin.

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design greener kitchens INTERVIEW BY KATHRYN LINDGREN PROFILE PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHRYN LINDGREN

druce davey AN UNEXPECTED PHONE CALL REQUESTING HIS INVOLVEMENT IN JAMIE OLIVER’S IPSWICH MINISTRY OF FOOD KITCHEN DESIGN HAS PUT A STAMP ON DRUCE DAVEY’S GREEN KITCHEN CONCEPT. With just as much pride, Druce recalls a phone call about five years ago from a Brisbane resident wanting him to join her in a journey to design his first green kitchen. It was a journey from which he never returned, instead leading him to open his own business, Greener Kitchens, which now services Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and the UK. “Once I looked into the products that were used, and took ownership for the impact they were having on the environment, I couldn’t turn back,” states Druce. With timber sources and glues being the major concern, Druce attests that there are products available that are recycled and don’t produce the same off-gassing of formaldehyde gas that causes allergies and respiratory problems. “And it doesn’t have to be expensive,” he explains. Whether it be filing through off-cuts from graveyard stonemasons or sourcing recycled glass, Druce is on a mission to make sustainable products freely available to the public and designers. With a background in set design, Druce’s initial drive was aesthetic, but once he learned of the impact the products used had on the environment, and how alternatives are now freely available, he experienced an instant shift in design direction. “There is a lot of green work going on with the Green Building Council. It is fantastic, commercially, that architects and designers have to tap into this framework.

But there is no similar influence to change the home choices thus why my passion remains in the residential arena,” says Druce. Part of his business philosophy is to ensure that Greener 28

Kitchens specifies only the best it can possibly find in its authentic sustainable designs. Now Druce’s link-up with the Ministry of Food to design and build a green kitchen that matched with Jamie Oliver’s philosophy of healthy eating has enabled him to publicly and commercially reinforce this concept. He feels privileged to have been involved in an evolving and inventive industry that came together locally to donate all the products that went into the Ministry’s sustainable kitchen. “I came across a harvest of local Ipswich telephone pole cross arms that were glued together, so the people of Ipswich now have them as their Ministry kitchen island bench,” recalls Druce. “For me, the perpetual challenge is in finding these alternatives, working to make them viable and offering them as the easy choice,” he says. “By choosing the alternatives, the industry has the power to help end illegal logging of forests, causing habitat destruction and the endangering of species.” His hope is that one day the market for the responsible alternative will overcome the market for irresponsibly made materials, which is sure to happen if enough people vote the right way with their purchasing power. Druce believes you don’t have to chain yourself to a tree to make a difference – your wallet is just as powerful.

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? It’s a market that has entertained a unique sustainable design concept and helped it develop, which is a mark of its maturation as a city. WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? You can’t miss the bikes begging to be ridden on almost every corner of the city, a great response to the challenges of a modern growing city. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The improving acceptance of the beauty in the recycled, reused, rescued and responsible. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food program is an amazing opportunity to take a little trip out to Ipswich and discover the joy of cooking from scratch.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Ministry of Food cooking class.

Suburb Spring Hill.

Restaurant Crosstown Eating House.

Cafe Sisco.

Bar Archive Beer Boutique.

Escape Byron Bay. Weekend Activity Dinner with friends.

Picnic Spot Roma Street Parklands.

Retailer Davies Park West End Markets.

Landmarks It was the Regent Theatre – how can things like that be torn down?

Describe your vision of Brisbane in 2017 More independent shops and businesses thriving, owned by passionate people, doing their own special thing without dampening our individuality and robbing suburbs of their community hubs.

design carbon media INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM

wayne denning BRISBANE ENTREPRENEUR WAYNE DENNING CREDITS HIS MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEGREE FROM QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY FOR GIVING HIM THE CONFIDENCE TO LAUNCH HIS WHOLLY ABORIGINAL-OWNED NEW MEDIA PRODUCTION COMPANY, CARBON MEDIA, IN 2006.

Prior to his entrepreneurial awakening, Wayne had worked for the federal government in Canberra for eight years in land rights advocacy and legal aid. “I wanted to do an MBA as a way of freeing up my mind a bit and looking at opportunities,” Wayne explains. For a business-planning subject he developed the concept of video content for smart phones. “We were a little bit ahead of our time; the technology wasn’t quite with us.

I took the basis of that plan and the company grew organically from that,” he shares. Wayne’s seed idea has grown into an award-winning business: Carbon Media is described as 'a onestop creative shop for the design and delivery of content across all genres and platforms – TV, web and mobile'. Based at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus and Creative Industries Precinct, Wayne’s team of creative and technical experts together dream up and deliver television commercials, documentaries, web development and design, live streaming, interstitials, corporate video, mobile phone apps and social media campaigns. Among Carbon Media’s many coups is Letterbox, launched in 2009 as Australia’s first indigenous children’s television game show and interactive website. It’s part of Wayne’s focus to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their culture. Carbon Media also produced the landmark documentary From the Ashes screened 30

on ABC1 in March 2010. It tells the little-known story of the achievement of the 1868 Aboriginal cricket team – the first ever Australian international touring side in any sport – through the eyes of two young indigenous cricketers. The Carbon Media team is currently working on a new trans-media project for ABC to be released in 2012. “We’ll be building an online and digital media space for a three-part TV series about Australia’s pre-European history," he shares. "It will capture 60,000 years of indigenous habitation of this continent and what’s happened in that period.” When asked what he loves about what he does, Wayne replies that he loves being his own boss. "I love having influence and the ability to communicate and entertain people on a vast spread. I also like the idea of generational change and children’s focus. Also, we’ve got values behind what we’re trying to achieve at Carbon Media – we’re using a commercial approach to facilitate social change. We want people to be proud and have an understanding of where we’re coming from and also be entertained and have some fun. That’s what motivates me.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Business in Brisbane is dynamic for a creative business like Carbon Media. It provides an optimism and confidence that enables us to project nationally and internationally.

WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? Brisbane is, ideally, a place where the mix of work and play, plus quality of life, maximises opportunities for creative businesses. It facilitates and rewards entrepreneurial attributes and allows people to have a chance … after that it is up to them. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? I really love the change that you can see before your eyes – the infrastructure, the creative sectors, the increasing maturity of the city as it makes its own way in the world. You really feel a part of it. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 Brisbane is continuing to achieve above its weight globally and is settling into being Australia's most dynamic new world city. Welland-truly emerged from the shadows of Melbourne and Sydney.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Sunshine.

Suburb Paddington.

Restaurant Aria.

Cafe Anouk.

Bar The Lark.

Escape The coasts.

Weekend Activity City coffee.

Picnic Spot New Farm Park.

Retailer QueensPlaza.

Landmarks Brisbane River.

What change has occurred in Brisbane in recent years that has had a positive impact on you?

The sense of timing and the identity of the city has really supported the creative business mindset. The city now has a capacity to support businesses to allow them to flourish and grow and to take on the world without the need to ever leave.

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ENTREPRENEURS Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year recognised an exceptional group at the 2011 Northern Region awards. Paul and Ian Everest from Unit were the Emerging category winners.

From their parents’ garage with start-up capital of $600, the two have built a $23 million dollar business in nine years. Designing, marketing, manufacturing and selling its signature branded action sports clothing and accessories domestically and internationally, Unit has perfected its edgy marketing technique for the brand through its thought-provoking advertising, videos and t-shirts. Other brand building activies include investing in high profile and up-andcoming athletes in Australia and internationally.

ORGANIC CHAR Organics appear on most quality menus, but imagine a restaurant where organic defines every possible ingredient right down to the salt and pepper. Enter Organic Char, John Kilroy’s latest 50-seat restaurant in the heart of the CBD, right next door to his iconic Cha Cha Char. John’s concept is to take a fabulous ingredient and shine a spotlight on it – and we all know that beef is the undisputed star at Cha Cha Char. At Jellyfish, it is his love of fishing that inspired him to present as many species of fish as possible. This time at Organic Char it’s beautiful, pristine produce, ethically and responsibly grown. Much time and effort has gone into the sourcing of available organic produce and this search has unearthed some fantastic small producers, some of whose lines will be on sale at the entrance of the restaurant.

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GASWORKS The Newstead Gasworks No. 2 gasholder remnants and guide framing is significant for its rarity, its robustness and its association with Queensland’s first gasworks and major public utility for 125 years. It will soon form the architectural context for Gasworks, Australia’s leading new urban masterplanned community.

The development will incorporate contemporary urban apartments with a choice of city or river views, a dynamic and diverse commercial office environment, as well as a stylish neighbourhood shopping precinct.

SOLARWINDS HEADQUARTERS Recognising Brisbane’s presence in the global business market, a major international IT management software provider has chosen the Queensland capital as the location for its Asia Pacific regional headquarters. US-based IT innovator SolarWinds believed that Brisbane was a standout choice to extend its products to Australasia. Working in conjunction with local talent, the firm has opened up new jobs in Brisbane, and continues to link Brisbanebased innovation with international enterprises.

M&A development An exciting development is set to capture the spirit of Fortitude Valley through an exploration of architectural design, laneway culture and inner-city life. A residential and retail innovation, the M&A precinct (due for completion in late 2012) plans to blend the buzz of nearby James Street with the urban charm of the McLachlan and Ann Street area. The development will help improve urban density levels in Fortitude Valley while adding additional much needed residential supply for inner-Brisbane.

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business green cross australia INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM

mara bun YOU CAN’T HELP BUT SMILE WHEN CHATTING WITH MARA BUN. HER ENERGY IS INFECTIOUS AND SHE USES PHRASES LIKE “BOTTLED SUNSHINE” AND “EQUAL PARTS TOTAL ERROR AND COMPLETE GLEE” TO DESCRIBE PROJECTS SHE IS WORKING ON IN HER ROLE AS FOUNDING CEO OF GREEN CROSS AUSTRALIA, BASED IN BRISBANE. Green Cross Australia launched in 2007 out of Green Cross International, which owns the bold mission to apply the Red Cross International medical emergency response model to ecological issues. Mara’s role is to bring together communities, businesses, educational institutions, governments and individuals to respond to environmental change and extreme weather events in sustainable, proactive and creative ways. It appears a daunting task, but spend time talking to Mara and suddenly it all sounds achievable and bundles of fun. Mara shares that there are three main Green Cross Australia projects keeping her awake at night.

The one she describes as “bottled sunshine” is the Green Lane Diary, which involves 30,000 primary school children undertaking a 10-week program of selfdirected environmental action in their schools, homes and communities. “It’s so beautiful,” Mara gushes of the project’s scope. “We have no idea what the kids are actually going to do until they tell us. Over the next three months we’re just going to sit and smile because we’ll be getting emails from kids doing amazing things.” This curriculum-linked education program encourages 8–13-year-olds to become aware of the stresses our planet confronts and how sustainable living can make a difference. “Kids are so passionate about the environment and so aware of the challenges ahead. It’s a recipe for optimism at a time when you could be persuaded that things are not looking so good.” Optimism, rather than fear-mongering, is at the heart of the Green Cross mission and a constant theme is resilience and self-reliance, that no matter what our environment throws at us – floods, bushfires, cyclones – we will build back greener and smarter, and achieve a secure future. Mara explains that Green Cross uses the digital space to share 34

this message. “We’re lucky. We were born four years ago in the Web 2.0 age, so of course we’re going to operate in different ways and what we excel at is creating digital journeys for individuals, partners and governments that can help us work out the best way things can be done.” An example is Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires. The tragic event inspired Green Cross Australia to create the builditbackgreen.org portal to help people rebuild sustainably and affordably.

The site won a Best in Class Interactive Media Award in New York last year for its genius in providing links to green resources and suppliers, and sharing rebuilding techniques and inspiring stories from people who are undertaking the rebuilding process sustainably. A Queensland project is next on the cards in the wake of Cyclone Yasi and the Brisbane floods. Mara’s career CV shows she is comfortable in the hot seat. Starting her career as an investment banker with Morgan Stanley in the 1980s, Mara has since worked in lofty roles for consumer watchdog CHOICE, Greenpeace Australia, The Wilderness Society, Macquarie Bank as a senior equities analyst, head of research at CANNEX consumer finance research firm and for a World Bank earthquake reconstruction project in Nepal. She helped launch Green Cross Australia in 2007, as founding CEO. Born in Brazil, Mara’s childhood dream was not to be an environmental warrior but to grow up to be a boy so she could be a football player “ … not knowing that girls could also play soccer,” she laughs. Her family lived between Brazil and California, and Mara moved to Australia in 1991. She credits her Hungarian father and AustrianBrazilian mother for her social conscience and love of the environment. “I am blessed by amazing parents. Really, I just can’t tell you,” she gushes. Mara recalls her mum taking her to a Black Panthers rally when they lived in California while her father completed his PhD. “I mean we were there in Berkeley and Stamford during the ‘70s and that was the time when the idea of war and peace was so front of mind. And, for us, the environment was so underpinned with that.

Every holiday we visited a different national park.” From Yosemite to Joshua Tree and Yellowstone, Mara learnt to treasure the natural environment, “My parents also really instilled in us the sense of the ‘us’ and that it’s not good until it’s good for all of us. And that I am so grateful for.” While other teenaged girls spent their summer holidays at the beach, Mara volunteered with the Amigos de las Americas. “It was like a Peace Corps for younger kids in the work of public

green cross australia business

health,” Mara explains. “During the school year I would fundraise to spend the summer somewhere and then I would go through training about vaccinating, building latrines, oral health programs – you name it. I went to amazing places – Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Mexico. It was fantastic.” After completing a degree in economics and political science at Williams College in Massachusetts, Mara worked as an investment banker for five years with global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley. Mara recalls it was during the days when Wall Street was filmed. “So it was the ‘80s; it was the big shoulder pad thing … It was such a joy to have big hair celebrated. It’s the only time in my life when I’ve actually been on trend,” she laughs. “But it was five years of my life that I’ll always remember,” she says genuinely, noting she learnt robust skills in how to understand cashflow, to value companies, and how different cultures drive organisations. “It was so diverse.

I was involved with a team that sold a tobacco company and a fertiliser company. I defended one of the big oil and gas takeovers.” Mara also worked in the company’s high-tech team in Silicon Valley, and admits it was a dream experience because technology has always been her passion. Her father was a computer scientist and owned a software company. “For me, technology is such a beautiful, beautiful thing and to be a part of financing technology companies was just fantastic. I think that’s kind of why the Green Cross digital vision has unfolded in such a powerful way, you know, the seeds of that were planted in my brain so early on.” When asked if she considers herself a success, Mara sidesteps the concept, noting: “It’s impossible to judge one’s own contribution.” Instead, she acknowledges she feels blessed.

“I have this tremendous satisfaction, almost as if, by magic, my life has evolved to a place now where I live at the top of a valley almost inside a forest,” she gushes of the Gold Coast hinterland home she shares with her husband, Stuart, an environmental plumber. “Our windows open onto this wall of rainforest into

this kind of volcanic mountain surrounded by waterfalls, and above our block we can actually see baby Wedge-tailed Eagles learning how to fly. It’s just the most incredible thing. And Stu my husband is just a gem and has all the practical stuff to ground all my wacky ideas. We live off the water grid and our energy is pretty much close to zero, and we have the most wonderful motley crew of neighbours who are very diverse and all look out for each other.”

Clearly Mara is grateful for her lot in life. “The fact that I can do this work with such interesting research, corporate and community partners right around the world, and certainly around Australia, and live in this way – I feel it’s not so much that I’m a success; I feel blessed by how this world is full with possibility … We all make choices along the way. It’s amazing how there are those forks in the road. I feel very fortunate to have turned the right way.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? I love Brisbane and its scale and informal entrepreneurial culture. Somehow it’s less judgmental and more open. WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? We have some of the global leadership in design, new energy models, ICT and gaming and computer applications, science. And also there’s the fact we are discovering vaccines in Brisbane that are saving millions of lives around the world. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Right now we can show the world we can emerge from the flood recovery better than we were before. There are lots of beautiful ideas for how that can work. We are working on green housing issues, green schools and better design infrastructure near the river.

DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 I think we should aim to be a place where we not only live in sustainable and resilient ways that embrace diversity, flexibility and innovation, but we aim to be a place that exports those technologies and ideas to other parts of the world that share similar challenges. By 2017 we should have a buzz around us about the 21st century being full of challenges that we’re embracing.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience State Library of Queensland.

Suburb Red Hill.

Bar Criterion Tavern.

Cafe The German Sausage Hut. Weekend Activity Gold Coast Hinterland.

Picnic Spot Our Hungarian next-door neighbours’ home.

Retailer Biome.

Landmarks Inside Queensland Parliament House, Brisbane Powerhouse and the City Botanic Gardens.

What change has occurred in Brisbane in recent years, that has had a positive impact on you? I love walking through King George Square and feeling that sweeping motion of people. There’s something about connecting open spaces around Brisbane that has been really beautiful.

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business the rna INTERVIEW BY KATHRYN LINDGREN

jonathan tunny AFTER SEVEN YEARS IN THE MAKING, CONSTRUCTION ON THE WORLD-CLASS $2.9 BILLION RNA SHOWGROUNDS REGENERATION HAS BEGUN. THANKS TO RNA CHIEF EXECUTIVE JONATHAN TUNNY AND HIS TEAM, THE ICONIC SHOWGROUNDS WILL BECOME A LIFESTYLE AND CULTURAL HUB FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ACCESS ALL YEAR ROUND. A chartered accountant by profession, Jonathan has been a member of the Brisbane business community for more than 30 years. He recalls that he was heavily influenced by his accountant father, who later became his employer and partner.

“My mother also later became an accountant and my grandparents ran the old Hotel Victoria, formerly located on the now Queensland Performing Arts Centre site, so I was surrounded by people in business from a young age,” he explains. Following the sale of the family accounting firm, and then a well-earned break, Jonathan’s skills were perfectly matched to a position on the RNA Council in 2001 followed by his appointment to chief executive in 2002.

With the RNA showing a significant loss at the time, his first task was to steer it towards a profitable and secure future by encouraging the implementation of innovative, sustainable and commercially viable initiatives. “The development was initiated by the need to better use the grounds and ensure profit,” confirms Jonathan. Designed to support the redevelopment and the continued operation of the RNA Showgrounds, the new business model would also ensure that the Ekka was able to continue to grow and develop as Queensland’s largest event. “But the tradition 36

of the grounds is to be maintained, respected and enhanced,” Jonathan reassures. Stage one of the development includes transforming the Industrial Pavilion into a world-class convention and exhibition centre and the delivery of inner-city fresh produce markets. Other major stages will occur over 15 years, including the development of Grand Parade, Ekka Plaza and a hotel as well as a series of special public spaces, connected by an intricate network of lanes, streets and bikeways for the community.

“These spaces will strike the perfect balance between a thriving annual show, a year-round events program and a vibrant new mixed-use urban village community,” says Jonathan.

WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? Friendliness. Without a doubt, Brisbane people are happy to stop and chat or just say hello.

You experience it everywhere and it’s a great asset for a community to have. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? In recent years, Brisbane has emerged to become a truly global city, and a place for business and investment, major events, conventions, and tourism. Plus, we have world-class research facilities and great educational institutions.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Time with family.

Suburb Indooroopilly.

Restaurant I can’t go past my wife’s home cooking.

Cafe Piaf.

Bar Cattlemen’s Bar at the Ekka.

Escape Bike riding on Brisbane cycle tracks.

Weekend Activity Cycling to South Bank.

Picnic Spot Stockman’s Rest at the Ekka.

Retailer Tom Wallace Cycles.

Landmarks RNA Showgrounds.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE?

The $2.9 billion 15-year RNA Showgrounds Regeneration Project.

