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Milton House, One of Brisbane’s Oldest Homes, Undergoes Restoration Work

The historic Milton House, one of Brisbane’s oldest homes, is undergoing restoration work as part of a projected $350-million investment to transform Kings Row Office Park on McDougall Street as a mixed-use precinct.

Shayher Group, which owns Kings Row Office Park, has been granted approval in September 2021 (DA A005719414) to carry out building work and reconfigurations that will see the site as a business centre with multiple unit dwellings, indoor sports facilities, restaurant, and community facilities.

The revamp begins with Milton House, which has now been wrapped in scaffolding since mid-February 2022.

The heritage-listed Milton House has largely been vacant but tenants of the neighbouring buildings occasionally use the property, which is next to the tennis court, as a meeting or workshop area. Its restoration will include improved interiors, kitchen, and new toilets for men and women.

Milton House was constructed between 1852 to 1853 as the home of Sydney chemist Ambrose Eldridge. It was one of the first significant residential landmarks in the early years of Brisbane’s growth as a city. A respected resident, Mr Eldrige was active in Brisbane’s political, civic, economic, and social scenes.

His family resided in Milton House until 1855. Pastoralist John Frederick McDougall bought the mansion a year later as Mr Eldridge moved to Ipswich, where he died in 1860.

Mr McDougall, on the other hand, expanded Milton House’s estate and opened leaseholds for the property. Some of its tenants were Arthur Manning, the Colonial Under-Secretary, Henry Walsh, MLC and speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and James Crombie.

By 1885, the estate was sold to Queensland Investment and Land Mortgage Co. Ltd and its lands were subdivided for residential development.

But the original Milton House stood the test of time and also housed The Commissioner of Police, David Thompson Seymour, noted Brisbane General Hospital physician Dr Hugh Bell, and grain merchant William Siemon.

The Siemon family donated the property to the Presbyterian Church in the 1950s and became a hostel for female students.

Eventually, the precinct was redeveloped as Kings Row Park, which Shayher Group group purchased for $98 million in 2016.

Bicentennial Bikeway Closed: Bikers Call For Temporary Bikeway On Coronation Drive

A community of bikers is urging Brisbane City Council to install a temporary protected bikeway on Coronation Drive in Milton, whilst the Bicentennial Bikeway is out of service due to upgrades and clearing operations following the flood.

Read: XXXX Brewery Underwater Once Again as Extreme Weather Continue to Batter SE Qld

The Bicentennial Bikeway closed in January 2022, whilst a redecking project is being carried out at the Regatta Ferry Terminal. Besides the works currently underway, the former Drift restaurant was also pushed onto the bikeway during the recent flooding, leaving a section of the bikeway closed for cyclists.

With works also underway, pedestrians have diverted into the cycle lane side, making it a shared path.

Brisbane West BUG (Bicycle User Group) and Space4Cycling believe the footpaths are not enough to accommodate bicycles and scooters.

“We STRONGLY urge Council to install a temporary on road cycleway between Lang Parade and Cribb Street. We are sure Queensland Walks agrees that the footpaths are inadequate to accommodate bicycles and scooters,” Brisbane West BUG stated.

Aside from a temporary protected bikeway on Coronation Dr, Space4Cycling said speed limit should be lowered, as happens during roadworks, whilst so many additional pedestrians and bike and scooter riders are forced to use skinny footpaths or ride on the road.

During Council’s Transport Committee meeting in March 2022, Cr Ryan Murphy confirmed the Bicentennial Bikeway is the top priority bikeway for repair, recognising its importance as critical and essential transport infrastructure.

Mud has been cleared to the side on the bikeway between the Go Between Bridge and Ann Street whilst the Cribb Street ramp to Coronation Drive, and tunnel to Milton Green have also been cleared.

Photo credit: Michael Berkman – Greens MP for Maiwar/Facebook

Pontoon was fenced off beyond Herschel Street whilst Maritime Safety Queensland were clearing the pontoons, jet skis and boats out from the bikeway near the Milton CityCat terminal.

