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Only One of 10 Brisbane City Toilet Listings Lacks an Accessible Toilet

Nine of the 10 publicly available toilet facilities listed under Brisbane City are recorded as having an accessible toilet, according to the National Public Toilet Map.

A September 2026 export of the national directory shows Cathedral House at Penola Place, 229 Elizabeth Street, as the only one of the 10 Brisbane City records with an “Accessible = FALSE” designation. The remaining nine are recorded as having accessible toilets.

The result gives the inner-city group an accessibility rate of 90 per cent among the records examined. The calculation is limited to facilities whose suburb or town field is listed specifically as “Brisbane City” in the September export and does not represent a complete inventory of every toilet in the CBD.

Major transport, shopping and civic sites carry accessible listings

Facilities recorded with accessible toilets include Roma Street Railway Station, Post Office Square, Wintergarden, QueensPlaza, Macarthur Central, Queen’s Wharf and Brisbane Square Library.

Other accessible entries in the Brisbane City group include the Roma Street Parkland Amphitheatre and a facility at Little Stanley Street. Cathedral House at Penola Place is the sole record among the 10 without an accessible toilet listed.

The National Public Toilet Map contains facilities at public and private locations that are available for public use. Brisbane City Council draws its own public toilet dataset from the national map and geographically filters records to the Brisbane local government area.

Facility	Type	Address	Accessible toilet recorded?
Roma Street Railway Station	Train station	Roma Street	Yes
Post Office Square	Shopping centre	235 Adelaide Street	Yes
Wintergarden	Shopping centre	162 Elizabeth Street	Yes
QueensPlaza	Shopping centre	226 Queen Street	Yes
Macarthur Central	Shopping centre	259 Queen Street	Yes
Cathedral House at Penola Place	Community building	229 Elizabeth Street	No
Little Stanley Street – Block 3	Other	10 Little Stanley Street	Yes
Roma Street Parkland Amphitheatre	Other	1 Parkland Boulevard	Yes
Queen’s Wharf	Other	25 Queens Wharf Road	Yes
Brisbane Square Library	Community building	266 George Street	Yes

An “Accessible = FALSE” designation does not establish that a venue has breached building standards or disability-access laws. It means the facility is recorded in the National Public Toilet Map as not having an accessible toilet.

CBD result contrasts with suburban snapshots

The Brisbane City records show a markedly different result from several suburban groups examined in the same September dataset.

Tingalpa had four of six facilities recorded without an accessible toilet, while Holland Park West had three of four. Indooroopilly had three of eight and Albion had two of four. The comparisons are based on small numbers of listed facilities and should not be treated as complete audits of toilet accessibility in each suburb.

Across Brisbane more broadly, recent analysis of National Public Toilet Map data found 105 of 580 publicly available toilet facilities were recorded as not having an accessible toilet, or about 18 per cent.

Council maps accessible routes and facilities in the city centre

Brisbane City Council provides a dedicated Mobility Map for people with impaired mobility in the CBD and City Botanic Gardens. The map identifies accessible toilets, disability parking, taxi ranks, drop-off zones, seating and path gradients to help people plan movement through the city centre.

Council also lists several accessible facilities at Brisbane City Hall, including accessible toilets on the ground floor and level three, ambulant toilets on several levels and a Changing Places facility with a ceiling hoist and adult-sized changing table.

Separately, Brisbane Square Library is listed by Council as wheelchair accessible and equipped with wheelchair-accessible toilets.

Paralympian has raised concerns over everyday access

Former Paralympian and disability advocate Karni Liddell has previously raised concerns that inadequate access to suitable toilets can restrict social participation for people who use wheelchairs and create health risks when appropriate facilities are unavailable.

Accessibility has attracted increased attention as Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The strong result among the 10 Brisbane City records sits alongside Council measures specifically aimed at helping people with limited mobility navigate the CBD.

The figures remain a snapshot of information held in the National Public Toilet Map rather than the findings of a building or disability-access compliance audit.

Published 8-Sept-2026

Level X Brings High-End Fitness, Recovery, And Dining To Queen’s Wharf

Level X is preparing to open a $30 million fitness and wellness club at Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf precinct, bringing together training, recovery, dining, and workspaces under one roof.

