A new cancer rehabilitation centre opening in Fortitude Valley this Thursday aims to offer Queensland patients access to an Australian-developed therapy designed to ease the side effects of conventional cancer treatment.
The Leading Light Rehab Clinic will provide OncoLaser therapy, a low-level laser treatment developed by the clinic’s co-directors Kate Perkins and Dr Catherine Norton.
The therapy uses photobiomodulation—a process that stimulates cellular energy production—to help manage complications that can arise from chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and immunotherapy. According to Dr Norton, who serves as the clinic’s CEO, the treatment is intended to work alongside standard cancer care rather than replace it.
“It uses low-level laser therapy to support healthy tissue before, during and after chemotherapy, radiation and surgery,” Dr Norton said. The approach focuses on reducing painful side effects rather than treating cancer cells directly.
Ms Perkins, who co-developed the OncoLaser system, said the technology aims to fill gaps in supportive oncological care. “Opening at Leading Light Rehab Clinic allows us to extend these services to more patients in Brisbane in a collaborative healthcare environment,” she said.
The treatment is described as non-invasive and opioid-free, targeting issues such as oral mucositis, radiation dermatitis, delayed wound healing, pain and certain neuropathy symptoms that can result from cancer treatment.
The clinic’s opening event will feature a panel discussion with oncology and integrative health specialists. Dr David Schlecht, a radiation oncologist at The Wesley Hospital, will discuss recent developments in radiation oncology.
“Equally important is ensuring patients have access to supportive therapies that help manage side effects, support healing and maintain quality of life throughout their treatment journey,” Dr Schlecht said.
The clinic plans to work with cancer treatment centres, GPs, surgeons and allied health professionals across the region. OncoLaser has indicated plans to expand its network across regional Australia through partnerships with local health providers.
Queensland University of Technology at Gardens Point will become the new custodian of Meanjin, bringing Australia’s second-oldest literary magazine back to Brisbane 80 years after it relocated to Melbourne.
The 85-year-old journal is heading back to the city that gave it its name. While Clem Christesen first pulled the inaugural Meanjin Papers together in suburban Greenslopes in 1940, bringing the masthead to QUT’s Gardens Point campus marks a massive symbolic return to the heart of the river city. After 80 years in Melbourne, the journal is finally back on the Turrbal and Yugara lands where its story began.
Melbourne University Press announced in September 2025 that Meanjin would close due to financial pressures, with editor Esther Anatolitis and deputy editor Eli McLean made redundant and the final issue released in December. The announcement triggered immediate backlash from Australia’s literary community, including authors Jennifer Mills, Anna Krien, Claire G Coleman and former editors Sophie Cunningham and Jonathan Green.
Gardens Point Campus to Host National Literary Icon
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil said the university is delighted to bring Meanjin home to Meanjin/Magandjin, the Turrbal and Yugara word for the lands where Gardens Point campus now stands. Since its foundation, the literary magazine has been instrumental in shaping Australian literary and intellectual culture, providing a vital platform for critical discussion and a showcase for emerging writers.
The university will appoint an editorial board to ensure the journal’s independence, values and standards are maintained, and will recruit an editor through a national competitive search. QUT will take time to thoughtfully re-establish the journal in Queensland and consider how to most effectively reinvigorate Meanjin while respecting its founding vision and literary legacy.
Complementing Creative Writing Programs
Professor of Creative Writing Kári Gíslason said QUT has a distinguished group of alumni writers who have gone on to become renowned Australian authors. The partnership affirms how creativity, literature and excellence in writing allow people to think deeply and connect ideas in imaginative ways to the world around them.
The journal will complement the focused, high-quality creative writing program within the QUT School of Creative Arts at Gardens Point. Meanjin’s move to QUT sends a message to students that this connection between creative excellence and intellectual engagement remains as true now as it ever was.
Principal policy adviser John Byron, a published author and former executive director of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, said rehoming the journal will take considerable work and QUT will take the time to do it properly. The university is a long way off releasing the next issue, as it has no editor, production staff or editorial board yet, but will get there.
