Homepage Latest News Archives - Fortitude Valley News

Brisbane Fans Rally at Howard Smith Wharves for AFL and NRL finals

Photo Credit: Howard Smith Wharves/Facebook

Brisbane is gearing up for one of the city’s biggest sporting weekends, with locals expected to pack into Howard Smith Wharves to cheer on the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Grand Final and the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL double header.

AFL and NRL Grand Final screenings at the Wharves

On Saturday, 27 September, the AFL Grand Final will be shown live from 2:30 p.m. across multiple venues at Howard Smith Wharves, including Felons Barrel Hall, Felons Fish & Chipper Lawn, the Rivergarden, and Felons Beer Garden. The Lions, who secured their spot after a strong season, are chasing back-to-back premiership glory.

The celebrations continue on Sunday, 28 September, with the Brisbane Broncos’ men’s and women’s sides both in contention for NRL Grand Final spots. The women’s match kicks off at 1:15 p.m., followed by the men at 4:05 p.m. on the big screens at the same locations.

For fans without tickets to the matches at Suncorp Stadium, the precinct provides a free and open-air setting to watch the action unfold, with Felons Brewing Co supplying game-day food and drinks.

Community atmosphere along the river

Howard Smith Wharves management noted that the precinct has become a gathering place for Brisbane residents during major sporting events, with walk-ins welcome at the outdoor seating areas. Live bands and DJs will also take to the stage on Saturday night after the AFL Grand Final, ensuring that the party continues regardless of the result.

The riverfront venue, situated beneath the Story Bridge, has established itself as Brisbane’s cultural hub, boasting more than a dozen restaurants, bars, and spaces where fans can come together to celebrate. The precinct is highlighting the area’s growing connection to sport and community life, with organisers expecting large crowds across the weekend.

Sporting pride for Brisbane

The Brisbane Lions’ official club site has confirmed the team’s preparations for the clash, while the NRL and Broncos have detailed match times and ticketing updates for their preliminary finals. Suncorp Stadium’s event listings also reflect the packed schedule, with both codes drawing strong support across the city.

This weekend at Howard Smith Wharves offers the chance to share in the finals experience, no matter the scorelines on the field.

AFL Grand Final
Date: 27th September 2025
Time: 2:30PM
Location: Felons Barrel Hall, Felons Fish & Chipper Lawn, Rivergarden, Felons Beer Garden, Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary St, Brisbane City, QLD 4000

NRL Grand Final
Date: 28th September 2025
Time: 1:15PM (NRLW) and 4:05PM (NRL)
Location: Felons Barrel Hall, Felons Fish & Chipper Lawn, Rivergarden, Felons Beer Garden, Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary St, Brisbane City, QLD 4000

Published 26-Sept-2025

QUT’s Humanoid Robot ‘Gee’ Draws Attention at Gardens Point Campus

A humanoid robot at Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Gardens Point campus has drawn significant attention. Nicknamed Gee, the 140-centimetre tall Unitree G1 robot has attracted reactions ranging from fascination to apprehension as it strolls around the grounds near the Brisbane CBD.

Read: QUT Robotics Director Honoured for Global Mentoring Impact

Gee represents a new addition to QUT’s robotics research program. Acquired by the Centre for Robotics for around AUD 45,000, the Unitree G1 is one of the most affordable humanoid robots currently available. With 24 joint motors, it can walk, run, wave, pick up objects, and engage in basic interaction through a built-in microphone. Its compact size and movement patterns attract attention both in classrooms and while moving around campus.

Professor Jonathan Roberts of QUT has emphasised that the robot offers opportunities to explore how humanoid machines interact with people and environments. In a post on LinkedIn, he explained:

“One of the motivations for humanoid robots is that they could allow us to finally have useful robots that do not need us to modify our world for them in a major way. And this could mean that their use becomes affordable one day (soon hopefully).