This is the biggest urban renewal in Queensland and is a once-ina-lifetime project. It is a project of major historic, cultural and social significance as it safeguards the legacy of the 22 hectare site, the home of the beloved Royal Queensland Show (Ekka), while also transforming the grounds into a world-class lifestyle and cultural hub for the community to access all year round. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 A vibrant, friendly destination that attracts a diversity of investment, and offers great business opportunities and incentives.

In 2017, our RNA Showgrounds Regeneration Project will be helping put Brisbane on the map even more as it transforms this amazing 22 hectares, 1.6 kilometres from the CBD into a world-class events and entertainment precinct.

How is business in Brisbane?

There is no doubt the floods have impacted heavily on business. However, the community spirit and civic pride shown helped the recovery process enormously and I think the people of Brisbane should be proud of that. I think it’s important the message gets through that Brisbane is open for business and we truly are Australia’s new world city.

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Di Bella’s passion spreaDs Coffee with PhilliP di bella

Di Bella Coffee has grown into a major national Australian coffee brand and now you have expanded globally to China and India.

How’s it going over there? it is still early days, but things are developing for us very quickly in those two markets. given their size, china and india obviously represent enormous potential for our company and we remain dedicated to growing our footprint there with the same enthusiasm and innovation that have been the hallmarks of our australian operations.

Consumers love Di Bella Coffee with a real passion. What is the secret to your success? Well, the passion goes both ways. We remain driven by the same passion for coffee and service with which the company was founded as a small roasting operation in the suburbs of Brisbane in 2002. the company continues to excel as one of the youngest, yet fastest growing coffee companies in australia and one which prides itself on innovation and customer service.

Tell us about the Di Bella Coffee Crop to Cup philosophy? at Di Bella coffee, we think it is very important to contribute to the development of our coffee growers by encouraging ethical and sustainable practices and rewarding farmers with prices that reflect the high quality of their crop. this, in turn, affords farmers the opportunity to implement positive changes for their workers, not just through respectful gainful employment, but also in the form of important healthcare initiatives such as vaccination, pre-natal and dental care. We are very proud that our crop to cup practices also contribute to better educational opportunities for our growers’ children,

both financially through scholarship assistance and, most importantly, in the eradication of child labour on coffee plantations.

Are you in the coffee industry for the long term? as long as the world of coffee inspires me to be better tomorrow than i am today then i am going to stay involved, and yes, i suspect that is for the long term. as long as i continue to learn, to innovate and to grow while remaining passionate about the industry, coffee is for me.

What’s next for Di Bella Coffee? every day brings exciting new opportunities for Di Bella coffee. We look forward to growing our brand throughout australia and in our overseas markets by offering quality coffee, unparalleled service and competitive prices while inspiring passion with all stakeholders. one of our most recent innovations torQ natural instant coffee, is shaking up the way people think about instant coffee. currently 70% of all australian households satisfy their coffee cravings with supermarket-bought instant products but torQ is challenging that trend by offering the convenience of instant coffee with the exceptional smooth, fresh taste of brewed coffee. on personal note, i look forward to using my experience at Di Bella coffee to help inspire others to achieve their business goals through the Young entrepreneurs (Ye) club which i co-founded with ross scutts from auzrun. if you are a young budding entrepeneur looking to be mentored, go to www.theyeclub.com for details.

For enquiries, contact Di Bella Head Office +61 7 3252 5858

for fresh roasted Coffee deliVered direCt to yoUr door Go to www.MydibellaCoffee.CoM.aU

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business centor INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM

nigel spork QUEENSLAND’S WARM CLIMATE INFLUENCES THE WAY WE DESIGN OUR HOMES. ESSENTIALLY, WE STRIVE TO BRING THE OUTDOORS IN, AND OPEN THE INDOORS OUT. THIS WAS INITIALLY MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE INNOVATION OF BRISBANE-FOUNDED COMPANY CENTOR, THE CREATORS OF THE FIRST EXTERNAL BI-FOLD DOORS. Thanks to Centor’s innovation, suddenly it was possible to design homes as flexible spaces where interiors could be flooded with natural light and fresh air. Brisbane entrepreneur and inventor Nigel Spork is managing director of Centor, a designer and manufacturer of architectural hardware systems with facilities in Brisbane and across Europe, North America and China. In 2010, Nigel scored an Ernst & Young Northern Region Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the product category, as well as two Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Business Awards, for his work guiding Centor from financial distress to global success. Rewind to 1997 – Nigel joined Centor (which was founded by his grandfather Frank Spork in 1951) and was warned by the bank not to draw payroll as the company was grinding to a halt, burdened by a lack of product innovation. Rather than accept their imminent fate, Nigel – who holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Queensland and has experience in research and development – reinvented the business in 1998 with the world’s first weather-sealed folding door system. The technology allowed bi-folding doors to be used externally for the first time, revolutionising Queensland building design with exterior doors and windows that can be stacked to the sides, with no posts to obscure 38

views or breezes. In accepting the Ernst & Young Award, Nigel proudly noted: “Before we invented bi-folds for external use in 1998, building technology limited how people could enjoy our beautiful climate. Our invention has changed the way people live and design their homes.” Centor went on to sell the folding door to 39 countries worldwide. Realising the importance of constant innovation, Nigel guided Centor through its next product challenge: to design a fly screen that could shield homes from vast open spaces.

“We searched the world but couldn’t find a solution,” Nigel notes.

“So we invested 40,000 hours of research and development to work out how to screen the beautiful large openings our bi-folds allowed for.” As a result, Centor successfully designed the world’s first horizontal retractable screens for large openings. Nigel credits his company’s success to valuable research and development.

“Our product innovations really improve people’s lifestyles,” he says. “I’m proud to be a part of that.”

WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? Brisbane is unique in that you can leave your desk at 5:00 pm and be on Moreton Island by 6:00 pm watching the sunset over the beautiful Moreton Bay. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The adoption of cafe culture. Alfresco dining

has presented fantastic business opportunities for us. Modern architecture in Brisbane is being designed to capitalise on Brisbane’s climate using doors with Centor systems to open up living spaces.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE?

The Oxfam Trailwalker was held for the first time ever in Brisbane’s D’Aguilar National Park. This endurance challenge sees teams of four walk 100 km over 48 hours through rugged bush trails.

DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 Brisbane is undergoing a process of evolution, becoming a global player in cutting-edge design and world-leading business. I see Brisbane building on this growth and advancing as a city of international recognition through innovation, architecture and contemporary exhibitions.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Chasing Marlin.

Suburb Fortitude Valley.

Restaurant Mario at The Dining Room.

Cafe 63 on Racecourse Road.

Bar The Breakfast Creek Hotel.

Escape Noosa.

Weekend Activity Family boating.

Picnic Spot The top of Moreton Island sandhills.

Retailer Columbia.

Landmarks Cape Moreton.

How’s business in Brisbane?

Business in Brisbane is great.

We had a few setbacks in recent times with the GFC and Australia’s natural disasters this year. We’ve overcome these challenges by continuing to invest in product development and design, which I believe is reflective of Brisbane as a whole.

Brisbane’s adoption of design as a city theme is really exciting.

tourism queensland business INTERVIEW BY MIKKI BRAMMER

anthony hayes THE EXHILARATION OF TRAVEL AND DELVING INTO THE UNKNOWN ADVENTURES THAT EXPERIENCING A FOREIGN CULTURE BRINGS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOURISM QUEENSLAND CEO ANTHONY HAYES’ PASSION. BUT WHEN IT ALL COMES DOWN TO IT, HE SAYS, NOTHING BEATS QUEENSLAND. After university in Brisbane, he took on a management traineeship with Qantas in Sydney with the aim to stay for two years to get the travel out of his system before settling down with a ‘real job’.

Almost 20 years later, Anthony was still travelling the world, living in Frankfurt and working as the manager for Qantas’ Central Europe operations. But when he received the phone call offering him the chance to come home to Australia to take up the role of Executive Director of International Operations at Tourism Queensland in 2005, it was an experience he couldn’t pass up.

Two years later he was appointed CEO of the organisation and in the years since has spent his time travelling all over Queensland coming up with clever ways to extoll the virtues of the state.

“What could be more fun than selling your home?” Anthony laughs. “That’s really what we do at Tourism Queensland.

I’ve travelled to some amazing places around the world, but my favourite holiday experience really has been going to Mooloolaba with my family and building sandcastles on the beach with my two sons. Queensland has all the obvious stuff like the weather, the beaches and the reef, but what it’s really about is the warmth of the place, the lifestyle and the type of people we are.” Amongst the creative marketing techniques Anthony and his team have

implemented since he took over the helm as CEO have been the wildly successful ‘Best Job in the World’ campaign, as well as entertaining Oprah and her 100 audience members on the sandy shores of Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays. While the impact of the GFC, Swine Flu, and the recent floods and Cyclone Yasi have presented a multitude of challenges for the Tourism Queensland team, Anthony says that such challenges have allowed them the freedom to be creative and try new things. “I only have one rule at Tourism Queensland and that’s: ‘No cardboard people allowed’,” he says. “We want people with personality – we’re always looking for best ideas and for people who are really inspirational and creative.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Brisbane businesses had a tough start to the year following the floods, but I’m delighted to report things are picking up. The local business market is strong for our hotels and Tourism Queensland has worked to promote all of Brisbane’s great attractions and events.

WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? I love Brisbane because ‘we’ – the destination – are not trying to be like anywhere else.

There is already a Sydney and Melbourne, and we don’t want to be like them. Brisbane is Australia’s new world city – one focused on the future and the warmth of our people, environment and lifestyle are to be celebrated. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? I moved back home! After being away from Brisbane

for a long time, it was brilliant to come back – it was the Brisbane I always loved, but better. Brisbane has such a buzz to it and yet it remains completely relaxed and laid-back. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Step 1: Get yourself to GoMA immediately. The Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams exhibition is currently taking place. Step 2: Try the new restaurants at South Bank. Step 3: Hop onto a CityCat and go anywhere in Brisbane you want. Brisbane has so much going on – each week is different and presents a new adventure.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience South Bank on a boiling-hot day, sitting in a coffee shop as a thunderstorm approaches.

Suburb Auchenflower.

Restaurant Siana.

Cafe Any of the nice little cafes on Latrobe Terrace in Paddington.

Bar Belgian Beer Cafe.

Escape Spicers Balfour Hotel.

Weekend Activity Traipsing around Brisbane taking my son to sporting events.

Picnic Spot At Riverlife.

Retailer Urbana.

Landmarks I love Brisbane’s newest pedestrian bridge – the Kurilpa Bridge.

Describe your vision of Brisbane in 2017 More tall buildings, more interesting places to go, and more sunny days than this year.

39

science university of queensland INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM

professor russell boyce AS A LITTLE BOY, RUSSELL BOYCE DREAMED OF FLYING PLANES. “I WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED BY AEROPLANES AND FLYING,” HE RECALLS. “AND AS I GOT OLDER I BECAME AWARE OF SPACE FLIGHT AND IT’S BEEN MY PASSION EVER SINCE.” For the past 20 years, Russell has indulged his passion daily through experimental and computational research in hypersonic aerodynamics and propulsion. He’s even achieved his dream to fly a plane while working at the Australian Defence Force Academy from 2001–2007, teaching aerodynamics to future pilots.

With a Bachelor of Science (Honours with University Medal in Physics) and PhD from the Australian National University, Russell heads a team of scientists and engineers at the University of Queensland (UQ) who are building a hypersonic scramjet that will fly at 8600 km/h in South Australia next year. The research is the first phase of SCRAMSPACE – the development of a hightech Australian capability set to revolutionise the way the world launches satellites into space. Russell believes it’s the largest funded university-led project in this area in the world. “And it’s got lots of partners and we’re doing exciting things and employing really good people and that’s been fantastic … it’s building for the future and I’ve got big plans for the future, so let’s see if we can bring it to reality.” Asked how Australia has come to play such a leading role in scramjet technology, Russell credits Australia’s first professor of space engineering, Ray Stalker, who resides in Brisbane and is in his 80s. “Ray’s the grandfather of this research in Australia and, in many ways, in the world. He invented the wind tunnel that meant we could test scramjets in a way that no one else could and 40

he had enthusiastic people who followed after him and it’s grown and grown.” In 2007, Russell moved from Canberra to Brisbane with his family to take up his current role as the Defence Science and Technology Organisation’s (DSTO) Chair for Hypersonics at UQ. He now also directs the SCRAMSPACE program. Asked what he loves about his job, Russell shares that, for a start, he is finally enjoying a work/life balance, and is spending more quality time with his wife, and four children aged between 13 and seven. “And I love the science … I love teaching people or, rather, I like working with people and seeing the light switch on in their eyes, and I get to do that a lot,” he says. “I also really enjoy the people side of things – the talking, the lobbying – it’s like playing chess where you’re trying to line things up and bring things together. I find it good fun.”

HOW’S SCIENCE IN BRISBANE? Booming! The Queensland government has made a huge impact with its Smart State funding for research and innovation, and hypersonics is one of the areas that has benefited a lot. UQ has gone from strength to strength, and is one of the top universities, not just in Australia but across the world. WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? Brisbane for me is unique in that it is a world centre of expertise in hypersonics R&D. UQ, the DSTO, and industrial partners such as Teakle Composites are all in close proximity, and are surrounded by the broader concentration of the aerospace sector in Southeast Queensland.

WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The increased accessibility

across the river due to the bridges and tunnels that have been constructed. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 A city in which the local aerospace sector is growing and includes the beginnings of an Australian space industry. A city in which the bike path infrastructure is constantly improving. And a city in which the people are more and more actively caring for each other, extending the amazing help that they showed to each other during the floods to become part of everyday life.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Cycling Mount Coot-tha.

Suburb Bardon.

Restaurant Siam Sunset Thai Restaurant.

Cafe Nano at UQ. Bar Regatta Hotel.

Escape Stradbroke Island.

Weekend Activity Cycling.

Picnic Spot South Bank.

Retailer Country Road.

Landmarks Mount Coot-tha.

What is the most exciting thing currently happening in Brisbane? The most exciting thing in Brisbane right now is the Tour of Hope – a fundraising bike ride organised by the local non- profit organisation Droplets in a Stream.

More than 50K was raised to inject funds directly into community projects in Kenya and Uganda.

brisbane broncos sport INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRISTAN CROLL - BRONCO MEDIA

darren lockyer DARREN LOCKYER IS A MAN OF FEW WORDS BUT MANY TALENTS. HE TAKES A CALM, NO-FUSS APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP AS THE BRISBANE BRONCOS’ CAPTAIN, AND IN THE PAST AS AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE CAPTAIN AND IN OTHER LEADING ROLES. In his reserved signature style, Darren made little fanfare of his March 2011 announcement that he will retire from the National Rugby League at the end of the season. There is no doubt Darren will be missed by his club – in his current role as fiveeighth, and previously as fullback, he has played more games and scored more points for the Brisbane Broncos than any other player in the club’s history. He also breaks records when it comes to the State of Origin Series. The 2011 Harvey Norman State of Origin Series couldn’t have been scripted better with the XXXX Queensland Maroons winning an historic sixth consecutive series with a 34–24 win against the NSW VB Blues.

The decider was the most watched Origin game ever, attracting a national average audience of 3.765 million. Darren also knocked Alfie Langer off the record books as the player with the top number of Origin games under his belt – Alfie reached 34 Origin games, but Darren bettered it by playing 36 games.

He has also captained 18 Origin games since 2001. At age 34, Darren is one of the game’s few one-club players – having played for Brisbane his entire 17-year first-grade career. As a youngster growing up in Brisbane, Darren’s first love was Aussie Rules football, but his fate was sealed when his parents moved him and his younger brothers, Matthew and Russell, to Wandoan and then Roma in outback Queensland where

only rugby league was offered. Darren was 12 years old when his family arrived in Roma. Little did he know he was to follow in the footsteps of great Roma & District Rugby League players who also played for Australia, including Arthur Beetson (born in 1945 in Roma) and Willie Carne (born in 1969 in Roma). Darren was picked for the Queensland under-12s side and played the New South Wales team at Lang Park (now Suncorp Stadium) as a curtain raiser to a Broncos match against Parramatta. It wasn’t to be his last game on that field. He caught the attention of Broncos selectors while playing for Roma’s Cities Gladiators team and in 1995, at age 18, started his first-grade career playing alongside his hero Willie Carne. Darren’s first Broncos match was in round 13 of the professional season and resulted in a 40–16 defeat of Parramatta. He went on to win the club’s Rookie of the Year, and countless accolades and achievements have since followed. At the time he announced his retirement, his career stats for Broncos games (including National Rugby League, World Club Challenge and Super League WCC) were 347 matches, 123 tries, 376 goals and 1261 points.

HOW’S SPORT IN BRISBANE? Sport is fantastic with the wins of the Roar, the Firebirds, the Reds and Queensland Maroons – there is certainly some pressure on the Broncos to do the same!

WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? I think we have gained

a lot more cosmopolitan restaurants that have made a difference to the restaurant landscape. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Well it’s been a great sporting year and now the city’s favourite team – the Broncos, of course – has a chance to find some success as we move towards the NRL finals. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 More of the same – we will continue to grow but still have that relaxed atmosphere. Our lifestyle, with things like the riverwalks, parks, etc. will continue to improve.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience A full Suncorp Stadium.

Suburb Paddington.

Restaurant A tie between Jellyfish and Il Centro.

Cafe Lure on Latrobe.

Bar Mirasoul Cocktail & Tapas Bar. Escape It’s not in Brisbane, but I escape to the Tweed Coast.

Weekend Activity Going to the park with my son.

Picnic Spot New Farm Park.

Retailer Scotch & Soda.

Landmarks The Barracks.

What makes Brisbane unique?

I love that people are so laidback in Brisbane even though we are a big city now that’s pretty rare.

41

news arts

QPAC ENTERTAINS

HENRI MATISSE GRAVANT 1900

The year ahead sees QPAC brimming with major musicals Rock of Ages, Mary Poppins and Annie.

There is September school-holiday fun with Le Grand Cirque Adrenaline, and Angelina Ballerina in early 2012. QPAC will also host world-class talent including musicians Chris Cornell, Bryan Adams, and John Farnham, comedians Pam Ayres, Hale and Pace, Carl Barron and Dylan Moran, and the highly regarded orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic.

TORRES STRAIT

HENRI MATISSE AT GOMA Considered to be in the same class as the likes of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse’s way with colour and drawing has seen him hailed as one of the greatest artists of the 20 century. From December 3, more than 300 works by this French artist will be on display at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in the Matisse: Drawing Life exhibition.

The exhibition, which delves into the themes that arose throughout the artist’s career, will form part of GoMA’s fifth birthday celebrations. Since its opening in 2006, GoMA has featured a number of exclusive exhibitions in collaboration with galleries across the globe, including a comprehensive retrospective of some of Andy Warhol’s greatest works.

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A creative spotlight shines on Torres Strait Islander cultural traditions and practices, as Queensland welcomes Torres Strait Islands: A Celebration.

Showcasing the diverse culture, history and cultural significance of the Torres Strait Islands, the commemoration will see Queensland’s major arts institutions collaborate on a range of creative projects, events and explorations. Infusing the South Bank Cultural Centre precinct with a celebratory atmosphere and cultural awakening, the event runs until October 23, 2011.

KATIE NOONAN AND ELIXIR After a much-anticipated wait, Katie Noonan’s talented trio Elixir has put its new record, First Seed Ripening, to bed. An intimate and deeply personal album, each track on the record was inspired by iconic Australian poet Thomas Shapcott. Katie Noonan will return to her hometown with Elixir to offer sounds from the new album during two ethereal open-air performances as part of the Brisbane Festival on September 9 and 10.

