Several key streets in Kenmore have been identified for improvements aimed at enhancing local infrastructure and ensuring road safety.
Dumbarton Drive
Kersley Road
Kilkivan Avenue
Tarbet Street
These projects are part of a broader initiative to address community needs and improve the overall quality of suburban roads.
Dumbarton Drive (Photo credit: Google Street View)
Following the allocation for these improvements in the 2024/25 Budget, provisions have also been made for the continuation of the Kenmore Road corridor safety improvements project.
In addition to Kenmore, neighbouring Kenmore Hills will also see significant road resurfacing efforts, which will be at Beilby Road and Creekside Street.
Photo credit: Google Street View
Recognising the potential for noise and inconvenience during construction, BCC remains dedicated to minimising disruptions through strategic scheduling and clear communication with residents.
To achieve optimal results and minimise disruptions, temporary road closures will be implemented, along with requests for vehicle removal during working hours. This approach not only ensures the highest quality of resurfacing but also reduces inconvenience for local residents. Some works may occur during night hours or weekends to accommodate high traffic volumes on major roads.
Regular updates will be provided to ensure transparency and address any concerns that may arise throughout the duration of the projects. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and engaged as these vital infrastructure enhancements unfold in the coming months.
For more details on the scheduled road resurfacing projects in Kenmore and Kenmore Hills, residents are encouraged to visit the Brisbane City Council website.
Mapping data highlights that Brookfield and Kenmore Hills, along with other Queensland suburbs, not only face elevated cancer diagnosis rates but also show significantly higher survival rates than the national average.
The latest findings from The Australian Cancer Atlas 2.0, developed by Cancer Council Queensland and Queensland University of Technology, have identified several Queensland suburbs with higher than average cancer diagnosis rates.
Notably, whilst suburbs like Brookfield and Kenmore Hills experience higher incidences, they also boast survival rates that greatly surpass the rest of the country’s average.
Photo Credit: Australian Cancer Atlas
The study provides a detailed look at the suburbs with the best 5-year cancer survival rates, all performing better than the national average:
Suburb
Survival Rate (% better than national average)
St Lucia
48%
The Gap
40%
Brookfield – Kenmore Hills
38%
Taringa
36%
Murrumba Downs – Griffin
35%
Fig Tree Pocket
35%
Meanwhile, suburbs such as Mackay, Berserker, and Bundaberg have been identified as the most at-risk areas in Queensland for cancer diagnoses, with rates significantly higher than the national average.
Mackay tops the list with a startling 57% higher incidence of cancer diagnoses compared to the national figure, followed closely by Berserker in Rockhampton and Bundaberg, with 48% and 45% higher rates, respectively.
These figures suggest that the quality of healthcare services, including early detection and access to treatment, significantly impacts survival outcomes. These statistics highlight urgent needs for targeted health interventions and enhanced screening programs in these regions to address the elevated risk and improve the overall health outcomes for their residents.
The data underscores the importance of healthcare accessibility in improving survival rates. The disparities highlighted by the Atlas call for tailored healthcare policies to enhance cancer care across Queensland, especially in hotspots with lower survival rates.
The study also points to socioeconomic and regional disparities affecting cancer outcomes. While some suburbs excel in survival rates, others lag due to varying access to healthcare and lifestyle factors. Addressing these disparities is crucial for equitable healthcare provision.
The ongoing research facilitated by the Atlas will help further understand the dynamics of cancer incidence and survival, aiming to improve outcomes across all affected areas.
eWaste Connection, a community initiative in Kenmore Hills that provides a lifeline for people with disabilities and promotes e-waste reduction and sustainability, is one of the standout finalists for the annual WasteSMART People’s Choice Award.
eWaste Connection runs workshops for individuals with disabilities six days a week. Together, they recycle, repair, or refurbish all types of electronic and electrical waste.
The refurbished items are then donated to domestic violence refuges and other charitable organisations, which sell them at affordable prices. In 2022, the eWaste Connection community volunteered an impressive total of 4,914 hours, diverting a staggering 114,642 kilograms of e-waste from ending up in landfills.
