Fortitude Valley Archives - Page 20 of 26

Fortitude Valley Property Market Rises Despite Softer Demand for Inner-City Living

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.

Highlights

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.

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.”
Ready09

Fortitude Valley to Welcome First Baby HQ Flagship Store in Brisbane

Baby HQ, a popular Byron Bay retailer of baby products and equipment, is opening its first flagship store in Fortitude Valley, taking over the former Kathmandu site on Ann Street.

Set to open in late October or early November 2021, the new store is going to bring an “immersive experience” for parents who want to shop for the best baby items with ease.

Baby HQ chief financial officer James Byrne said that the Fortitude Valley store will have its own pram testing track to allow parents to test out the equipment on different surfaces. The site will also have display rooms with working baby products so shoppers will immediately have an idea of a functional nursery.

Store demonstrations of car seat installation, which most new parents need, will be a prominent facet of Baby HQ.

The Fortitude Valley site will have a special space for pregnant moms at the lounge, where may take breaks in between shopping. Other Parents can sip a cup of coffee at the lounge as well as their kids enjoy the play area.

Moms who are nursing will appreciate the privacy of the store’s breastfeeding area. Changing nappies will also be very convenient since Baby HQ will also feature this facility.

Founded by parents Stephen Muldoon and Elena Palamara, Baby HQ has been enjoying brisk sales through its e-commerce site since the pandemic. Mr Byrne said that the company’s expansion to Brisbane was precipitated by the move of many young families from Sydney and Melbourne to the Queensland capital.

The prominent location on Ann Street made sense to the owners since it is directly below McWhirters Carpark, which will be very important to parents who drive to the store to buy a car seat. Baby HQ will also benefit from the foot traffic coming from the James Street shopping precinct. The store has secured an eight-year lease on their Fortitude Valley store.

Follow Baby HQ on Facebook for updates on their latest products.

Fortitude Valley’s New Tropical Hideout is Perfect for Hiding Away

Tucked away in Fortitude Valley’s urban jungle is a tropical-inspired haven that’s perfect for enjoying a quiet and pleasurable mealtime. Hideout, a cafe, bar, and private function space on Wickham Street, may just be your new secret hideaway.

Serving Bear Bones Coffee Roasters throughout the week, Hideout entices patrons with its generous breakfast choices, including a flavourful avocado on Turkish toast sprinkled with dukkah or a satisfying Breaky Burger with bacon and eggs.

Lunch fares include pecking duck spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce, pulled pork bao with carrots, mint, hoisin, cucumber and crushed peanuts, charred chorizo with lime and aioli, and choices of homemade pizza and the absolute must-try — The Hideout Burger with its special sauce!

Photo Credit: HideoutFortitudeValley/Facebook

On Fridays, Hideout extends its trading hours until the early evening for dinner and booze, when the owners turn on the fairy lights to create a relaxing vibe meant for chilling out. The cafe turns into a bar with a carefully curated wine list, cocktails, and craft beer.

During the weekends, Hideout caters to private functions like birthdays, engagement parties, weddings and other events. Owners Victoria and Tim have built this space with private gatherings in mind, especially with the changing pandemic restrictions.

Situated inside A. E. Griffiths’ former battery and service station in the 1940s, Hideout’s location also used to be a brothel and a function space over the years. Victoria and Tim were eyeing this post-war era site for its unique architecture for years.

“We took this enormous leap when this property became available,” the owners said, adding that they also incorporated their love for greenery in the cafe’s design when they opened shop in late 2020. They were specific about the kinds of plants that are around Hideout’s tropical hideaway.

Browse the menu and book for a table via the official site or contact the staff on their Facebook page. You may also phone the team at (07) 3180 3825 for reservations.

“An awesome bar and cafe hidden in the middle of the Valley in what used to be an old mechanic years ago… not that you would know it. The new owners have done an insane renovation and it now has the best laidback jungle vibe. I had beers and a burger the first night and liked it so much I went back for coffee and breakfast the next day while I was still in Brisbane. Burger was on point, beers icy cold and coffee excellent. There is a beautiful tropical garden courtyard hidden out the back – it’s like an oasis full of lush plants. Didn’t want to leave.”
Kaity Michael

“A fresh new go-to in the Valley. If you love good beer, great service and an Instagram worthy backdrop, this place is a must!”
Tess Malcombe

“Honestly, the best muffins in the game right now. This place is terrific and the Baristas are very friendly. Highly recommend.”
Thomas Bowen

‘A Midnight Visit’ At Fortitude Valley Promises Thrilling Twists And Turns

Dive into the pink ball pit (Photo credit: A Midnight Visit/Facebook)

Fans of all things spooky and thrilling are sure to love A Midnight Visit, a new immersive theatre coming to Fortitude Valley this month.

