Mövenpick Hotel is set to make its Spring Hill debut in 2024 with an art deco-inspired hotel that’s set to become their first location in Queensland.
Accor recently announced the opening of the Mövenpick Hotel Brisbane Spring Hill in 2024, in partnership with Keylin. This latest project located at 447 Gregory Terrace also marks the third Mövenpick Hotel to be established in Australia, after their Hobart and Melbourne locations.
Designed by MAS Architecture Studio, the 15-storey, 96-room hotel will feature a 25-metre pool, bars, restaurants, and fitness centre. It will have conference facilities designed to accommodate more than 100 guests.
Guests can expect Mövenpick signature offerings and daily Chocolate Hour, where guests will have the opportunity to sample Mövenpick chocolate and other sweet treats.
Photo credit: Keylin / keylin.com.au
Inside, deco-inspired interiors courtesy of Hirsch Bedner Associates will greet hotel guests, including a two-storey lobby with 8-metre high ceilings, marble columns, and terrazzo flooring. The exterior will feature an elevated garden that creates a cascading touch of greenery along the hotel’s facade. Each room is positioned to offer outstanding city views.
Mövenpick Hotel Brisbane Spring Hill has been designed to blend with Spring Hill’s heritage architecture. It is also expected to complement the nearby Victoria Parklands, an area that’s set to undergo a major $83 million transformation that will put it among Australia’s largest urban parks.
About Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts
Mövenpick was the brainchild of Ueli Prager in the 1940s, a maverick who introduced a new concept of hotel hospitality. Today, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has more than 100 hotels and resorts scattered across the globe and still growing with 50 more hotels already planned by 2025.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group with 5,200 hotels, resorts and residences in 110 countries.
West End’s popular gin bar and restaurant Covent Garden is bringing its annual Ginuary Festival to Fortitude Valley for its biggest event yet, where the Top 100 Aussie gins will take the spotlight to celebrate the accomplishments of the craft gin distilling industry in Australia.
Covent Garden has teamed up with Long Rays and other Australian distillers to bring the event to X-Cargo in Fortitude Valley, a venue ten times larger than its existing location in West End.
Photo credit: Covent Garden West End/Facebook
Where
X-Cargo, Fortitude Valley
When
30 January 2022 (11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m)
From over 400 nominees, Covent Garden will only name the top 100 gins this year. Voting is still up for your favourite gins, so better hurry up and vote for your picks!
Photo credit: XCARGO/Facebook
Last year’s top choice was Ink Gin, a premium gin by Tumbulgum-based boutique distillery Husk Distillers. Other top contenders were Bundaberg’s Kalki Moon and Grandad Jack’s 65 Miles.
Aside from featuring the most popular gins of the year, Ginuary Festival 2022 will feature a gin alley lined with eight degustation stations where you can taste gin for free or buy limited edition ones.
A special Brookie’s cocktail bar will also be featured, whilst those who want to take the experience to the next level can buy VIP tickets which include masterclasses, cocktail classes, and more.
Photo credit: Covent Garden
You can head to Covent Garden’s website to find out more about the upcoming festival, including ticket prices.
Ready for a spooky kind of entertainment? A new haunted underground maze has just opened in Fortitude Valley and it is guaranteed to be terrifyingly fun.
Imagine your very own horror movie experience where you enter a subterranean maze with only a torch to guide your way as ghosts, zombies, mummies, axe murderers, and all the horrifying creatures lurk in every corner to scare the wits out of you.
Evilcorp has resurrected and is here to stay. And this time, a heritage-listed building in Fortitude Valley will be the site of Horror Maze, filled with all kinds of scary characters that are sure to send chills down your spine.
Be sure to come with your friends in tow when you visit this haunted attraction (so the better chances you have of coming out alive). And as your reward for being brave enough to finish the maze, an 18+ themed bar awaits to help you relax and catch your breath after all that screaming and running.
Now, this event is so horrifying that it is restricted to 16 years old and up, so be sure that you and your friends bring along an I.D. with you. But if you are 16 or 17 year old, you still need to have a parent or legal guardian with you.