100 Days in the Jungle By harnessing the passion of a motivated group of young people and the

reach of modern technologies, the 100 Days in the Jungle Project hopes to alleviate the plight of Borneo’s homeless orangutans. As part of the project, a team of 16 young people selected from across the globe will spend 100 days in Borneo rehabilitating orangutans, replanting crops in felled forests and documenting their progress on social networks. To help raise further awareness for the cause, Brisbane-based company Virgo Productions is lending its support by filming the team’s progress to create a 3D movie entitled 100 Days in the Jungle.

INFO E R O M R FO w.sae.edu

VISIT: ww 0 723 338 CALL: 180 CRICOS: 00312F (NSW) 02047B (VIC) 02431E (WA) Please contact relevant campuses for further information regarding open days, tours, course programs and FEE HELP options.

DIPLOMA & DEGREE COURSES IN: Games Design 3D Animation Graphic Design Games Programming Web Design & Development

1300 136 933 www.qantm.com.au

Brisbane | Sydney | Melbourne | Perth Qantm CRICOS codes - 03204G (QLD) 00312F (NSW) 02047B (VIC) 02431E (WA)

arts queensland theatre company INTERVIEW BY MIKKI BRAMMER PROFILE IMAGE BY JUSTINE WALPOLE AND PERFORMANCE PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MARSH

wesley enoch AS A 15-YEAR-OLD ATTENDING A RESIDENCY WEEK AT QUEENSLAND THEATRE COMPANY (QTC), WESLEY ENOCH REMARKED JOKINGLY TO A FRIEND THAT HE WOULD ONE DAY END UP RUNNING THE COMPANY. MORE THAN 25 YEARS LATER HIS JOKE PROVED PROPHETIC – IN 2010 HE TOOK OVER THE HELM FROM MICHAEL GOW AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF QTC, BECOMING AUSTRALIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS STATE THEATRE HEAD. Inspired by his own positive experience at school, Wesley Enoch’s childhood dream was to become a teacher or, alternatively, a doctor. But it wasn’t until his grandmother offered him a piece of sage advice that he began to redefine his goals for the future. “I remember my grandmother saying to me: ‘There are many ways to teach and there are many ways to heal’,” Wesley recalls. “It opened up my eyes to the different ways you could do things and I realised that teaching by passing on a story was a very important part of what I was trying to do.” Spending his early childhood on Stradbroke Island, Wesley and his family moved to the suburb of Woodridge once he and his sister had reached school age. “When I look back, people do say that Woodridge is a very tough area and that it’s very poor,” Wesley says. “And sure, we didn’t go to school with shoes on, but that was as much by our own choice as anything else! It didn’t feel like it was underprivileged.” Wesley was given the opportunity to attend theatre camps as part of government programs for indigenous youths and it was here, along with his volunteer work with an amateur theatre group, that his love for the stage was born. “Theatre was a real therapy for me,” Wesley explains. “I had a very troubled adolescence and I was quite violent. Getting 44

into theatre gave me an outlet. It was a really great way of expressing myself and exploring different elements of my personality, and taking on different characters.” Nowadays, theatre has evolved from being an outlet to become his purpose. “It gives me a forum through which to communicate with a lot of people about ideas,” he explains.

“It feels like you can be part of a public debate or discussion about things.

It’s not that I’m an opinion-maker, but I throw ideas out there for people to have opinions on. It feels like I’m helping to shape a society because the arts can have that effect.” Wesley’s legacy prior to taking up the reins at QTC is a distinguished one, both as a writer and director.

Amongst his written works are The 7 Stages of Grieving, Little White Dress, A Life of Grace and Piety, Black Medea, The Sunshine Club, and Grace.

He won the 2005 Patrick White Playwright’s Award for his work The Story of the Miracle at Cookie’s Table, for which he was also shortlisted for both the New South Wales and Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. In 1994, Wesley was named artistic director for Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts, where he directed his own work including Little White Dress (Queensland Performing Arts Centre/Out of the Box Festival), A Life of Grace and Piety (Just Us Theatre Ensemble) and The 7 Stages of Grieving. His other directing credits during that time included Murri Love (Metro Theatre Brisbane), Changing Time (Salamanca Theatre Company), The Dreamers (Brisbane Festival) and Up the Ladder (Melbourne Workers Theatre, Festival of the Dreaming). In 1998, Wesley became associate artist for Queensland Theatre Company and, in 2000, he went on to become the resident director at Sydney Theatre Company. Amongst his other illustrious credits are stints as artistic director of the Ilbijerri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-operative, associate artist at Company B, and director of the indigenous section of the 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. It was the latter experience, Wesley says, that prepared him for his current role at QTC. “It taught me to think beyond my own little piece of what I was doing – my little role – and think about how I enable a whole group of artists to do their best work,” he shares. As for his own written works, Wesley cites

queensland theatre company arts

The 7 Stages of Grieving – the one-woman show he created with Deborah Mailman in the mid-nineties – as the play that was most instrumental in shaping the way he thinks about theatre. “It really cemented for me what the power of theatre could be, in terms of content and form and also the working relationship with other artists,” he says. When it comes to identifying what drives his sense of creativity, Wesley admits to an awareness of his own mortality. “I have the sense that I’ll die young,” he says candidly. “We don’t live long in my family, so it feels like there’s an urgency to do things! People say I should stop saying that but there is a point where you ask yourself what you’re waiting for – you can’t be too patient for things. It drives me to have the passion of a young person to just do things all the time.”His greatest challenge at this point, Wesley shares, is trying to contextualise professional doubt. “Every single person in the world has doubt,” he explains. “In the arts, we have professionalised it to make it fuel what we do. But at times that doubt overwhelmed me and I got to a point where doubt outweighed creativity. I had to step away and rethink what I was doing, and calibrate the relationship between doubt and bravery.”

But there was no thought of giving up. One of Wesley’s proudest achievements is the fact that, at 42, he is yet to have a job outside of theatre and the arts – no lean feat in an industry where many spend more time looking for work than actually working. And now he’s bound with enthusiasm for the journey that lies ahead for him at QTC. “Where I am now is pretty amazing,” he marvels at his fortune. “My dream now is to drive really big audiences to the QTC and to have people come along and enjoy theatre more often. I’ve got some big indigenous projects that are bubbling away that I think go to the heart of what it means to be an Australian.”

While he confesses to finding it difficult to switch off his

‘inner director’ when watching other people’s plays, Wesley has spent the past few months since he returned to Brisbane (after a ten-year absence) taking in as much theatre and as many cultural events as possible. “I’m out three or four times a week, seeing as many shows as I can, because I think it’s important to connect to your artistic community and to sit amongst audiences and understand what they think is good,” he says. When asked for the one piece of wisdom he would offer the world, Wesley turns to the words someone else imparted to him. “There were two pieces of advice given to me 15 years ago,” he explains. “One was to never believe your own propaganda, and the other was that everyone’s faking it in some way – no one’s ever done it this particular way before.

So basically, to me, one is saying ‘don’t get too big for your britches’ and the other is saying ‘be brave’. I think that’s a good way to look at things.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? I feel like things are about to change. As we all recover from the effects of the floods, it feels like there is a new optimism growing back. People are starting to come out and engage in the city again.

WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? I moved back to Brisbane

after being away for ten years because I could feel an energy and a thirst for change. The ‘Joh Generation’ is no longer in charge and you can feel how the city wants to expand its horizons.

There is so much more arts infrastructure and a growing audience for music, theatre, dance and visual arts. People are thinking about how arts can be part of their lives. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? I love winter in Brisbane … roast dinners, rugging up and wearing great clothes. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 A car-free inner city. More inner-city living through West End, Milton and The Valley. Free public transport. Inner-city food farms.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Captain Burke Park at sunrise.

Suburb Cribb Island.

Restaurant Crosstown Eating House.

Bar Mars.

Escape To the theatre.

Weekend Activity Reading aloud to a loved one.

Picnic Spot My loungeroom.

Retailer Aesop.

Landmarks New Farm Park Rose Garden.

What makes Brisbane unique? The unique blend of our political history, the climate, the time in which we are developing and our exposure to the Pacific Islands and indigenous Australian cultures really affect the city.

We are a laid-back city that values leisure and quality of life.

45

arts expressions dance company INTERVIEW BY MIKKI BRAMMER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN NICHOLAS, ATMOSPHERE PHOTOGRAPHY

richard causer WHEN DANCER RICHARD CAUSER, 27, TOOK HIS SEAT AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE FOR THE 2011 HELPMANN AWARDS – WHERE HE WAS NOMINATED FOR BEST MALE DANCER FOR HIS WORK IN NATALIE WEIR’S WHERE THE HEART IS – HE WAS SEATED AMONGST THE TALENTED ELITE OF AUSTRALIA’S ARTS COMMUNITY. For a man whose love for dance was limited to the confines of his loungeroom until he started studying dance at university, he’s come a long way. Richard recalls the nerve-wracking experience of his audition for the dance program at QUT. “It was so daunting,” he says. “I definitely thought I wouldn’t get in at all and I came home crying and thinking that it was the worst experience of my life. There were all these people who just seemed to know everything.” Fortunately, Richard’s raw talent piqued the attention of someone on the selection panel and he was offered a place at the university. “I really had to start from scratch,” he reflects.

“But I made some great friends throughout the journey and there were some amazing dancers in the years above me who inspired me a lot.” In the two years following the completion of his Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) in 2004, Richard set out on his own and tried to make a name for himself, both as a dancer and choreographer, with works such as Delirium (which opened the national design conference 4um? Advertising and Design Asia Pacific and was also presented at the 2005 Malaysian Dance Festival in Kuala Lumpur) and Cheryl Stock’s Accented Body. In 2007, he joined the Brisbanebased Expressions Dance Company, where he has spent the past four years revelling in challenges both physical and creative, which have culminated in an impressive turn in the lead role of the much-lauded 46

work, Where the Heart Is. When it comes to his inspirations, Richard looks to the fellow dancers in his dance company, in particular its artistic director Natalie Weir, as well as Australian dancer Paul White who, coincidentally was also nominated for (and won) the Helpmann for Best Male Dancer. As for his greatest challenge, Richard admits to an initial struggle with critical feedback, which has since evolved into something he relishes receiving. Now he looks forward to the bright future ahead of him. “I feel like I’m living my dream – which sounds a bit daggy,” he laughs. “I’m in a great company with an amazing director and we get to tour a lot and see the world. It’s absolutely wonderful to be part of that.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Well, for me business is going great!

The company I dance with, Expressions Dance Company, just opened R&J (stories inspired by Romeo and Juliet) at QPAC. We were also nominated for some Australian Dance Awards and Helpmann Awards, so it’s a very exciting time, and we are proud to be Brisbane’s contemporary dance company. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The support for the arts community in Brisbane has really

grown over the last few years. Dance in particular has seen a growth in attendees, and it’s so nice to see appreciation for this art form.

Also, I’m loving all the little laneway bars and cafes that are opening, especially in The Valley and CBD; it’s really reinvigorating these areas.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE?

R&J of course! Brisbane Festival in September is one for the calendar.

I went to the launch recently and it was awesome. There are going to be some phenomenal shows coming, from all over the country and around the world. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 Whitney Houston will relocate to Brisbane! I hope for a larger, thriving, inclusive arts community that really puts Brisbane on the map. A constant stream of high-quality, internationally recognised shows and theatres full of happy people.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Brisbane Festival.

Suburb New Farm.

Restaurant Garuva.

Cafe Three Monkeys.

Bar Cloudland.

Escape Roma Street Parklands.

Weekend Activity West End Markets.

Picnic Spot Roma Street Parklands.

Retailer The Reject Shop (my mum works there!).

Landmarks Mount Coot-tha.

What makes Brisbane unique? The arts scene in Brisbane is quite intimate at the moment, so it’s a very supportive environment to create in. I think this is unique of a big city.

Brisbane still has that nice laid-back feeling of a big country town, yet has all the benefits of a metropolitan city. It’s an amazing city to live and work in.

emma dean arts INTERVIEW BY KATHRYN LINDGREN

emma dean PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF CONVENTIONAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE, BRISBANE-RAISED SINGER/SONGWRITER EMMA DEAN IS EXCITING AUDIENCES WITH HER LEAD ROLE AS SALLY BOWLES IN ZEN ZEN ZO PHYSICAL THEATRE’S CABARET SHOWING AT QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE. This neurotic cabaret songstress, a performer from a young age, has now merged her two passions – music and dance – into a unique and magical fusion that established her as a pop cabaret performer. Her signature style of catchy alternative pop music and visual feast of imaginative costumes, make-up and theatrics have won us all over. After immersing herself in ballet for more than a decade, Emma completed a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Vocals at Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 2005.

She hasn’t looked back and has toured all over Australia as well as performing in Berlin and Germany. Her songs have been played on radio stations all over the world and she has supported artists such as Katie Noonan, Amanda Palmer, The Dresden Dolls and Angie Hart (Frente). As well as touring extensively, she has been the backing vocalist and violinist for many other singers including Queensland Conservatorium of Music co-graduate, Kate Miller-Heidke. After a successful debut album, Emma released her sophomore effort in 2010, Dr Dream and the Imaginary Pop-Cabaret, in which she takes us on a journey through her fears, dreams, nightmares and confessions.

With no lack of imagination or drive to impart her ideas, she performs the roll of ringmaster to her ‘imaginary friends’ creating a menagerie of fantasy in this piano sideshow and

carnival of kook. Collaborating with Zen Zen Zo on Cabaret has been a highlight for Emma. This production is a no-holds-barred portrayal of the politics and sexuality that characterised the subversive and decadent cabarets of the last days of the German Weimar Republic. Drawing from Zen Zen Zo’s infamous dancetheatre style, which combines butoh, burlesque, contemporary and camp, Cabaret brings to life the colourful world populated by marginalised artists, gypsies, queers and jews who lived in 1930s Germany, as Hitler was coming to power.

HOW ARE THE ARTS IN BRISBANE? I’ve been living in Sydney for more than a year now, but I always love coming back to Brisbane and performing in front of a home crowd. There’s nothing quite like it. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? Having the Old Museum in Bowen Hills open up as a live-music venue has been a wonderful thing for me and for Brisbane. It’s just the right size for my audience at the moment and totally caters for a diverse range of music and performance. Also, Brisbane has an underground group of outstanding artists who are clearly sick of waiting for the perfect opportunity to arise but who are going out and making art out of the resources they have at their disposal. I’m noticing that more and more in Brisbane. It’s totally beautiful and inspiring. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? A highlight for 2011 is Cabaret at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre with one of Australia’s leading physical-theatre companies (Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre) performing and re-creating one of the best musicals of all time. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 As a vibrant city with new music venues that cater for a diverse range of music and support artists of varying profile sizes. Brisbane will have a thriving theatre and cabaret scene – a place where it’s not only OK to speak up and have a voice, but a place where people listen.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Performing in front of my home crowd!

Suburb Ashgrove.

Restaurant Punjabi Palace.

Cafe Stop 16.

Bar The Junk Bar. Escape Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

Weekend Activity Movies at South Bank Cineplex.

Picnic Spot City Botanic Gardens.

Retailer Angela White Costume & Couture.

Landmarks Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

What makes Brisbane unique? There is something interesting and unique about a city that has so much talent, yet limited venues and opportunities for up-andcoming ‘out of the box’ artists to perform in.

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arts adam ferguson INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ADAM FERGUSON

adam ferguson AWARD-WINNING AUSTRALIAN PHOTOJOURNALIST ADAM FERGUSON HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE GRADUATING FROM QUEENSLAND COLLEGE OF ART IN 2004.

For his first uni assignment, he photo-documented a suburban caryard owner’s life, and while it is hardly the stuff career dreams are made of, that simple personal encounter sparked Adam’s curiosity in storytelling. The wick has burned brightly ever since. While working as a newspaper cadet in Sydney, Adam recalls being told by some journalists that photojournalism was dead and there was no work. “And I remember thinking, ‘You know what, bullshit man. I’m going to do this’.” He moved to Paris in 2006 to intern at the famous VII Photo Agency and worked alongside company founder Gary Knight – a great mentor – who was last year quoted as saying: “Adam has everything it takes to be one of the bright stars of the future. He takes the issues he is photographing more seriously than his own ego and I like that.” Adam has swiftly established himself in an industry that is notoriously tough to crack. As a freelancer, his clients include TIME Magazine, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, The Sydney Morning Herald, UNICEF and Human Rights Watch, among others. While Adam isn’t solely a war photographer, he spends big chunks of time in Afghanistan, often embedded with soldiers, as he documents the war effort for various publications and agencies. Despite his impressive client list, Adam admits the phone very rarely rings with job offers. “You have to be incredibly independent and incredibly motivated,” he says of being a photojournalist, noting he’s only started to seriously push his international career in the 48

past two years. He recalls the lengths he had to go to score his first freelance assignment in Afghanistan. He self-funded the trip and pitched it to TIME Magazine’s editors. “They ended up slightly reluctantly putting me on assignment for them,” Adam recalls. “I think they would have preferred to hire one of their famous photographers who covers the war for them a lot …”

Fortunately, a TIME correspondent was keen to join Adam on his trip, so the editors agreed. Most daunting for Adam was that it was the first cover story he had ever worked on and the first time he would enter a combat situation where he was sure to come under fire. Would he handle it emotionally and capture the high-quality material he needed? If he failed, he could kiss goodbye any hope of working for the magazine again. Adam rose to the challenge and his pictures were published on the cover of all four TIME Magazine editions worldwide in the same week. “It definitely boosted my career getting a TIME magazine cover quite quickly. I had a really big response to it.” Adam’s work won a raft of awards in 2010, including first prize at the World Press Photo Awards for his image of the aftermath of a suicide bombing in Kabul. The same stirring photo won him third prize in the 2010 Pictures of the Year International, as well as another first prize and an award of excellence.

Adam’s portfolio (www.adamfergusonphoto.com) is full of heartbreaking scenarios he has no power to stop or fix but what he can do is work for a better future. “With the body of work that I am doing in Afghanistan, I want to create further dialogue about the military presence in Afghanistan,” he notes of what he wants to achieve with his career. “And I’m not as naive to think that my pictures will have a direct impact on the conflict today or tomorrow, or even in the next few years, but I think it’s important to create a historical record and document for future reflections so our global society can evolve to a more positive place.”

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Exploring the stormwater tunnels under the CBD with my camera.

Suburb Petrie.

Restaurant Anouk.

Cafe Fundamental Food Store.

Bar Ric’s Cafe.

Escape Surfing at Mooloolaba.

Weekend Activity Roaming around The Valley late at night with my camera.

Picnic Spot New Farm Park.

Retailer Photo Continental.

Landmarks Story Bridge.

State Library of Queensland

Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank Open daily 10am–5pm (Until 8pm Mon–Thu) | Enquiries (07) 3840 7666 www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on | facebook.com/statelibraryqld twitter.com/slqld

arts brisbane writers festival INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM

jane o’hara BRISBANE WRITERS FESTIVAL DIRECTOR AND CEO JANE O’HARA IS RESOLUTE ABOUT THE ROLE WRITERS FESTIVALS PLAY IN OUR ARTS CULTURE. “We put writers in front of readers – that’s at the core of what we do. And nothing will ever replace that,” she notes proudly. While the ebook revolution will continue to challenge the experience of holding a book in your hands and smelling ink percolate off its pages, Jane knows writers and readers will always want to be connected – to meet face-to-face.