Meanwhile, local Greens state MP Michael Berkman supports the calls from bike user groups, adding that the detour must be of a high standard, including diversion signs, physical protection and appropriate traffic control on Coronation Drive.

“An on-road bikeway diversion which is protected from motor traffic is required as a short-term safety measure given that many cyclists are exercising their legitimate right to ride on the road on Coronation Drive instead of the very narrow footpath. This is a recipe for disaster, and many of my constituents have contacted me in the last couple of days with stories of near misses,” said Mr Berkman.

Milton, Other Flood-Affected Suburbs: How to Access Assistance and Grants

Photo Credit: Milton Community Garden, Brisbane QLD / Facebook s

As floodwaters subside, the devastation of the severe weather event that hit Southeast Queensland, including Milton, Rosalie and Auchenflower, has become more pronounced. What forms of assistance can residents in flood-affected suburbs get to help them recover from the effects of this disaster?

Among the most affected areas in Brisbane include Milton where low-lying streets and homes were inundated with floodwaters from the swollen Brisbane River. The floods affected Coronation Drive that heavily impacted traffic flow for days. Milton State School was submerged as well and remained closed for several days along with 1,000 plus other state schools.

Inundation at Milton State School | Photo Credit: Milton State School / Facebook

Nearby Rosalie was also not spared with floodwaters reaching chest high entering restaurants, destroying equipment and machines and leaving owners with the laborious task of cleaning up after the flood.

Auchenflower too took a beating from the torrential rains and flooding as helpless residents could only watch as their homes got inundated with floodwaters. And to make the situation more frustrating, water comes flowing back after they have already finished cleaning up.

The total damage caused by the floods is estimated to reach $1 billion as flood and storm damage insurance claims rose in the aftermath of the inundation with about 31,000 claims already being made.

Access to grants and support for flood-impacted residents

On 1 March, the State Government unveiled grants and support for flood-impacted areas including Emergency Hardship Assistance grants of up to $180 per person and $900 for a family of five or more. As assessments in other affected areas are still ongoing, these grants are open for people in the following LGAs only:

Ipswich LGA
Somerset LGA
Moreton Bay LGA
Lockyer Valley LGA
Gympie LGA
Dallarnil locality – North Burnett LGA

However, there are other grants available to eligible residents who are uninsured and have experienced certain losses or damage to their property including the Essential Household Contents Grant which provides up to 1,765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/families.

Photo Credit: Rosalie Village Community / Facebook

Also available are the Structural Assistance Grant – to go towards repairs to make the home secure and safe – and the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant which is a two-part grant aimed at helping affected homeowners get reconnected with essential services including electricity, gas, water and sewerage.

The State Government is also rolling out a “rapid housing response” in flood-affected areas, including the establishment of a $600,000 Rapid Response Fund, to tackle housing challenges and homelessness brought about by the recent flooding.

“Record interstate migration, rising house prices, very low vacancy rates, COVID-19 and severe weather has created a perfect storm.

“Every Queenslander deserves a roof over their head, and I have been looking at all available options to assist people who might require short-term accommodation and longer-term housing,” Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said.

“We are doing this in a way that considers the individual and the diverse needs of households.

“This includes providing accommodation solutions with appropriate support for people with disability, and people experiencing homelessness or domestic and family violence.”

Those needing housing help are encouraged to call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or visit the nearest Housing Service Centre.

Meanwhile, the Australian Government is also offering support through its Disaster Recovery Payment program which provides eligible families who have been significantly affected by the recent disaster with a lump sum payment of $1,000 per adult and $400 for each child younger than 16.

Families have until 3 September 2022 to make a claim. The LGAs included in the program include:

Brisbane
Bundaberg
Cherbourg
Fraser Coast
Gladstone
Gold Coast
Goondiwindi
Gympie
Ipswich
Lockyer Valley
Logan
Moreton Bay
Noosa
North Burnett
Redland
Scenic Rim
Somerset
South Burnett
Southern Downs
Sunshine Coast
Toowoomba
Western Downs

XXXX Brewery Underwater Once Again as Extreme Weather Continue to Batter SE Qld

Photo Credit: XXXX Brewery / Facebook

As the relentless downpour wreaked havoc across Southeast Queensland, XXXX Brewery was once again submerged in flood waters, a situation that it also faced back in 2011.