“Humanoid robots also offer a nice opportunity to explore how machines can interact with people and environments in more natural, intuitive ways. Our research is focused on understanding the capabilities and limitations of these platforms and how they can help address real-world challenges in the care, education, manufacturing and service industries.”
Professor Jonathan Roberts

That vision extends beyond the novelty of watching a robot move across campus. For students and researchers at QUT, Gee provides a real-world testbed for studying how machines can operate in human-designed spaces. Roberts has also noted that real-time balance and uncertainty remain significant challenges for humanoid robots, underlining the complexity of this work.

Unlike industrial robots, which typically function in controlled environments, humanoids are intended to operate in the world as it already exists, without major modifications.

The first weeks of Gee’s presence on campus have been marked by curiosity. Some students quickly take out their phones to capture the moment, sharing their encounters online. Others keep their distance, unsure of how to respond to a machine that looks and moves more like a person than a tool. Such diverse responses illustrate the social side of robotics that researchers are paying close attention to.

While the G1’s current battery life limits its outings to just a couple of hours at a time, its potential applications are wide-ranging. Humanoid robots are being explored as tools to help address challenges in care, education, manufacturing, and service industries.

Read: QUT Researchers Help Uncover Strongest Evidence Yet of Life on Mars

Gee’s outings around Brisbane’s city-centre campus highlight both the progress in robotics research and the questions these technologies raise. For now, Gee has sparked conversations on campus and beyond—conversations that are likely to grow louder in the coming years.

Published 24-September-2025

Before Wi-Fi, There Was SIGSALY: Top-Secret WWII Code Machine in Brisbane

Photo Credit: History of Infornation

Long before the first email was sent or the first smartphone was designed, the blueprint for our modern digital world—from secure banking apps to private messages—was secretly being forged inside a 40-tonne machine humming deep beneath the footpaths of Queen Street, Brisbane City.

A Secret Below the Sidewalk

Sigsaly — *Photo Credit:* *Discovery UK*

During the tense years of the Second World War, the AMP Building on Queen Street was more than just the headquarters for U.S. General Douglas MacArthur. In its basement, hidden from the world, Brisbane operated one of just twelve top-secret SIGSALY terminals on the planet. This wasn’t merely a telephone; it was the world’s first digital voice encryption system, a piece of technology so advanced that its principles are still used in the devices we carry in our pockets today.

The system was a lifeline, providing a completely secure, real-time voice link between General MacArthur in Brisbane and Allied leaders in Washington, D.C. While war raged in the Pacific, the strategic decisions that shaped its outcome were being discussed over a line that, to any eavesdropper, would have sounded like meaningless static.

The Birth of Digital Privacy

Developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories, SIGSALY was a marvel of its time. It took a human voice and, for the first time in history, converted it into digital data through a process called pulse-code modulation (PCM). This is the same fundamental method used today by everything from your mobile phone to music streaming platforms.

To make the signal unbreakable, the digital data was encrypted using a “one-time pad” system. Random noise was recorded onto large phonograph records, which had to be perfectly synchronised at both ends of the call. Each system filled an entire room, weighed over 40 tonnes, and required a dedicated team of trained personnel to manage its complex machinery. Despite constant efforts by Axis forces to crack Allied communications, no SIGSALY message was ever broken.

A Legacy Revealed

The existence of SIGSALY and Brisbane’s pivotal role in its network remained classified until the 1970s. Only then did the world learn how a wartime necessity had accidentally laid the groundwork for the information age. The innovations born in that Queen Street basement can be seen in modern encrypted messaging apps, voice-over-internet calls, and the secure networks that protect our daily digital lives.

This forgotten chapter of our city’s history was a key topic at an international symposium held at the University of Queensland. Scholars and historians gathered in August to examine how behind-the-scenes breakthroughs in communications and cryptography during the war, like SIGSALY, directly seeded the technology that defines the 21st century. The event highlighted that Brisbane’s contribution to the Allied effort went far beyond the battlefield, placing it at the very centre of a technological revolution.

Published Date 23-September-2025

Archbishop Shane Mackinlay Installed in Fortitude Valley

Photo Credit: Archdiocese of Brisbane/Facebook

Archbishop Shane Mackinlay was installed as the new Archbishop of Brisbane at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Fortitude Valley, with more than 1000 people and 200 clergy in attendance.