And that’s something she believes the Brisbane Writers Festival – from September 7–11, 2011 – does very well. Jane chats with every participating author to discover their true passions and then carefully curates the festival program to give those passions space to shine on stage through relevant themes and with well-suited co-panellists. Like her 30,000-strong festival audience, Jane is a voracious reader (her recent favourites are Brisbane writer Kari Gislason’s The Promise of Iceland, and British novelist S.J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep – both authors will speak at this year’s festival) and has met with a book group of dear friends sporadically for the past 17 years. Jane shares that her upbringing was creative and free. Her mum was a primary-school teacher and her dad a farmer and later a house painter. “We grew up on a sheep and wheat farm outside Tara where there was no television so we made our own fun climbing up on the wool bales in the shed after the shearing and we would sing to each other and put on concerts and write plays for each other – I was always scribbling something,” she reflects. Jane’s first involvement with the Brisbane Writers Festival (then known 50

as Warana Writers Week) was as a volunteer in the early 1980s while studying her arts degree at Griffith University. Little did she know she would return 20 years later after a varied career in film production, primary-school teaching and as owner of a childcare centre, while also raising four children with her husband. Jane volunteered for the Brisbane Writers Festival in 2003 after her kids were all in school, driven by a desire to be involved with something creative. She delivered the sponsorship and schools programs for many years and became CEO in 2009 after enjoying a stint at the Ideas Festival in 2008 and 2009. Jane has developed a reputation for keeping the Brisbane Writers Festival fresh, finding that inspiration visits when she sits quietly and “makes room” in her brain for new ideas and thoughts to breathe.

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? It’s tracking very nicely. Increased government funding with long-term commitments from tertiary and corporate partners means much greater sustainability.

WHAT MAKES BRISBANE UNIQUE? Writers from all over the world are now putting BWF at the top of their ‘to-do’ list. The people they meet here are well-read, considerate and hungry to engage with creative thinkers. Brisbane’s unique spirit is also reflected in the amazing range of independent bookshops we have here. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Brisbane Writers Festival from September 7–11.

More than 300 national and international writers and a huge contingent of our own home-grown talent will be sharing the love with readers of all ages. Our schools program, Word Play: for young readers, writers and illustrators, provides more than 12,000 places for students from Grades 4–10 and is now the largest of any Australian writers festival schools program.

DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 Brisbane with an underground subway system and a lot more green space to act as lungs for us as the city expands.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Seeing double rainbows with my kids.

Suburb Fortitude Valley.

Restaurant Harveys.

Cafe The Teahouse at Riverbend Books.

Bar Lock’n’Load.

Escape Yuraygir National Park, Northern NSW. Weekend Activity Building rooms for my many children to live in!

Picnic Spot New Farm Park on a sunny winter’s day.

Retailer Paddington Antique Centre.

Landmarks Story Bridge.

What change has occurred in Brisbane in recent years that has had a positive impact on you? I would say that the most noticeable change is the breadth and depth of arts events that are available to go to any day of the week.

CIRCUS

THEATRE

DANCE

AND MORE

MUSIC

CABARET

VISUAL ART

UB H E V I T A CREAARTISTIC WHERECELLENCE EX TYLE ES AND LIFGETHER COME TO

LM

FI

The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts is a Queensland Government initiative operated by Arts Queensland.

420 Brunswick St Fortitude Valley

Ph 07 3872 9000

Check out what’s on 24/7

judithwrightcentre.com

news gourmet SOURCED GROCER Did you know that some imported garlic is treated with a growth-retarding chemical to improve its appearance and shelf life?

The lads behind one of Brisbane’s newest grocers do. With a passion for fresh, organic produce, friends Louis and Jerome created Sourced Grocer – an unassuming warehouse in Teneriffe that brims with a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. Sourcing all of their produce from local growers, and more than happy to pass on their expertise to curious customers, this nook is filled with soul. The shelves are also filled with gourmet grocery items including muesli, pasta, preserves and cheeses. And at the front of the store, customers can grab a coffee from the cafe and watch the world pass by the open shopfront.

MARION GRASBY For passionate foodie Marion Grasby, the most essential cooking ingredient is a sense of pure joy. A serious contender for MasterChef 2010, Marion has since harnessed her love of cooking in the form of her first cookbook, Marion: Recipes and Stories from a Hungry Cook. She shares more than 80 of her favourite recipes from throughout her life, plus the places she’s been, and the people she’s met and cooked with. With roots in Darwin, Thailand, Brisbane and Papua New Guinea, Marion’s cooking style is versatile and tinged with adventure.

SaGD12460

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gourmet news

STOKEHOUSE River Bend, South Bank’s new dining precinct on the foreshore of the Brisbane River, will soon see Melbourne’s iconic Stokehouse open its doors. For more than 20 years, Stokehouse has provided relaxed beach-shack glamour alongside an impeccable approach to food and service. With both river frontage and CBD views, Stokehouse at River Bend is the next piece in the puzzle for South Bank’s most significant change to the Parklands in a decade.

EAGLE FARM MARKETS From the moment the clock hits 5:00 pm on a Friday afternoon, the precious minutes of the weekend begin to tick away. Spending time with friends and family on a lazy Sunday morning usually sits high on the list of priorities for the weekend. Every Sunday morning, Eagle Farm Racecourse transforms into a vibrant community hub filled with arts and crafts, fashion and a bounty of fresh produce. Aromas of gourmet goods, delicious coffee and freshly baked loaves of ciabatta waft by, and the bright hues of fruit and vegetables entice passersby.

Caffe and Gelato Milany Many would consider the role of Ice-Cream Taster to be a dream occupation. For

the lucky few judging the Ice-Cream, Gelato and Sorbet Competition at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show, it was their job to sample some of Australia’s best ice cream, gelato and sorbet. After tasting more than 150 different entries, the judges crowned Hamilton’s Caffe and Gelato Milany’s Banana Ice-Cream as Australia’s Best Ice-Cream. To deliver its epicurean experience, each of the 32 flavours of gelato available at Caffe and Gelato Milany is handmade using fresh ingredients.

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Beautiful fresh fish served simply.

At Jellyfish we aim to source and serve 8 to 14 species of fresh fish daily. Chef Rhett Willis has daily recommendations for the perfect way to prepare, cook and serve each species on the menu, be it steamed, fried, battered, crumbed, grilled, or oven roasted. There is an array of side dishes and sauces that perfectly compliment each meal. With striking views of the river and the Story Bridge, Jellyfish is the ultimate seafood dining experience.

Riverside Boardwalk 123 Eagle St Brisbane • 07 3220 2202 www.jellyfishrestaurant.com.au • manager@jellyfishrestaurant.com.au

gourmet the junk bar INTERVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKKI BRAMMER

jamie trevaskis THE TRUE DEFINITION OF THE WORD ‘JUNK’ REALLY COMES DOWN TO PERSPECTIVE. IN THE CASE OF BRISBANE’S MOST CURIOUSLY LOCATED NEW HOTSPOT, THE JUNK BAR, RECYCLED TREASURES ARE PART OF THE CHARM. A HOLE IN THE WALL IN SUBURBAN ASHGROVE, WORD OF THIS BAR HAS SPREAD QUICKLY, NOT ONLY FOR ITS QUIRKY SEVENTIES-KITSCH DECOR BUT ALSO FOR THE RELAXED, UNPRETENTIOUS VIBE CRAFTED BY ITS OWNERS, JAMIE TREVASKIS AND MIA GOODWIN. Barely larger than an ample-sized lounge room, The Junk Bar adeptly dances the line between kitsch and cool. Retro wallpaper depicting a mural of a verdant forest adorns the two longest walls, which also feature mounted deer heads gazing from above.

Miscellaneous lampshades laced with tassels glow earnestly upon tabletops. The seating arrangements are ample and travel a spectrum of tastes, from plush velour lounges and brocade sofas, to leather-backed armchairs and cushioned bar stools, all perched beside an assortment of delightfully passe coffee tables.

An old turntable crackles a soothing jazz rhythm. The curator of this motley collection of curios is Jamie Trevaskis. Ardent followers of the Brisbane music scene will recognise Jamie as the founder of beloved live-music institution The Troubadour, which enjoyed the better part of a decade as one of The Valley’s performance jewels. So what inspired the move from the city’s most thriving entertainment hub to a sleepy suburb on the inner-city fringe?

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“It was just about creating a friendly, cosy spot to come and have a drink in the suburbs,” Jamie explains. “I don’t really see why bars need to be in a hotspot where everyone else is." The ambience that Jamie and Mia have created is similar to the jovial vibe of a seventies shindig with just the right combination of cool and kitsch, from the furniture to the beverages. Undoubtedly, it has gone down well with locals, as well as curious bar-goers from all over Brisbane who make the pilgrimage across town to check out the locale, often forming lines out the door.

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Full-steam ahead. In a year we've grown to now become a seven-days-a-week business, day and night. The Junk Bar opens at 10:00 am, acting as you would expect a New York coffee house to act. It's somewhere that is always open, where you can have hot spiked cider and a bagel in winter at 11 in the morning, before you realise you've listened to seven records front to back and drank numerous coffees. We've also expanded on the original concept of our Junk Treasure and Record Store – selling second-hand vinyl and old wares inside the bar. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The changing face of Fortitude Valley made me look at

Brisbane and wonder how it could change to improve what has happened. Therefore, I embrace the communities within the suburbs to at least be an example that Brisbane can and does have hidden gems. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? The Brisbane music scene standing strong and not letting lack of support and venues dictate its future. It is an interesting time to catch amazing bands in people's backyards and spaces that don't generally inhabit live music. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 Every shopping strip within a small suburb has flourished into an interesting destination for locals and visitors to experience the individual charm each suburb has to offer within its cafes, shops and bars that house original live entertainment suitable to the environment, with the support of the local community.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Owning The Troubadour for eight years.

Suburb Red Hill/Ashgrove.

Restaurant Crosstown Eating House.

Cafe Elm Cafe Mount Glorious.

Bar The Junk Bar. Escape Home.

Weekend Activity Music.

Picnic Spot Cedar Creek in summer.

Retailer Salvos.

Landmarks The Zoo. What makes Brisbane unique?

It's the tropics- things move differently in Queensland in many departments. Although it has a strong history, it's still a young, fast-growing city that is slowly learning how to develop its youthful cultural ideas.

Just because it’s organic doesn’t mean it can’t quack, moo or oink!

John Kilroy’s Organic Char, located side by side with sister restaurant Cha Cha Char, features everything from meat, poultry, game and sustainable seafood, vibrant salads and vivid vegetable combinations. A fully organic wine list, a list of organic mocktails and cocktails, organic coffee and range of exotic teas complete this menu. For a pristine organic experience, be it a high tea with the girls, business lunch or dinner with friends, Organic Char is the perfect location.

A E

Eagle Street Pier, Shop 5, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane T 07 3211 9944 reservations@organicchar.com.au W www.organicchar.com.au

Brisbane’s signature steak restaurant, Cha Cha Char, is located in Eagle St Pier.

The iconic restaurant is newly revamped and boasts a brand new kitchen. With a menu unlike any other, Cha Cha Char offers grass and grain fed cuts from varying cattle breeds and a selection of lean to highly marbled 9+ steaks.

Winner of Australia’s best steak restaurant for 5 consecutive years, Cha Cha Char’s quality of food and service will certainly exceed expectations.

Open lunch Monday to Friday, dinner 7 days.

SHOP 5, PLAZA LEVEL EAGLE ST PIER, BRISBANE 07 3211 9944 www.chachachar.com.au manager@chachachar.com.au

gourmet flamingo cafe INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKKI BRAMMER

christina hatzipetrou BRISBANE RESTAURATEUR CHRISTINA HATZIPETROU CREDITS HER GREEK PARENTS FOR HER WORK ETHIC AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT. HER LATEST VENTURE IS FLAMINGO CAFE, LAUNCHED WITH FELLOW FOODIE AND HIGH-SCHOOL BUDDY, ANNETTE GILLESPIE, IN MARCH 2010.

The bite-sized cafe sits in an alley off Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, and has earned glowing reviews and customers aplenty.

Christina says the word ‘flamingo’ and all its connotations – fun, frivolous, garish and a little odd – helped define their petite cafe’s aesthetic and design. The decor is kitsch in a warm and fuzzy swizzle-stick kind of way, with canary yellow candy-striped awnings, faux grass carpets, loud exterior wall murals by Christina’s friend Stephen Mok and playful plastic coloured stools. Meanwhile, the menu is simple, homely and hearty – think addictive sandwiches such as the Turkey, Sage and Walnut Cream Cheese with Cranberry. Freshly squeezed juices are also big winners, with sweet-as-pie names like Beet Boutique, Nana Crystal and, of course, the Pink Flamingo.

Christina’s first business venture was in the early ‘noughties’ when at age 26 she opened Main Squeeze in Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. The bar and cafe gained something akin to cult status as a space you could rely on to buzz, day and night. Yo Mama juice and sandwich bar followed at Teneriffe in 2007, and Christina helped launch the cosy Desmond and Molly Jones cafe at Woolloongabba in 2009. Christina’s business track record suggests she has a knack for embarking on new food projects that capture a certain time, place and 56

spirit in Brisbane. While her signature style is hard to define, her customers notice and flock to be a part of it. Having grown up in Brisbane, Christina feels a freedom here to follow her heart. “I think the best thing about doing business in Brisbane is that every time I’ve done something it’s been different,” she reflects. “I like doing it in Brisbane. It just seems to work. I don’t really listen; I just do what I think is right and what I should do … I don’t follow any trends. I don’t copy – I couldn’t care what anyone else is doing. I just do what I want to do.” Christina is heartened by Flamingo Cafe’s success and attributes it to a happy staff team and her and Annette’s harmonious work relationship. “Annette has probably been the most supportive person as a friend and business partner,” Christina says. “That reflects in the business.

Ever since we’ve opened, it’s been awesome.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Business in Brisbane is interesting as well as hard. With local business and passing traffic as well as the younger shopping generation as our main customers, we are kept pretty busy. The eclectic laneway concept of Winn Lane continues to draw fantastic attention to our business.

WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? That Fortitude Valley

now stretches beyond the Fortitude Valley Mall. With the developments in James Street and McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley is seeing a revived side that is great for everyone.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? The arts and social scene at the Gallery of Modern

Art always stimulates me, as well as local bands and the Valley Fiesta. Also there is always a great find at the Valley Laneway Markets that are on in Winn Lane on the first Saturday of every month. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 I see Brisbane with more creative centres and strips and well as more creative and original food.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience James Street and Fortitude Valley shopping.

Suburb New Farm.

Restaurant Beccofino.

Cafe Pearl Cafe.

Bar Uptown at Crosstown Eating House.

Escape Sunshine Coast.

Weekend Activity Relaxing and eating out.

Picnic Spot New Farm Park.

Retailer Easton Pearson and Blonde Venus.

Landmarks The Valley Mall.

What makes Brisbane unique?

The evolving nature of cafe culture within Brisbane.

I love it because I’m charging new ground.

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gourmet olivfresh organic olives INTERVIEW BY FRANCES FRANGENHEIM

peter agnew PETER AGNEW IS AN ORTHODONTIST BY DAY AND AN ORGANIC FARMER BY NIGHT, THE WEEKEND AND WHATEVER SPARE TIME HE CAN SQUEEZE OUT OF HIS WEEK. While Peter and his wife Susan live in the leafy Brisbane suburb of Auchenflower, their certified-organic olive estate is a 55-minute drive north-west of Brisbane on the shores of Lake Wivenhoe. And that’s where the energetic couple scoots most Friday evenings to nurture their 7000 olive trees of a weekend.

Peter and Susan spontaneously purchased the land in 2002 to use as “a relaxing weekender”, but instead rolled up their sleeves and transformed it into a thriving olive-tree farm. Peter’s parents, ex-farmers, are also a big help on the farm. “We call us Team Agnew,” Peter says gratefully. He explains it took five years to see any sort of crop, and their first harvest was a mere 70 kilograms. “That’s three suitcases full,” he laughs. Fortunately, the OlivFresh Organic Olives harvest is growing exponentially, with 21 tonnes of olives collected this year. Their decision to go organic was as much about responding to the market (Peter notes the demand for organic products in Australia is growing at 30 percent each year) as a desire to grow the purest, healthiest fruit. Their products scoop a bevy of local and national industry awards, including being a finalist in the prestigious delicious.

Produce Awards in 2010 and 2011, judged by the likes of Australian celebrity chefs, Maggie Beer and Philip Johnson. Peter is appreciative of the local food industry’s support, noting top Brisbane restaurants Ortiga, Restaurant Two and Urbane feature OlivFresh Organic Olives products on their menus. “They want to buy local, bless them,” he says. And then there’s OlivFresh’s neat little ‘Adopt a Tree’ program, which invites ‘olive parents’ and 58

their friends to visit and harvest adopted trees as part of a one-day mini-opera festival held annually. Peter explains of the program’s impetus: “There were a lot of people – Turks and Greeks – whose parents and grandparents would get their own olives from their groves back home. And they were asking, ‘Can we come to your farm and pick our own olives?’” Asked how he juggles two such demanding occupations as orthodontics and farming, Peter responds graciously. “I’m fortunate – I’ve got two passions.

Definitely this olive enterprise is by far the biggest challenge I’ve ever undertaken business-wise. Susan has been with me all the way. It’s been very hard work and a lot of hours unpaid, but we’re starting to realise now that we’re doing it right.”

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Because of its huge growth over recent years, business in Brisbane has been good for many years.

This growth has encouraged quite a few national businesses to base their head offices here. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience World Expo.

Suburb Auchenflower.

Restaurant Ortiga and Urbane.

Cafe R&R Cafe Bar. Bar hundred acre bar.

Escape Tingirana Noosa.

Weekend Activity Our olive grove.

Picnic Spot Sirromet Winery.

Retailer Wray Organic.

Landmarks Customs House.

BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU?

I’ve really enjoyed the inner-city development in recent years, particularly South Bank and the associated cultural precinct.

It’s very pleasing now to see that some overseas performers and shows will come to Brisbane first and sometimes not go to southern states. Brisbane has come of age as a world city.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE?

I love sport of all kinds, so right now there’s lots of exciting rugby union and league to follow. I’m also excited about showcasing our OlivFresh Organic Olive products at the Regional Flavours Expo at South Bank. DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 The major roadworks being undertaken around the city are complete and traffic is flowing easily. The Brisbane airport and its proximity to the northern hemisphere encourages more corporate development and associated opportunities in Brisbane.

Also, the city’s mix of cultures continues to promote career opportunities and exciting foods.

What makes Brisbane unique?

Our fantastic weather and outdoors lifestyle. Sure, it gets a bit hot over summer but the payback is nine months of fantastic weather.

We are also blessed with two of Australia’s finest beaches to the north and south of the city. If you need a day in the country, it doesn’t take hours just to get out of the city. Within an hour you can be in some fantastic regional country destinations.

The Complex That Makes Life... Less Complex

gourmet flamingo Sanctuary in Brisbane City

Open to the public 7 days 2km from Brisbane CBD Caddy Shack Cafe & Bar 18 hole Golf Course Fully Licensed 18 hole Putt Putt Course Flagship Golf Retail Store 72 bay, 2 tier day/night Driving Range Golf Learning Centre for clinics and private lessons 2010 Queensland Meeting Venue More than 500 Delegates

Herston Rd Herston

www.victoriaparkgolfcomplex.com

Breakfast Luscious all day delights Corporate functions Engagement & Weddings

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Lunch Tasty Gluten free options Bridal & Baby Showers High Tea (two sessions daily)

Room with Roses is included in the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide 2011 under Best Cafes in Brisbane.

Open: Monday to Saturday 9:00am–3:30pm Bookings recommended Gallery Level, Brisbane Arcade, Brisbane }{ 07 3229 7050 info@roomwithroses.com.au }{ www.roomwithroses.com.au

gourmet baked relief INTERVIEW BY KATHRYN LINDGREN PROFILE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELOUISE VAN RIET-GRAY

danielle crismani WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, IT’S GOOD TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS THINKING ABOUT BASIC HUMAN NEEDS. WHILE MANY SES VOLUNTEERS WERE STRUGGLING TO KEEP WATER OUT AND TO CLEAN UP, DANIELLE CRISMANI WAS IN THE BACKGROUND COOKING UP A STORM AND COINING THE PHRASE ‘BAKED RELIEF’.