Photo credit: Sticky Tickets – Evilcorp Haunted Attractions Australia /stickytickets.com.au
Evilcorp’s Horror Maze is presented by the same people who brought you The Curse – Halloween Maze (2017), Scarlet Hollow – Halloween Maze and Frightmare Cabin – Overnight Experience (2016), and The Cedar Creek Slasher – Halloween Maze (October 2015) and as seen on season 1 of Shark Tank Australia.
This event is open Saturday nights and you can choose between the 7pm and 8:30pm sessions, whilst the themed bar is open until 10.30pm. Book your tickets by visiting this site.
Australian Industry Trade College Spring Hill is set to welcome Year 10 to 12 students who want to earn their QLD Certificate of Education or get started on paid apprenticeships in their chosen industry.
AITC Spring Hill, located on Leichhardt Street, is the inaugural school in Brisbane but the trade college also has five other locations across Queensland in Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast, Redlands, Ipswich, and the Gold Coast campus, which opened in 2008.
AITC has been producing industry leaders in aviation, commercial cookery, construction, education, hair and beauty, health, manufacturing, and transportation due to its unique curriculum. The students learn from an actual work environment, instead of workshops or seminars, as they complete their high school education.
The school partners with various companies during an average of five to seven weeks of learning per term.
With a target opening in January 2022, the Spring Hill location has opened information sessions so parents and students can fully understand the AITC experience. The sessions require online booking to ensure everyone’s safety.
Spring Hill location confirmed for the new Australian Industry Trade College campus opening up in Brisbane in 2022! Pass this along to any parents / caregivers of young people in Brisbane who are looking for a quality, industry driven education.#education#career#newspic.twitter.com/DjcyaoeDck
— Australian Industry Trade College (@AITC_News) October 27, 2021
“The AITC provides young people with the opportunity to try their hand at a handful of different trades if they are not sure which career to pursue, and many will trial multiple industries.”
Despite the pandemic, 99 per cent of AITC’s graduates completed their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and 90% had started paid apprenticeships, according to CEO Mark Hands.
The naughtiest Christmas present and the perfect festive fling is coming to Fortitude Valley this 12 December 2021. And you definitely need this, whether you’ve been NAUGHTY OR NICE this year.
Get ready for a naughty (or nice!) Christmas Sunday Session as the hit show NAUGHTY OR NICE play two shows at The Warehouse in Fortitude Valley.
You don’t want to miss this festive Sunday session featuring world-class circus acts including an incredible aerialist, a stunning LED light-up spinning cube act, fire twirling, and acrobatics. Also, watch out for burlesque performances that would take you to the fantastic world of cabarets of Paris but with a festive sexy twist, of course!
And speaking of twists, as part of its pumping soundtrack, expect the show to deliver its own cheeky interpretation to some of the famous festive tunes that we have loved all these years.
Plus, you will also get to see, up close and personal, two of Australia’s most vibrant and talented performers, Tiffany O’Connor and Thor Sacre, who will be showcasing their talent as they perform with the rest of the cast of burlesque and circus performers.
Photo credit: supplied
In case you don’t know yet, Sydney-born Tiffany O’Connor is a world travelled stage-and-show performer whose credits include a recent stint in the Big League Productions’ “Legally Blonde” and part of its US national tour. She is now based on the Gold Coast.
Meanwhile, Thor Sacre was born and raised in Kiel, Germany. Having been trained in circus performance at a young age, he decided to move to Sydney at age 19 where he found success and fame as a male burlesque and review performer. He starred in Sydney Hotshots, Aussie Heat (at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas) and Badboys Australia. He is a master of object manipulation, juggling, fire and LED performances, apart from acrobatics, dance, and circus routine.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Cavill Architects
At the request of Council, Victoria-based developer Zagame Corporation has submitted a revised plan for the 1,457-sqm site at 72-76 James St which reduced the building height, bulk, and scale, and increased its on-site car parking provision.
