Milton Archives - Page 2 of 19

How a Stadium Upgrade and Super Bar Will Redefine Brisbane Entertainment

Backed by music promoters, sporting bodies, and the state government, a multi-million dollar plan to expand Suncorp Stadium and build an immersive new sports bar will reshape Milton into a major economic hub for live entertainment.

The push for this revitalisation has gained significant momentum, with the Queensland government confirming it will proceed with major upgrades to the iconic stadium. This decision follows widespread calls from community leaders and prominent figures in both the music and sporting industries.

The work is set to be completed before Brisbane hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, ensuring the precinct is ready for the world stage. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner supported the move, stating that an upgraded venue benefits not just sport but a whole range of events that bring the community together.

Answering the Call for Global Entertainment

For years, Brisbane music fans have watched major international tours bypass the city. Music industry leaders have identified Suncorp Stadium’s current capacity and infrastructure as significant hurdles. Promoters from giants like Live Nation and Frontier Touring explained that bringing blockbuster stadium tours to Australia is an expensive and challenging exercise.

They argue that an expanded Suncorp Stadium would make Brisbane a more financially sustainable and attractive destination. According to Frontier Touring CEO Dion Brant, increasing the number of seats and adding a roof would be crucial. Such enhancements would not only help offset the high costs of international tours but also reduce weather-related risks and insurance expenses for promoters. These changes would play a decisive role in convincing the world’s biggest artists to include Brisbane on their tour schedules, ensuring the city is no longer overlooked.

A Modern Fortress for Sport and Fans

The vision for the precinct extends beyond the stadium walls and into the heart of the community on Caxton Street. The National Rugby League is moving forward with plans to establish a cutting-edge sports bar at the site of the Beetson Hotel. ARL Commission chief Peter V’landys described the project as a future Mecca for sports fans, designed to be the best and biggest sports bar in the country.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo added that the venue will provide a completely immersive experience, using modern LED and sound technology to make patrons feel like they are at the game. This development complements the passionate calls from rugby league legends for the stadium itself to be upgraded. Former champion Johnathan Thurston suggested an expansion to 70,000 seats would be needed to keep pace with Queensland’s growth and its ability to host world-class events. Broncos captain Adam Reynolds also used a major public platform to call for a bigger stadium, reflecting the high demand from local fans.

Building a Precinct for Generations

The planned upgrades are being framed as more than just a renovation; they represent a long-term investment in the community’s future. Former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, who oversaw the stadium’s last major revamp, stated that an expansion to 65,000 seats with a roof would cement its status as Australia’s premier rectangular venue. He believes such a move would create a forward-thinking image for Brisbane and allow it to genuinely compete with Sydney and Melbourne for major national events.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a lasting legacy from the 2032 Games that benefits Queenslanders for decades. By improving capacity, accessibility, and overall quality, the project aims to ensure the Milton precinct remains the spiritual home of sport and a vibrant centre for culture and entertainment for generations to come.

Published Date 16-October-2025

Food, Markets, and Culture at the Polish Club in Milton

Photo Credit: Polonia

Polish Market Day is held monthly at the Polish Club in Milton, offering food and crafts, while the venue also runs Sunday Sessions with live music, pierogi, and game screenings.

Market Day at the Polish Club

The Polish Club in Milton runs Polish Market Day once a month on Saturday mornings, with the market closing at 1 p.m. Many stalls sell out before closing, drawing visitors early for food and cultural products.

Food and Stalls

Market Day features groceries such as marinated mushrooms, pickled cabbage, flavoured vodkas, and smallgoods available for pre-order. Fresh baked goods including rye bread, Polish doughnuts, and pierogi are always in demand.

Craft stalls offer jewellery, Baltic linen, christening gowns, and boutique wines. A beer garden serves kranski hotdogs, Polish beer, coffee, and Polish doughnuts. The club’s restaurant also opens for lunch from 11 a.m. on Market Day Saturdays.