How eWaste Connection Started
Monique Lowndes, a dedicated mother, embarked on a mission to provide a meaningful purpose for her son with disabilities. Her inspiration came from noticing her son’s fascination with disassembling electronic devices, which led her and her family to establish a group dedicated to dismantling electronic materials and finding ways to recycle their components.
Today, their initiative is thriving, with new locations and over 230,000 kilograms of eWaste recycled. More than 250 participants have engaged in eWaste workshops, underscoring the growing demand for their work in the community.
The significance of their efforts goes beyond recycling. They offer valuable opportunities for some of the most disadvantaged members of the community, providing them with a sense of purpose. Furthermore, they extend support to the families and caregivers of the participants by offering much-needed respite.
The project’s remarkable efforts have earned them recognition in the past, with eWaste Connection previously receiving the WasteSMART Community Award in 2020 and the WasteSMART Business Award in 2022. Their consistent commitment to sustainability and community engagement has led to their nomination as an All-Star finalist for the 2023 WasteSMART People’s Choice Award.
Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, spoke enthusiastically about the WasteSMART Awards.
“Brisbane is recognised as Australia’s cleanest and greenest capital city, and I want to make sure it gets even better for future generations. The WasteSMART People’s Choice Award recognises individuals, community groups, and businesses who undertake waste-smart activities with a $350 prize up for grabs,” he said.
The People’s Choice category includes various finalists, ranging from charity and not-for-profit groups diverting various types of waste from landfills to innovative businesses using methods such as worm farms, establishing produce gardens, and creating in-house sustainability teams. These finalists are exemplary examples of the sustainability initiatives that are helping to maintain Brisbane’s reputation as a clean and green city.
The WasteSMART Awards, organised by the Brisbane Sustainability Agency on behalf of the Brisbane City Council, are proudly sponsored by Containers for Change Queensland, Cleanaway, and The University of Queensland. The winners in the 12 WasteSMART Award categories, with a combined prize pool of over $4,000, will be announced during a ceremony at Brisbane City Hall in November 2023.
Off-road cyclists will soon have more spaces to explore as plans to create new biking tracks and off-road facilities across Brisbane, including several locations within the Pullenvale Ward, have been released.
Council unveiled the Brisbane Off-Road Cycling Strategy in December 2021 to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community of cyclists. Aiming to deliver “a safe, well-planned and connected network of facilities that protect Brisbane’s natural environment,” inputs for this strategy were gathered following community consultations since 2109.
These consultations included outdoor and cycling groups or clubs, park visitors, bushwalkers and runners, community conservation and environment groups, schools, cycling trainers and coaches, residents, as well as the Queensland Government. About 89 percent of the respondents expressed their support for more off-road cycling facilities.
John Sprent Reserve and Priors Pocket Road Park at Moggill
Platypus Park and Marstaeller Road Reserve at Mount Crosby
Changing Mountain Bushland
Dandy’s Road Bushland
Kholo Bushland Reserve
Shelley Road Park, Kholo
Primley Street Park, Pullenvale
Tuckett Street Park, Kenmore Hills
Per Council, the locations will be further studied “in the next five years and are subject to further detailed design, budget and environmental assessment.”
Off-road cycling sites will cover four types:
a leisurely family bicycle ride along a trail or track
a more technically challenging mountain bike ride with obstacles and climbing
a session with the kids at a pump track, skills track, or dirt jumps
participation by people of all ages and abilities in mountain bike riding, gravel riding, or in a cyclo-cross race
technological advancements such as e-bikes, web-based systems and apps such as Strava and user generated content such as Trailforks
growing demand for individualised, unstructured recreation
preferences for screen time over nature time resulting in ‘nature deficit’, particularly in young people
opportunities for off-road cycling to be used as a tool to engage wider sectors of the community to stimulate interest in active lifestyles, stewardship of bushland reserves or wider social inclusion
“This strategy balances conservation of the natural environment with opportunities for people of different ages and abilities to enjoy Brisbane’s unique parks and natural areas,” Council stated.