The Milton-based brewery said that The Alehouse and Tours have been closed as a result of the deluge and will remain shut until damages have been completely assessed.

The XXXX Brewery is under water at the back. @9NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/j2UZq0Xhx3
— Pippa Bradshaw (@pippabradshaw) February 27, 2022

“All booked tours for the weekend have been cancelled and refunded. We will announce when we reopen through our social media as soon as we can.”

Reacting quickly during the 2011 Brisbane floods

XXXX Brewery suffered damage when it was inundated by 2.5m of water during the peak of Brisbane floods in 2011 with parts of its brewing room and office remaining underwater for about three days. The cost of the damage to the Castlemaine Perkins building amounted to $12 million.

Led by Paul Woods, who was the Operations Director at the time, the team made preemptive actions to ensure that equipment critical to the plant’s operation would be put right back up again as soon as possible. And in just about three days, everything was back online.

A bad case of Deja Vu

“It’s hard to believe that it’s happening again already, isn’t it?” Paul Woods told The Rush Hour about the latest flooding, “it’s only like yesterday for myself and the team.”

He said that there’s 1.5 m in at the lower level of the site which is causing them a few problems at the moment. The good news, however, is that the brewery has quite a number of elevated sections, so they managed to put the beer and tanks out of the water. Mr Woods said that they only need to get the packaging side of the operation to be back online and everything would be “good to go.”

As far as quickly turning things around like what they did in 2011, he said that he is hopeful that they could once again do that considering that the flood water has already receded and a team has already been dispatched to assess the damage.

Mr Woods admits that supply would be tight in the coming days but thankfully, all their finished products are held in an offsite warehouse so there is ample supply with no foreseen impact in the immediate future.

Asked if XXX Brewery might come out with a Mud Army 2.0 commemorative ale, he replied, “How do you think that Mud Ale might taste?”

Rod Bellars Collection: Largest Historic Militaria Collection in Australia Up for Auction

The Rod Bellars Collection, the largest collection of militaria items from Australia and across the world, including thousands of rare items, is up for an online auction for the first time in public.

Consisting of militaria pieces curated over 60 years, the Rod Bellars Collection comes from a man who was passionate about preserving the history of World War I and World War II.

Mr Bellars died in 2021 but Mr Lee Hames, the CEO of Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers, was able to visit him and hear his stories about the war and his collection before he passed on.

Following his death, Mr Hames said that the collection needed new custodians who will preserve, display, and pass on the stories behind these pieces for future generations.

Holden Gun Holstered for Export

Some of the pieces for auction are under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986, which are subject to export control outlined in the National Cultural Heritage Control List, Schedule 1, as flagged by the Federal Government.

These items will need a valid permit from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications before they are brought out of the country.

“One of the items that the government specifically flagged was an Australian 2 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun built by General Motors Holden in 1942 in South Australia, where only 892 were manufactured locally and used by Australian Forces during World War II,” said Mr Hames.

“The bid on this piece alone is already over $25,000 so who knows what it could sell for come auction day, it could be set to fetch 6 figures as we are still a couple days out from it going under the hammer.”

“We commend the government for preserving and keeping history within Australia and we really hope that Australian museums and libraries perhaps purchase some of these items to display and preserve these significant pieces of history and honour them with educational purposes for many years to come.”

The Rarest Collection

“We were actually in complete disbelief when we first arrived to inspect the collection as it featured some of the rarest militaria collectables from WWI and WWII that we have ever seen, there is everything from military tanks to firearms, swords, military uniforms, helmets, boots and heavy artillery,” Mr Hames said.

The Rod Bellars Collection has over 10,000 military pieces, including “one-off” items that could be worth “significant amounts of money,” according to Mr Hames.

“We have had enquiry all over Europe and Asia on these items all from passionate collectors and militaria enthusiasts just like Rod was, so we are sure that there will be many custodians that will treasure his collectables just as he did throughout his lifetime.”