Read: Brisbane City Markets to Bring Fresh Finds to Queen’s Wharf Every Thursday

The project is being developed by property entrepreneurs Emil Juresic and his wife, Giselle Kramer Juresic, with more than 3,000 square metres planned across multiple levels. Rather than focusing solely on conventional gym facilities, the proposed club will combine fitness and performance spaces with recovery services, wellness facilities, hospitality, and work areas.

Level X has also promoted the Queen’s Wharf venue as featuring what it describes as Australia’s largest HYROX and performance space, alongside classes, a bathhouse, recovery facilities, childcare, workspaces, restaurants and retail.

Construction is expected to begin shortly, with the gym and performance areas targeted for completion by the end of January. The wellness component is expected to follow about a month later.

Performance and recovery take centre stage

A 50-metre performance zone is planned as one of the major features of the fitness offering. Level X said the space will be Australia’s largest HYROX and performance area. HYROX combines running with functional exercises, while the planned performance zone will form a major part of the club’s training offering.

Recovery is another major component of the planned venue. The project includes a dedicated bathhouse with hammams and saunas, as well as cryotherapy, massage facilities, red-light therapy and relaxation areas.

A full MRI facility is also planned, according to the project details. Level X also believes the project could be the largest recovery centre of its kind in Australia.

The wider offering will include separate yoga and Pilates rooms, childcare facilities, co-working areas and boardrooms. Food will also form part of the venue, with two restaurants planned. Level X has promoted the restaurants as offering nutritionally designed food.

The interiors are being designed by Julia Tamatea of Bearspace Studio. The concept combines natural materials including rock and stone with polished finishes, stronger colours and gold detailing.

Memberships to reach $1000 a week

Memberships are planned to start at $189 a week, with the highest tier reaching $1,000 a week. The top membership is expected to include access to a private upstairs VIP area, complimentary massages and other benefits.

Alongside the $30 million construction and fitout investment, another $10 million is planned for gym and performance equipment, recovery facilities and wellness and longevity technology. The project represents an expansion into the health and wellness sector for the Juresics, whose backgrounds include property development and business.

Level X Queen’s Wharf will be the flagship for the brand, with Level X Toowong having recently opened. The project will form part of the Queen’s Wharf precinct, a 12-hectare riverfront development that began its staged opening in August 2024.

Read: Free ‘Fan Land’ Opens at Queen’s Wharf for NRL Magic Round

The precinct includes hotels, restaurants and bars, entertainment, gaming, retail and public spaces, alongside landscaped riverside areas and public attractions. Level X will add a fitness and wellness offering with memberships ranging from $189 to $1,000 a week.

The club is being positioned by its operators as a broader health, fitness and wellness destination rather than a conventional gym, with training, recovery, preventative health, food and workspaces incorporated into the same venue.

Published 8-September-2026

Fortitude Valley Travel Guide for Riverfire 2026

Photo Credit: Brisbane Festival

Fortitude Valley will sit on the edge of some of Riverfire’s biggest traffic restrictions, with Story Bridge access, nearby streets and riverside routes affected as crowds move towards viewing areas around Howard Smith Wharves and New Farm.

Riverfire will be held on Saturday, 5 September, with Royal Australian Air Force flyovers scheduled from 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and fireworks beginning at 7:00 p.m. The display opens Brisbane Festival and is free to attend.

Howard Smith Wharves will draw spectators towards the river

Howard Smith Wharves is one of the official Riverfire viewing locations and places spectators directly beside the Brisbane River beneath the Story Bridge.

The precinct combines river views with dining and hospitality venues, making it one of the closest viewing options for people approaching from Fortitude Valley. Wilson Outlook Reserve, on the New Farm side of the precinct, is another elevated viewing location overlooking the Story Bridge and city skyline.

People heading towards either location will be moving through streets affected by temporary traffic controls before and during the fireworks.

Story Bridge access closes during the busiest period

The Story Bridge will be closed to traffic from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., cutting the direct road connection between Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Point while the display is under way.

Several streets leading towards the bridge and Howard Smith Wharves will also close or lose lanes between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Full closures include sections of Ivory Street, Martin Street, Harrison Lane and Bowen Terrace.