Read: Wishart Travel Buff Joins Exclusive 100 Club

Tucked inside an abandoned warehouse called The House of Usher at Robertson Street, this 36-room theatrical playground will tantalise all your senses including the sixth sense as you explore the rooms where the actors play different scenes.

Doors will lead you to surreal environments, including a bloody playground, a sound world, a film set, or a room with a pink ball pit where you can dive in. For the more adventurous, there’s also a creepy hotel in one of the rooms.

The concept is new to Brisbane, but has taken over Sydney, Melbourne and Perth prior to the pandemic and has received positive reviews from audiences and theatre critics alike. All the scenes are inspired by the work of American writer Edgar Allan Poe.

This event will only run for a month starting 27 July 2021. If you don’t want to miss this event, book now at Eventbrite or visit their Facebook page for further updates. Prices of tickets start at $49.

Just a reminder, you must be aged 15+ to attend A Midnight Visit. Audiences aged 15-17 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Fortitude Valley Apartment Demand Spikes in Early 2021

Apartments in the inner-city suburbs of Brisbane, such as Fortitude Valley, have seen a spike in demand in the first four months of 2021, according to new figures revealed by the National Australia Bank.

The financial institution said that lending activities for first home buyers in Australia’s metro markets rose to 13 percent, slowly making city-dwelling popular again.

In Fortitude Valley, the change in lending activities was at a whopping 486 percent. Median prices for an apartment unit in this inner city have landed at around $433,000 for the first quarter. It has risen to $444,225 by 25 June.

According to NAB, city apartments have always been appealing because it’s easy to get around various essentials just by walking. But NAB Executive of Home Ownership, Andy Kerr, said “record low-interest rates and government incentives” have also pushed first home buyers to invest in inner cities.

However, it’s still spacious homes in the outer suburbs that are driving demand in the country’s overall housing market. Regional activity across Australia has risen to an outstanding 84 percent compared to demands for dwelling in the city.

Incidentally, the bank has started accepting applications for its next batches of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme as of 1 July 2021.

Meanwhile, despite the recent snap lockdown affecting Brisbane from July 1 to 3, Fortitude Valley’s market achieved a record sale of the “ugliest house” in the inner-city suburb for $1.535 million.

The home on 43 Arthur Street once belonged to a family for 25 years but the owners have moved to Coffs Harbour to retire. Four buyers were interested in the property, which stands in a great location but the owners closed the deal with the buyer offering the best price before the house was supposed to be auctioned.

Bianca: A Delicious, New Taste of Italy in Fortitude Valley

If you’re looking for a place in Fortitude Valley where you can have great pasta and risotto, wood-fired pizza, and delicious, grilled trout or prawns then look no more! Bianca, the latest Italian restaurant to hit town has it all.

Bianca was opened in late March 2021 by hospitality gurus Frank Li, Bianca Marachi, Tyron Simon and Ben Williamson at the former site of the restaurant Beaux Rumble. This Italian restaurant offers its customers a warm and accommodating space outfitted with friendly and chatty staff who serve delicious meals cooked in wood-fired ovens atop furniture fashioned from timber, red bricks, and terracotta tiles.

Bianca’s designs were created by the local architects Richards and Spence, who strived to give the venue an authentic and warm Italian aesthetic.

Photo credit: Instagram/bianca.restaurant

Bianca’s menu lets customers order classic Italian dishes such as Risotto ai Funghi, a delicious Italian rice-based dish which features mushrooms, however risotto isn’t the only type of cuisine available at the restaurant. People are free to treat themselves to pasta such as Lasagna, or even grilled food from their Griglia section like Rainbow Trout with Salsa Verde, or Gamberi (prawn) with Burnt Butter, Capers and Parsley.

Risotto ai Funghi
Photo credit: Instagram/bianca.restaurant

Ricotta Agnolotti, Fermented Pumpkin, Burnt Butter
Photo credit: Facebook/Biànca Restaurant

Pollo allla Milanese
Photo credit: Facebook/Biànca Restaurant

Customers can also indulge themselves with one of two different set menus, which consist of a series of starters, main courses, and desserts. Among the set menus included starters are Mortadella, Calamari Fritti, Pane di Casa, and Funghi Marinati. Examples of available main dishes, on the other hand, include items such as Lasagna, Spaghetti Alla Chitarra, Prawns Aglio e Olio, and Rucola, Lemon and Parmesan.