Installation Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral

The Solemn Mass and Liturgical reception on 11 September 2025 marked the official beginning of Archbishop Mackinlay’s ministry in Brisbane. The Cathedral Choir, Cathedral Schola and St Stephen’s Brass were part of the celebration, contributing to the music throughout the liturgy.

Over 1000 attendees, including around 200 clergy, gathered at the Cathedral for the occasion. The Mass was also livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

*Photo Credit: Archdiocese of Brisbane/Facebook*

First homily as Archbishop

In his first homily, Archbishop Mackinlay expressed gratitude for the warm welcome he had received from the people of Brisbane. He also acknowledged the diocese he was leaving, thanking the people of Sandhurst for their support over the past six years.

He noted that several Sandhurst clergy were present at the Mass, with others watching the livestream from Victoria.

*Photo Credit: Archdiocese of Brisbane/Facebook*

Career and Background

Shane Mackinlay was appointed Archbishop of Brisbane by Pope Leo XIV on 18 June 2025, following six years as Bishop of Sandhurst. Born in Brunswick, Melbourne, in 1965, he was ordained a priest in 1991 and later served as Master of Catholic Theological College in Melbourne from 2010 to 2019.

He was consecrated a bishop in 2019 and installed as Bishop of Sandhurst that same year. His academic background includes theology, physics, and a doctorate in philosophy.

Community Reception

Following the ceremony, refreshments were served in the grounds of St Stephen’s Cathedral, where Archbishop Mackinlay greeted parishioners, clergy and visitors, many of whom were eager to meet him personally and take photographs.

The event marks a significant transition for the Brisbane Archdiocese, with Archbishop Mackinlay becoming its eighth leader since the role was elevated to Archbishop in 1887.

Published 18-Sep-2025

QUT Researchers Help Uncover Strongest Evidence Yet of Life on Mars

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers are part of an international team behind what could be the most compelling evidence of life beyond Earth, after NASA’s Perseverance rover identified promising signs in a rock sample from Mars.

Read: QUT Robotics Director Honoured for Global Mentoring Impact

The rover, exploring Jezero Crater, collected a specimen that showed minuscule “leopard spot” markings containing two iron-rich minerals: vivianite and greigite. On Earth, both of these are typically linked to microbial activity, making the discovery one of the clearest bio-signatures yet reported on the red planet.

Associate Professor David Flannery, an astrobiologist from QUT, was among the 89 co-authors of the peer-reviewed paper published in Nature. He explained that the rock held exactly the kind of features scientists had long hoped to find on Mars. According to Flannery, these characteristics could point to signs of microbial life in the planet’s subsurface — a breakthrough many researchers have been waiting for.

The findings raise exciting questions about whether life may have evolved independently on Mars or whether it might have been transported between planets in the distant past. Another possibility is that Mars has its own distinct carbon cycle unrelated to life, something only closer study of the samples on Earth can reveal.

Bringing those samples back, however, remains a challenge. The Mars Sample Return program faces uncertainty following major cuts to NASA’s budget, and the timing of the mission is unclear. Until then, researchers can only analyse the data remotely.

Despite the obstacles, the discovery has reinvigorated discussion about the potential for life still existing beneath Mars’ surface. While the surface is now too cold and dry to support living organisms, Flannery noted that subsurface aquifers could provide a more hospitable environment, similar to how microbes survive deep underground on Earth.

QUT has played a vital role in this mission beyond supplying scientists. The university helped design and build the Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL), one of the seven instruments on the Perseverance rover. QUT experts also created PIXLISE, the software used by NASA scientists to interpret the rover’s findings.

Read: QUT Scientist Dr Brett Lewis Develops New Coral Restoration Tech

For now, the Martian rock provides tantalising evidence — not a final answer — in humanity’s quest to know whether we are alone in the universe. But thanks to contributions from Queensland researchers, the possibility of life on Mars feels closer than ever.