Kemp Place will have a partial closure, while lane restrictions will apply on Ann Street, Gipps Street and Wickham Street. Brisbane City Council says signed detours, traffic controllers and police will be in place to manage movements through the affected area.

Ann Street and Wickham Street will remain open with restrictions

Fortitude Valley’s main north-south roads will not be completely shut, but motorists can expect reduced capacity near the Story Bridge approaches.

One of four southwest-bound lanes on Ann Street between Kemp Place and Brunswick Street will close during the Riverfire period. A north-eastbound lane on Wickham Street between Gotha Street and Gipps Street will also close, while two of three lanes on Gipps Street between Wickham Street and Barry Parade will be unavailable.

Drivers travelling through the Valley rather than attending Riverfire may encounter delays around these approaches between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Trains remain a key option for Valley travellers

Fortitude Valley railway station will continue to provide access to the broader train network, while Translink is adding services across the network after the fireworks.

Free post-event travel will run from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. from selected inner-city train and bus stations. Central and Roma Street stations are included in the free-travel zone, but Fortitude Valley station is not listed among the designated free departure points.

Passengers using buses should also check Riverfire service changes before travelling. Translink has advised that major alterations will apply to many Brisbane City bus services after the fireworks, and some additional services will not appear in journey-planning or real-time information.

RIVERFIRE TRANSPORTATION CHANGES

Saturday night crowds will extend beyond the fireworks

Riverfire falls on a Saturday night in a precinct already known for late-night dining, entertainment and nightlife. Road restrictions around the Story Bridge and Howard Smith Wharves will overlap with regular evening activity in Fortitude Valley.

People moving between the Valley, CBD and riverside precincts will therefore face a different transport pattern before and immediately after the 7:00 p.m. display. Story Bridge access will reopen after 8:00 p.m., but other event-related traffic controls may remain in place longer as crowds disperse.

Riverfire opens three weeks of Brisbane Festival

Riverfire marks the opening weekend of Brisbane Festival, but the citywide program continues well beyond Saturday night. Brisbane Festival runs from 4–26 September, with theatre, music, dance, installations, family activities and free events scheduled across Brisbane, including a substantial program at South Bank. Events range from Bright Nights, running throughout the festival, to concerts, workshops, community celebrations and performances at Festival Village.

CHECK FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Published 4-Sept-2026

NOMAD Brisbane Confirmed For Former Gerard’s Site On James Street

A Sydney restaurant is heading north, with NOMAD set to open its first Queensland venue on James Street in Fortitude Valley in 2026.

Read: End of the Road for Gerard’s Bistro on James Street

The restaurant will take over the former Gerard’s Bistro site, bringing NOMAD’s produce-led, fire-based cooking to the James Street address.

For NOMAD, the Brisbane opening marks its first Queensland venue. The restaurant began in Sydney in 2013 before expanding to Melbourne, where it has continued its focus on locally sourced produce and cooking with flame and smoke.

James Street (Photo credit: Google Street View)

The James Street location also gives the restaurant a direct connection to a well-known chapter of Brisbane’s food scene. Gerard’s operated from the site for 14 years before closing on July 4, 2026.

NOMAD said it plans to retain elements of the site’s history while creating a restaurant with its own identity. “We can’t wait to create a NOMAD that reflects Brisbane’s incredible dining culture and Queensland’s world-class produce,” the restaurant says on its Brisbane website.

The new venue will draw on the approach already established at NOMAD’s Sydney and Melbourne restaurants, where menus are influenced by Spain, Morocco and the Middle East and built around produce and fire.

The Brisbane restaurant will adapt that approach to its Queensland setting. Local produce will be central to the menu, with the city’s climate also influencing the style of the food. Lighter and fresher dishes are expected, although the exact Brisbane menu has not yet been released.

Behind the kitchen will be Edition Group Culinary Director Michael Greenlaw, working alongside NOMAD Melbourne Head Chef Jeremy Swann.

Several members of the existing NOMAD and edition Group teams will also make the move north. Long-time NOMAD Melbourne team member Robbie Pyke-Marcou will relocate to Brisbane as venue manager, while Group Bar Manager Felix Woods will oversee the drinks program alongside sommelier Steve Senturk.