The amended plans for the $50-million, mixed-use tower include a landscaped and terraced five-level building, plus a roof terrace. The retail and hospitality tenancies will occupy the ground floor whilst the upper levels will be dedicated for office accommodation.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Cavill Architects
Informal gathering areas are also part of the plan, as well as publicly accessible City Room with internal laneways which will be connected to the retail tenancies.
Designed by Cavill Architects, it has a contemporary subtropical theme and will incorporate the commercial character building on the corner of James and Harcourt streets.
“This layout will establish a high degree of activation around James Street activity through the outdoor rooms and focuses the activity away from the residential neighbourhood,” the planning documents read.
As part of increasing on-site carparking provisions, there are now 91 car parks and 43 bicycle spaces proposed for the site.
Further details about Zagame’s amended plans can be viewed at Brisbane City Council’s website with the application number A005878178.
Office & Retail Plaza
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Richards & Spence
Just opposite Zagame, another developer has lodged its plans in September 2021 to carry out works for a new retail and commercial building with six storeys, covering a 6,071-sqm gross floor area.
The ground level will have an extensive public plaza and laneways that will occupy 48% of the site area. It will be designated as publicly accessible open space.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Richards & Spence
The internal public plaza, which will have the same size as the Fish Lane Town Square, will be surrounded by five other internal tenancies including cafes and a restaurant.
To facilitate the development, the existing commercial building onsite will be demolished. A pre-1911 dwelling will also be relocated as part of the proposal. It will provide up to 145 car parking spaces and 50 bicycle parking.
“The proposal at 75-79 James Street, in conjunction with other projects in the precinct, represents an opportunity to revitalise this part of Fortitude Valley with best in-class design outcomes, integration of the commercial character building, provision of car parking to meet the identified demands over and above car parking supply elsewhere in the precinct,” the assessment report stated.
For more details about this development application, see A005834091.
Have you been to Agnes Bakery? This new bakery on James St in Fortitude Valley isn’t hard to find. Just look for the queue of people waiting to get in, Wednesdays to Sundays. When people line up for their brekky even before the store opens, that’s when you know you’re on to something good.
Agnes Bakery, which started welcoming customers in late October 2021, takes pride in making everything in-house from scratch so that every batch of baked treats is served warm and fresh daily.
From the crusty loaves of sourdough bread, perfectly burnt yet creamy Basque cheesecakes, comforting choux buns, and delightful kouign-amanns, every bite of goodies that come from the bakery’s wood-fired oven leave a satisfying taste that lingers…no wonder many customers come back for more!
Curiously, however, the bakery wasn’t in the plan for the owners. Experienced hospitality operators Ben Williamson, Ty Simon, and Frank Li — who run popular Brisbane restaurants like Same Same, Honto, and Bianca — initially set their sights on opening a restaurant (also called Agnes).
However, things changed when the hospitality industry took a big hit during the pandemic. Not to be discouraged, the operators decided to shift gears and use their Agnes Restaurant spot as a pop-up bakery, opened during limited hours only, in August 2020 until the pandemic panic subsided. Amidst social distancing guidelines, customers lined up for the limited offering which has prompted the owners to consider expanding their business plan to include the bakery.
“One of the concepts we have started to explore more is how the use of fire applies to working with ancient and sustainably grown grains, and how it can add to the complexity of flavours in sourdough and pastries, both sweet and savoury,” the owner said. “On top of this, we wanted to provide people with the opportunity to enjoy some of the wares we serve at Agnes restaurant, within a casual setting.”
As things fell into place, the former Agnes Bakery pandemic pop-up became a stand-alone, permanent site and not merely an extension of Agnes Restaurant, with 14 bakers in the kitchen and 10 staff at the frontline. The group also formulated an enhanced menu filled with more appetising choices.
Apart from the pop-up favourites, Agnes Bakery also offers smoked potato braid, heaps of danishes (potato/rosemary, apple crumble, and blueberry/citrus, among other flavours), as well as a rotating mix of cake slices, flans, cookies, and savoury muffins and pizzettes. Soon, the bakery will also introduce a lunch range featuring ciabatta sandwiches.