Highly sought-after suburbs like Kenmore that show strong, steady growth over time remain among the top choices of buyers, as Brisbane property values are expected to perform consistently well over the next few years.
From July 2020 to June 2021, the median house price in Kenmore is at $820,000, a 13.57% rise from the previous period. Data from Property Market Updates showed that over 195 houses sold within the 12-month period. House listings stayed on the market for an average of 39 days, reflecting the competitiveness of buyers who show a distinct preference for the large detached houses on spacious blocks found in the suburb.
The biggest sale during this period was a resort-style six-bedroom house for $3,400,000. Located on Annabel Street, the property has 1,391 square metres of living space with more than 800 square metres of garden space, including a poolside pavilion. It’s perfectly positioned close to parklands, primary and secondary schools, the popular Kenmore Village Shopping Centre, and the Legacy Way tunnel.
In the last five years, the median house price has increased by 28.13%, from $640,000 in mid-2016 to $820,000 today. Over the last 10 years, house prices have increased by a solid 54.43%, from the 2011 median house price of $531,000.
Unit Price Growth
From July 2020 to June 2021, Kenmore’s unit properties still performed better than most apartment markets in Brisbane. Unit median price growth has been modest but still showing steady growth at 3.88%, listing at an average of $670,000. Some 26 apartment properties in Kenmore spent 50 days on market.
Most of the buyers are downsizers and retirees who likely have houses in the suburb but now prefer a smaller dwelling to maintain. Approximately 15% of the population in Kenmore rent their homes, much lower than the average rental population in Brisbane.
Mid- and long-term unit price growth has been consistent, though modest. In the last five years, the median unit price has increased by 5.68%, with the 2016 median pegged at $634,000. Over the last 10 years, unit prices have increased by 19.64% from $560,000 in 2011 to $670,000 in June 2021.
Why Kenmore?
The great weather, laid-back lifestyle, and dynamic housing market in the Brisbane area (and QLD as a whole) are major attractions to move interstate. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one person in four people who move interstate in the country is someone relocating from NSW to QLD.
Kenmore is considered to be a highly appealing option to interstate buyers, with buyers from out of state pleased at how much bang for their buck they are able to get, particularly those used to more cramped dwelling spaces elsewhere.
Overall, Kenmore is attractive because of its relative proximity to Brisbane airport, its comfortable median house price, and the spacious blocks with large, detached houses that the area is known for.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Many of those who have moved into Kenmore are keen on transitioning to long-term suburban living whilst maintaining other properties closer to the city.
Although the suburb measures just approximately 5.8 square kilometres, there are 18 parks covering nearly 6.7% of the total area, presenting a refreshing contrast to the busy bustle of the CBD which is also not that far away.
Far from being disconnected to the downtown area, it has incredible access to transportation along Moggill Road, and its tree-lined streets, quiet neighbourhood, and walkable surroundings have everything buyers look for.
Kenmore Hills
Serious buyers looking to move to quiet, well-off surrounds also consider neighbouring Kenmore Hills, where properties spend an average of 49 days on market with a median house price that sits just above $1 million. The median house price in Kenmore Hills grew by 10% this 12-month period ending June 2021, quite a good showing for this tightly held suburb.
After more than a year’s hiatus, kerbside collection service will be restarting in July 2021. Here’s what residents of Kenmore, Kenmore Hills, Brookfield, Pullenvale and Fig Tree Pocket can expect.
After releasing the budget for the 2021-2022 financial year, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner confirmed that kerbside collection will be back one year earlier than planned.
In April 2020, Mr Schrinner suspended the operations for at least two years, or until July 2022, to direct the service’s expenses to Council’s other initiatives. Despite the unpopular decision, Council used the funds to help struggling small businesses and community groups as a result of the pandemic lockdowns.
“We will start with the suburbs where it was paused…we’ll go back there and then start again in the normal way,” Mr Schinner said in announcing the service’s return.