Published 17-September-2025

Fortitude Music Hall Welcomes Kate Ceberano’s Australian Made Tour

Photo Credit: Kate Ceberano Official Site

Australia’s own Kate Ceberano will take centre stage in Fortitude Valley as she brings her acclaimed Australian Made Tour to the Fortitude Music Hall. The performance marks one of only a handful of metro shows added after all 21 regional stops sold out earlier this year, underscoring her enduring connection with audiences across the country.

A milestone moment in Brisbane

The Brisbane show takes place on Saturday, 20 September, just one night after Ceberano’s Melbourne date at Hamer Hall. Adelaide will also host a stop in October. The decision to include major city venues came after demand from fans exceeded expectations. For Brisbane, it is more than a concert—it is a community celebration at one of the Valley’s most significant live music venues.

Ceberano said the Australian Made Tour allows her to reflect on four decades of music while spotlighting songs that helped shape her own artistry. The performance offers not only her best-known hits but also fresh interpretations of classic tracks from Australian bands and songwriters. For many long-time followers, the concert presents a chance to revisit the soundtrack of their lives, reimagined through Ceberano’s distinctive voice.

A voice that shaped Australian music

With 11 platinum albums, eight gold albums, and more than 6,000 live performances, Ceberano has become one of Australia’s most recognisable and influential performers. Her early career took off with the 1986–87 Australian Made Tour, where she performed alongside acts including INXS, Jimmy Barnes and Divinyls. That tour became a defining moment for the local industry, showcasing the power of homegrown talent on a national stage.

Returning nearly 40 years later to a project inspired by that original tour, Ceberano brings a contemporary perspective. Her set blends her own chart successes with reimagined versions of Australian classics by Silverchair, The Church and Bernard Fanning. The combination reinforces her place not only as a performer of her own catalogue but also as an interpreter of the country’s wider musical heritage.

Kate Ceberano Australian Made Live! — *Photo Credit: Kate Ceberano Official Site*

Her career is marked by versatility. From her pop breakthrough Brave to jazz collaborations and orchestral projects such as My Life Is A Symphony, Ceberano has moved between genres without losing her distinctive style. Along the way, she has earned four ARIA Awards, a spot in the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and wide recognition as both a singer and songwriter.

Sharing the stage

On the current tour, Ceberano is joined by guitarist and vocalist Harts, a musician mentored by Prince, whose influence can be heard in his style. He contributes not just as a collaborator but as part of the creative force on stage. Also featured is Kathleen Halloran, an emerging guitarist whose skill has been gaining national attention. Halloran not only performs alongside Ceberano but also steps forward as the support act, providing audiences with a strong sense of continuity across the evening.

The inclusion of both musicians reflects Ceberano’s reputation for encouraging and highlighting new talent while maintaining her own established voice. Their presence brings added depth to the performance, ensuring that the Brisbane audience experiences a mix of generational perspectives in Australian music.

Continuing a legacy

The Fortitude Valley performance comes as Ceberano releases her Australian Made – Live album, building on the momentum of recent national tours. In 2023, she toured with a full orchestra for My Life Is A Symphony, while in 2024 she performed with Jon Stevens on Superstars Live. These projects, combined with her current run, highlight her ability to reimagine her career while continuing to draw in new listeners.

Her return to Fortitude Valley is also significant for the local community. The area is known for its strong live music culture, and hosting an artist with such longevity reinforces its role as a central hub for performance in Queensland. For fans attending on Saturday, it will be a night that links local venues to a broader national story of music-making.

Tickets for the Brisbane show remain available through Kate Ceberano’s official website and the Fortitude Music Hall. For many in Fortitude Valley, the concert is not just another tour stop but a chance to witness one of the country’s most enduring voices return to the stage in a familiar setting.

Published 17-Sept-2025

Riverstage Upgrade Plans in Brisbane CBD Move Forward

Photo Credit: BCC

Riverstage in Brisbane CBD is set for a multimillion-dollar upgrade, with private operators invited from 22 September 2025 to invest under a long-term lease arrangement.