“We really hope that museums and libraries and passionate collectors from across the world are successful in securing some of these important pieces of history.”

A total of 14 separate online auctions are now for this collection, with the first set to end on Saturday, 19 February 2022. The collection includes tanks, artillery, swords, firearms, helmets, radios, boots, parachutes, military uniforms and much more.

Bid on the Rod Bellars Collection at Lloyds

Wednesdays Will Find You Back at Brisbane City Markets in Reddacliff Palace!

Do you want something new to do on hump day Wednesdays? Why don’t you check out Reddacliff Palace, where the regular Brisbane City Markets has come back in full swing for 2022!

Brisbane City Markets, Brisbane’s premium foodie haven and produce paradise, will open every Wednesday beginning 9 Feb 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This market brings the best street eats around Brisbane, Queensland’s freshest farm produce, artisan provisions, trawler-direct seafood, fresh-cut flowers, handcrafted homewares, and so much more wonderful finds from providers and crafters in the region.

Some of the stalls featured at this regular market include This Little Light Creation, a maker of soy wax candles, beeswax candles, and diffusers. This Little Light Creation is from a young entrepreneur, Mea, who restarted making candles during the lockdowns to help with her mental health. She turned her passion into a business.

Photo Credit: This Little Light Creation

Brat Haus, proud to be Australia’s biggest and best Bratwurst wholesaler and retailer, will also be at the Brisbane City Markets.

“We’re famous for those big bratwursts at the markets, festivals and footy games but the big fun doesn’t have to end there! You can cook up Queensland’s best bratwursts at home! Perfect for when you want a quick and tasty snag or add use them in a favourite dish for something a bit extra!”

For lovers of paellas and tapas, don’t forget to check out the stall of the Spanish Paellaman. With chefs from Valencia, the food at this stall offers the best flavours of traditional Spanish cuisine. They also cater to private parties and corporate events for up to 200 people.

Meanwhile, about 85 new and returning stall owners are going to be at the OG inner city markets. The Brisbane City Markets in Reddacliff Place is a favourite for city workers, local residents and tourists alike. Follow the Facebook page for updates.

Rothwell’s Bar & Grill Brings Back Old School, Sophisticated Bistro Dining Vibe

In the middle of the busiest area in the city is Rothwell’s Bar & Grill, the latest restaurant to make an impression among Brisbane’s culinary cliques. This restaurant calls to mind visions of sophisticated bistro dining popular in London or New York.

Dan Clark of 1889 Enoteca in Woolloongabba opened Rothwell’s Bar & Grill as an homage to egalitarian dining but with a more accessible and cosy vibe. During his travels abroad, Dan could never forget his dining experience at The Savoy Grill in London or Balthazar in New York City and considered bringing a similar concept in Brisbane.

But he needed the right place to bring his idea to life, as well as the right chef who will create a European menu focused on French cooking techniques. After securing the space inside the heritage-listed Rothwell’s building on Edward Street and partnering with head chef Ben Russel, the Rothwell’s team got to work and opened in November 2021.

The restaurant’s fit-out has been extensively overhauled to the perfect detail, resulting in a foyer bar with 40 seats, a dining space with 90 seats, and a downstairs private dining area with 50 seats. Leather, timber, copper, marble and brass make up the interior’s palette, creating a sense of class and glamour, which has been accented with luminous chandeliers from the ceiling.

In the kitchen, Ben, one of the most notable chefs in Australia delivers the ideal bistro fare with dishes like tagliarini with sea urchin, caviar, butter and chives or a chicken liver parfait with cornichons and toasted brioche. Its signature dish is the beef Wellington for sharing, highly recommended for pairing with red wine.

Rothwell’s Bar & Grill has a well-curated drink list from its bottle cellar, ranging from budget-friendly to premium quality bottles sources from Europe. The bar’s cocktails are strictly classic mixes.

Check out the restaurant’s current menu on its official site and follow Rothwell’s on Instagram for updates. Table bookings can be easily filled out online as well.