Prior to the updates, some residents informed Pullenvale Ward Councillor Greg Adermann that Kenmore, Kenmore Hills and Brookfield should be among the first suburbs to restart the service after they saw Council’s page showing a different date.
Photo Credit: Screengrabbed from Council’s official site
“[Kerbside collection] was paused on 3rd of April 2020, not May,” said a local, Ben Ponting, on Mr Adermann’s Facebook page. “Brookfield, Chapel Hill, Kenmore and Kenmore Hills were due to start 27th April 2020.”
“Kenmore was supposed to have their kerbside collection in April 2020 yet the new schedule says Kenmore is only getting kerbside collection in June 2022,” Melinda Waldeck said. “Since kerbside collection was paused in March 2020, if the statement about the starting in July with the suburbs where it was paused is correct then Kenmore should be scheduled to have kerbside collection in August 2021. Kenmore’s last kerbside collection was April 2019, so if we aren’t scheduled until June 2022 it will be over 3 years between collections!”
Cr Adermann was quick to reassure concerned locals and updated them about the situation.
“After receiving a large number of enquiries from local residents, I made enquiries which confirmed that the scheduled services to these areas were postponed just before they were due in April 2020, meaning they should have been among the first to receive a collection upon the resumption of kerbside collection,” he pointed out.
“To Council’s credit, they acknowledged this oversight and today agreed to my request to amend the collection schedule … Council’s website has been amended to reflect these changes,” he added.
Meanwhile, Brisbane residents are encouraged to check the list of items that are acceptable and not acceptable for kerbside collection so that nothing will be left behind by their kerb. Uncollected and improper disposal of household wastes could lead to an illegal dumping fine.
Glen Olive House. St John’s House of Rest. St Christopher’s Lodge. Friary Pottery and Friary Fayres. Brookfield Centre for Christian Spirituality. Over the years, the Old Friary Complex has gone through multiple incarnations and metamorphosed into what it is now.
The Old Friary Complex located at 139 Brookfield Road in Kenmore Hills was once a special centre for the Anglican friars in Brisbane. Developed as a self-sufficient farm and social facility, the site was formally known as the Centre for Christian Spirituality.
From 1965 to 1987, the Old Friary was frequented by the locals and was referred to as “the Friary” as it was bustling with activities and forging fellowship, especially among the young members of the community. Aside from tending to the nursery and learning pottery, the friars and their friends in the community also carried out social work around Brisbane.
But the history of the Old Friary began decades before this. The house owned and designed by one of Brisbane’s most notable architects, Richard Gailey, was actually built in the 1890s. It was part of a structure known as the Glen Olive House in Toowong.
Mr Gailey from Donegal settled in Brisbane in 1864 and achieved to establish his practice within a year. Known for designing the Fernberg (Governor’s residence), Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Baptist Tabernacle, the Regatta hotel and the Orient hotel, Mr Gailey built Glen Olive as a landmark site with a ballroom, an atrium, and several rooms with extensive verandahs.
Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland
In 1901, Dr E. S. Jackson purchased Glen Olive and decided to sell the property in sections. William Melbourne Watts, then the Queensland’s Land Commissioner, bought a section of the house, which was to be erected at his 47 acres lot on top of a hill in the “beautiful Brookfield district.” Watts bought this land in Kenmore Hills from Charles Patterson, a timber merchant.
By 1925, Mr Watts transferred the ownership to his son, William Phillips Watts, who then sold 24.5 acres of land in 1933 to the Brisbane Franciscan Communities led by Reverend Robert Bates of the Franciscan order of the Church of England. At that time, the Old Friary was known as St John’s House of Rest for aged men.
From St John’s House of Rest to St Christopher’s Lodge
With several staff rooms and a large dining room, the complex could accommodate 30 men who helped cultivate the vast land. But as a hilltop site, this self-sustaining home for the aged was found to be too remote to cater to the needs of its aging occupants. When St John’s Home of Rest relocated to Toowong in 1934, the Brookfield site became a boys’ home and was renamed to St Christopher’s Lodge.