Danielle grew up with an interest in food and it was when she met her Italian father when she was 14 that it dawned on her where her passion for food originated. “I realised then that I needed to see where I came from in order to see where I was going and very quickly understood and embraced my interest in food,” she recalls. Fast-forward many years and cupcakes later and Danielle knew that she was destined to make a difference, she just didn’t know where yet. But nature was to take its course and she was determined to get in its way. On January 10, with two of her boys stuck on a flooded family farm in the Lockyer Valley and her Waterfront workplace closed, Danielle didn’t think twice. “I knew the boys were safe, even though the farm was flooded, so when the SES started sandbagging in Brisbane, I started cooking,” she says. What Danielle didn’t think about was how much this initially small gesture would be appreciated and how many there would be to feed. At that point she sent a message out to her Twitter, food blog and Facebook contacts asking them to reach out to their community, spread the word, cook some food and take it to their local volunteers. “I posted the locations of the SES volunteers and said: ‘Don’t contact me, because I’m cooking. Just take some food to them.’” In those first few days amidst a cooking frenzy, Danielle realised her destiny and established the charity Baked Relief. After 60

2–3 weeks of up to 20-hour days, Baked Relief evolved to become a relief effort for flood-affected families and Danielle headed to Helidon in the Lockyer Valley. “I discovered that people there were living on meat pies and were in desperate need of a balanced diet and basic cooking equipment,” recalls Danielle. She put together a kit for $100 and again put the message out to her contacts as to what a donation of that amount could provide for a family in need.

With 50 essentials kits funded and provided in the Lockyer Valley, Danielle then took the Baked Relief model up to Cyclone Yasi in North Queensland and remotely launched it in New Zealand, where people jumped onboard to help. Danielle also put her mind to other ways she could help. Adopt a family and cook them a meal, as well as cookbook donations formed part of the Baked Relief mantra.

Now Baked Relief continues to support local communities to recover from these disasters and Danielle is considering her charity and the demands of her real life. Her dream is for sponsorship to enable her to work on Baked Relief full time to build a model that anyone in the world can use when disaster strikes.

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Baked Relief was born and grew to something much more than I could have imagined because people in Brisbane care about their neighbours. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU?

I have enjoyed watching Brisbane evolve in the last few years and really grow up out of the gawky teenage phase. Brisbane is learning its own style and always growing. WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? I am looking forward to Brisbane’s upcoming food festival events, especially the Ekka. The Lockyer Valley is home to some of the most fertile farmland in the world.

We should embrace this and celebrate these fantastic food events!

DESCRIBE YOUR VISION OF BRISBANE IN 2017 Brisbane will be a city rich with locally grown food in abundant supply. We will have recovered from the floods and, as a community, will embrace our local events, eateries and wonderful Queensland spirit of helping each other.

Favourite Brisbane ...

Experience Eating my way around the city.

Suburb Fortitude Valley.

Restaurant Il Centro.

Cafe Grub Street and R&R Cafe Bar. Bar Kerbside.

Escape The family farm.

Weekend Activity Baking with la famiglia.

Picnic Spot Mount Mee. Retailer Any thrift shop or family-owned bookstore.

Landmarks Mount Coot-tha.

What makes Brisbane unique? How great it is to travel our river on CityCats and ferries. I think Brisbane is still a small town with big city infrastructure and style.

To embrace our fantastic weather, we can get to a surf beach within an hour, we have access to some amazing islands, we can drive our four-wheel drives on beaches and enjoy a lifestyle unseen anywhere else in Australia.

coffee chocolate & cupcakes

68 charlotte street, city 07 3003 0330 cocoawoo.com

so an ausTralian walks inTo an irish bar ...

k ouT chec line n o r ou uide!

GiG G

... and found Good food, Grand Times & GreaT Value!

We here at the Irish Club are a bit pleased with our new à la carte menu. There’s something for everyone with fresh seafood, sizzling steaks and vegetarian dishes plus traditional Irish favourites.

Tasty dinner and lunch specials live music every friday and saturday night a true home away from home!

175 Elizabeth Street, City Phone (07) 3221 5699 www.queenslandirish.com

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explore

the villages pages 64-87 :A SELF-CONTAINED DISTRICT OR COMMUNITY WITHIN A TOWN OR CITY, REGARDED AS HAVING FEATURES CHARACTERISTIC OF VILLAGE LIFE.

travel day trips pages 88-90 : SNAPSHOTS OF BRISBANE SURROUNDS.

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village brisbane city

brisbane city Brisbane City continues to make a name for itself as Australia’s new world city, offering an exciting blend of fashion, history, entertainment and culture.

The CBD is Brisbane’s heart, a hive of activity and a communal meeting point.

As a relatively young capital, Brisbane City is a hub for all business big and small, from its high-rise office buildings to its hidden laneways laden with coffee hotspots and art installations. The Vibrant Laneways and Small Spaces program is a current initiative of the Brisbane City Council, which aims to bring a sense of discovery to Brisbane City through urban design and creative interaction.

Another project currently on the cards is the Brisbane City Hall restoration with the goal of preserving beauty and history for future generations. At the doorstep of City Hall, King George Square constantly has something on offer, from suitcase rummages to Indie Twilight Markets and a variety of free concerts and expos throughout the year. Crossing the road into Queensland’s fashion capital, the Queen Street Mall, you will find buskers, magicians, street performers and a veritable retail sanctuary. The Myer Centre, Wintergarden, QueensPlaza, Broadway on the Mall and MacArthur Central are some of the major shopping destinations in Brisbane City, offering the latest trends and leading designer labels. Bordered by the river on three sides, Brisbane City continues to evolve as a shopping mecca and cultural epicentre, a favourite destination for visitors and locals alike.

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brisbane city village

EAT GERMAN SAUSAGE HUT IMBISS BURNETT LANE, CITY www.germansausagehut.com.au

When hunger strikes, it announces its onset gently at first, before gathering momentum with aplomb. Offering traditional German fare, the German Sausage Hut Imbiss prides itself on serving comfort food made from authentic recipes. Genuine and wholesome, the German eatery found its roots as a market stall, before taking up residence in the CBD’s Burnett Lane. All manner of Bratwurst, Frankfurter and Sauerkraut are served both dine-in and takeaway.

DRINK BREW LOWER BURNETT LANE, CITY T. 07 3211 4242 www.brewgroup.com.au

Tucked away at the lower end of Brisbane’s newest revived laneway, Brew is at once inviting and brimming with character.

With old-fashioned lamps casting a warm glow, Brew is both cosy and quirky. Beginning its days as a cafe, Brew’s popularity was responsible for the addition of a wine bar to the unique locale. Almost invisible from the main street, the alleyway is a space where thoughts can be gathered and minds refreshed with a morning coffee or late-night martini.

SHOP THE LOFT BROADWAY ON THE MALL, 170 QUEEN STREET, CITY T. 07 3210 0030 www.theloftstore.com.au

DOING BUSINESS WILLIAM COOKE, OWNER, VAPIANO 191 ALBERT LANE, BRISBANE T. 07 3221 4933 www.vapiano.com.au HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? I have lived in Paddington since 1993, having

moved up from the Gold Coast, with a break of 7 years between 2001 and 2007 where I lived in Dublin and Stockholm. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? The relaxed lifestyle and incredible weather, with fantastic beaches only an hour away in either direction. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Surprisingly resilient, given the floods this year. People in Brisbane have been very supportive in coming back out and enjoying life again. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The continued development of South Bank and the cultural precinct around it, and the continued development and improvement of the river as a feature of Brisbane. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Government needs to find a way to either make parking affordable or public transport so good that you would be crazy not to use it. People could then use the city, river and South Bank areas without it costing too much. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? A relaxed and vibrant city that continues to reinvent itself in a sustainable way. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? The opening of interesting, high-quality cafes, restaurants and bars, in all sorts of places. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … The James Street Markets have a combination of fantastic fresh produce, cheeses, meats and seafood. DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE? I love the village feel in Paddington, with Urban Grind for great coffee, Anouk for great breakfast, The Lark for great drinks and Montrachet and Grappino for great food. I spend most of my weekends around Paddington with visits to New Farm for the James Street Markets and New Farm Park, and South Bank for the Gallery of Modern Art, the State Library and the Science Museum. Great weather, relaxing and with a variety of interesting things to do.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE GoMA. SUBURB Paddington. RESTAURANT Montrachet. CAFE Urban Grind. BAR The Lark. ESCAPE Emporium Hotel. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Breakfast at Anouk. PICNIC SPOT New Farm Park. RETAILER David Jones – Paul Smith concession. LANDMARK Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

A rarely used space where old treasures spend their retirement, many lofts are dark and dusty places unfrequented, save for the occasional spring clean. A bright space that eschews this tradition is Broadway on the Mall’s new boutique, The Loft. While still retaining the raw aesthetic of a loft with its exposed pipes and cement floor, The Loft is a place where fashion mavens can unearth new treasures from Australian and international labels.

PLAY JAN POWER’S FARMERS MARKETS QUEEN STREET MALL, CITY T. 0417 720 943 www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au

Bringing a colourful array of fresh produce to Brisbane’s CBD, Jan Power’s Farmers Markets will bring culinary inspiration to even those who manage to burn toast. Springing up at the top of the Queen Street Mall every Wednesday, the markets tempt tastebuds with fragrant herbs, sweet fruit, crisp vegetables and freshly baked breads. Wandering through the stalls, basket in hand is the perfect way to start the day.

BEST PLACE ...

FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER The Villager. FOR DELICIOSO ITALIANO Ciccio’s Pasta Bar. FOR A COHESIVE WINING AND DINING EXPERIENCE The Euro. FOR A GROUP BOOKING The Irish Club. TO EXPLORE THE CITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY CityCycle Stations. FOR DAPPER MENSWEAR Apartment. FOR A SANDWICH ALTERNATIVE Bagel Nook.

TO LET YOUR T-SHIRT DO THE TALKING T-Bar. FOR COMFY FOOTWEAR Birkenstock on Albert Lane. FOR GREAT COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE Cocoa Woo. FOR BESPOKE SUITS The Cloakroom. FOR HIGH TEA Room with Roses Cafe. FOR LOVERS OF THE WRITTEN WORD Folio Books.

65

village ascot/hamilton

ascot/hamilton During racing season, the streets of Ascot and Hamilton are filled with ladies in fancy frocks and gentlemen dressed to impress. Ascot has always been one of Brisbane’s more prestigious suburbs, boasting an array of impressive and culturally significant architecture. Best known for the Eagle Farm and Doomben racecourses, Ascot continues to retain a dynamic atmosphere outside the racing calendar. Racecourse Road is lined with designer boutiques and cafes with an affinity for alfresco dining. Given the prestige of the area, you may be surprised to find restaurants catering to all budgets, from gourmet dining to conventional grab-and-go meals and multiple gelaterias throughout. Making your way to the riverfront, you will cross the threshold into Ascot’s neighbouring suburb, Hamilton.

In the late 1800s, Hamilton was noted for its fine villas and ‘gentlemen estates’. Today, Hamilton’s most popular destination is Portside Wharf. Formerly heavily industrial, Portside now takes advantage of direct river views with world-class restaurants, designer retailers and boutique markets. For lovers of the silverscreen, Portside is home to Brisbane’s only Dendy cinema, which offers the latest blockbusters, independent features and international film festivals. At the heart of the Portside Wharf, the 15-level Promenade Hamilton Apartments are on the rise, promising growth for budding real estate investors.

The Ascot Hamilton precinct is one of the most picturesque areas in Brisbane with handsome cottages and contemporary apartments coexisting harmoniously.

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ascot/hamilton village

EAT HOSOKAWA JAPANESE RESTAURANT SHOP 3/53 RACECOURSE ROAD, HAMILTON T. 07 3868 3762

Take your tastebuds on a journey to Japan at Hosokawa Japanese Restaurant. The restaurant offers a delicate combination of simplicity, fuss-free decor, and an emphasis on fresh and traditional fare. An arrangement of Oriental lilies watches over the sashimi bar, which is stocked with seafood sourced fresh everyday, while authentic china in varying shades of green adorns the tables. The precision and skill of Chef Akio Hosokawa (ex-Oshin and Sono) has seen this eatery amass a band of admirers from all nationalities.

DRINK LE BON CHOIX 2/121 RACECOURSE ROAD, ASCOT T. 07 3630 1114 www.lebonchoixbakery.com.au

When it comes to creating culinary masterpieces, the French are true artists. With its French-style cafe chairs and tables lining the street, and elegantly decorated cakes, Le Bon Choix brims with Parisian charm. After ordering an allimportant coffee, admiring the miniature works of art in the window and choosing from the selection of lunch baguettes and pastries, do as the French do and settle in for a spot of peoplewatching at one of the outdoor tables.

SHOP BRISBANE BOUTIQUE MARKETS PORTSIDE WHARF, HAMILTON T. 07 3321 5000 www.boutiquemarkets.com.au

DOING BUSINESS MARILYN DOMENECH, PARTNER, BAGUETTE BISTROT+BAR 150 RACECOURSE ROAD, ASCOT T. 07 3268 6168 www.baguette.com.au HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? For 38 years. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? It’s not too big, but it’s got spunk and character plus friendly natives. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Keeping us on our toes with all the new competition. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? Brisbane has lost the daggy

‘country town’ image and morphed into a modern and vibrant city with few big-city drawbacks. Precincts like Racecourse Road have divided up the city into accessible ‘villages’ the locals love. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? More people, with more money to spend. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? Traffic problems solved, and an innovative council building on our arts and hospitality scene. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? The Surrealism exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … You can walk or cycle along the river’s edge – from Hamilton to the CBD and on to the University of Queensland at St Lucia. DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE We live in a riverside apartment on the edge of the CBD, so we can drive five minutes to everything we want to do – work, shop and play. Life is very relaxed with warm, sunny weather most of the year. Good friends and lots of good eating and drinking alfresco.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE CityCats on the Brisbane River. SUBURB Ascot. RESTAURANT Baguette.

CAFE Brown Dog Cafe. BAR Limes Hotel Rooftop Bar. ESCAPE Movies. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Northey Street City Farm. PICNIC SPOT Kangaroo Point overlooking the city. RETAILER Joli Boutique. LANDMARK GoMA.

The beauty of local markets is that as you wander from stall to stall, stopping to gaze at the unique trinkets, artworks and pieces of jewellery, you can take a moment to talk to the artisan and learn a little bit about the product’s history.

Set beside the Brisbane River in the Portside Wharf precinct, the Brisbane Boutique Markets has more than 50 local artists and designers with stalls at the markets. Afterwards enjoy a bite to eat at one of the many cafes.

PLAY HYPOXI BODY STUDIO SHOP G3/85 RACECOURSE ROAD, ASCOT T. 07 3268 4629 www.hypoxibodystudio.com.au

When getting ready for a night out, stepping into that dream dress and zipping it all the way to the top in one smooth motion can be a great boost to self esteem and make the occasion all the more enjoyable. To help keep your body and mind in top shape, Hypoxi Body Studio creates individually designed programs that combine Hypoxi Therapy and VibroGym to help you achieve the silhouette you have always dreamed of.

BEST PLACE ...

FOR ALFRESCO MEDITERRANEAN DINING Chez Laila. TO SHARE A TANTALISING TAPAS PLATTER Byblos Bar and Restaurant.

FOR BRISBANE’S BIGGEST OMELETTES Vagelis Cafe and Bar. FOR AN A-LA-CARTE DELI LUNCH Ascot Provisions. TO SPOIL YOURSELF WITH SWEET TREATS Vanilla Pod. FOR SMOKY WOODFIRED PIZZA The Lido. FOR HIGH TEA Tassels Deli.

TO STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES Hacienda Flowers and Furnishings. FOR AN AUTHENTIC ITALIAN EXPERIENCE Gusto da Dianni. FOR EUROPEAN CHIC FASHIONS Vers Boutique. FOR AN INVIGORATING WORKOUT Jetts Fitness Hamilton. FOR AN COSY COFFEE Fonzie Abbott Espresso.

67

village james street precinct

james street precinct A day spent in the upmarket James Street precinct might involve the following: a gourmet breakfast, a stroll through the boutiques, an arthouse film at the cinema or all of the above.

As you move away from the hype of Fortitude Valley, a decadent lifestyle experience awaits on James Street. The precinct is a favourite shopping locale for Brisbane’s fashion conscious, with leading labels such as sass & bide and Mimco providing quality shopping opportunities. With the many unique and exquisite boutiques around the precinct, it won’t take long for your arms to become weary from the weight of shopping. Food lovers rejoice when they pay a visit to the area, indulging in fresh seafood, tasty baked goods and quality fruits and vegetables at James Street Market. The specialty food providores found on James Street are a welcome alternative to traditional grocery stores and takeaway cafes. The stylish eateries along the strip take advantage of alfresco dining, providing the perfect setting to sit back and watch the world go by. Extensive menus and exquisite delights are on offer everywhere you look, including some of Australia’s most awarded coffee at Campos and Bellissimo. James Lane off James Street has become a hotspot for evening events, particularly for contemporary artists and designers. The sophisticated vibe of the James Street area has transformed Brisbane into a modern centre of style and luxury.

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james street precinct village

EAT PRESS JAMES LANE, 65 JAMES STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3852 6426

Pluto pups, hot chips topped with tomato sauce, and potato scallops are few of the menu items that many have come to expect from pop-up takeaway food stores. In sync with the style of the James Street precinct, Press is a pop-up store complete with rooftop garden that puts a simple and fresh spin on fast food. For breakfast there is yoghurt, granola and Eggs Florentine, and when lunchtime rolls around, you can savour fresh salads and toasted homemade flat breads filled with ingredients such as tomato, basil and bocconcini.

DOING BUSINESS

DRINK

MATT DWYER, DIRECTOR/DESIGNER/JEWELLER, FIO CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY & DESIGN 6/65 JAMES STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3852 3949 www.fio-contemporary.com

VIVO SHOP 10, 65 JAMES STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3852 3812 www.vivocoffee.com.au

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? I have lived in Brisbane all my life although, throughout my twenties, I travelled the world extensively. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? I love Brisbane’s laid-back lifestyle. It is an interesting mix of some quaint old town qualities and the buzz of a rapidly growing city. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Business is steady for me, although the recent floods have

affected many small business operators, resulting in the closure of many businesses.

But Brisbane has the spirit to move forward and will do just that. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU?

The Gallery of Modern Art has had a great effect on Brisbane as a whole and for all creative practitioners. It has had a follow-on effect on fashion and the public’s desire to have something unique. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Better and more regular public transport. If it is easy to get around, people will investigate Brisbane more, which will only make it a more vibrant city. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? I believe Brisbane is heading towards a very busy and culturally rich city. I hope to see Brisbane as a hive of activity, with the city embracing the outdoors, especially at night. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? The revival of the community spirit. The floods earlier in the year have changed the mindset and have brought people together again. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … There is an abandoned shack on Mount Coot-tha with a lone table and a local newspaper from 1973. DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE Friends, family, food, wine, art and the outdoors pretty much sum it up.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

SUBURB New Farm. RESTAURANT Watt. CAFE Jamie’s Espresso Bar. BAR The Bowery.

ESCAPE Mount Coot-tha. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Fish and chips at New Farm Park.

PICNIC SPOT Slaughter Falls. RETAILER Folio Books. LANDMARK Story Bridge.

A full-bodied elixir that many crave from the moment they begin to stir from a deep slumber, a morning coffee is a sacred daily ritual. From the much-anticipated first sip, spirits begin to lift and morning sluggishness dissipates.

Nestled amongst the fashion boutiques on James Lane, Vivo is a vibrant little nook and the perfect place for a coffee pit stop. An entire wall is dedicated to coffee machines and the clever baristas can also help those shopping for a new coffee machine.