Background and Context

Riverstage, located behind the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, opened in 1989 as part of Brisbane’s cultural legacy following Expo ’88. It has since hosted leading local and international performers including Powderfinger, Lorde, Benson Boone and Teddy Swims. In the past financial year, 38 events drew about 245,000 attendees.

Riverstage upgrade — *Photo Credit: BCC*

Planned Upgrade

Council confirmed on 2 September 2025 that an expression of interest campaign will open on 22 September 2025. The process will seek proposals from experienced operators to deliver significant investment in Riverstage. The venue will remain in public ownership while being leased to a private partner for operation.

Planned upgrades include new and improved facilities and advanced sound management systems designed to address noise impacts. The upgrade is being positioned as part of Brisbane’s preparation for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when the city will require more world-class venues.

Industry Interest

Construction leader Scott Hutchinson, who helped develop Fortitude Music Hall, has expressed interest in taking on the project. Earlier this year, he suggested a $50 million investment could deliver a roof over the stage area, soundproofing to minimise noise reaching surrounding areas, and a cover for around 3,000 people at the front of the venue. He also raised issues such as resident noise complaints and ticket resellers using bots to secure large portions of tickets, leading to quick sell-outs for major acts.

Riverstage Brisbane — *Photo Credi: Google Maps*

Public-Private Model

The funding approach follows a model in which private investment is exchanged for a long-term lease. This arrangement has been promoted as a way of upgrading facilities without direct cost to residents, while allowing public funds to focus on transport, parks and road projects.

Community and Cultural Impact

Industry organisations have welcomed the upgrade. Economic and cultural leaders said it would attract international acts, create more opportunities for local performers, and strengthen Brisbane’s standing as an events destination. They noted Riverstage’s role as a lasting cultural venue since Expo ’88 and emphasised that investment is needed to make it more accessible and suitable year-round.

Looking Ahead

By 2032, Brisbane is expected to have both a new indoor arena at the Gabba and an upgraded Riverstage, enhancing the city’s capacity to host large-scale entertainment and cultural events. The outcome of the expressions of interest process later this year will determine the future operator and the scope of the redevelopment.

Published 13-Sep-2025

St James College Shines as National Runners-Up in Netball Debut

Photo Credit: schoolsinactionau/instagram

St James College has made its mark on the national stage, finishing as runners-up in its first appearance at the National All Schools Netball Challenge in Adelaide.

Strong Debut in Adelaide

The competition, held in early September 2025, brought together school teams from across Australia. St James College entered the Year 9 and 10 High Performance division and quickly impressed.

*Photo Credit: schoolsinactionau/instagram*

The team won all six of its round robin matches, topping the ladder before moving into finals.

Road to the Final

After dominating the preliminary rounds, St James College faced St Aloysius College from Tasmania in the semifinals.

A hard-fought victory secured their place in the grand final against Catherine McAuley College from Bendigo. Despite a strong effort, the Brisbane side fell short, placing second in the division.

Teamwork and Support

Staff described the group’s success as the result of teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship. Sports Development Officer Eliza Hoelscher praised the team’s effort and said the players set a high standard for the college’s first appearance at the event.

Coaches and support staff, including Tia Parker and Evonne Tolo, were acknowledged for guiding the squad through interstate competition.

Local Impact

The achievement has brought pride to the Fortitude Valley and Spring Hill community, where the college is based. Some students were travelling interstate for the first time, and their experience competing at a national level reflected the college’s commitment to providing opportunities beyond the classroom.

The school community has celebrated the result and is looking ahead to a stronger return in future tournaments.

Published 10-September-2025

Chef’s Dream Realised as New Italian Trattoria Fellini’s Arrives in Fortitude Valley

A Neapolitan chef’s career-long dream has become a reality at the edge of Fortitude Valley, with Carmine Guarino welcoming the public to Trattoria Fellini’s, his new Italian street food kitchen bringing the lively flavours of coastal Italy to the Howard Smith Wharves.

The new trattoria officially began service today, Wednesday, 10 September, offering Brisbane a casual and vibrant taste of the Mediterranean. It joins its more refined neighbour, Ciao Papi, creating a precinct with two distinct Italian dining experiences side by side along the river.