The design will retain elements of the site’s history. Jarod Webb, founder of J.AR Office, will lead the design after previously working on Gerard’s refurbishment. The new venue will retain the site’s distinctive rammed-earth walls while other aspects of the space are transformed for NOMAD.

Edition Group launched NOMAD in Sydney before expanding its hospitality portfolio across Sydney and Melbourne. Its venues include NOMAD Melbourne, Reine & La Rue and Privé, while the group also took stewardship of Melbourne restaurant Florentino.

For James Street, the arrival marks a new chapter for the site after Gerard’s 14-year tenure. The Brisbane venue will retain NOMAD’s established approach to food while incorporating Queensland produce and influences.

Read: Southside Team Opens New Hong Kong-Inspired Restaurant ‘Central’ in Brisbane CBD

Further details about the menu, drinks program and design are due to be announced in the coming months. NOMAD Brisbane is expected to open before Christmas 2026, with the exact opening date yet to be announced.

Published 4-September-2026

QIMR Berghofer Researchers Uncover Thousands of New Clues in Cancer Search

Photo Credit: Google Maps file photo/Picture Purrfect

An enormous part of our DNA that scientists once knew relatively little about is emerging as a new hunting ground for cancer research, with a QIMR Berghofer-led team uncovering almost 95,000 previously unannotated molecules to investigate.

The molecules are known as long non-coding RNAs, or lncRNAs. They can be difficult to detect because they may occur in tiny quantities and sometimes only in particular cells or diseases.

Looking across 13 cancer types, including breast, brain, bowel and skin cancers, the researchers identified 219,442 potential lncRNAs. When compared with five existing databases, 94,795 were found to be previously unannotated.

The study, published in Nature Methods, gives researchers a much bigger pool of molecules to investigate as they try to understand what is happening inside different cancers.

A clearer view inside tumour tissue

For decades, genetics concentrated heavily on the one to two per cent of the genome that contains instructions for making proteins. Much of the rest was once loosely dismissed as “junk DNA”, but advances in research have revealed a far more complicated picture.

Long non-coding RNAs don’t make proteins themselves, yet they can be involved in regulating genes and other processes within cells. Their scarcity and tendency to appear in particular cell types have made many of them difficult to study.

The QIMR Berghofer-led research brought together single-cell and spatial analysis, allowing scientists to examine where lncRNAs appeared within tumour tissue rather than simply detecting their presence.

Researchers could then look for patterns, including whether particular molecules appeared in certain cancer cells and how their location related to protein-coding genes and other biological features.

The published study went further by experimentally validating identified lncRNAs across seven cancer types using several spatial technologies.

Now comes the search for the important ones

The enormous dataset has been turned into a freely available online atlas called SPanC-Lnc, where researchers can explore lncRNAs across different cancers, cells and locations within tumour tissue.

Associate Professor Quan Nguyen, director of QIMR Berghofer’s National Centre for Spatial Tissue and AI Research, described this relatively uncharted part of the genome as a potential “goldmine” for new cancer biomarkers and therapeutic approaches.

The scale of the discovery does need perspective. The 94,795 previously unannotated lncRNAs are not 94,795 potential treatments waiting to be developed.

Instead, researchers now have thousands of additional leads that can be narrowed down through laboratory work to establish what individual molecules actually do and whether some could ultimately prove useful in detecting, diagnosing or treating cancer.

First author Dr Prakrithi Pavithra said understanding the biology behind cancer was particularly important because cancers can behave differently between patients and current treatments do not work for everyone.

Researchers involved in the project have already contributed to separate work on an lncRNA associated with the most common form of breast cancer, which is being investigated as the basis for a potential RNA-based therapy.

For the QIMR Berghofer team, the new atlas provides something more immediate: a much clearer map of genetic territory that cancer researchers have only begun to explore.

Published 2-September-2026

Businesses Displaced as Centenary Pool Makes Way for Brisbane 2032 Aquatic Centre

Long-standing businesses at the Centenary Pool precinct are being forced to relocate as the Spring Hill site is transformed into the National Aquatic Centre for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority took possession of the site on 1 September 2026, after the pool closed to the public at the end of August. Site preparations are now underway at the Gregory Terrace precinct following the end of 67 years of continuous community use.