The refuge, now managed by the Franciscan order’s Sisters of St Clare, taught the boys to farm and their produce was regularly sold at the Brookfield Show. The young men were also guided and molded with cultural, moral and religious convictions until they were old enough to leave the boys home and start their new life as adults. Reverend Bates also secured the boys’ education at universities around Brisbane.
However, St Christopher’s Lodge ceased to operate when Reverend Bates died in 1955. Part of the hilltop land was also sold to the Presbyterian Church, which established the Blue Care Aged Care Facility and Iona Nursing Centre in Brisbane.
What remained of St Christopher’s Lodge became a base for the friars for its church missions until the property was transferred to the Corporation of the Synod of the Church of England Diocese. In 1966, the site persisted as a self-sufficient farm and handcraft manufacturers as operated by Anglican Society of St Francis. The structures were also rehabilitated whilst Henry Clark & Sons built a new chapel designed by Merrin and Cranston Architects.
Photo Credit: The Old Friary/Facebook
‘Friary Pottery’ and ‘Friary Fayres’
By the 1970s, the friary was used as a temporary housing facility for volunteers. It attracted many guitar-playing hippies who enjoyed tending to the farm, making preserves and moulding pottery. Thus, the brands Friary Pottery and Friary Fayres were born and its products were sold at various Brisbane markets and events.
Some of these products also found its way onto the shelves of the department store David Jones. The items created for Friary Pottery and Friary Fayres were also mandatory gifts to VIPs who visited Brisbane, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Brookfield Centre for Christian Spirituality
By the 1990s, more extensive renovation and upgrades were done to the site to establish the Brookfield Centre for Christian Spirituality. It became a public place for locals to enjoy some quiet time if there were no booked events taking place. Additional contemplation areas were built and planted with trees with the help of volunteers, whilst a coffee shop with a gift store operated in the area from 1995 to 2004.
In 1998, part of the site became a private residential housing estate known as the Friary Fields whilst the centre continued to be a place of retreat and a venue for community activities. The Brookfield Centre for Christian Spirituality was cited as a local heritage place in 2017.
In 2018, the Anglicans expressed interest to sell or lease the Old Friary despite some opposition from the locals. A year later, the Uniting Church’s Blue Care bought the property under the agreement that much of it will still be used as a community area.
A Kenmore Hills student taking up Engineering at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is one of the first to receive a $10,000 eSports scholarship.
Henri Magisson, also known as “Feint”, has been awarded the privilege as an elite eSports athlete from the QUT Vice-Chancellor’s scholarship program, along with four other students.
Apart from the scholarship, Mr Magisson, 20, will also become a member of the Tigers to train with Coach Simon Earl. He will compete and represent QUT at the “League of Legends” Oceanic Challenger Series (OCS).
Joining Mr Magisson to make up the five-member QUT Tigers are:
Jason Nguyen from Yeerongpilly, also known as “hi and goodbye”, 18 years old, studying Gaming and Design
Zihong Li from Inala, also known as “Unspecialized”, 22 years old, studying Games and Interactive Entertainment
Michael Cornish from Sandgate, also known as “Frogadog”, 22 years old, studying Business, major in Accounting
Justin Tu from Carindale, also known as “Spoil”, 23 years old, studying Engineering, major in Medical Engineering
As an elite eSports athlete, Mr Magisson and his teammates will have to play “League of Legends” 20 hours every week as part of their training. Coach Earl will also see to it that the scholars are physically and mentally in shape through proper diet and psychological stimulation.
QUT is also prepared to send the eSports athletes to a five-day boot camp to prepare them for their first “League of Legends” competition in April.
Mr Magisson was chosen among hundreds of hopeful scholarship recipients. He had to go through a rigid vetting process, where the coordinator assessed his performance and experience.