The transfer is already underway and work now begins in earnest. QUT understands the scale of the privilege it has been afforded and will take good care of Meanjin, Byron said.
Literary Community Response
Former Meanjin editor Jonathan Green said the news of the journal’s return was a delightful surprise and it is lovely to think the literary magazine will be journeying back to Brisbane where its adventure began. Academic Ben Eltham, a long-running contributor, called the return a victory for everyone who fought to save this vital masthead for the future of Australian literature.
The timing aligns with Queensland’s plans to elevate the creative economy, support local talent and showcase the state’s unique stories and culture to a global audience ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Melbourne University Press Chair Warren Bebbington said QUT’s understanding of the journal’s legacy surpassed those of other expressions of interest received from organizations wanting to take over the publication.
A prominent development site at 70-82 Wickham Street in Fortitude Valley has launched to market with concept plans for towers up to 40 storeys, positioning developers to meet Brisbane’s growing need for apartments ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Colliers Queensland‘s Brendan Hogan and Troy Linnane have been appointed to sell the site known as Landmark Brisbane, spanning 2,416 square metres across three street frontages. The property sits at the convergence of Brisbane CBD, Fortitude Valley and New Farm, placing it at the heart of the city’s most dynamic lifestyle, employment and growth corridors.
Concept plans prepared by architects Cottee Parker outline development scenarios of 25 and 40 storeys, delivering more than 350 apartments under both build-to-sell and build-to-rent scenarios, subject to approval. The site currently hosts a two-storey retail and commercial complex.
Gateway Location Near Howard Smith Wharves
Hogan said the development site is positioned close to Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane’s premier riverfront dining and entertainment precinct, and only a 15-minute walk to the Victoria Park Olympic precinct. This proximity to Olympic infrastructure adds appeal for developers looking to capitalise on the Games-driven demand for accommodation.
Inner-city Brisbane is experiencing acute undersupply of apartments, with vacancy rates below one percent and prestige developments in the inner-city are setting new benchmarks, with some luxury projects now commanding upwards of $20,000 per square metre. Market analysts currently rank Brisbane’s growth fundamentals as the strongest among eastern seaboard capitals, driven by persistent undersupply and interstate migration.
360-Degree Views and Strategic Position
The proposed tower heights unlock potential for 360-degree views, offering future residents uninterrupted outlooks over the CBD, Story Bridge, and Brisbane River. The surrounding Fortitude Valley precinct is undergoing rapid gentrification, underpinned by premium residential developments, lifestyle-driven demand and strong population growth.
Linnane said South East Queensland’s population growth is driving unprecedented demand for inner-city apartments, making high-quality development sites in prime locations increasingly scarce. The site’s gateway positioning, river and skyline views, and proximity to the Olympic precinct create a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop a world-class project.
Strong Market Interest Expected
Colliers has already seen strong market interest from a range of local, interstate and offshore developers, as well as institutional investors and high net worth individuals. The expressions of interest campaign for the Fortitude Valley development site closes March 19, with multiple parties expected to compete for the opportunity.
The site joins other major Fortitude Valley development sites currently on the market, including a Barry Parade property with approval for dual towers of 27 and 37 storeys comprising 490 apartments. The cluster of development opportunities reflects Fortitude Valley’s position as a key growth area for Brisbane’s residential market ahead of the 2032 Games.
Brisbane-based artist Renee Kire is transforming the Museum of Brisbane entryway with bold vinyl graphics and sculptural timber elements as the institution’s first Artist in Residence for 2026.
From March 6, visitors entering the Level 3 City Hall space will encounter Kire’s large-scale installation splashing colour, rhythm and movement across walls and ceilings in the museum’s main thoroughfare. The project marks ten years since the artist moved from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane to pursue her creative career.
The installation responds directly to the architecture of City Hall and the surrounding cityscape visible from the museum. Kire describes being initially overwhelmed by the amount of space available but came to appreciate the character of the historic building, noting no two walls are the same with numerous different planes and angles shaping her approach to forms, colours and interactions.
Working within a heritage-listed building presented challenges including restrictions on what could and couldn’t be done to the space. Kire notes the most difficult aspect became developing the works digitally and translating scale from screen to real life, requiring adjustments to how forms, colours and interactions would exist in the physical space.