*Photo Credit: The Polish Club/Facebook*

Market Dates

For the last quarter of 2025, the Market Days are scheduled on 18 October, 15 November, and 13 December. In 2026, Polish Market Day will run from 31 January to 19 December on scheduled Saturdays.

Longstanding Community Hub

The Polish Club, known as Polonia, has been based at Marie Street since 1968, when its current building opened. It remains a cultural centre for Brisbane’s Polish community and hosts a range of events throughout the year.

Other Events at Polonia

Alongside Market Day, the club holds regular poetry gatherings, degustation lunches, national day celebrations, and Sunday Sessions.

The club’s December Christmas Market Day is another highlight, combining festive foods, stalls, and community celebrations.

Looking Ahead

Polish Market Day remains a key event at the Polish Club in Milton, running monthly through 2026. With markets, Sunday Sessions, and cultural programs, the venue continues to showcase Polish traditions in Brisbane.

Published 24-Sep-2025

Major Crypto Acquisition Drives Growth at Milton-Based Swyftx

Photo Credit: Pexels

Cryptocurrency exchange Swyftx, headquartered in Milton, is expanding rapidly following two significant acquisitions and new developments in customer support infrastructure.

Background on Swyftx’s Growth

Swyftx, based in Milton, Brisbane, has entered a phase of accelerated expansion. In March 2025, the company acquired Easy Crypto, a New Zealand-based platform also operating in South Africa. More recently, on 1 July 2025, Swyftx confirmed the acquisition of Melbourne-based brokerage Caleb & Brown, in a transaction valued between $100 million and $200 million USD.

These moves follow earlier challenges, including a downturn in trading volumes and a failed merger that led to workforce reductions. Despite this, the company’s leadership has maintained focus on growth and international expansion.

Details of the Caleb & Brown Deal

The acquisition of Caleb & Brown marks the largest high-net-worth crypto brokerage transaction in Australasia. Founded in 2016, Caleb & Brown operates with more than $2 billion AUD in digital assets under custody and serves a global client base with personalised crypto trading services.

The brokerage’s relationship-based model assigns dedicated brokers to each client and includes services such as 24/7 trading support for over 250 assets, over-the-counter desk trading, crypto custody, and managed crypto funds.

With this acquisition, Swyftx gains a fast-tracked entry into the United States market, leveraging Caleb & Brown’s regulatory framework and access to a high-net-worth customer base spanning multiple countries.

AI Enhancements at Milton Headquarters

Alongside its acquisitions, Swyftx has introduced AI-powered customer support tools from Intercom at its Milton base. By using the Fin AI Agent, the company now resolves nearly half of all customer inquiries through automation, achieving a 91% answer rate and saving over 40 hours of team time weekly.

This system was implemented to address the increasing complexity of user questions, with improvements focused on clarity, responsiveness, and security compliance. The AI solution is being scaled further across new communication channels, including SMS and email.

cryptocurrency exchange — Photo Credit: Pexels

Company Identity and Operations

Founded in 2018 by Alex Harper and Angus Goldman, Swyftx is fully Australian-owned and has become one of the country’s largest crypto exchanges. The company now supports over 1.2 million users and offers more than 440 crypto assets for trading.

While its Milton office remains central, more than half of Swyftx’s staff operate remotely across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, the UK, the US, the Philippines, and India.

Outlook

With the successful acquisition of Caleb & Brown and its adoption of AI-driven support systems, Swyftx continues to scale from its Milton headquarters. The company has signalled that further developments may follow as it expands its footprint in both local and global markets.

Published 4-Aug-2025

Discover the Beginnings of the Iconic Cook Terrace in Milton

Cook Terrace in Milton is considered an iconic landmark in the suburb. The building’s elegant and well-preserved features significantly contribute to the Coronation Drive riverscape and streetscape.

Currently, Cook Terrace is one of few intact and surviving nineteenth-century terraces in Brisbane. Along with the changing times, the heritage-listed structure has been an important part of many people’s lives especially when it was converted to flats, catering to many students as well as families in the 1960s and 1970s.