Photo Credit: AgnesBakery/Facebook
For those on the clock, the bakery has a convenient coffee window for quick orders.
Photo Credit: Joseph Cosico/Google Maps
Agnes Bakery opens Wednesday to Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Follow their Facebook page for updates.
“Everything is excellent and can’t wait till they add some more condiments and things. They make stuff you don’t really see in Australia (like pithivier) which is fun as well.”
Ben E
“OMG! This beautiful bakery is an absolute gem! I called in at the end of their 1st day (my interest was sparked as I drove past in the morning and there was a 100-meter line-up of peeps down James St). This place must have something going for it. I was not disappointed. The young, cheerful girl who greeted me was very knowledgeable on the delights available. I purchased a blackberry and blueberry and passion fruit with melted marshmallow Kouign-amann. Supercalifragilisticepialidocious is an apt word for my experience of this pastry delight. From the crispy outer layers of glazed pastry to the inner taste bud tingling cream patisserie, I was completely lost in indulgent heaven.”
After years at the culinary helm of one of South Brisbane’s most popular dining establishments, Chef Phil Marchanthas opened ESSA, a fine-dining restaurant located along Robertson St in Fortitude Valley.
ESSA, originally planned as a follow-up to Gauge, promises a unique dining experience with its exciting menu focusing on raw, pickled, smoked, and wood-fired dishes and a solid wine list to back it up.
ESSA’s Jerusalem artichoke cream bun (Photo credit: ESSA Restaurant & Wine Bar/Facebook)
One of the must-try items on the menu is the Jerusalem artichoke cream bun, a pastry bun, cut in half and filled with chocolate ganache and artichoke cream.
Besides this crowd-favourite dessert, other popular dishes here include the hand-rolled malloreddus pasta served with Fraser Island spanner crab, nduja, carrot; and black Angus short rib with wagyu fat jus gras and fresh green peppercorns.
Guests will be treated to an endless choice of drinks, with over 100 bottles of wine from across the globe along with their collection of inventive cocktails.
This 60-seater venue is outfitted with exposed brickwork and steel alcoves and has got a long, green marble bar area where patrons can watch some off the chefs at work and even have a chat with them.
Photo credit: Michael Gallagher/Google Maps
Marchant and his co-owner Angela Sclavos have teamed up to create the space with the goal of highlighting the work of the farmers, hunters and providores they sourced the ingredients from. Whilst it isn’t a farm-to-table restaurant, Marchant is planning to collaborate with local farmers to save their kitchen waste.
Photo credit: ESSA Restaurant & Wine Bar/Facebook
If you can’t wait to experience dining at ESSA, secure a seat through their website. For more details, follow them on Facebook or on Instagram @essa.restaurant.
Like many other inner-city locations with high-density urban precincts, the Fortitude Valley property market has had an oversupply of inventory and high vacancy rates but performed astonishingly better within the 12-month period ending June 2021, amidst a softer housing demand through the pandemic.
Fortitude Valley had a 3.78 per cent growth between July 2020 to June 2021, despite a softer demand for properties close to the CBD during the lockdowns.
The median unit price moved upwards to $456,630 compared to $440,000 pre-pandemic.
Buyers and investors are taking advantage of the opportunity to buy properties in Fortitude Valley whilst the prices are subdued.
Unit Price Growth
Despite most buyers flocking to the middle and outer ring suburbs to find lifestyle properties to work from home, the apartment market in Fortitude Valley still had a substantial buying activity between July 2020 to June 2021. Figures from Property Market Updates revealed that this suburb so close to the CBD, where disheartening shutdowns and job cutbacks have been significant, posted a 3.78 per cent growth, pulling the median unit price up to $456,630.
With 405 transactions closed for this period, Fortitude Valley attracted buyers and investors who saw an opportunity to buy newly-built apartments whilst property prices have been more subdued than other markets. Though house prices are rising all across Brisbane, first-home buyers and younger professionals have been grabbing the chance to invest in the Valley and get their foot in the door closer to the city.