Approach and Philosophy
Renee Kire approaches Minimalism from a contemporary feminist perspective, themes that she says remain central to why she creates. These influences shape each project she undertakes, whether explicitly stated or operating beneath the surface. For this installation, thinking through Minimalist and feminist lenses guided the forms, colours and interactions she developed, encouraging repetition and inclusivity for all visitors.
The artist creates work intended to be accessible across ages and backgrounds rather than targeting specific audiences. Her two-year-old niece responds to colours while her grandmother appreciates composition and how different shapes interact. Kire hopes her work sparks curiosity for anyone who encounters it, whoever they are.
Her practice often encourages people to slow down and look closely at their surroundings. In the busy transitional space of the museum entrance, she hopes the forms and colours will catch attention and invite people to pause momentarily to notice details they might otherwise miss in a heritage building space many pass through without close observation.
Community Participation Element
Part of the installation will be co-created with the community through hands-on workshops during the residency period. Renee Kire says she looks forward to stepping back and seeing how people interpret the shapes and colours she has been immersed in over several months of development, noting the different ways people think and create when interacting with the work.
The workshops allow Brisbane residents to contribute directly to an artwork in one of the city’s most prominent cultural institutions, creating an element of shared ownership in the finished installation.
Museum of Brisbane Context
Museum of Brisbane occupies Level 3 of Brisbane City Hall at King George Square, serving as the city’s leading history and art museum. The institution presents exhibitions, events, workshops and tours exploring Brisbane’s art, culture and social history. The museum is open 10am to 5pm during weekdays and weekends with free general admission.
The Artist in Residency program, supported by Tim Fairfax AC, provides opportunities for artists to create site-specific works within the museum environment. The program demonstrates the museum’s commitment to supporting contemporary Brisbane artists while enhancing the visitor experience through temporary installations in museum spaces.
City Hall itself holds significance as one of Brisbane’s most recognisable heritage buildings in the CBD. The building’s distinctive clock tower and classical architecture make it a landmark for both visitors and residents navigating central Brisbane. The museum’s location within City Hall adds layers of historical context to contemporary art installations like Kire’s project.
Previous Work and Recognition
Renee Kire works from her East Brisbane studio creating sculptural forms that explore playful curves and interactions. Reviews of her previous exhibition at Rockhampton Museum of Art noted her consistent employment of large-scale aesthetics and soft pastel colour palettes.
Photo Credit: Rockchampton Museum of Art / Facebook
Her work has been compared to feminist minimalist sculpture, presenting what critics describe as a positive approach to domestic spaces through curves that invite interaction.
The curved prisms in her work require higher woodworking skills to create. Apart from some computer numerical control cutting, Kire painstakingly fashions the forms herself. Her constructions feature bends singular in direction and plane, with aspects twisted across additional axes by aligning consecutive sections at right angles, creating what observers describe as squiggle-like forms that could transport viewers back to childhood memories.
The Museum of Brisbane residency represents Kire’s largest and most public commission to date, positioning her work where thousands of visitors will encounter it as they access exhibitions and programs throughout the six-month installation period.
Repeat Visitor Experience
Because the work forms part of the museum’s everyday environment rather than a discrete exhibition, visitors may encounter it multiple times. Renee Kire hopes people experience the space the way she did while developing the work, discovering new details each visit in what might otherwise be an overlooked transitional area.
She notes that each time she spent time in the entrance during development, new details emerged including subtle shifts in light, repetitive nature of shapes, and small architectural features she had not noticed before. Repeat visits should allow people to discover these layers and notice something new each time they pass through.
The installation runs from March 6 through September 6, 2026, providing a substantial timeframe for both regular museum visitors and Brisbane CBD workers to engage with the work multiple times across changing seasons and light conditions.
Accessibility and Public Engagement
The entrance location ensures maximum visibility and accessibility for the installation. Unlike gallery-based exhibitions that require deliberate visits, Kire’s work will be encountered by everyone accessing Museum of Brisbane programs including school groups, tourists, families and regular visitors to City Hall.