“From the moment you walk in you feel as though you’ve been transported into a completely different dining experience. What Ben , Luca and the rest of the team have done is amazing. The vibe – think New York ,think leather smells deep rich wood , think classic dishes that are accessible to anyone that just hit the spot. If I was you I would be booking my next meal here. The service was outstanding quality of the food – phenomenal; I can’t wait for my next dining experience. They have also paid homage to the history of the building and its shows from the uniforms right through to the decor. Thank you to the team for a lovely experience.”
Pedzi

“This place blew my mind. I was NOT expecting the experience I had. The atmosphere, the ambience, the leather (booths and menu’s), the staff, the welcome and…. THE FOOD!!!! Oh my goodness, The. Food. Every course, every dish we had was spectacular. Honestly, it is only Day 3 of opening and they did not miss a beat. I’ve had lunch and dinner in Cities like, Sophia, London, Los Angeles, Adelaide (yes, their food is amazing), New York, Athens, Stockholm and more – Rothwell’s rivals them all. Great job by the owners. We met two of the three owners, Luca & Ben. Outstanding restaurant gentlemen. Pure Brilliance. Thank you for setting up such a place in Brisbane.”
George

Fabulous meal. Everything was absolutely first class. Service, ambiance, food. My husband and I shared the Beef Wellington (this was quite possibly the most delicious thing we have had in a while. The beef was cooked perfectly). The wait staff were very attentive and kept our glasses full during the meal – Try the Martini. We cannot wait to come back and try other items on the menu, and to have a little bit of luxury in the Brisbane CBD.
Ambrozi

Coles Local Milton Village: Why Some Locals Are Not Excited About It

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Milton could soon be having its own Coles Local at Milton Village on Baroona Road but some local residents aren’t particularly excited about the proposal.

Coles Group Property Developments Limited has sought approval to upgrade and extend Milton Village Shopping Centre to accommodate the establishment of a Coles Local and a Liquorland bottle shop. The proposed development at 36 Baroona Road will be three storeys high with a maximum height of around 11.7 metres.

Site plan | Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Coles Local is the ‘mini’ version of the Coles supermarket which adopts the local store concept and tailor fits its offerings according to the needs of the community that it serves.

Milton Village from Baroona Road | Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Artist impression | Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

IGA out, Coles Local in

If approved, the development will replace some of the existing tenancies, including IGA Supermarket, to make way for the supermarket extension. Also, the car parking areas located along Baroona Road and within the rear service area will have their capacity reduced to 43 (from the existing 58 spaces) and 8 (from 17 spaces), respectively.

The space currently occupied by IGA will be extended and will involve the centre’s Ground Level and Level 1. The Level 1 extension will contain the mezzanine section for Coles and additional spaces intended for new commercial tenancies.

The mezzanine, which can be accessed by an internal stairwell, will be reserved for the store employees where there will be amenities, office space, food preparation areas, cold rooms and storage areas.

A majority of the existing shopping centre’s built form and specialty tenancies, as well vehicle access from Baroona Road and Wight Street will remain. The developer also does not propose changes to the access or configuration of the servicing bay, instead, a dock hoist is proposed to be installed to make servicing and delivery activities easier and efficient.

Do Milton residents want a Coles Local?

Council has already received quite a number of submissions regarding the lodged application. Whilst few residents welcome the idea of Coles in the area, an overwhelming majority of submissions reflect the locals’ opposition to the proposal.

Many of the submissions say that other nearby Coles supermarkets already exist, hence, a Milton location is not needed. To most, the current IGA already offers a great variety of goods and its longer operating hours provide better shopping convenience.

Others also raised concerns about the reduced parking spaces, traffic and pedestrian safety, the bulk and scale of the development and its impact on the existing small businesses and shopping diversity in the area.