Buying than renting units is cheaper in Fortitude Valley and this realisation accounts for much of the 151 two-bedroom units snapped up within an average of 76 days on market. A townhouse located on Bowen Terrace, which offers a good vantage point of the Story Bridge and is within walking distance to lifestyle and recreational amenities, was sold at the highest price of $2,426,00.
About Fortitude Valley
The dwellings offered in Fortitude Valley are best suited for the younger demographic. More than 65 per cent of the residents here are between 20 to 39 years old and the majority do not have any kids. Thus, they feel at home in this suburb’s vibe and energy with its buzzing entertainment and nightlife district.
A significant number of homes in the Valley are also purchased for investment and rented out to college students, professionals, singles, and young couples who prefer walking, biking, or taking public transportation to get to work or meet-ups with friends at heaps of local hangouts. The residential precincts continue to grow alongside commercial developments, making Fortitude Valley such an exciting place for people who prefer cosmopolitan living.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Fortitude Valley is the go-to host for the best musical acts regularly performing along Brunswick Street Mall in China Town. In contrast, the James Street precinct is where people go for dining at fancy and trendy restaurants or shopping at upmarket boutiques. However, there are also a number of heritage-listed buildings standing next to modern sites. During weekdays, the Valley is busy as office and business workers hustle whilst weekends are for chilling out.
“If you’re wanting to be as close as possible to both the airport & CBD for work; then it’s hard to beat the Fortitude Valley due to its quick access to toll-paid-tunnels, great choice of bars, restaurants, cafe’s and heaps of gyms as well as a great public pool for athletes or the athletic-minded. Rent is fairly reasonable considering how close you are to the city centre & the fact that pretty much the whole suburb has access to TPG’s FTTB fibre optic internet combined with great cellular coverage means high-speed internet either via fibre optic cables or 4G is always available. Many apartments have great views as well which is a plus.”
Alexk15
“Fortitude Valley is a razor edge kind of place. Insanely, almost migraine-inducingly cool, it has a seedy heart to it at times. By day, hip designers sell overpriced products to EMO’s and grown-ups who should know better. Excellent restaurants vie for attention amongst organic beauty outlets and dingy cafes. By night, a rock scene comes alive and the streets swell with the youth and the youthful of the Brissy music scene. Staples of the Valley include Fatboys/Riks cafe and the Empire Hotel.”
Siffredis will be serving up special spaghetti jaffles with a twist for this event, along with its popular Appellation Oysters and Ora King salmon Crudo. Visitors may also get dibs on some of the margaritas from their soon-to-open sister venue, Rita’s bar.
Because travel has been restricted for nearly two years, Bacchus Wine Merchants is bringing the wine gardens from different regions to Teneriffe. Wine aficionados will surely be satisfied with the curated selection of sparkling, red, white, and rose wines from France to Australia paired with gourmet cheeses and charcuterie. By the way, pre-purchase with festival tickets come with limited artisan wine bundles (five wine tastings for $25).
Anyone who loves a perfectly formulated beer should stop by Green Beacon Brewing for their craft brews. They will have two pop-up laneway bars so visitors will not miss out on anything, and their headquarters is also nearby at Helen St.
The popular West End Distillery is driving its double decker gin bus to the Teneriffe Festival Appropriately named The true Spirit, the 1974 Atlantean vintage double decker is kitted out with a complete cocktail bar. Make your G&T dreams come true with Brisbane Distillery’s extensive list of infused gin and handcrafted cocktails.
To satisfy your cultural appetite, Jan Manton Gallery will feature an artist talk with Dylan Jones, who is a finalist of the Brisbane Portrait Prize. Dylan will talk about his creative process for his current exhibition “Room with a View.”
6. Heritage Bus Tour
Finally, if you’re in Teneriffe, you might as well take a short but enriching trip to learn about the colourful history of the area via the Magical Heritage Tour Bus, courtesy of the New Farm & District Historical Society. Designed for history buffs, learned locals and curious culture seekers, discover the suburb’s historical landmarks, which transitioned from an industrial hub to a hip and happening precinct.