This positioning aligns with broader movements in contemporary art practice toward engaging public audiences in everyday spaces rather than exclusively within traditional gallery contexts. The installation demonstrates how temporary public art can activate heritage buildings and enhance visitor experiences in cultural institutions.
For Fortitude Valley and Brisbane CBD residents who regularly visit City Hall for various civic purposes beyond museum attendance, the installation adds an element of visual interest and creative energy to a familiar heritage building. The work contributes to Brisbane’s identity as a city supporting contemporary artistic practice alongside preservation of historic architecture.
More information about the workshop is available here.
Fortitude Valley has welcomed a unique literary hub called Cursive Knives that trades mainstream bestsellers for a community-focused space dedicated to underrepresented authors and local creativity.
The shop began as a popular online community for readers and writers before moving into a physical storefront on Ann Street in late December. Unlike typical retail outlets, the shop specialises in “weird girl” literature and works from independent publishers that often struggle to find space on larger shelves.
The collection prioritises books by women, queer authors, and people of colour, offering a range of fiction, poetry, and art books that reflect a diverse range of voices.
Beyond its role as a bookstore, the space functions as a gathering point for the Brisbane creative scene. It hosts regular activities such as craft sessions, book clubs, and writing workshops to encourage locals to connect in person.
Specific programmes include a twelve-week course focused on the creative process and hands-on weekend workshops where participants can learn skills like making leather journals. This approach moves away from quick shopping and instead focuses on building a slow-paced, supportive environment for the neighbourhood.
The establishment of the shop marks a shift in the local area towards a more boutique and arts-focused district. Located on the traditional lands of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, the shop acknowledges the deep history of the region.
Fortitude Valley itself has changed significantly over the years, moving from its roots as a 19th-century settlement for immigrants into a busy nightlife area, and now into a centre for independent businesses.
While some industry experts suggest that only certain popular genres sell well, this local shop has seen a different result. The first batch of over one thousand books sold out much faster than expected, with many residents returning multiple times to support the venture. The shop’s name, which often confuses people looking for cutlery, is actually a nod to poetry and music. It joins several other independent bookstores that have recently appeared in the city, suggesting a growing local interest in physical books and shared creative experiences.
Fortitude Valley’s Wandoo Street is about to welcome a new regular, with Aunty — the latest venue from Brisbane’s Tassis Group. Locals first heard whispers about the modern Asian newcomer back in mid-2025, when plans to transform the former City Winery site at 11 Wandoo Street were revealed. Now, the countdown is properly on — bookings are live, trading hours are published, and the menu’s broad direction is now clear.
Aunty will open on 5 February 2026 as a roughly 400-square-metre dining destination built for both intimate catch-ups and bigger, celebratory outings, with capacity for around 100 guests. Design-wise, the venue will lean into a moody, polished look — deep greens, timbers and marble — with subtle nods to Cantonese culture, including references that evoke mahjong.
More importantly for Valley diners: Aunty is expected to trade 11:30 a.m. ’til late, seven days a week.
What’s on the menu?
While full menus tend to land closer to opening day, multiple sources have flagged the broad direction: modern Asian, anchored by Cantonese flavours and technique, plus a dedicated dim sum offering.
A few dishes are already being positioned as signatures, including:
Whole chilli mudcrab
Half duck two ways
Char siu pork neck
The menu is described as share-friendly, pairing dim sum with larger signature dishes designed for the centre of the table.
Drinks, lunch-to-late hours and a reason to arrive early
Aunty is also leaning heavily into its beverage program. The wine list spans around 250 labels, alongside cocktails drawing on Asian flavours.
The venue’s lunch-to-late trading hours suggest it’s aiming to suit both daytime diners and late-night crowds — and with interest building ahead of opening day, expect more detail (including the full menu and banquet options) to land closer to launch.
Bookings are already live via Aunty’s official site. For Wandoo Street, the opening adds another high-profile dining room to the strip — one built to run from lunch through late, every day of the week.
The approval of a 16-storey office tower on Robertson Street is likely to have impacts that extend well beyond the building site itself, reshaping how people move through and use one of Brisbane’s most tightly held inner-city precincts.