Get to know the beginnings of the beautiful, historic building and learn how it evolved as a notable landmark that it is today.

History of Cook Terrace

In September 1888, Brisbane builder Joseph Blain Cook acquired the title to subdivisions 1 to 6 of the Milton House estate, a section of the prime real estate along the Brisbane River, from John Frederick McDougall.

After his acquisition, he raised a mortgage of £6,000 on the property to finance construction of the terrace.

Cook initially constructed the building as a two-storeyed brick row of six houses in 1888-1889. He built the first house in late 1888 whilst the remainder of the row was completed in 1889. The architect of the terrace is unknown.

The terrace was built as a rental property since the Queensland Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act of 1885 prohibits the granting of titles to individual terrace houses.

The enterprise might have been promising at the time, however, within two years of construction, Cook was declared insolvent. As a result, the terrace was passed to his mortgagees.

Milton Terrace

Cook Terrace, Coronation Drive, Milton, Brisbane, 1945. Photo credit: Queensland State Archives, Digital Image ID 536

The property was known as Milton Terrace in 1895. With its river views and breezes as well as its proximity to the centre of town, the terrace remained as one of Brisbane’s more prestigious rental addresses. This went on until the twentieth century. The property was attracting mainly professional and white-collar tenants at the time.

The Rourke family owned the terrace from 1895. It is likely that they were responsible for adding a southwestern verandah and dome room.

Cook Terrace (2009). Photo credit: Heritage Branch staff

Each house had been subdivided into at least two flats by 1920. Builder Simon Smith acquired the property in 1923. He may have been responsible for removing the front parapet and installing dormer windows.

In the 1930s, the name Milton Terrace was lost. Consequently, the houses were known collectively as Gloralgar Flats by the end of the decade.

During the Second World War, it was believed that army authorities rented the flats for officer accommodation.

After the war, the verandahs were enclosed and the six houses were further converted into twenty-seven flats which were considered something of a bohemian retreat.

The building remained as a visual landmark along Coronation Drive despite its decline. The terrace was then refurbished and recycled as offices and a restaurant in 1984.

Cook Terrace Now

Cook Terrace in 1980 and 2018. Photo credit: Passing Time/Facebook

Cook Terrace continues to marvel passersby with its exquisite architecture. The restaurant side of the property has seen a few restaurants come and go. This includes the famous Joseph Alexanders and Wilsons on the River.

The historic building has been added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Today, Cook Terrace is home to several offices as well as a Mediterranean restaurant.

Momani’s

Momani’s has been the latest restaurant to open at the Cook Terrace and is currently serving Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine in the historic building. Aptly located in the heritage-listed venue, the restaurant prides itself in serving loads of traditional grandmother’s cooking.

‘Momani’ is the adorable nickname that the co-owner, Persian chef Pooran Cowan’s grandchildren had given her. With a promise to make the customers feel right at home when eating at the restaurant, their menu is centred on Pooran’s recipes that are beloved by her family.

The restaurant’s lavish ground-level dining area impresses with grand chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Brisbane River. Their upper level is also complete with a dedicated bar, piano lounge, and more seating that offers great views of the surroundings.

Fine Dining in a Historic Building

The fine dining experience is certainly not complete without the delicious food. Just as how most grandmothers feed their family, Momani’s also serves big portions of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food. On offer are different kinds of kebab, saffron rice, chargrilled king prawns served on a bed of rocket, and a whole lot more.

Apart from their hearty meals, the restaurant also serves a variety of drinks in their bar upstairs.

As they say, there’s always room for dessert. Momani’s must-try sweet treats include the Baklava and their signature Persian love cake which is a fragrant rich cake with saffron, cardamom, almonds and lemon glaze, topped with pistachios and rose petals.

Momani’s is open from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Sunday to Thursday and from 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Friday to Saturday.

Just as how the Cook Terrace touched several lives in Milton through its evolution over the years, Momani’s also strives to leave a mark in the suburb, one meal at a time.