Reviewers raved over the restaurant’s delicious food, amazing service, and excellent dining atmosphere.

Had a lovely night for our anniversary. Our waitress took great care of us and we were welcomed with a glass of champagne each upon arrival. The food was amazing, traditional and so, flavoursome. Ben Williamson knows how to tease your tastebuds, say no more, he is a genius. Congratulations Bianca, Ben and the team we can’t wait to come back for more and thank you.🥂
Michael H.

Bianca can be found at 46 James St, Fortitude Valley. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on meals, deals, dates, and other special announcements concerning the restaurant.

Mark Your Calendars! Exciting Events in Fortitude Valley Coming Up Soon

Looking for a little excitement in the coming months? Fortitude Valley is about to become a hotspot for a raft of exciting new events all lined up for 2021.

Night Noodle Markets – July 21 to August 1

Brisbane Night Noodle markets at the City Botanic Gardens — Photo credit: Good Food Month

To celebrate Good Food Month, the Brisbane Night Noodle Markets are back at an all-new and exciting venue: the City Botanic Gardens. Entry will be completely free, however registration is encouraged in order to comply with COVID-19 safety and prevention measures.

Attendants will be able to indulge themselves with delicious street food from all across Asia from countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Among the many stalls present throughout the event, people can expect to bump into familiar names such as Hoy Pinoy, Bao Brothers Eatery, Flying Noodles, and Bangkok Street Food.

Read more about the event at the Good Food Month website here.

Alanna Sapwell’s Esmay – July 25

Alanna Sapwell, formerly the head chef at Arc Dining, is set to open up Esmay, her pop-up restaurant, at the site of the kitchen at the old Alliance Hotel in Spring Hill for one day only as part of Good Food Month. Though she’s toured and set up shop all over Australia, the opening of Esmay marks her first time bringing the pop-up restaurant to Brisbane.

Esmay is a restaurant that offers comfort-style cooking that makes use of seasonal and regional ingredients with Sapwell’s innovative twists. On the 25th of July, two sittings will be available for lunch and another two sittings will be available for dinner.

Those interested in booking tickets for lunch and dinner can do so by clicking these links.

The Circus of Light – July 31 and August 21

The Circus of Light at Fortitude Valley — Photo credit: Facebook/Psycho Circus

The Fortitude Music Hall is scheduled to host a series of upcoming light shows hosted by Psycho Circus on the 31st of July 2021 and the 21st of August, dazzling the audience with a gorgeous circus performance complete with an immersive set of visual and sound dynamics.

Those interested can expect to see glitter face paint stalls, confetti cannons, daring acrobatic feats, lasers and light displays, a barrage of balloons, and plenty more — all while the beats of house, bass, and d&b music play in the background to bring the circus to life.

Entrance to the circus will be limited to attendees over the age of 18, and people are encouraged to put on their snazziest and boldest outfits for a spectacular evening to brighten up a dull and dreary winter.

Tickets can be purchased via this website, and for the latest updates and announcements concerning the circus, follow their Facebook event page.

Hey Chica! – August

Hey Chica! at Fortitude Valley — Photo credit: Facebook/Hey Chica

Fortitude Valley is about to receive a taste of Cuban life with Hey Chica, an upcoming social club, bar and restaurant along Brunswick St that boasts that it’s “the closest you’ll get to Cuba without a passport”.

Hey Chica comes fresh from the minds of the team behind Retro’s, however with this bar, customers can expect to lose themselves to a venue with the vibes of a local street party, complete with Latin American street food and cool cocktails.

The bar has been scheduled to open sometime in August at 315 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. For the latest updates and announcements concerning the bar and restaurant, visit their website or follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Video Editing Platform Clipchamp in Fortitude Valley Rakes 14 Million Users

At the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, Clipchamp had a 160 percent growth in new users. This Brisbane startup, headquartered in Fortitude Valley, continues to impress as it welcomes 2021 with a solid 14 million registered users from around the world.

The video editing platform, which launched in 2014, has made such an impact during the pandemic as companies and individual content creators shifted to video to stay in contact and facilitate a work-from-home environment or to consolidate their presence in their industries and niches when face-to-face meet-ups became too risky.

Co-founder and chief executive Alex Dreiling believes that Clipchamp being “in the right place at the right time” during COVID-19 has sealed the company’s position as a permanent platform of choice for the users. Because of their service, many users are now learning to do video editing themselves, instead of hiring professionals or agencies to make their videos.