SHOP CALEXICO SHOP 7, 46 JAMES STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3252 8216 www.calexico.com.au

With the cool neutral hues of its sleek interiors, Calexico provides a tranquil shopping environment where fashion takes centre stage. As you browse the store’s racks, you will find a collection of contemporary pieces that have been carefully selected from the coveted collections of a number of international designers. Whatever your style, the staff can help you create a look that suits you and is in line with global fashion trends.

PLAY JAMES ST COOKING SCHOOL JAMES STREET MARKET, 22 JAMES STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3252 8850 www.jamesstcookingschool.com.au

Overlooking the bustling James Street Market that brims with a bounty of fresh produce and inspired places to eat and drink, the James St Cooking School teaches students to cook using all of the senses. From the feel of the ingredients to the smell and sound of the sizzle while it cooks, you will begin to develop the instincts of a chef. Run by a team of skilled chefs, the classes are hands-on and, when class is dismissed, students enjoy their culinary creations complete with matching wine.

BEST PLACE ...

FOR LUSH BEATS AND SURROUND SOUND Bang & Olufsen.

FOR FANCY FOOTWEAR Tom Gunn. TO FIND A HIDDEN TREASURE Stone and Metal. FOR QUALITY CAKES AND PASTRIES Jocelyn’s Provisions. FOR A GREAT CUP OF JOE Jamie’s Espresso Bar. FOR ECLECTIC DESIGN AND SENSUAL FABRICS Easton Pearson.

TO DISCOVER AUSTRALIAN ART C Gallery. TO SLIP INTO SOMETHING SULTRY Puritan. FOR SAVVY FASHIONISTAS Frockshop. FOR SAUCY CREATIONS CJ’s Pasta. TO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY d.i.g. FOR LITERATURE ACROSS ALL GENRES Title.

69

village emporium

emporium The Emporium precinct overflows with confidence and class. Renowned for its sophisticated European design, the centre is home to the Emporium Hotel, Queensland’s top luxury hotel and the preferred lodging for big names that roll into town. The Emporium Hotel features more than 100 deluxe studio suites, each custom-designed and individually finished with exquisite interiors from around the world. The hotel is built on an aesthetic of opulence and is a favourite setting for all events from ballroom galas to intimate rendezvous.

With more than 35 specialty retailers bordering the village square, Emporium has earned a reputation as a luxury designer hub. High-end Australian fashion labels such as Toscani and Tengdahl call this cosmopolitan village home, as well as bridal couture and eye-candy boutiques. The internal boulevards of the precinct are home to an array of restaurants, making Emporium a vibrant dining district. The illustrious cocktail bar at the Emporium Hotel provides the perfect pre-dinner atmosphere with an eclectic beverage list.

During the day, enjoy a coffee and a range of exquisite sweet treats. By night, savour the flavours of modern Middle Eastern cuisine, Asian-fusion dishes and amongst other culinary delights. While there is ample car space at the precinct, the prepaid CityGlider bus service offers an eco-friendly alternative on a busy night at Emporium.

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emporium village

EAT TARTUFO RISTORANTE + BAR 1000 ANN STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3852 1500 www.tartufo.com.au

First enjoyed by the Ancient Egyptians and now an ingredient synonymous with fine Italian dining, truffles have been considered a culinary delicacy for thousands of years.

Meaning ‘truffle’ in Italian, tartufo embraces fine food and fine dining with gusto, and brings a touch of classic Italy to Emporium. Indulge in grilled organic spatchcock, classic pasta dishes, or sample the delights on the degustazione menu when dining with two or more people.

DRINK THE WINE EMPORIUM SHOP 47,1000 ANN STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3252 1117 www.thewineemporium.com.au

DOING BUSINESS MICHAEL KELLY, DIRECTOR, ASA TILES AUSTRALIA SHOP 9, 1000 ANN STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3257 4940 www.asatiles.com.au HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? For 27 years. I love it. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? The ever-changing and always amazing lifestyle.

The weather, the entertainment and the restaurants. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE?

Full on, fast-paced and challenging. There are always new and interesting projects on the go and I get to meet interesting people who love unique products and design. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The number of new restaurants and bars constantly opening, and the plethora of great rock concerts coming to Brisbane. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Better transport infrastructure with the possible implementation of a light rail system. It would promote activity from a commercial and leisure point of view. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? Always lovingly liveable.

I see it will be more cosmopolitan and multicultural and with more exciting concerts. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Spring is the most amazing time of year and I love spending it exploring all the great golf courses Brisbane has on offer. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … The interesting beers you’ll find on tap, and the colourful characters who associate with those beers, at the Stones Corner Hotel and the Chalk Hotel. DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE Action-packed and exciting. My business takes up most of my life and I love it.

I also exercise a lot to keep me fit and focused.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE Rock concerts like Bon Jovi and Disturbed. SUBURB Coorparoo.

RESTAURANT Belesis. CAFE Spoon East Brisbane. BAR Cocktail Bar at Emporium Hotel.

ESCAPE Sirromet Vineyard. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Work, fitness and Sunday breakfast.

PICNIC SPOT Manly. RETAILER Rocking Horse Records. LANDMARK Story Bridge.

Whether you know very little about wine, or you proudly boast a brimming cellar, The Wine Emporium can help you find the perfect drop. Created with the goal to collect the best range of wine, The Wine Emporium houses a selection of premium wines sourced from Australia and around the globe. Begin a wine education with the free weekly in-store wine tastings and continue to expand your pool of knowledge by attending one of the wine dinners and wine classes hosted regularly throughout the year.

SHOP ANGELO ANDRONIS SHOP 28,1000 ANN STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3852 4555 www.andronis.com.au

When glancing at a jewellery box, each piece evokes memories of birthdays, past travel adventures, and cherished friends and family members, offering a beautiful overview of life’s milestones. A unique piece of jewellery can make for a treasured gift or a special indulgence. Skilfully creating intricate pieces of jewellery from raw materials, Angelo Andronis’ namesake jewellery boutique is a trove of designer jewellery waiting to be explored.

PLAY ALLA MODA SHOP 14, 1000 ANN STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3257 7253 www.allamoda.com.au

After receiving a complement on your unique dress, the hours spent cutting, pinning, sewing, and fitting the garment are instantly gratified. Those who live and breathe fashion will feel right at home at Alla Moda. With a selection of haute couture fabrics from fashion houses including Chanel and Valentino, your sewing machine will be working in overdrive as you transform French lace, Italian wool and bold prints into fashionable masterpieces.

BEST PLACE ...

FOR MOUTHWATERING MACARONS Belle Epoque Patisserie.

FOR CHIC GIFTS ollie & lloyd. TO TREAT YOUR FEET Maryon’s Shoes. FOR AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE Guzman Y Gomez.

FOR AUSTRALIAN FASHION AND DESIGN Lotus 76. TO INVEST IN A DRESS George Gross & Harry Who. FOR A FUNKY SET OF SPECS Eye Candy Spex & Chox. TO FORGET COUNTING CALORIES Freestyle Tout. FOR GLAMOUR AND WEARABILITY Tengdahl.

FOR SUSHI AND SAKE Ginga Japanese Restaurant. FOR THE SHEER LOVE OF BOOKS Coaldrake’s Bookshop. FOR READY-TOWEAR RUNWAY TRENDS Camargue.

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village fortitude valley

fortitude valley Fortitude Valley embodies everything that is eclectic, blurring the line between the ordinary and the unusual. The Valley, as it is locally known, is a hive of activity where retro thrift stores and designer boutiques live comfortably side by side. This suburb is one of the most diverse in Brisbane, moving between grunge and grace at any given time. The Valley has taken some hard knocks over time but continues to resurrect its status, adopting the role as an inner-city creative hub. Old favourite structures from The Valley’s past are constantly given a new lease on life, the latest being the Winn Lane rejuvenation: an exciting new destination to explore the latest trends and perhaps discover the next big thing.

The recent addition of The Valley Laneway Markets has been a flourishing touch on The Valley’s artistic culture, transforming hidden laneways into hotspots of art, music, food and fashion. In addition, contemporary art spaces scattered through The Valley, such as the Institute of Modern Art and the Judith Wright Centre help to form a true melting pot of creativity. As the sun sets, The Valley’s nightlife boasts a strong live-music scene, where venues such as The Step Inn, Tivoli Theatre and The Zoo welcome some of the biggest headliners in the music game.

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fortitude valley village

EAT AGAVE HQ NORTH TOWER, 512 WICKHAM STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3257 7331 www.agavebar.com.au

If Mexico were an artist’s palette, the artist would probably be inspired to fill a canvas with a splash of red from a bright alleyway, a dash of yellow from a sombrero, and a touch a pink, green and orange, all taken from a vibrant poncho.

A place where hungry crowds can enjoy the essence of Mexico is Agave Mexican Bar and Grill. The bright decor initially lures diners into the restaurant, and the handmade tortillas, salsa, corn chips and frozen margaritas from the bright pink bar ensures their return.

DRINK FIFTH BATTERY COFFEE ROASTERS 23 WARRY STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3852 5396 www.brotherespresso.com.au

Moving away from its sibling, Brother Espresso, Fifth Battery Coffee Roasters now has a place to call its own. Roasting its own in-house blend, as well as whipping up beans for Brother Espresso, the roastery and cafe is hidden in a hip refurbished warehouse space with a rounded corrugated roof, stained-glass feature wall, wicked wall art and an aviary-style outdoor area. Patrons can indulge in freshly roasted coffee and tasty meals made with care.

SHOP IN.CUBE8R 368 BRUNSWICK STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3252 8654 www.incube8r.com.au

DOING BUSINESS BABAK HADI, MANAGING DIRECTOR, BLACK PEARL EPICURE 36 BAXTER STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3257 2144 www.blackpearl.com.au HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? Since 1989. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? We have all the big-city offerings but at the same time can escape to beautiful places like Stradbroke Island within an hour. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Excellent! The people of Brisbane love the quality foods we distribute and there are great local producers who make our job a lot easier. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? I often

use my bicycle to commute to work and I really like the effort the council has made to maintain and upgrade the bicycle pathways throughout the city. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Make sure bureaucracy and regulations do not get out of control. They just prevent businesses from doing what they do best: creating jobs, servicing customers and generating profits of which half go back to the community in the form of tax. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? Bigger, better, bolder! WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? The exciting food festivals and markets popping up all over the city and surrounds, like the Brisbane Cheese Festival. There are so many great local producers like Kingaroy Cheese and Gallo Cheese who make these festivals so enticing. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … With the right techniques you can catch big mulloway, threadfin salmon, bream and even big sharks in the Brisbane River! DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE I have embraced the relaxed and unpretentious lifestyle Brisbane is known for.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE Brisbane Cheese Festival. SUBURB Bardon. RESTAURANT Aria. CAFE Chouquette. BAR Cloudland. ESCAPE Stradbroke Island. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Tracking my race car. PICNIC SPOT Mount Coot-tha. RETAILER Fine Fruit on James and The Wine Emporium. LANDMARK Captain Burke Park underneath the Story Bridge.

A designers market incarnated into a retail space, in.cube8r is a unique retail concept where up-and-coming designers can present their wares to savvy shoppers looking for something a little bit different. Much the same as a weekend market, artists rent space to present their goods and in return receive 100% of the profit made on goods that are sold. In this colourful space, an array of artworks, jewellery, fashion and homewares will catch your eye.

PLAY KERBSIDE CONSTANCE STREET (ANN STREET END), FORTITUDE VALLEY T. 07 3252 9833 www.kerbside.com.au

A recent addition to The Valley’s laneway culture melds secondhand furniture with eclectic ‘found’ objects and interiors. Tucked off the main drag, Kerbside has a touch of suburban charm, with its outdoor garden furniture, lounge suites and a smattering of Astroturf. Whether in the cafe by day or bar by night, some will relish a coffee in the Garden Party nook, whilst others will feel at home in an armchair in the rustic Hunters’ Corner, plate of tapas in hand.

BEST PLACE ...

FOR INDIE THREADS The Outpost. TO UNLEASH YOUR INNER ARTIST Nine Lives Gallery. TO LET YOUR HAIR DOWN Tognini’s.

TO DANCE LIKE NOBODY IS WATCHING Woodland. FOR STYLISH LADS Angus Black. FOR FASHIONS FROM YESTERYEAR The Purple Bedroom. TO PRACTISE SOME CHORDS Tym Guitars.

FOR LOCAL ART AND CRAFT Kerbside Lane Markets. FOR QUIRKY STATIONERY Little Jane Street. FOR TASTY TACOS Tuckeria. FOR ROCK ’N’ ROLL FASHION Violent Green.

FOR DANGEROUSLY DELICIOUS COCKTAILS Barsoma.

73

village new farm/teneriffe

new farm/teneriffe Multicultural eating experiences are woven through the streets of both Teneriffe and New Farm, with Spanish tapas, Indian cuisine and authentic Italian all on the menu. New Farm’s tastebud tantalisers extend all the way down to the Brisbane Powerhouse on the riverfront, which hosts the Jan Power’s Farmers Markets every second and fourth Saturday of the month. The award-winning, gourmet experience of the markets adds to the already grand popularity of the Brisbane Powerhouse. Once supplying the electricity to the Brisbane tram network, the Brisbane Powerhouse has found a new life as a bustling arts, dining and entertainment precinct, hosting concerts, gallery exhibitions and comedy festivals throughout the year. Also riverside, New Farm Park is a favourite destination for picnics, sporting events, concerts and markets, making it the perfect locale to experience Brisbane’s social side. While locals had been using the moniker for years, Teneriffe was technically part of the Newstead area and not a suburb in its own right. In February 2010, Teneriffe became a registered suburb of Brisbane and is now officially recognised by maps and directories. In the 1990s, the Brisbane City Council declared Teneriffe an urban renewal precinct. Within the decade, many of the heritage-listed woolstores as well as the State Fruit Cannery were transformed from warehouses and factories into modern living spaces. Where residential areas blossomed, restaurants and shopping destinations soon followed, earning Teneriffe credit as a popular dining precinct.

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new farm/teneriffe village

EAT PASSIONE SHOP 7, 36 VERNON TERRACE, TENERIFFE T. 07 3257 2111 www.passione.com.au

Do you devour your ice-cream with gusto or do you prefer to slowly lick the edges, savouring each sweet mouthful?

With our city drenched in sunshine for most of the year, ice-cream and Brisbane are a perfect combination.

Passione Gelateria and Dessert Bar has a selection of Italian gelato and desserts to set mouths watering.

Choose from waffles, pastries and gelato or, alternatively, sample the tapas menu.

DRINK THE LONDON CLUB SHOP 9, 38 VERNON TERRACE, NEW FARM T. 07 3252 8188 www.thelondonclub.com.au

DOING BUSINESS BARBARA GEORGE, OWNER, LIGHTWORKERS COTTAGE AND WORKSHOP VENUE 860 BRUNSWICK STREET AND 152 JAMES STREET, NEW FARM T. 07 3358 2045 www.lightworkerscottage.com HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? Approximately 20 years. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? The weather and its relaxed atmosphere. It’s easy to get

around and, for a growing city, it still has a sense of community. Also, it is so close to amazing beaches and hinterland. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Inspiring – the feeling of growth and expansion. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? As a result of the floods and the GFC, a sense of reflection, re-prioritising what’s important and seeking support in opening up to more alternative, balanced ways of life. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? In Brisbane, the feeling is only ‘two degrees of separation’ and I’m someone who enjoys connecting and networking to enable others to find the hidden treasures Brisbane has to offer. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? Just watching Brisbane unfold organically year after year has been very exciting. I see it continuing to build, yet still retaining its relaxed enthusiastic energy. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Teneriffe Festival – this year was its second year ... a celebration of the past, present and future growth in Brisbane.

ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … You can drive 30 km up the road to Mount Glorious to have time out with nature. DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE Busy and relaxed ... as I like it to be.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE Kahuna Massage at Lightworkers Cottage. SUBURB New Farm/ Teneriffe. RESTAURANT Beccofino. CAFE Vue Lounge and Cafe Bouquiniste. BAR The London Club. ESCAPE Evans Head in northern New South Wales. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Walk and breakfast with a friend. PICNIC SPOT New Farm Park. RETAILER The Bodhi Garden. LANDMARK Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

A union of elegance and intimacy, The London Club adds a touch of class to almost any occasion. Whether it’s for Friday afternoon drinks and tapas or Sunday brunch, the beautifully adorned interior and large deck provides the perfect setting.

Now offering an Australian craft beer menu with more than 40 beers to choose from, as well as a selection of cocktails and fine wine, this locale exudes old-world charm, from the weighty tomes lining the shelves to its collection of curios.

SHOP MY SECRET GARDEN SHOP 10, 43 FLORENCE STREET, TENERIFFE T. 07 3257 3003 www.mysecretgarden.com.au

In the novel The Secret Garden, a young British girl discovers the delights of having a beautiful, verdant space to retreat to. When creating your own outdoor retreat, a visit to My Secret Garden in Teneriffe will reveal a selection of trinkets and designer gardenware that will help you personalise your secret space. Furniture and cushions will provide a source of comfort while candles and wine coolers will enliven garden festivities.

PLAY SPICERS BALFOUR HOTEL 37 BALFOUR STREET, NEW FARM T. 07 1300 597 540 www.spicersgroup.com.au

Intimately private and aesthetically pleasing, Spicers Balfour Hotel extends a homely welcome and captures the finest elements of boutique accommodation. From hand-picked Egyptian light fixtures, to an expansive open verandah complete with a manicured courtyard garden and private bar overlooking the Story Bridge, not a single inch of space remains forgotten. This little slice of luxury speaks for itself when capturing an intimately unique atmosphere.

BEST PLACE ...

FOR TRADITIONAL DINING WITH A TWIST Anise Bistro & Wine Bar. TO DINE ALFRESCO Watt Restaurant and Bar. FOR SUCCULENT CHARGRILLED RIBS The Smoke BBQ. TO MAKE YOU THINK YOU’RE IN ITALY Beccofino. FOR PREDINNER DRINKS WITH A RIVERSIDE VIEW Bar Alto. FOR FRESHLY BAKED TREATS Chouquette. TO LOSE YOURSELF IN A GOOD BOOK New Farm Editions. FOR TRADITIONAL THAI Chai. FOR AN EXTENSIVE BEER SELECTION Liquid Restaurant & Bar. FOR A CHOCOLATE BOUQUET Lollypotz. FOR GOURMET CONTINENTAL DELIGHTS New Farm Deli & Cafe.

75

village paddington/rosalie

paddington/ rosalie Paddington’s main thoroughfare winds its way up the steep, tree-lined hills, changing names and character as it goes. Caxton Street, closest to the city, is a popular area for pre-event meals and post-event celebrations for those taking in sports or concerts at nearby Suncorp Stadium.

In the centre of Paddington, Given Terrace is filled with vintage-inspired fashion stores, home decor boutiques and countless places to enjoy a decadent meal or a nightcap. Paddington is all about convergence, with cafes blended into bookshops and galleries merged with espresso bars. Latrobe Terrace at Paddington’s highest point is peppered with Queenslanders and old workers cottages that have been renovated into inviting storefronts and cosy residential dwellings. Paddington’s palate encompasses a mixture of home-style, healthy cafes and swanky sit-down restaurants, making it an ideal place for a scrumptious weekend breakfast or intimate evening out. What sets Paddington apart are the breathtaking views of the bourgeoning city skyline. The Latrobe Chapel at the peak of Paddington hosts a perfect viewpoint, providing a beautiful backdrop for weddings most weekends. Nearby, the attractive pocket suburb of Rosalie is a quaint, village-like area famous for its gourmet delicatessens and relaxed ambience. Rosalie’s celebrated Blueroom Cinebar, a licensed boutique theatre, provides luxury screening rooms and an in-cinema dining menu that includes gourmet Spanish antipasto, basil prawns and individual baked cheesecakes.