A Taste of Home

Trattoria Fellini's — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

With over 26 years of experience, Head Chef Carmine Guarino has shaped Fellini’s from his own personal history. He explained that his vision was to bring his Neapolitan roots to Brisbane, creating an authentic and high-energy street food atmosphere that the whole family could enjoy.

Inspired by the bustling trattorias of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, he wanted to make Italian food more accessible, faster, and fun for the community. The restaurant’s name pays respect to the famous Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini, aiming to capture the same romance and vibrancy in its food and hospitality.

Street Food Meets Riverside Dining

Fellini’s is designed for both dine-in and takeaway customers, blending traditional Italian flavours with a modern, street-food feel. The menu features a wide selection of handmade pastas, pizzas, and classic mains. Diners can start with entrées like Bruschetta al Pomodoro or Cuoppo Fritto, a crispy mix of calamari and mussels. Pasta dishes include fresh crab Paccheri al Granchio and Roman favourite Rigatoni Amatriciana.

For main courses, the menu offers dishes like the golden Cotoletta di Vitello (veal cutlet) and Parmigiana di Melanzane. The pizza oven produces classics including Margherita and Salamina. To complete the experience, the bar serves a curated selection of Italian-inspired wines, beers, and cocktails.

A New Chapter for the Wharves

The addition of Fellini’s is seen as an exciting new chapter for the popular riverside precinct. Howard Smith Wharves CEO Luke Fraser stated he was proud to help deliver a unique offering for Brisbane, inspired by the trattorias of Italy. He believes the eatery will become a go-to spot for friends and families looking to enjoy good food and sunshine along the Brisbane River.

Published Date 10-September-2025

Brisbane to Host Global Premiere of The Art of Banksy: Chapter 2

Brisbane is set to host a cultural first this year, as the world’s largest Banksy exhibition makes its global premiere in the CBD this November.

Read: Brisbane City Markets Offers VIP Strawberry Picking Experience and Staycation

The Art of Banksy: Chapter 2 will take over a sprawling 1,550-square-metre space inside Uptown at Queen Street Mall, offering an immersive experience unlike any other. With more than 300 works on display, including over 100 originals, this is the most comprehensive exploration of the elusive street artist’s work ever staged.

The exhibition has been organised by MUSE Marketing & Entertainment, Events, MD Presents, and Fever.

Photo credit: The Art of Banksy Without Limits Australia/Facebook

The exhibition builds on the success of its 2023 predecessor, which captivated more than 2.8 million visitors across 35 cities over the past decade. Now, Brisbane locals will be the very first to step inside Chapter 2, an expansion that doubles the scale of the earlier tour and introduces never-before-seen pieces.

Visitors can expect to encounter some of Banksy’s most recognisable works, from Cinderella at Dismaland to the infamous Ice Cream Van. Alongside these will be innovative hologram displays, rare installations and sculptures, plus a faithful recreation of the lobby from Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, a provocative pop-up that blurred the lines between art and activism.

Banksy has built a career on using art to challenge politics, social issues and the establishment itself, often while remaining hidden from public view. His pranks, such as secretly hanging pieces in major museums, have only cemented his reputation as one of the most influential and subversive artists of our time.

While The Art of Banksy: Chapter 2 is not officially affiliated with the artist himself, it promises an immersive and thought-provoking journey through his world. Visitors are advised to set aside around 45 to 60 minutes to explore the exhibition fully.

The event is open to all ages, with tickets starting from $39 for adults and $27 for children. Sessions run from November 5 at Uptown, Queen Street Mall, and tickets are now available through the exhibition’s official website.

Read: Finders Keepers: How ‘So What Stereo’ Became a Hidden Gem in Fortitude Valley

For Brisbane’s art lovers—or anyone curious about the most mysterious figure in contemporary culture—this world-first experience is not to be missed.

The exhibition has been organised by MUSE Marketing & Entertainment, Events, MD Presents, and Fever.

Published 10-September-2025