“I do not believe this new development will service the needs of the local community, IGA and the other businesses provide local products and services with extended opening hours that can not be met by a mega corporation.” – Anonymous

“The proposal height is not sympathetic to the local area. Whilst I appreciate that developments are inevitable there is no reason it can’t be in keeping with the local area. There are so many larger alternatives to Coles nearby, eg. Coles at Toowong, Woolworths at Paddington, Coles at the Barracks. With these options there is no need for a larger grocery option at Milton Village.” – Anonymous

“The intersection at Baroona and Milton roads is poorly designed, and will become increasingly unsafe for pedestrians as traffic increases. There is no safe crossings for pedestrians to cross Baroona to the other side of the road.” – Anonymous

“Reducing the available parking and increasing the size of the shop will make this already congested and at times dangerous area worse.” – Anonymous

“The replacing of the current IGA with a Coles contributes to the lack of shopping diversity for Milton Village. Coles is proposing to increase its footprint and develop a larger section of the Village than currently the IGA occupies. This will naturally result in many small businesses in the Village leaving. This will result in people in the local area having to travel further for these services.” – Anonymous

Meanwhile, the Urbis assessment report, underscored the following key points of the proposal:

The proposed centre upgrades provide a positive contribution to the Milton neighbourhood and wider Brisbane area through improvements to Milton Village.
The proposed development represents a contemporary architectural design that will improve activation and surveillance of Baroona Road.
The proposed changes to the car parking areas and vehicle access arrangements will significantly enhance safety for vehicles and pedestrians.
The upgrades and enhancements to the existing service arrangements, including the addition of screen planting in the road reserve will significantly enhance the presentation of the development from Wight Street.
The development does not result in any impacts that will significant or undue adverse impacts on surrounding land uses or the envisaged street environment. The design of the proposal has been tailored to its location and is of a built form and scale appropriate to the surroundings and which is not likely to impact adversely on surrounds.

Beloved Independent Bookstore Re-Opens in New Milton Location

Did you know that Mary Ryan, the popular independent bookstore in Milton, has re-opened a few doors up from the Park Road location they had occupied for the last two decades?

Owner Bill Concannon said that they were able to secure a more affordable rent than their last site. The high cost of rent was the main reason why they had to temporarily shut down in mid-2021.

After many questions and much anticipation from its loyal customers, the beloved bookstore finally revealed its new location to be the former BWS outlet on the same road.

Since its re-opening, Mary Ryan has also announced that their stocks are still limited because of the supply chains disruption due to the pandemic.

Books arriving by trucks from NSW take three weeks because of the quarantines. Several of the drivers are also hesistant to be on the road since they are independent business operators/owners.

pic.twitter.com/fQO3RuZVfH
— Mary Ryan’s Milton (@MaryRyansMilton) September 1, 2021

Meanwhile, the fitout of the store’s al fresco dining area at the back is not yet finished. However, they have provided a coffee cart serving a limited range of drinks.

The independent bookstore is has been been the go-to place for books, magazines, newspapers, and DVDs and CDs for Milton locals and residents nearby.

Pressed for Time? A Christmas Pop-up at the Milton Markets Has Got You Covered

Photo credit: Milton Markets / Facebook

Milton Markets will have a Christmas Pop-up on the 23rd of December 2021 to help you with your last-minute Christmas stock up.

‘Tis that time of the year again and as Christmas draws near, many will find themselves stressed out over some last-minute shopping. No need to worry because Milton Markets has got you covered so you can enjoy some stress-free last minute Christmas shopping.

It’s going to be an early morning shopping you shouldn’t miss this coming Thursday 23 December at the corner of Cribb Street and Little Cribb Street. From 7am until 12 noon, you’ll have a few hours for your last-minute gifts at the Christmas Stock Up Market.

Check out your favourite farmers, artisans, and bakers that offer the freshest farm produce, seasonal produce, highest quality meats and seafood, and unique handmade gifts.

There won’t be a boring moment with dozens of stalls coming together along with live music entertainment and fun activities to bring you the best shopping experience this joyous season.

Christmas Pop-up at the Milton Markets is free to the public and there’s plenty of parking available too. So be sure to drop by for your final stock up for the holidays.

What: Milton Markets Christmas Pop-Up

When: 23rd December

Time: 7am – 12pm

Where: Corner of Cribb Street and Little Cribb Street

Milton Markets | Corner of Cribb Street and Little Cribb St, Milton QLD 4064