The start-up’s platform provides video creators with the crucial tools needed to produce content without using expensive equipment, complicated software, or a substantial production experience. Its service empowers businesses to boost their profile and capacity to disseminate fresh content across many other channels, such as YouTube or TikTok.

In this day and age, when video content creation has ballooned into a $135 billion industry, Clipchamp is becoming essential for marketing. Thus, in 2020, the platform also launched additional features like webcam or screen camera recording, green screen options and audio/video separation.

The company’s staff also increased from 30 to 80, with workers coming from Red Hat, Facebook, Google and Amazon. It has offices in the U.S. and the Philippines as well and has a significant presence in Europe.

However, Mr Dreiling said Brisbane will remain its homebase and it’s where they will continue to develop their product even as they are heading for expansion.

Dine-in Igloos are Coming to Fortitude Valley

All throughout July, Brisbane will be able to cosy up and dine in with friends in their own private igloos at the Cielo Rooftop in Fortitude Valley.

From the 1st of July all the way until the 1st of August, pop up igloos will open up in Fortitude Valley — each coming complete with their own set of furniture, fairy lights, and fleece blankets to help bookers cosy themselves in. The best part? Each booking comes with food packages that come with their choice of drinks.

Those interested in reserving an igloo for themselves as well as their friends and loved ones can do so via this link. Igloo can be booked for up to 1.5 hours at a time. Each igloo can house 2 to 6 people; however, food options must be selected. Igloos cannot be reserved without ordering food packages.

Four different food packages will be available for bookings: the Standard Package, the Premium Package, the VIP Package, and the Vegan Package. Each package come with grazing boards with an array of snacks and finger foods, a main course, and either alcoholic beverages or soda.

The Standard Package entails a grazing board which contains prosciutto, mortadella, pecorino cheese, asiago cheese, hummus, olives, focaccia bread, and pickles as well as a main course in the form of a calamari and arancini plate. Drink options include sparkling, red or white wine, or beer per person.

The Premium Package, on the other hand, offers everything the Standard Package does with the addition of dessert in the form of Tiramisu Bomboloni: Italian doughnuts filled with Tiramisu cream and chocolate sauce. Additional drink options also include espresso martinis and aperol spritz.

However, the VIP Package offers everything the Premium Package does in addition beetroot cured salmon bruschetta and an oyster platter. Margaritas will also be available in the drinks list of this exciting package.

Lastly, the Vegetarian Package offers a completely different set of food options entirely in order to accommodate people’s dietary restrictions. The grazing board contains roasted capsicum, Evoo preserved eggplant, fried artichokes, stuffed olives, hummus, focaccia bread and pickles. Instead of a main course, dessert will be offered in the form of a raspberry tortino topped with chocolate mousse and berry coulis. Drink options are the same as those offered by the Standard Package.

Those interested in booking an igloo can do so by visiting this website.

The Winter Pop Up Igloo Dining event will be held at Cielo Rooftop, 209 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable but may be resold. Those unable to make it to their booked times and dates will lose their space unless they resell their tickets.

Fortitude Valley to Welcome Cindy Chow Bar with Burlesque Shows

Fortitude Valley, prepare to be in awe! A revival of the liberating nightlife of underground parlours in the 1920s will heat up Brunswick Street as Cindy Chow, a bar and theatre with burlesque shows, will mark its opening soon.

Conceptualised by nightlife hospitality bigwigs Patrick Donohue and Justin Kong, Cindy Chow has been inspired by Shanghai’s clandestine venues or speakeasy bars during the Prohibition Era. She is a fictional character, imagined as the star of an entertainment venue that served booze and held an illegal gambling operation patronised by Americans and Europeans.

“From these times, one lady ruled the darkest of secrets including drinking, gambling and eroticism. This is her story. A tale of black market dealing and gunshot blasts, high powered boats and plenty of late night street fights. The story of an exceptional life of a lady they called CINDY CHOW,” the operators teased on the official website.

To go with the theme, the fit-out of Cindy Chow will feature Chinese awnings, Chinese pottery, golden Buddhas, jade and red upholstery, tables with a lazy Susan, and a stage for the burlesque shows planned for the weekends.

The appeal and the presentations, however, will be as tasty as the food and drinks to be offered at the bar. There will be an initial 10 types of cocktail drinks that will taste better with choices of Asian bar food like san choy bao, canapes, and duck pancakes.

Cindy Chow is projected to open in late May or early June 2021. More details, including the exact location, will be revealed until then.