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paddington/rosalie village

EAT THE LITTLE PATISSERIE 19 LATROBE TERRACE, PADDINGTON

As you take the first precious bite into the perfectly crafted handmade pastry, your tastebuds relish fresh pistachios, chocolate drops, and lashings of jam. The Little Patisserie offers its own blend of coffee, handmade biscotti and freshly made sandwiches. Despite its petite size, the cafe captures the best of Paddington – strangers chatting over coffee, a relaxed vibe and tasty treats. Peek outside the windows of the old Queenslander and you’ll spy blue skies, whilst a Beatle immortalised on canvas keeps you company inside.

DRINK DOING BUSINESS MARIO PERNA, OWNER, SALT RESTAURANT 5 NASH STREET, ROSALIE T. 07 3367 0775 www.saltrestaurant.com.au HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? I have been living in Brisbane for 25 years and in the restaurant business for 15 years. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? I love the beautiful weather – warm winters with great sunshine.

HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Rosalie is a close-knit affluent community, which makes it a great place to be in business right now. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? Brisbane businesses are being exposed to greater competition, which pushes us to do better. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Keeping on top of infrastructure for tourism,

business conventions and sporting events. Attracting more of these events will drive business further. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? Once real estate recovers and we recover from the floods, Brisbane will be bigger and better. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? The weather in winter/ spring; it’s so invigorating. It stimulates locals and visitors to get out and about and enjoy a coffee and great food. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … How great the view is over Brisbane from a Beechcraft Baron58 twin-engine private plane.

DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE On my days off I go flying with friends and family as well as ride motorbikes around Mount Glorious and Mount Nebo.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE Brisbane restaurant dining. SUBURB Rosalie. RESTAURANT Salt Restaurant. CAFE Any South Bank cafe with good coffee. BAR Cloudland. ESCAPE Outback via private plane. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Working. PICNIC SPOT Mount Nebo.

RETAILER Ducati dealership. LANDMARK Archerfield Airport.

URBAN GRIND 131 LATROBE TERRACE, PADDINGTON T. 0408 101 140 www.urbangrind.com.au

Many great ideas are born during the spirited flow of conversation enjoyed over a cup of coffee. A space that is set to be the scene for the creation of some of Brisbane’s brightest ideas is Urban Grind. With coffee and the spirit of the community in mind, the cafe’s long table crowded with stools, large people-watching window, bar embellished with symbolic artwork, and good coffee will inspire conversations for many years to come.

SHOP WE LIVE LIKE THIS 131 LATROBE TERRACE, PADDINGTON T. 07 3511 6047

When fashion is nurtured with love and zeal, individual style rises from a collection of threads, buttons and stitches. Housed in an airy and welcoming cottage in Paddington, We Live Like This celebrates the fashionable life in every nook and cranny. Beautiful garments float gently in the light breeze, including pieces from Obus, and Amore & Sorvete, while local leather goods from Lamb & Hide adorn the shelves.

PLAY HAMPTONS HOME LIVING 180 LATROBE TERRACE, PADDINGTON T. 07 3367 2002 www.hamptonshomeliving.com.au

Synonymous with casual cool and relaxed entertaining, The Hamptons coast in New York State is symbolic of laidback luxury. Infusing the Upper Latrobe Terrace precinct with a dose of seaside glamour, the Hamptons Home Living store pairs homewares with cafe culture. The lovely nook is bathed in cream, white and neutral hues. Candles in soothing colours, artisanal glass products, and indoor furniture make a charming backdrop for the coffee shop.

BEST PLACE ...

TO ACCESSORISE Thousand Island Dressing. TO VISIT ERAS GONE

BY Paddington Antique Centre. FOR THE PERFECT PRE-FOOTBALL DRINK Iceworks. FOR A BREAKFAST WITH SEASONAL PRODUCE Eurovida. FOR THAT SPECIAL DAY Karen Willis Holmes Couture.

TO GET READY TO HIT THE SLOPES Alpine Edge. FOR A CASUAL DINNER WITH GOOD MATES Grill’d. FOR AN AFTER-DINNER TREAT Gelateria Cremona. TO BROWSE BEAUTIFUL HOMEWARES Blake & Taylor. FOR TASTY THAI Sing’s Asian Kitchen. FOR DECORATING INSPIRATION A.P. Design House. FOR AN INDULGENT BRUNCH Anouk. TO SPICE UP YOUR EVENING Rosa Mexicano.

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village the barracks

the barracks A few years ago The Barracks was lovingly transformed from a cold, ramshackle state to the warm and inviting precinct it is today. This landmark urban-renewal project has received prestigious awards for its development and historical consideration. The Barracks has successfully integrated key heritage buildings with modern architecture, with every nook uniting to form a synchronised commercial precinct. After a relatively short-lived stint as a correctional facility, the Petrie Terrace Gaol, as it was known, was ironically rebuilt into the Petrie Terrace Police Depot in the later half of the 1800s. After standing strong for nearly a century, the once grand structure became vacant and neglected. Suffice it to say, the quality of dining has changed considerably since then. The Barracks provides a sensory feast with an array of boutique retailers, modern restaurants, a worldclass cinema and even a supermarket. The renovated buildings provide the ideal location for a delicious global fusion with luscious ice-cream from Switzerland, decadent pastries from France, and cuisine from Italy, Japan and Vietnam, amongst others. During the day, you may choose to lose yourself in a good book at Coaldrake’s Bookshop/Cafe or perhaps enjoy a glass of wine and a platter of tapas upstairs at the Palace Cinemas. The Barracks district provides stunning views of the city on one side and opens out onto energetic Caxton Street and nearby Suncorp Stadium on the other.

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the barracks village

EAT HANABISHI SUSHI SHOP 13, THE BARRACKS, 61 PETRIE TERRACE T. 07 3367 3889

The art of sushi is a captivating one, mastered only by those with the right balance of creativity and culinary flair.

Hanabishi Sushi operates on a large central table where patrons sit, mesmerised by the calm manner of the busy chefs. Choose delicious sushi and other Japanese dishes from the menu, or deliberate over the sumptuous array of delights that glides past on the conveyor belt. Using only the freshest ingredients, Hanabishi is a quick, fresh and tasty gourmet experience.

DRINK PALACE ESPRESSO BAR AND CAFE THE BARRACKS, 61 PETRIE TERRACE T. 07 3367 0263 www.palacecinemas.com.au

Once your movie has finished, head downstairs to the Palace Espresso Bar and Cafe to discuss plotlines, protagonists, unexpected twists and turns, and the attractiveness of the lead characters. Wind down with a coffee and cake, or stimulate the banter with a glass of wine and a cheese platter. To help you start the weekend on the right note, music and $10 cocktails begin every Friday night from 5:00 pm.

SHOP COALDRAKE’S BOOKSHOP SHOP 16, THE BARRACKS, 61 PETRIE TERRACE T. 07 3367 8526 www.coaldrakes.com

DOING BUSINESS TED STEWART, DIRECTOR, STEWARTS WINE CO. THE BARRACKS, 61 PETRIE TERRACE T. 07 3018 9071 www.stewartswineco.com.au HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? I was born and bred in Brisbane.

My family has been in the hotel and wine retail business in Brisbane since 1905. A long time! WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? The climate – beautiful winter days and great summers when we can use the outdoors, the pool and the beach. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Brisbane is booming, with people and new development, although retail has been slower this year since the floods. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? Our use of the river for transport – I love and use the CityCats and enjoy seeing Brisbane from the river. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Reduce government regulation on small business – the big operators have the ability to absorb it, but it is making it impossible for small business. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? A lot busier. Some traffic issues we have now solved, but new ones do replace them. Also, a new suburb at Hamilton. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Redevelopment of the inner urban areas – the conversion of former commercial areas to inner-city residential areas and the village atmosphere that this creates in those areas. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … You can cycle from Clayfield/ Toombul to Sandgate along cycle ways without road traffic. DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE I love our outdoor dining and cafes in a perfect climate to enjoy the outdoors. I love getting on our river – early morning rowing, walking along the boardwalks and riding the morning CityCat.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE Eagle Farm Markets on Sundays. SUBURB Teneriffe. RESTAURANT Harveys or Montrachet. CAFE Tassels Deli. BAR Ortiga. ESCAPE Moreton Island.

WEEKEND ACTIVITY Rowing on our river. PICNIC SPOT Mount Coot-tha.

RETAILER Stewarts Wine Co. LANDMARK Toowong Cemetery.

One of life’s great pleasures is browsing the shelves of good bookstore and beholding the bounty of knowledge to be found in a new book. Crafted by an avid book lover, Coaldrake’s Bookshop is a reader’s haven. With an extensive range of vibrant recipe books, an impressive travel section, fiction, non-fiction, kids and coffee-table books, Coaldrake’s is an essential destination for those who love the look, smell and feel of a good book.

PLAY JIMMY ROD’S BARBER SHOP SHOP 4, THE BARRACKS, 61 PETRIE TERRACE T. 07 3368 2400 www.jimmyrods.com.au

While they may not admit to it, most men do enjoy the odd bit of gossip. Once a cornerstone of the community and a place where tales could be exchanged, a barber’s dexterity and ability to hold a conversation would put him in good stead as a businessman. Offering all the services of an age-old barber, including traditional neck shaves, beard trims and a friendly chat, Jimmy Rod’s Barber Shop is a place for gentlemen who appreciate the art of grooming.

BEST PLACE ...

TO SAMPLE THE WALL OF WINES Cabiria. FOR A LITTLE BIT OF BLING Fiera. FOR HAND-CRAFTED CHOCOLATES Bittersweet.

TO MAKE A HAPPY HOME Wheel&Barrow. TO RELAX AND REVITALISE Blossom Beauty Studios. FOR FASHIONABLE EYE CANDY 20/20 Optical. FOR PERFECTLY RIPENED VANILLA POD ICE-CREAM FROM MADAGASCAR Mövenpick. TO MAKE SOMEONE’S DAY SPECIAL Pure Florist. FOR A SENSORY FEAST Libertine Restaurant & Bar. TO EAT WITH YOUR HANDS Pizzeria 1889. TO SEE THE STARS Palace Cinemas. FOR A PITCHER OF MARGARITAS Peasant.

79

village south bank

south bank As you journey away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the southern banks of the Brisbane River frame an area that is all about energy. South Bank, a premier arts precinct, always has a full social calendar, hosting several food, fashion and cultural festivals throughout the year, including the iconic Riverfire fireworks spectacular. Through the bougainvillea-draped walkway, you will find South Bank’s Little Stanley Street and Grey Street, which boast an eclectic mix of international cuisine and retail experiences. Across the road, the South Bank Lifestyle Market is on each Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday, offering everything from homemade soaps to vintage posters. The Boardwalk at South Bank was one of the few remaining structures from Expo ’88 and is currently being transformed into a mix of unique dining and retail opportunities, designed to enjoy exclusive riverfront views. Along the boardwalk you will also find Streets Beach, Australia’s only inner-city manmade beach and lagoon, a perfect Sunday destination with grassy knolls, barbecue facilities and prime picnic spots. If you are after adventure, nearby Kangaroo Point caters to an active lifestyle. Abseil the rhyolite cliffs, kayak the Brisbane River or cycle along the riverfront promenade. South Bank is one of the most accessible areas of Brisbane, with multiple ferry terminals, train stations, busways and adjoining bridges leading to the heart of the CBD. The beauty of South Bank is that you are far enough away from the buzz of the city to unwind but still close enough to be part of the action.

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south bank village

EAT CACTUS REPUBLIC 30BB STANLEY STREET PLAZA, SOUTH BANK T. 07 3844 0878

A world away from its original homeland, a paragon of Mexican cuisine has proudly taken up residence as Cactus Republic in the cultural hub of South Bank.

A Mexican-style bar and restaurant, Cactus Republic believes in freshness and flavoursome ingredients, drawing on authentic salsa recipes, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and traditional salads, developed in consultation with two native Mexican chefs.

DRINK DOING BUSINESS SOULA PASSARIS, DIRECTOR, DELL’UGO SOUTHBANK 182 GREY STREET, SOUTH BANK T. 07 3844 0500 www.dellugosouthbank.com.au HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? All my life – in South Brisbane. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? It’s so easy to move around and the people are very friendly. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? It’s been a bit slow this year with the floods, but we are doing well now. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? South Bank

is always growing and the corporate scene is getting stronger due to the many conferences at the Brisbane Convention Centre. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? To tell people to enjoy life as it is too short. Get out and enjoy life and spend your hard-earned cash. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017?

Brisbane will be a great city, especially South Bank with its fantastic restaurant precinct. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? On 28th August dell’Ugo will be holding a Sunday Luncheon for our 7th Birthday celebrations raising money for Make A Wish Australia. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … That South Bank is great for shopping, eating, shows, cocktails and catching a CityCat. DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE I work very hard running an Italian restaurant in South Bank and love the beautiful warmth of the people of Brisbane who I meet and greet everyday.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE City shopping. SUBURB Bulimba. RESTAURANT Sono Portside.

CAFE Denim Co. BAR Fifth Element. ESCAPE Gold Coast. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Shopping.

PICNIC SPOT New Farm Park. RETAILER Freedom. LANDMARK The Wheel of Brisbane.

DOT. ESPRESSO SHOP R4 LITTLE STANLEY STREET, SOUTH BANK T. 3844 6614

Putting its heart and soul into the coffee it produces, dot. espresso is a coffee shop that certainly adheres to the creed: ‘Do one thing and do it well’. Much to the delight of coffee lovers, dot. espresso’s focus rests solely on serving up good coffee as well as a small selection of sweet and savoury snacks. A hole-in-the-wall, dot. espresso has ample outdoor seating bathed in sunshine, making it the perfect spot to linger and take some time to savour life’s little pleasures.

SHOP LYLAH SHOP B08A, LITTLE STANLEY STREET, SOUTH BANK T. 07 3846 0202 www.lylah.com.au

A fashion stalwart, Vivien Westbrook has dedicated her life to the fashion world. After spending a number of years designing clothes for New Zealand label Zambesi, Vivien decided to try her hand at creating her very own style mecca. The result is Lylah, a boutique that favours style and wit over fast-fashion and fads. Each piece is hand-selected from labels including Deadly Ponies, Zambesi and Kate Sylvester.

PLAY MAX BRENNER SHOPS 1.1–1.2 STANLEY STREET PLAZA, SOUTH BANK T. 07 3255 0411 www.maxbrenner.com.au

At the Max Brenner Chocolate Bar and Chocolate Shop, chocolate is treated like liquid gold. A full sensory experience – entirely dedicated to savouring chocolate – gathers momentum as you move towards the counter lined with delectable morsels. Your senses are awakened by the intoxicating scent of simmering chocolate, and a menu filled with chocolate treats. And when you sample the first drop of warm chocolate, the sensory experience culminates in Max Brenner’s most revered sensation – taste.

BEST PLACE ...

FOR CONTEMPORARY TEXTILES (m)art. TO THINK CREATIVELY Queensland College of Art. FOR DINNER WITH FRIENDS Sardine Tin. FOR SWISS CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM Mövenpick.

TO DO AWAY WITH THE CUTLERY Beastie Burgers.

FOR SOULFUL SOUNDS DM Restaurant Cafe & Jazz Bar. FOR SHANGHAI-STYLE CUISINE Bamboo Basket. FOR A PRESHOW DINNER Lyrebird. TO TAKE THE ART HOME WITH YOU Gallery Store Modern. FOR A LIGHT LUNCH Watermall Cafe. FOR A LONG STROLL ALONG THE RIVER The Boardwalk.

TO EXPERIMENT WITH DIGITAL CULTURE The Edge, State

Library of Queensland.

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village west end/south brisbane

west end/ south brisbane While West End and South Brisbane are only a stone’s throw from the inner city, the atmosphere changes the moment you cross the river. As opposed to the fast-paced, energetic vibe of Brisbane’s CBD, the area adopts a more casual outlook on life. Here exists a place where new meets old and where creativity is celebrated. A little left of centre, West End is the much-loved destination for creative-minded individuals to meet, mingle and let the artistic juices flow. West End’s two leading bookstores, Avid Reader and Bent Books, are favourites among writers, readers and all who love a good yarn. The main drag, Boundary Street, is lined with an assortment of quirky local cafes, offbeat boutiques and live-music establishments. West End and South Brisbane boast a huge selection of vintage, pre-loved and handmade retailers and a booming cafe culture. Originally home to the farming families of early Brisbane, the area has emerged as a place of cultural diversity where business executives sip lattes next to arts students and struggling musicians. The riverside Davies Park Market is abuzz each Saturday, drawing visitors from across Brisbane in search of international cuisine and farm-fresh produce. Under a canopy of giant fig trees, you will be amazed by its size and the variety of goods on offer, from cupcakes to gourmet sausages and freshly brewed coffee.

This is a feel-good place, offering cheap and cheerful deals around every corner. It is both easy and advisable to lose yourself in the diversity of West End and South Brisbane.

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west end/south brisbane village

EAT JAM JAR 138 BOUNDARY STREET, WEST END T. 07 3844 3395 www.jamjarwestend.com

A jar of conserve can contain endless culinary possibilities – from raspberry jam smeared over the base of a Linzer Torte, to a simple serving of marmalade on toast. Tucked off Boundary Street, Jam Jar serves up a satisfying number of options and the stencil-and-art-covered courtyard bustles with cheerful banter. Those dropping in for a drink can opt for a range of choices, from Mac’s Hop Rocker or Rekorderlig Apple Cider, to a refreshing a Sugar Reef cocktail.

DRINK ARCHIVE BEER BOUTIQUE 100 BOUNDARY STREET, WEST END T. 07 3844 3419 www.archivebeerboutique.com.au

The ultimate rumpus room plays host to a pool table, some comfy couches and, ideally, an esky brimming with cold beer.

In this spirit, the Archive Beer Boutique and Bistro invites you to browse a library of exclusively Australian boutique brews in a laid-back loungeroom hangout. Beer enthusiasts can deliberate on the hop quality of the tipple collection – which includes lagers, pale ales, stouts, wheat beers and pilsners – and try limited-edition reserve drops, such as Hunter Pale Ale.

SHOP NOOK 19 BROWNING STREET, WEST END T. 07 3844 6050 www.nook-shop.blogspot.com

DOING BUSINESS MARK PELMORE, OWNER, GOOD CONCEPTS – ECO STORE 58 VULTURE STREET, WEST END T. 07 3844 6003 www.goodconcepts.com.au HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? Four years is my recent stint. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? It’s like a big country town but still has everything you need from a city. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Sadly, I think we still have a long

way to go to become more sustainable. However, there are some great things happening that show promise. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The growth of the cycling movement.

A better understanding of climate change and sustainable living through organisations like Transition Towns, Beyond Zero Emissions, Food Connect, Biome, and Green Streets. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? A change in the way that government and the media portray the importance of environmental issues. There are opportunities for a healthy future for everyone. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? Less cars, more bikes, more trees, more people living in happier, healthier more sustainable living environments. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? I am pretty excited about the cycling culture including the growth of cargo bikes and alternative bicycles. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … About Black Star Coffee – an awesome fairtrade coffee. DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE Busy but kind of balanced with a lot of work, but also time to do the things I love. Friends, family, surfing, gardening, learning and living.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE Brisbane Botanic Gardens. SUBURB West End. RESTAURANT Jellyfish.

CAFE Three Monkeys Coffee & Teahouse. BAR The Lark. ESCAPE My family’s biodynamic farm at Mullumbimby. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Surfing. PICNIC SPOT Japanese Garden at Mount Coot-tha. RETAILER Biome. LANDMARK GoMA.