Long-term tenants face costly moves

Among the businesses affected is orthodontist Dr Nick Kotsomitis, whose practice has operated from the Centenary Pool complex for more than three decades.

Kotsomitis has said his current lease was expected to continue until 2035 and that he spent more than $500,000 fitting out the practice after entering the agreement in 2017. Relocating specialised orthodontic equipment and establishing another clinic could cost more than $1 million.

Allied health provider The Health Collab has also operated from the precinct, offering physiotherapy, sports rehabilitation, massage and other services from its Spring Hill premises.

Affected tenants have faced uncertainty over how they will be compensated for relocation and re-establishment costs. Queensland parliamentary debate on Brisbane 2032 infrastructure laws has acknowledged that Games projects can displace tenants and community businesses, while maintaining that existing compensation rights under other laws are not removed.

Inner-city swimmers lose a 67-year fixture

Centenary Pool opened in 1959 and became Brisbane’s first Olympic-standard swimming pool. The heritage-listed complex, designed by architect James Birrell, has served generations of residents through lap swimming, squad training, diving, fitness programs and recreation.

Before closing, the complex included a 50-metre outdoor pool, a heated indoor pool, a heated 25-metre outdoor pool and other recreational facilities.

Its closure also reduces the number of public swimming options available to residents in Brisbane’s inner north, increasing attention on nearby alternatives including Newmarket Olympic Pool. Local concerns have focused on swimmers who rely on public aquatic facilities for exercise, rehabilitation and regular training.

Bigger aquatic centre planned for 2032

The Centenary Pool site will form part of the new National Aquatic Centre, which is proposed to host swimming, Para swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming during the Brisbane Games.

Plans include three new covered pools, high-performance facilities and about 8,000 permanent spectator seats, expanding to as many as 25,000 during the Games through temporary seating.

Existing heritage elements are expected to be incorporated into the redevelopment, while the completed centre is intended to remain available for community and high-performance use after 2032.

Published 2-Sept-2026

Two New Eagle Street Venues Add to Brisbane’s Changing Inner-City Dining Scene

Two new weekday venues are preparing to open on Eagle Street, adding another dining option within easy reach of Fortitude Valley as Brisbane’s riverfront business district continues to change.

SweetLeáf and LuLóu are being developed side by side at 70 Eagle Street by family-owned Brisbane hospitality group HomeTeam, with both expected to open in October.

While the venues are being designed primarily around the CBD weekday crowd, their arrival adds to a changing hospitality landscape immediately south of Fortitude Valley, where Eagle Street is also emerging from several years of construction and redevelopment.

Two different takes on the working day

SweetLeáf is being built around speed and convenience, with freshly prepared meals aimed particularly at workers looking for something they can collect without losing much of their lunch break.

Customers are expected to be able to order ahead and pick up their food, while communal seating will provide an option for those with time to stay.

Next door, LuLóu is taking a more leisurely approach.

The all-day venue is being designed for coffee meetings, longer lunches and afternoon wines, giving the two neighbouring businesses distinctly different roles despite sharing the same address.

Both are expected to operate Monday to Friday, with ALKOT Studio behind the interiors and Lowry Group undertaking the hospitality fit-outs.

Back where the HomeTeam story began

The new venues also mark a return to familiar territory for HomeTeam founder Kristina Carson.

Carson’s business connection with Eagle Street dates back more than 20 years, when her first business was established on the street. She later moved into hospitality, with MÁS Espresso opening on Eagle Street in 2019.

ÉLAN followed, and those businesses now sit under the HomeTeam banner alongside the two new concepts taking shape at 70 Eagle Street.

For the group, SweetLeáf and LuLóu therefore represent both an expansion and a return to the part of Brisbane where Carson’s business career began.

Changes inside and outside 70 Eagle Street

The building receiving the new venues has recently undergone a substantial transformation of its own.

A major refurbishment of 70 Eagle Street was completed in 2025, with works including a new ground-floor lobby and street awning, a refreshed façade and significant internal changes to the commercial tower.