Polish Market Day Draws a Crowd in Milton

Photo Credit: The Polish Club/Facebook

Milton was full of energy as The Polish Club welcomed visitors for its popular monthly Market Day, with a special guest appearance adding excitement to the local event.

A Lively Day in Milton

The Polish Club Milton’s Market Day brought together people from across Brisbane to enjoy authentic Polish food, crafts, and a warm community spirit.

Traditional Polish hospitality was on show, with the sharing of bread and salt, and everyone enjoyed the flavours of home-baked pastries and other treats.

The event took place on 26 July 2025, highlighting the club’s role in bringing people together through culture and connection.

Visitors, including Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, explored market stalls alongside the Club’s President, Stan Macionis, and Honorary Consul for Poland in Queensland, Dr Theresa Lauf. The Premier mingled with the crowd, trying local foods and chatting with market-goers, as Milton locals embraced the atmosphere.

Milton’s Polish Club: A Place for Everyone

Founded in 1953, The Polish Club Milton remains a meeting place for both the Polish-Australian community and anyone interested in learning about Polish culture. Market Day is a regular highlight, run by volunteers and offering a taste of Poland in the heart of Milton. The club also provides venue space for community groups and local events, helping build connections across the city.

Continuing the Tradition

Club President Stan Macionis said he was grateful for all the support the club receives, noting how important it is for cultural organisations to have a place in the local area.

“We were delighted to host Premier Crisafulli and deeply appreciate his recognition of the important role ethnic community clubs like ours play in enriching Queensland’s multicultural fabric, particularly as we look forward to Brisbane hosting the Olympics in 2032. His visit was a meaningful show of support for our volunteers, our Polish small business stallholders, and
the broader Polish-Australian community,” said Macionis.

“Together with our Honorary Consul, Dr Theresa Lauf, we look forward to supporting the Queensland Government in its work with multicultural communities and stand ready to provide assistance as needed, both for forward planning for major events and otherwise.”

The Polish Club Milton plans to keep welcoming the community with monthly Market Days and cultural events. Event details are available on the club’s website, with highlights and photos shared on social media.

Published 29-July-2025

He’s Back: Ed Sheeran Announces 2026 ‘Loop Tour’ With Two Milton Shows

Photo Credit: Ed Sheeran/ Facebook

Just over a year after his last record-breaking visit, Ed Sheeran has announced he is returning to Australia in 2026 for his ‘Loop Tour’, with a massive two-night stadium stop planned for Milton.

A New Album, A New Sound

The tour will support Sheeran’s upcoming album, ‘Play’, which is scheduled for release on Friday, 12 September. The new record already features the recently released singles “Azizam”, “Sapphire”, and “Old Phone”. According to promotional materials from Frontier Touring, the album is an explorative, technicolour pop album that aims to capture the fun and heart of an artist who has been reinvigorated by life and travel.

The tour itself is presented by Frontier Touring and MG Live and will see the English singer-songwriter perform across Australia and New Zealand through January, February, and March of 2026.

Return to Record-Breaking Venues

Brisbane music lovers will be especially excited to hear that Sheeran is booking two nights at Suncorp Stadium in Milton. The suburb is familiar territory for the star, who has a history of hugely successful, sold-out performances at the venue during his 2018 ‘Divide Tour’ and more recently on his record-breaking ‘Mathematics Tour’ in 2023. Beyond Brisbane, the tour will also stop in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne, as well as three cities in New Zealand. Christchurch will welcome Sheeran for the first time in 11 years.

From Pubs to a Phenomenon

The announcement continues a long and successful relationship between Sheeran and his Australian fans. His journey in the country has seen him grow from playing smaller theatres on his first major headlining tour in 2012 to becoming an artist who consistently sells out the nation’s largest stadiums.