The athlete was well on his way to finish his final year at QUT when he learned of the scholarship. Mr. Magisson, who was with the Tigers since 2018, plans to play eSports professionally after he leaves the university before pursuing a career in engineering
Optus is launching its 5G Home Broadband service in 60 initial suburbs across Australia. Kenmore, Kenmore Hills and 11 other suburbs in Queensland are included in the initial rollout, which should happen starting mid-2019.
Expression of Interest
Residents from the first 60 suburbs covered by the 50 sites are invited to send their expression of interest to avail of the 5G service. With 5G, subscribers get unlimited data, 50 Mbps satisfaction guaranteed at a rate of $70/month, or a minimum total cost of $1,680 for 24 months.
Interested residents can register their interest at www.optus.com.au/5G. Optus will then check if the resident’s address is serviceable for 5G.
Photo Credit: Optus
The company also stressed that not all addresses in covered suburbs are guaranteed serviceable for 5G. Initial coverage will be for limited areas within the suburb as serviceability will depend on network coverage, capacity within your suburb, and modem availability.
If the address can be serviced with 5G, Optus will notify the resident. The customer can expect to receive the 5G device starting mid-2019. However, some customers may get the device earlier.
5G is a plug and play self-installation, so there is no need for a visit from a technician.
If at any time during the contract, the subscriber is not satisfied that they are not getting download speeds of at least 50Mbps, they can cancel the contract without cancellation fees.
Future Rollout
Optus Chief Executive Allen Lew considers the initial rollout as a historic event for Optus.
“We will have more 5G sites going live across Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Sydney over the coming months giving a select group of customers the chance to get their hands on our 5G Home Broadband devices in areas of selected suburbs,” Mr Lew said.
“Whether it’s binging on your favourite series in 4K, taking on a crafty Fortnite opponent, streaming your favourite Party mix on Spotify or live streaming the latest Premier League match – Optus 5G Home Broadband is designed to deliver customers a great, multi-platform experience. And it is only just the start.”
Optus 5G will be initially available in these 13 Queensland suburbs:
Auchenflower
Bellbird Park
Brookwater
Burpengary
Camira
Clayfield
Gailes
Goodna
Kallangur
Kenmore
Kenmore Hills
Macgregor
Newmarket
The telecommunications company plans to have 1,200 5G sites up and running all over the country by March 2020. These sites would anticipate future demand for 5G and will cover residential areas, airports, train stations, sports stadiums and CBD locations.
The heritage-listed Old Friary in Kenmore Hills is on the market, but some concerned locals are pleading for the Anglicans of the Diocese to reconsider the sale.
The Anglican Church first investigated the possibility of selling when it launched an Expression of Interest campaign for the property at 139 Brookfield Road in October 2018. According to the sale listing, the owner will consider sale, partial sale, joint venture or lease of the 2.64-hectare site.
Old Friary site seeking Expression of Interest. (Photo credit: www.realestate.com.au)
On the site are two houses, a chapel and a community facility used for events. The listing also states potential options for the site, including an aged care, retirement, place of worship, childcare and community residential. It is situated in close proximity to Kenmore Village Shopping Centre and various cafes, restaurants, schools and medical facilities.
Some locals are not happy that the Anglican Church is selling the Old Friary as they are concerned that future developments would endanger the heritage listing.
Since the launch of the Expression of Interest, some residents have expressed opposition to the possible sale or lease of the property. They have started a petition on Change.org to urge the Anglican Church to retain the Old Friary.
The petitioners said that the site’s buildings, community resources, green spaces, peace and tranquillity should be protected from development. They are primarily concerned that if the potential developer levelled all or part of the site for development, it would be a great loss to the community.
Concerned locals also pointed out that if the property is sold, the church should ensure that it is offered to a buyer who would look to improve and cherish the character of the place. They are united in the hope that the Old Friary will continue to be a community-focused site for generations to come.
Properly named ‘Brookfield Centre for Christian Spirituality, the Old Friary open to the public during daytime as long as there are no booked events. The public can freely visit the grounds to enjoy the peace and tranquillity or spend some quiet time in the chapel.