The work is part of a much broader period of change along Eagle Street.

In February, the upgraded section of Brisbane’s Riverwalk reopened beside the Waterfront Brisbane construction site after being closed for about two and a half years.

The new six-metre-wide section between Charlotte and Alice streets restored the riverside pedestrian and cycling connection through the precinct, forming part of the continuous route between the Story Bridge area and the City Botanic Gardens.

Alongside it, work continues on the $2.5 billion Waterfront Brisbane redevelopment of the former Eagle Street Pier site, which is planned to deliver new office space, restaurants, retail and public areas along the riverfront.

SweetLeáf and LuLóu are much smaller additions to Eagle Street than the major development taking place around them, but they provide another indication of what the precinct is becoming as businesses begin filling the spaces alongside the construction.

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For Fortitude Valley residents who work in the CBD or regularly head into this end of the city, that will mean another two weekday options when the doors open.

Construction is underway, with SweetLeáf and LuLóu currently expected to open in October 2026.

Published 1-Sept-2026

Brisbane City Twilight Market Brings More Than 70 Traders To Reddacliff Place

Photo Credit: Eventbrite

Brisbane City workers, residents and visitors will have a new place to meet, eat and browse local stalls after work, with more than 70 traders set to take over Reddacliff Place for the first City After Dark Markets.

The free Friday evening event will run from 4pm to 9pm on 25 September, bringing together food vendors, artisan makers and boutique retailers in the heart of the CBD.

Street food and desserts will be available alongside independent makers, designers and other small businesses, while live music will continue throughout the evening.

Artisan stalls at Brisbane City Markets — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

Brisbane City Gets A New Friday Gathering Place

Presented by Brisbane City Markets, the event is aimed at people looking to stay in the CBD after the working day ends, whether to meet friends, have dinner, browse stalls or spend time at Reddacliff Place.

A pop-up bar featuring local brewers and distillers will form part of the evening, while themed lighting and installations are planned for the precinct as night falls.

Pop-up market stalls in Brisbane City — Photo Credit: Supplied

The new Friday format will be separate from Brisbane City Markets’ established Wednesday market at Reddacliff Place, which already attracts thousands of people.

The evening event will use the same central location but place more emphasis on food, shopping, live entertainment and after-work socialising.

Local Traders Join The Evening Market

More than 70 food, artisan and boutique traders are expected to participate, including independent makers and Queensland small businesses.

For those traders, the event provides another opportunity to operate in a busy CBD location and connect with workers, residents and visitors passing through the city.

Food traders at an evening market — Photo Credit: Supplied

reserve a spot

The mix of stalls will give attendees the chance to browse locally made goods and boutique products while also choosing from street food and desserts during the evening.

Rather than centring solely on shopping, the event will combine food, music and stalls in one location, creating another option for people spending Friday evening in Brisbane City.

Market stalls at Reddacliff Place — Photo Credit: Supplied

Free Entry At Reddacliff Place

The City After Dark Markets will be held at Reddacliff Place, 266 George Street, Brisbane City, from 4pm to 9pm on Friday, 25 September.

Entry is free. People can also register for a free ticket for a chance to win a $300 Gourmet Hamper.

Published 1-September-2026

Kimpton Hotel to Anchor $1.5 Billion Teneriffe Banks Precinct Near Fortitude Valley

Photo Credit: Kokoda

A new hotel and hospitality destination is being developed in neighbouring Teneriffe, where the $1.5 billion Teneriffe Banks project is planned with 212 residences and a sizeable new waterfront dining and retail precinct.

The project adds another major mixed-use address to the inner-city area immediately east of Fortitude Valley, although much of what has been announced is quite different from the Valley’s established entertainment and hotel precinct.

Teneriffe Banks occupies a 17,612-square-metre site on Skyring Terrace overlooking the Brisbane River.

Early site works began in August 2025 and Kokoda Property appointed Versatile Construction as builder later that year. Staged delivery is expected to begin from 2028.

The hotel may be the bigger story beyond Teneriffe

At the centre of the public-facing hospitality offer is Brisbane’s first Kimpton hotel.