The musician, who got his start performing tirelessly in small London pubs with just a guitar and a loop pedal, has become one of the world’s most recognisable artists through iconic albums like + (Plus), × (Multiply), and ÷ (Divide). He is also a highly respected songwriter, having written hit songs for artists like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.

How to Secure Your Tickets

For fans eager to attend, tickets will be sold in stages. A Telstra Plus Member presale for the Australian shows will run for 48 hours starting tomorrow, Friday, 25 July. This will be followed by a 24-hour Frontier Member presale beginning on Monday, 28 July. Tickets for the general public will go on sale Tuesday, 29 July, with on-sale times staggered for each city. All shows are for all ages, though it is recommended that children 14 and under are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Published Date 24-July-2025

Historic Homes in Brisbane: Milton House

One of the oldest surviving houses in Brisbane, Milton House is arguably the most significant landmark in the suburb.

The heritage-listed residence has been home to prominent personalities in Milton over the years. The house is also particularly special since this is where the suburb got its name.

Milton House helps in telling the story of Queensland’s history because of its association with important early agricultural experimentation and the pastoral development of the western suburbs. In fact, Milton house is the first substantial house in the western suburbs.

Get to know the history of Milton House and the important personalities that helped shape the suburb.

History of Milton House

*BRISBANE’S HISTORIC HOMES, XLV.—MILTON HOUSE, MILTON. (1931, January 8). The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 – 1939), p. 37. Photo credit:* *National Library of Australia*

Built around 1852 or 1853 for retired Queen Street chemist Ambrose Eldridge, Milton House was the first substantial house in the area. The remarkable residence instantly became a local landmark.

Milton House was the base for Eldridge’s experimental farming. At the time, Moreton Bay region was still struggling to establish itself. Later, the home became the centre for JF McDougall’s considerable pastoral holdings in the area.

Ambrose Eldridge

*Panoramic view of Milton, showing Milton House in the middle distance, ca. 1874. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 66141.*

Despite having little knowledge of farming, Eldridge bought over 30 acres of land along the northern bank of the Brisbane River in 1851. He then named it Milton Farm after his birthplace which was Greater Milton, near Oxford, England.

Eldridge experimented with cotton growing to prove that agriculture at Moreton Bay is both sustainable and profitable. He was initially one of the most successful cotton growers in the area.

In 1853, his cotton experiment was successful that his samples of cotton sent to Sydney in a government-sponsored competition won first prize. He also sent samples of the Milton cotton to the Paris Exhibition of 1855, where it was highly acclaimed.

With the hopes of expanding his efforts to promoting sustainable local farming in Brisbane, Eldridge took a lease of approximately 400 acres of land at Eagle Farm. He later sold the Milton Estate to pastoralist John Frederick McDougall in January 1856.

Unfortunately, Eldridge’s Eagle Farm experiment seems to have failed which forced him to go back to the chemist business in 1859. He sadly died a year after, leaving his family penniless.

Notable Residents of Milton House

*Milton House, Milton, ca. 1870. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.*

After acquiring the land, JF McDougall, a member of the first Queensland Legislative Council, farmed the Milton Estate and enlarged the house considerably.

The McDougalls then lived at Rosalie Station and let Milton from 1864.

Well-known personalities that have lived in the house included Arthur Manning, the Colonial Under-Secretary; Henry Walsh, MLC and speaker of the Legislative Assembly; and James Crombie.

Milton house later gave its name to the local suburb, whilst neighbouring Rosalie took its name from McDougall’s Darling Downs property.

After a few years of tenancy, Milton Farm was sold to the Queensland Investment and Land Mortgage Co. Ltd in 1885. The estate was then subdivided for residential development at a time when the newly created streets of McDougall, Manning, Walsh, and Crombie were named after previous owners or occupiers of Milton House.

*Side view of Milton House with the Manning family on the verandah, 1868. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image Number: 63477*

Other owners and occupiers of the historic home include:

The Commissioner of Police, David Thompson Seymour (1887).
Dr Hugh Bell, a noted physician and consultant at the Brisbane General Hospital for forty years (1888).
Grain merchant William Siemon and his family, who bought the estate in 1904 and renovated the premises in 1922.