Defined as a corner or recess offering seclusion or security, there is usually a favourite little nook that people retreat to when craving a moment of peace. A quirky little shopping spot where many shoppers will find peace is Nook in West End. The front room of the owner’s home, Nook’s charm lies in its warm, homely feel and eclectic range of goods.

For recycled goods, accessories, gifts, trinkets, cards, and cute homewares, step off the busy Boundary Street and through Nook’s front gate for something a little bit different.

PLAY BLACK DOVE BODY BAR LEVEL 2, 381 MONTAGUE ROAD, WEST END T. 07 3255 3688 www.blackdove.com.au

While most people want to treat their bodies as sacred temples, rising before the sun to walk around the block can be a difficult routine to maintain. To help you find your inner Zen, Black Dove Body Bar is a health centre that takes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.

With a philosophy that everyone carves their own destiny, Black Dove offers Pilates, yoga and family classes, body rehab programs, and also has a day spa and clinic to help you feel revitalised, refreshed and empowered.

BEST PLACE ...

FOR HOME-STYLE AMBIENCE Five Sisters Art House Cafe.

TO GET YOUR HEART PUMPING AND FEET PEDALLING Gear.

FOR A ROAST FROM THE HEAR OF ITALY Lucaffe. TO FINE TUNE YOUR CHOPSTICK SKILLS Sakura. TO GET YOUR GREEK ON Char Char Yiros. FOR A QUICK BITE ON THE GO Stove.

FOR A SOME MIXOLOGY Lychee Lounge. FOR THE PERFECT BAG Crumpler. TO GET INTO GEAR Bicycle Revolution. TO TAKE IN THE ARTS Bille Brown Studio.

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village woolloongabba

woolloongabba On the fringe of Brisbane’s inner city, the suburb of Woolloongabba has undergone serious redevelopment in recent years to become a popular place to be on the south side. Woolloongabba is best known as the home of the Brisbane Cricket Ground, ‘The Gabba’. The Gabba opened in 1896 with a cricket match between Parliament and the press. Thirty-two years on, it was the setting for the first test debut of Australia’s most famous batsman, Sir Donald Bradman. Now on game day supporters spill into the streets, filling Woolloongabba’s many sidewalk cafes and restaurants.

Overflowing with character and history, Woolloongabba is home to a handful of heritage-listed buildings, many of which have been reborn into retail boutiques and dining venues. The area has become one of Brisbane’s premier antique districts with a number of retailers specialising in retro homewares, quirky collectables and fashion and furniture. European footpath dining has also become a trademark of the suburb, with everything on offer from organic delicatessen-style eateries to finedining Italian restaurants. Woolloongabba proudly boasts the southern access point to an impressive 6.8 km tunnel that connects Brisbane’s north and south across the river. The Clem 7, named after Brisbane’s longest-serving mayor, Clem Jones, is an engineering feat and one of the largest infrastructure projects ever completed in Queensland. A comprehensive transport network coupled with an ever-growing dining atmosphere has transformed Woolloongabba from a series of busy intersections to a fresh and distinctive inner-city suburb.

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woolloongabba village

EAT BANNETON BAKERY 25 BALACLAVA STREET, WOOLLOONGABBA T. 07 3393 2111 www.banneton.com.au

Discover the art of handcrafted bread at Banneton Bakery, where the philosophy centres around hands-on hard work, a love of pastry making and a passion for traditional French baking methods. Housed in a warehouse, the bakery and cafe radiates a golden glow from the rows of flaky croissants lining the cabinet and the wooden fixtures laden with fresh loaves of artisan bread. Using organic flours and longfermentation methods of baking, the Banneton ethos is nourishing, authentic and, above all, a pleasure to enjoy.

DRINK DOING BUSINESS MEGAN RIZZO, CO-DIRECTOR, WOOLLOONGABBA ANTIQUE CENTRE 22 WELLINGTON ROAD, WOOLLOONGABBA T. 07 3392 1114 www.woolloongabbaantiquecentre.com HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? Just going on 16 years, but I still classify myself as a country girl at heart. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? Sunshine, sunshine and more sunshine. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Booming

in our neck of the woods! Antiques sold in a funky setting have never been so popular. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? The compassionate change in people’s attitudes towards each other post flood. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Get rid of parking meters and multinational shopping centres and support the local designers and independent craftsmanship. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017?

I would like to see a greener-focused community with more local markets with the council supporting local trade. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? The influx of industrial and Art Deco antiques into Brisbane from Europe. Such amazing large individual pieces for your home. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … That flood victims are still suffering. They still need all our support.

Sponsor a family today! DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE? With two kids aged six and three, we get outdoors as much as possible and Brisbane is the best place to do that in. Many a weekend you can find us doing road trips around the suburbs finding fabulous local food hangouts, picnic spots, cafes, and boat trips across the river to New Farm Park, sinking into the lush green grass.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE Story Bridge Climb. SUBURB The ones with local village atmosphere.

RESTAURANT Ouzeri Greek Taverna. CAFE Woolloongabba Antique Centre Cafe.

ESCAPE Hampton Food and Wine Festival. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Rocklea Markets and Garage Sales. PICNIC SPOT Anywhere green and leafy. RETAILER Miss Posh Poodle. LANDMARK Woolloongabba Antique Centre.

UPTOWN 23 LOGAN ROAD, WOOLLOONGABBA T. 07 3162 3839 www.thecrosstown.com.au

As you walk into The Crosstown Eating House’s resident cocktail bar, Uptown Bar, you will be transported to a time where fine glassware was a prized possession, and iPods a thing of the future. Were Mad Men leading man Don Draper ever to find himself in Brisbane, his bar of choice would certainly be this timber-hued locale. With a charming cocktail list and interiors, patrons are sure to feel at home from the minute the first chord is struck on the piano.

SHOP ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS 39 LOGAN ROAD, WOOLLOONGABBA T. 07 3391 1444 www.absofab.com.au

As you walk through the glass-fronted, swing-back doors of Absolutely Fabulous, a world filled with quirky, vintage and fabulous products emerges. Towards the back of the store, commanding floor-to-ceiling black-and-white panel curtains hide old chairs, frames and cabinets waiting to be restored and resettled amongst the lamps, jewellery, kitsch toys and other eccentricities on the shop floor. Once you have beheld the revamped pieces, you may be tempted to try your own hand at furniture restoration.

PLAY CANVAS BAR 16B LOGAN ROAD, WOOLLOONGABBA T. 07 3891 2111 www.canvasclub.com.au

Reminiscent of the inverted shell of a wooden boat, Canvas is one of Woolloongabba’s latest hotspots. Recycled timber panels and planter boxes filled with flowers and creeping ivy adorn the walls and sit pretty next to furnishings sourced from local vintage shops and auctions. From the outside you’ll spy a stylish living room with tasselled lampshades and candles flickering, and upon entry your eye will catch the mural, created by some of Australia’s top street artists.

BEST PLACE ...

FOR A CAFFEINE HIT Brown Dog Cafe. FOR A BIG BREAKFAST Pearl Cafe. FOR RETRO ADORNMENTS AddVintage. TO ENJOY HERITAGE-LISTED SURROUNDS 1889 Enoteca. TO SAY OOH LA LA C’est Bon. TO GET INTO SOME CARDIO Planet Cycles.

FOR ANCIENT ARABIC TASTE SENSATIONS La Kasbah. FOR GREAT BEER ON TAP Brewhouse. TO HELP WITH YOUR ITALIAN COOKING Pennisi Cuisine Distributors. FOR FURNITURE THAT TELLS A STORY Twice Upon a Time. FOR A HEARTY DINNER Sticks Restaurant & Wine Bar. TO HELP SAVE THE PLANET

Reverse Garbage.

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village bulimba

bulimba Nestled in the riverbend only five kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, the chic suburban paradise of Bulimba greets visitors with its quaint charm and growing sophistication. With artistic quirk and riverside charisma, cosy Bulimba is a perfect example of the ever-changing face of Brisbane.

As you step off the Oxford Street jetty onto the southern bank of the Brisbane River, an inviting road stretches out before you. Bulimba’s Oxford Street, lined with stylish eateries and eclectic boutiques, boasts some of Brisbane’s finest destinations for wining, dining and retail therapy. Once swampy marshland turned agricultural centre, Bulimba has undergone an amazing renewal and now thrives on a strong retail and restaurant presence. This riverside hub offers a mix of places to shop, eat and relax, its streets filled with community spirit supporting small businesses. The atmosphere of the inner city flows down the river, filling Bulimba with the strength and style of a bustling metropolis while still maintaining a laid-back ambience. Visitors and residents alike often choose to unwind at two of Bulimba’s best-known landmarks, the Balmoral Cinemas and Bulimba Memorial Park. For more than eight decades, Memorial Park has been home to countless social and recreational functions and continues to host a variety of activities each week, with sculpting classes, jazzercise and ribbon twirling all thrown into the mix. Bulimba was originally called Tugulawa by the Aborigines of the area, referring to its heart-shaped peninsular. This popular suburb continues to grow in style and size, opening its heart to all and showing off the best of Brisbane’s culture.

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bulimba village

EAT MUD DESSERT BAR 1/190 OXFORD STREET, BULIMBA T. 07 3899 4665 www.muddessert.com.au

DOING BUSINESS JHANDA HENDERSON, OWNER/MANAGER, TONI&GUY BULIMBA 5 WAMBOOL STREET, BULIMBA T. 07 3399 3545 www.toniandguy.com.au HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISBANE? For 13 years. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN BRISBANE? The lifestyle, friendly faces, and community spirit in Bulimba/Norman Park. HOW’S BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? Wonderful – growing and staying strong through the Global Financial Crisis. WHAT CHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN BRISBANE IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU? People

have become more interested in having the latest style and want to be very up-to-date with their clothes, hair and grooming. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE BUSINESS IN BRISBANE? More support for each other’s business, through networking and cross promotion. We all want the same result – to be successful and prosperous. HOW DO YOU SEE BRISBANE IN 2017? Still growing, hopefully the RiverWalk will be rebuilt and the flood a distant memory. WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN BRISBANE? Valley Fiesta coming up in September – an eclectic mix of different music and cultures, drawing inspiration from the street culture. ONLY A LOCAL WOULD KNOW … How pretty the jacaranda trees are when they are in bloom.

DESCRIBE YOUR BRISBANE LIFESTYLE Working extremely hard during the week, but then kicking back with my hubby and family around our beautiful old Queenslander we are renovating. A vino by the pool on a Sunday afternoon.

FAVOURITE BRISBANE …

EXPERIENCE Cocktails by the pool in summer. SUBURB Bulimba, of course.

RESTAURANT Liquorish on Oxford. CAFE Thai Essence Cafe. BAR Oxford 152.

ESCAPE Mount Tamborine – Songbirds Retreat. WEEKEND ACTIVITY Renovating our old Queenslander. PICNIC SPOT Cleveland on the water. RETAILER Maxi + Bruce and Louis Vutton. LANDMARK Bulimba ferry terminal.

For those who enjoy indulging in cake for breakfast, there exists a contemporary dining nook on Bulimba’s Oxford Street where the dessert menu is the star attraction.

Brimming with desserts from cultures all over the world, including Australia’s own Pavlova, British Banoffee Tart, Spanish Churros and Italian Tiramisu, at Mud Dessert Bar your sweet tooth is sure to be sated. Everything is handmade, right down to the ice-cream and sorbet, and for savoury lovers, breakfast, lunch and tapas are also served.

DRINK PARK BENCH ESPRESSO BAR 133 OXFORD STREET, BULIMBA T. 07 3399 1219 www.homeandbody.com.au

Park benches have held the key to many successful meetings – friendships have been cemented, lunchbox contents unveiled, and secrets revealed. Nestled off Bulimba’s Oxford Street, Park Bench Espresso reinvents the community nature of a bench seat. A recent addition to the well-loved homewares and fashion nook Green Grass Home and Body, the espresso bar harbours a serious love of coffee and community.

SHOP FRANKIE & THE FOX SHOP B, 139 OXFORD STREET, BULIMBA T. 07 3399 5576

As you step into Frankie & the Fox, your mind will begin to dream of dinner parties, sun-drenched picnics in the park and lazy days spent at home. Believing that every woman should feel beautiful in everything she wears, every item in this Bulimba boutique has been carefully chosen. Whether it be a party frock, flowing maxi dress, or a soft relaxed t-shirt, you will find a lovingly selected collection of clothing and accessories.

PLAY THREE LITTLE GIRLS AND A BOY NAMED TED SHOP 4, 77 OXFORD STREET, BULIMBA T. 07 3395 5500 www.threelittlegirls.com.au

From pink bows and polka dots to crisp collared shirts and tiny vests, getting children dressed for the day can be fun adventure for parents. Uncover sartorial gems for little ones at the children’s boutique named after the owner’s four children – Three Little Girls and a Boy Named Ted. Created with lots of love and passion, this little store is a shopping destination that both children and parents will enjoy visiting.

BEST PLACE ...

TO DRESS TO IMPRESS Eaton + May. FOR COLOURFUL TRINKETS AND TREASURES Just Plain Gorgeous. TO LOOK AND FEEL GOOD NATURALLY Vitale Life. FOR A LAZY SUNDAY SESSION Oxford 152. FOR FRENCH-INFLUENCED FINE DINING Liquorish bistro+bar. FOR AUTHENTIC ITALIAN PIZZA Sugo mi. TO READ AND RELAX Riverbend Books & Teahouse. FOR NOSTALGIC MAGIC House and Doll. FOR FASHION WITH AN EDGE Fuel Clothing. FOR INTERIOR DELIGHTS Green Grass Home and Body. FOR ORGANIC GOODNESS Vive.

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travel glass house mountains

glass house mountains If mountains could talk, the craggy Glass House Mountains would have endless tales to tell. After keeping a watchful eye over the verdant valleys of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for the past 20 million years, the Glass House Mountains have become one of the area’s beloved icons. The mountains’ outcrops are the hardened rocky plugs that were once the cores of the area’s ancient volcanoes. Sometimes visible from the Brisbane’s Gateway Bridge on a clear day, these imposing rock formations are just a short drive up the Bruce Highway. Abundant with natural beauty, walking trails and eco retreats, a visit to the Glass House Mountains will provide a welcome change of scenery. When in the area, you’ll no doubt succumb to the charm of the surrounding hinterland villages and discover the region’s famed fresh produce and friendly locals.

DO

Experience dramatic views of the Glass House Mountains and watch kangaroos bound past from a romantic glass-walled cottage at Glass on Glasshouse. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy your feast in the Glass House Mountains National Park. Set the alarm extra early and be rewarded with serene aerial views of the Glass House Mountains from a Skydrifter hot-air balloon. Meet the amazing resident reptiles or feed the elephants at Australia Zoo.

CONSUME

After plucking the biggest and ripest strawberries from the likes of Gowinta Farm, savour the succulent delights of this heavenly fruit. Pull over at one of the roadside fruit stalls and stock up on locally grown pineapples, macadamia nuts and avocadoes. Enjoy traditional pub fare and socialise with the locals at the Landsborough Pub. IMAGES COURTESY OF TOURISM QUEENSLAND

KEEPSAKES OF YOUR JOURNEY

Make the trip north to the famous Eumundi markets and browse the trinkets and fresh produce on display. Visit the Glass House Mountains Visitor and Interpretive Centre for help planning your visit and to collect maps of the area. Experience the sweeping views of all the peaks VISITOR INFORMATION W www.glasshousemountains.com.au after trekking to the top of Mount Ngungun. Visit the nearby Maleny Cheese Factory and taste-test freshly churned cheeses.

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fraser island travel

fraser island Aptly named ‘K’gari’ (meaning paradise) by the Butchulla people, who were the first residents of Fraser Island, this island delivers some of Mother Nature’s finest handiwork. Nestled just off Australia’s mainland, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. From its sandy base springs lush rainforest, sprinkled with ever-changing sand dunes as well as clear streams and glimmering lakes. This natural phenomenon, together with the island’s untamed beauty has earned a place on the World Heritage List. With a sandy foundation and a length of 120 km, the only way to conquer this unpredictable island is behind the wheel of a 4WD. Brush up on your sand-driving skills, fill the boot with camping supplies and you have all the ingredients necessary to experience this island’s natural wonders.

DO

Take a dip in Lake McKenzie, a rainwater lake surrounded by silky soft white sand. Head to the sandy 75-Mile Beach and watch the sharks, turtles and dolphins milling about in the ocean from Indian Head. Once a famous trans-Tasman liner, the Maheno met its untimely demise while sailing past Fraser Island – the shipwreck still lies on the beach slightly north of Happy Valley, just begging to be explored.

CONSUME

Don’t forget to pack the fishing gear, because you are sure to land a catch from the bounty of fertile fishing spots. Cram a picnic basket with all of your favourite treats and head for the slightly secluded Lake Birrabeen. Campfires are permitted in the communal fire rings provided, so pack some marshmallows and indulge in a treat filled with whimsy and childhood nostalgia.

IMAGES COURTESY OF TOURISM QUEENSLAND

VISITOR INFORMATION W www.seefraserisland.com

KEEPSAKES OF YOUR JOURNEY

Keep the camera nearby as humpback whales can often be seen frolicking in the ocean during whale-watching season – Indian Heads is one the best vantage points for spotting the majestic creatures. Collect memories of a ride of a lifetime over the Fraser Coast in a MI Helicopter. Leave with a relaxed body, mind and spirit after a time with nature.

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travel day south travel trip burnett

south burnett Sitting on Brisbane’s doorstep is the largest wine-producing region in Queensland. The South Burnett region is perched on top of the Great Diving Range and a number small of communities thrive off the region’s fertile soils. The town of Kilkivan, which is flanked by peaceful countryside, has a resident population of just 400 and has a number of quaint B&Bs. Another small locality bursting with personality is Cloyna – a destination that is becoming popular amongst fossickers hoping to strike it rich. Further south sits the picturesque town of Wondai and South Burnett’s major regional centre – Kingaroy. Nestled in the peanut-growing pocket of the region, two large peanut silos in the town centre of Kingaroy are a glaring homage to the backbone of the town’s economy.

Further afield, wineries and gourmet providores showcase their produce to travellers enjoying the sun-drenched countryside.

DO

Explore the rainforest-covered mountain peaks and waterfalls in the Bunya Mountains National Park. Wind your way along the region’s famed wine trail, finishing up at the charming Crane Wines Bed & Breakfast in Kingaroy, which is built in a homestead dating back to 1905. Explore the wildflowers in bloom all around Blackbutt for most of the year. Get active at Lake Boondooma with a spot of fishing, boating or water-skiing.

CONSUME

Sample the award-winning selection of cheeses from Kingaroy Cheese. Visit the Barambah Wines Cellar Door and spend the day tasting some of the region’s finest wines. Join the thousands who visit Australia’s only Pumpkin Festival in Goomeri or sample all the local wares in one place at the Wine and Food In the Park Festival in Kingaroy.

IMAGES COURTESY OF TOURSIM QUEENSLAND

KEEPSAKES OF YOUR JOURNEY

Try your hand at fossicking in one of the townships surrounding Murgon and you could unearth a small piece of precious gold.

Take home a unique piece of art from one of the many inspiring art galleries in Blackbutt and Kingaroy. Select a bottle of wine VISITOR INFORMATION W www.tourism.southburnett.com.au to keep in the cellar from the picturesque Clovely Estate.

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E N S B A The Parklands, a pristine haven of exquisite natural beauty. A place to learn about healthy, modern living. Come in, be energised, fill your mind with fresh ideas.

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O U T H N K Little Stanley, a place of chance discoveries with charming boutiques, espresso bars, culinary adventures and some of Brisbane’s best kept secrets.

visitsouthbank.com.au | South Bank, Brisbane | 07 3867 2000

Grey Street, a cultural boulevard of monumental thinking, stellar artistry and subtle brilliance.

Stroll along, absorb and be captivated.