The $300 million project at 88 Robertson Street (DA A006677589) in December 2025 sits on a former industrial block in Fortitude Valley, a short walk from James Street’s retail strip and near Howard Smith Wharves. While the development adds new commercial space, urban planners say its greater significance lies in how it reinforces the precinct’s shift from a retail-only destination to a mixed-use neighbourhood.
Unlike traditional CBD office towers that empty after hours, the building is designed to bring a steady weekday population into the area, supporting cafés, retailers and hospitality venues beyond the weekend peak. Ground-level shops and a café-focused laneway are intended to link directly into the surrounding streets, potentially increasing foot traffic along quieter edges of the precinct.
The project also includes public-facing elements not typically associated with office developments, including a rooftop restaurant and event space and landscaped areas integrated throughout the building. These features reflect a broader planning trend in Brisbane, where new commercial buildings are increasingly expected to contribute to street life rather than operate as closed corporate environments.
Photo Credit: DA A006677589
For nearby residents and businesses, the development could help stabilise local trade during the working week, particularly as office attendance across Brisbane continues to recover. Industry data shows weekday office use is approaching pre-pandemic levels, prompting renewed interest in inner-city locations that offer walkability, dining and public transport access.
The site is located around 650 metres from the Valley Metro station and sits between established lifestyle hubs, positioning it as part of a growing corridor connecting the CBD to Fortitude Valley’s eastern edge. Urban designers involved in the project say extensive planting and shaded areas are intended to reduce heat and soften the building’s presence at street level, a key concern for residents in high-density neighbourhoods.
Construction is expected to begin in mid-2026, with completion forecast for mid-2028. While the building will introduce additional height and density, its approval signals continued confidence in James Street as a place where people don’t just shop or dine, but increasingly work, meet and spend large parts of their day.
As Brisbane continues to grow, developments like 88 Robertson highlight an ongoing shift in how inner-city areas are being planned — not as single-purpose precincts, but as layered neighbourhoods where work, lifestyle and community activity increasingly overlap.
A $300 million A-grade office tower has been approved for Fortitude Valley, with the 16-storey project at 88 Robertson Street planned as a workplace with integrated hospitality, wellness and retail space.
The development application is listed as a Material Change of Use application for 88 Robertson Street, with approved uses including office and a food and drink outlet, alongside other components shown in the application record.
The application was submitted on 20 December 2024 and was decided on 19 December 2025. Public notification ran from 9 June 2025 to 1 July 2025, according to the application timeline.
Photo Credit: DA/A006677589
Building Size And Key Inclusions
Plans outline a 16-storey tower delivering about 17,000 sq m of boutique commercial office space. Inclusions described across the sources include premium end-of-trip facilities, two levels of wellness-focused tenancies, and winter rooms.
A rooftop restaurant and event space with city views is also part of the design, alongside ground-level retail and a laneway connection into the wider James Street precinct.
Design Team And Landscape Approach
The building is designed by Cox Architecture, with Arcadia involved on landscape design and PPA on town planning. Aegis has been appointed as lead leasing agent.
Landscape details described include vertical greenery and cascading planters along the podium and tower facades, with elevated gardens intended to support biodiversity. The design material also references views towards Mt Coot-tha.
Photo Credit: DA/A006677589
Sustainability Targets And Tenant Interest
Sustainability targets cited include a 5-star Green Star rating and 5.5-star NABERS energy rating, with EV charging infrastructure included.
The developer has also flagged the project as the only A-grade office building due to rise in inner Brisbane before 2028, positioning it for demand in a market described as undersupplied.
Construction is expected to start in mid-2026, with completion forecast for mid-2028. The project is set within Fortitude Valley’s James Street precinct and is intended to provide new office supply outside the CBD.
A United States–based Greek restaurant chain is preparing to open its first Australian venue in Fortitude Valley, bringing its fast-casual dining concept to Brisbane.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill was established in Las Vegas and has expanded to almost 100 locations across the United States. Its menu is based on a family-run restaurant that first opened in 2011, drawing on traditional recipes passed down through generations.