IHG Hotels & Resorts expects the approximately 155-room property to open in 2028, bringing one of its luxury and lifestyle brands to Teneriffe.

The hotel is planned with a restaurant and bar for more than 200 patrons on Level 14, an infinity pool overlooking the river, a spa and fitness centre and 618 square metres of indoor and outdoor event space.

Kokoda’s hospitality plans for the wider development go further, with more than 2,800 square metres of waterfront dining and retail proposed across the precinct.

That will put another concentration of restaurants and hospitality venues within the broader inner-city area, but with a distinctly riverfront setting.

Much of the wellness precinct will remain private

Teneriffe Banks has also attracted attention for the scale of its wellness facilities.

Banks Athletic is planned as a private health club for residents, with rooftop pools, hydrotherapy facilities and exercise areas among the amenities outlined by the developer.

The Canopy Club will also be reserved for residents, combining dining and social spaces with leisure and work facilities.

Those amenities should not be confused with public health or recreation facilities. For visitors, the more accessible parts of the project are expected to be its hotel, hospitality, retail and parts of the landscaped ground plane.

Opening the site towards the river

Kokoda says more than 10,000 square metres will be given over to parkland, gardens and public spaces.

The architectural plans also show an extended Riverwalk and new laneways through the site, while a proposed marina remains part of the masterplan.

Together, those elements make Teneriffe Banks considerably broader than its residential component, even though its high-end apartments remain a major part of the development.

For Fortitude Valley readers, that is where the connection is strongest. Teneriffe Banks is not a Valley development, but it is creating another large hotel, dining and leisure destination in the adjoining inner-city neighbourhood — and one that is expected to begin opening from 2028.

Published 27-Aug-2026

Jacinda Ardern To Take The Stage At Brisbane Writers Festival

Brisbane City Hall will host former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern in October, when she takes part in a conversation titled A Different Kind of Power.

Read: Australian AI Film Awards to Celebrate AI Filmmaking at The Precinct

Ardern will appear with Brisbane author and journalist Trent Dalton at the Brisbane Writers Festival event on Sunday, October 11. The conversation is scheduled from 5pm to 6pm and shares its name with Ardern’s memoir.

The session will look at Ardern’s experiences in public life and political leadership, with the festival event providing the setting for her conversation with Dalton. The appearance puts a former national leader on the festival program alongside Australian and international authors.

A four-day festival across Brisbane

The Brisbane Writers Festival will run from October 8 to 11, with events taking place across Brisbane, including Brisbane City Hall and Brisbane Powerhouse.

More than 200 Australian and international authors are included in the 2026 program, with more than 110 events covering subjects including fiction, crime, romance, food, history, journalism, popular culture, politics, parenting, gardening and wellbeing.

The wider program includes international writers such as Susan Orlean and Andrew O’Hagan, while British author Alice Oseman is also scheduled to appear at Brisbane City Hall in a session focused on Heartstopper.

Australian writers including Kate Grenville, Richard Flanagan, Holly Ringland and Suzie Miller are also part of the program. The Queensland Literary Awards will form part of this year’s festival after Brisbane Writers Festival took over management and hosting of the awards from the State Library of Queensland.

The Queensland Literary Awards ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, with winners to be announced during the ceremony.

Ardern’s political career

Ardern in 2018 (Photo credit: CC BY-SA 4.0/Newzild/Wikimedia Commons)

Jacinta Arden was elected prime minister of New Zealand in 2017 at the age of 37, becoming the country’s youngest prime minister in more than 150 years. In 2018, she gave birth to her daughter, Neve, and became the first leader of a country in 30 years to give birth while in office.

Ardern stepped down as prime minister in 2023 and was later awarded the accolade Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Read: Fortitude Valley Science Week Summit Puts Queensland Quantum Future in the Spotlight

Since leaving office, she has continued with writing and speaking. She is the author of the memoir A Different Kind of Power and What If You Could, a motivational book for teenagers.

The conversation with Dalton is scheduled for the final day of the four-day festival, running from 5pm to 6pm at Brisbane City Hall. Tickets for the Brisbane Writers Festival are on offer through the festival website.

Published 26-August-2026