The Siemon family then gave the property to the Presbyterian Church in 1955. The church used the Milton House as a hostel for women college students until 1983.

The building subsequently became part of the Kings Row Corporate Park development, at which time it was refurbished to resemble its outward appearance of the 1860s.

Milton House Now

*The Milton House in 2018. Photo credit:* *kgbo/Wikimedia Commons*

Today, Milton House remains to be a significant landmark in the suburb. It is currently one of the sites of Brisbane City Council’s Milton Heritage Trail.

The home still stands out with its striking features of Colonial Georgian architecture. Despite the developments that currently surrounds the heritage-listed home, a glimpse at the historic home reminds locals of its rich and valuable history.

Milton by Moonlight Set to Dazzle Cribb Street Once Again

Get ready, Brisbane — Milton by Moonlight is back and brighter than ever. On Saturday, 21st June, the Cribb Street precinct will transform into a twinkling winter wonderland filled with street eats, artisan markets, crackling bonfires, live entertainment, and even a pop-up bar serving authentic Glühwein.

Read: Milton by Moonlight Returns This June for a Night of Food, Fire, and Festivities

Whether you’re planning a night out with friends, bringing the whole family, or tagging along with your fur-baby, this magical night market promises something for everyone.

A Feast for the Senses

This isn’t your average market. With over 140 stalls featuring South East Queensland’s best gourmet bites and hand-crafted treasures, Milton by Moonlight is a sensory experience from the moment you arrive.

Indulge in international flavours, from Argentinian empanadas at Pipi Cucu Empanadas to sweet Korean treats from Press Em Bake House. Savour Brazilian BBQ from Brazzo Boys, crispy cassava chips from Mystica Burgers, and handmade dumplings from Hong Kong Dumpling House. Don’t forget to try the heavenly Japanese soufflé pancakes from Lamun: Asian Fusion Sweets, or satisfy your sweet tooth with a treat from OMG Decadent Donuts.

It’s a market built for foodies, so bring your appetite (and a tote bag) to stock up on favourites from Gourmet Taste Creations and more.

Winter Vibes and Warm Moments

As night falls, the precinct will glow with the warmth of crackling bonfires and the buzz of live music. Sip steaming Glühwein from the pop-up bars and soak in the cosy winter atmosphere while roving performers add sparkle to the evening. Kids will be kept entertained too, with activities designed to keep little ones smiling.

Plan Your Visit

Where: Corner of Cribb and Little Cribb Street, Milton
When: Saturday, 21st June | 4PM – 10PM
Entry: $3
RSVP and updates: https://www.facebook.com/share/1YiKpr2f2y/

Want to win a $200 Gourmet Market Hamper or a $200 Bar Tab?
Click the link above to enter the draw.

Read: Global Tour Brings Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM Ball to Milton

This winter, don’t just go out — go all out. Milton by Moonlight is your chance to eat, shop, sip and soak in the very best of Brisbane’s evening magic. See you under the stars.

Published 12-June-2025

Court Sides with XXXX Brewery in Milton Over Church Objections

A long-running battle between Brisbane’s XXXX Brewery and the Anglican Church has ended with a court decision allowing the brewery to expand its ethanol storage near the heart of Milton.

The ruling was delivered on Thursday, June 6, by Planning and Environment Court Judge Nicole Kefford. It clears the way for Lion-Beer, Spirits and Wine Pty Ltd, which owns the iconic 130-year-old brewery on Milton Road, to build three 40,000-litre ethanol tanks on the site.

The Dispute Next Door

The Anglican Church, through the Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane, launched a legal appeal against the Brisbane City Council’s earlier approval of the brewery’s development plans (DA A006226036). The tanks are planned to sit just eight metres from the boundary shared with church-owned land, which includes St Francis Theological College, student residences, and historic buildings.