The brand operates under a fast-casual dining model, with food prepared fresh on site each day. Its approach centres on traditional Greek flavours delivered in a format designed for quick service while maintaining a focus on hospitality.
The menu centres on traditional Greek dishes prepared fresh daily using family recipes. Appetisers include house-made dips such as tzatziki, hummus and tirokafteri, along with soups and share-style starters.
Salads form a core offering, including a classic Greek salad served with grilled pita bread and a house-made Greek vinaigrette. Rice bowls are built on a rice pilaf base and can be paired with a selection of freshly prepared proteins.
The menu also features gyros, wraps and burgers, including beef or lamb and grilled chicken gyros, as well as an Angus beef burger. Entrées include grilled chicken souvlaki, steak souvlaki and Australian lamb souvlaki, served with sides such as rice pilaf, French fries or feta fries.
Kids’ meals are also part of the regular menu, offering options designed for younger diners. Each children’s plate is served with a small fountain drink and a choice of rice pilaf, French fries or feta fries, allowing families to dine together while selecting meals suited to different ages.
The first Australian restaurant is planned for the TC Beirne building on the Brunswick Mall in Fortitude Valley. The venue is expected to seat about 100 patrons and will include both internal and external dining areas.
A separate commercial leasing update confirms that Tenancy 8 and 9 at 315 Brunswick Street have been secured for the restaurant. The space spans 157 square metres and includes licensed outdoor seating, with capacity for close to 100 diners. The tenancy is positioned on the ground floor and connects to surrounding laneways.
The site had remained vacant for an extended period prior to the lease being finalised, with the agreement described as a positive outcome for the building following higher vacancy levels in recent years.
The Fortitude Valley restaurant is to open by mid to late February next year. Leasing information released separately lists the opening period as Q1 2026.
Following the Brisbane launch, the Australian operators have indicated plans for a measured expansion. Two or three additional restaurants are anticipated to open during 2026, with longer-term intentions to establish a broader presence across South-East Queensland and along the coast.
The Fortitude Valley restaurant will mark the brand’s first operational site in Australia, with future locations dependent on the performance of the initial venue and demand in surrounding regions.
Britpop’s sharpest wits, Pulp, are set to bring their subversive anthems and art-school cool to Brisbane, with their upcoming Riverstage show poised to electrify the nearby Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct.
The iconic group, fronted by Jarvis Cocker, has announced its first tour of Australia and New Zealand in 15 years. The run of shows will kick off in Auckland on 21 February 2026. The band then lands in Australia for a much-anticipated performance in Brisbane on 24 February.
From there, Pulp will travel to South Australia for a special free performance as part of the Adelaide Festival on 27 February, followed by a Melbourne show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on 3 March. The Australian leg will wrap up with two major shows at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on 6 and 7 March.
New Songs and Classic Hits
This tour gives a new generation of fans the chance to experience the band’s revered live show, while longtime followers can finally reunite with the music. The performances will support the band’s acclaimed 2025 album, More, which is their first new collection of material in 24 years.
Audiences can expect a career-spanning set, mixing new songs with the classic hits that defined an era, including “Common People,” “Disco 200,” and “Babies.”
While often grouped within the Britpop movement, Pulp always stood apart for its unique art-school sensibility and theatrical flair. The band rose to global fame with their 1996 album Different Class, which won them the prestigious Mercury Prize.
The album was celebrated for its irresistible fusion of social satire and disco-infused grooves, turning Cocker, with his sharp insights and sardonic take on British life, into a distinct pop culture hero.
Sydney’s Summer Celebration
The final shows in Sydney are part of the Sydney Opera House’s summer line-up. The venue’s head of contemporary music, Ben Marshall, shared his excitement for the event. He stated that the band in full flight is a sharp, subversive, and joyous experience, predicting the Forecourt shows will be unforgettable communal celebrations under the stars.
For fans eager to secure their place, a presale for Pulp mailing list subscribers begins at 9:00 am on Wednesday, 5 November.
General public tickets will go on sale at 9:00 am local time on Friday, 7 November. Tickets for the Sydney Opera House performances will be $159.90, plus a booking fee.