The church argued that the tanks posed a serious safety risk, suggesting the potential for a dangerous explosion scenario near where students and staff live, study and worship. It also raised concerns about ethanol vapours affecting the health of residents.

The land owned by the Anglican Church includes the heritage-listed Old Bishopsbourne and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, and is used not just for training clergy, but also for public events like weddings, funerals, school tours and conferences.

*Photo Credit: Milton Anglican Church/Google Maps*

Court Decision: Risks Managed

After several months of hearings, including sessions in February, April and May, Judge Kefford rejected the church’s concerns. She found that the claims of a likely explosion, specifically a stoichiometric tank chamber explosion, were not backed by credible scientific evidence.

She ruled that the development could proceed, provided it followed strict safety conditions. These include certification from a qualified dangerous goods consultant and compliance with relevant storage and safety guidelines.

The judge stated that the brewery’s risk management measures were sufficient to protect public safety and the local community. She noted that the brewery and its consultants had demonstrated a clear understanding of the risks and how to control them.

Milton’s Brewery to Grow

The XXXX Brewery, operating since 1877, has long been regarded as a local landmark in Milton, possessing significant heritage and cultural value. The site spans over 58,000 square metres and includes several buildings used to make beer and mixed alcoholic drinks.

Ethanol is already stored on the premises in smaller containers, but the new tanks will allow for larger-scale production of drinks such as alcoholic ginger beer and other seltzers.

Council supported the brewery’s application throughout the case, saying the development aligned with the area’s planning codes and did not pose an unacceptable risk to the community.

Published 8-June-2025

Milton to Gain Affordable Housing Amidst Major Housing Approvals

Photo Credit: SFD-01017

Milton is set to gain 304 new homes, with 46 of those dedicated to affordable housing offered at a 25 per cent discount to market rates, as part of a significant push to deliver over 2,400 new housing lots across South East Queensland. This month, the government has approved more than 2,400 new home lots across South East Queensland.

Boosting Housing Supply

The Queensland Government is moving to address the housing shortage, approving a substantial number of new homes in both established city areas and rapidly growing regions. The new approvals aim to provide more places for Queenslanders to live sooner.

In the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area, 1,631 housing lots have been given the go-ahead, ready to welcome around 4,500 residents. These plans also include important facilities like a future State primary school, shopping areas, and green spaces. Additionally, 782 new homes have been approved for inner Brisbane suburbs, including Indooroopilly and Milton.

Inner-City Development: Milton

The Milton project, located at 33 Manning Street, is a 30-storey residential tower. It will offer a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units. This development is part of the State Facilitated Development program, which speeds up approvals for projects that help increase housing, especially those with affordable housing.

The building’s design focuses on sustainable features suited to Queensland’s climate, with elements such as deep planting, vertical greenery, and shaded outdoor areas. It will also include extensive shared spaces for residents, like a rooftop pool. The project’s location near the Brisbane CBD and public transport is seen as a key benefit, helping to create connected communities.

Government’s Approach and Community Impact

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie, stated that these new developments will provide more homes in both inner-city areas and emerging growth corridors. He noted that construction in Flagstone, one of the region’s fastest-growing areas, has already begun.

The government is also focused on delivering affordable housing through build-to-rent models in inner-city suburbs, reflecting a commitment to a variety of new housing options. The Deputy Premier explained that the plan aims to meet the different needs of Queensland’s growing population, from first-time buyers to families and those looking to downsize.

Troy Thompson, Peet’s Development Director for Flagstone, explained that this approval is an important step in bringing their vision for the new community to life. He mentioned that Flagstone is already home to 10,000 residents and continues to grow by 40 new families each month.

This approval allows them to offer more housing choices and facilities, ensuring 500 new homes are built in Flagstone every year. He added that the Greater Flagstone PDA includes 330 hectares of green open space.

However, the Milton development has raised some concerns within the community. There have been discussions about the increased building density, the potential lack of green spaces, and the State Government’s power to fast-track such projects with less local government oversight.

Published Date 26-May-2025