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Fire Destroys Woodwinds Park Property in Moggill

Photo Credit: Old Brisbane Albums/Facebook

Smoke over Moggill drew nearby residents toward Livesay Road on Mother’s Day morning as fire tore through a historic Queenslander known for hosting opera and music theatre events, destroying the home.

Emergency crews were called to the property at about 10:20 a.m. on 10 May after multiple triple-zero calls reported the two-storey house fully engulfed in flames. According to the Queensland Fire Department, firefighters arrived to find the blaze already well established, and the building later collapsed inward due to the intensity of the flames.

Five fire crews worked to contain the fire while residents gathered outside nearby homes as smoke spread across the western Brisbane suburb. The fire was extinguished by about 11:30 a.m., but the property could not be saved.

Witnesses Report Hearing Explosions Before Crews Arrived

People living near the property reported hearing loud explosion sounds before emergency crews arrived.

One witness from neighbouring Anstead reported hearing what sounded like an explosion from about a kilometre away. The witness said people near the scene called out because they feared someone might be inside.

Locals gathered near the property before emergency crews moved bystanders behind a safety perimeter. Nearby residents also feared the flames could spread to surrounding homes.

Further explosion sounds were reportedly heard during the fire, and one witness said glass was blown from the front door and windows. Officials have not confirmed what caused the reported sounds.

Woodwinds Park Known for Music and Theatre Gatherings

The property, understood to have been built in 1881, was known as Woodwinds Park and had hosted opera and music theatre events on its grounds over the years.

Photos and videos of the fire circulated on community social media pages throughout Sunday as residents reacted to the destruction of the historic home.

The property’s reported age and history of public events gave the fire a wider community impact beyond the loss of a private residence.

Residents Away During Blaze

Authorities said the occupants were not home when the fire began.

The Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed one person was taken to St Andrew’s Hospital following the blaze.

#Moggill – A stable patient has been transported to Saint Andrew's Hospital with a medical condition following a house fire on Livesay Road at 10.12am.
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) May 10, 2026

Several dogs were also reportedly removed from the property during the emergency response, although officials have not confirmed whether any animals were injured.

Cause of Fire Remains Under Investigation

Police later declared the site a crime scene as part of the investigation into the cause of the fire. Authorities have not identified a cause or suggested anyone was responsible.

The blaze was one of two serious house fires reported in southeast Queensland on Sunday, with another major fire destroying a home on Russell Island.

On Livesay Road, the fire left a property understood to be more than 140 years old destroyed within hours.

Published 11-May-2026

3 Wild Surprises Hiding in Plain Sight In and Around Kenmore

Photo Credit: Wikipedia/CC0

Kenmore is known for its leafy streets, busy roads and family homes, but the area also sits within a landscape of creeks, gullies and mature trees that still support native wildlife. This place is a mix of suburbia and habitat that helps explain why some animals that seem more suited to bushland or remote waterways have also been recorded in and around the district. Local survey reports, conservation material and public sighting posts point to three stand-out examples: platypus, powerful owls and echidnas.

Platypus Records Show Life in the Waterways Near Kenmore

Many people think of the platypus as a species found far from suburban streets, yet records linked to Brisbane’s western suburbs show they have persisted in local creek systems.

Reports have identified Moggill Creek as one of the places where platypus can be found around Brisbane. Local survey work by the Moggill Creek Catchment Group adds more weight to that picture.

In its 2016 survey report, volunteers recorded platypus sightings at several sites, including Branton Street in Kenmore, where two animals were seen at one location. Later updates from the same group said platypus activity in Gold and Moggill creeks had lifted in years with better water flow, which suggests local habitat conditions can make a real difference.

A 2022 post from Cr Greg Adermann said research had found the ward was home to four of Brisbane’s eight largest platypus populations, with Moggill Creek recording the highest number. Llocal monitoring was also being used to track how flooding, erosion and other environmental changes affect platypus survival.

Their presence points to waterways that are still doing more than carrying runoff through the suburbs. It is an important habitat for one of Australia’s most distinctive native animals

Powerful Owls Still Hunt in the Leafier Parts of Brisbane’s West

The powerful owl brings a very different kind of surprise. It is Australia’s largest owl and a predator that depends on established habitat, including large trees and sheltered creek lines.

A wildlife newsletter published through the Moggill Creek Catchment Group says there are several powerful owl pairs in Brisbane’s west and specifically includes Kenmore Hills among the places where they occur. The same source explains that these owls use creek lines and gullies for roosting and nesting, while related conservation material notes that access to large hollows and prey can allow the species to survive in urban areas where enough habitat remains.

The idea of a large nocturnal hunter living close to suburban houses is unexpected. A powerful owl may not be seen on the school run or from the front yard, yet that is part of what makes the Kenmore area distinctive. The combination of tree cover, connected vegetation and nearby creek systems means some wildlife stays hidden in plain sight.

Echidna Sightings Suggest Native Animals Still Move Through Local Streets

Echidnas may look more familiar than platypus or powerful owls, but they still surprise people when they turn up in suburban gardens. A social post tied to Kenmore describes an echidna being spotted in a garden bed in Woonalee Street. The animal was large enough to attract attention straight away and was seen after dog barking drew a resident outside.

Photo Credit: Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network

While this is not the same as a formal wildlife survey, they do offer a useful local clue about the kinds of animals that still pass through residential parts of the suburb. This sighting was not in a distant reserve or a remote national park.

This suggests green corridors and backyard habitat still help some native species move through the district, even in places shaped mostly by housing.

Kenmore’s Creeks, Gullies and Mature Trees Help Explain These Sightings

Kenmore sits within a broader western suburbs network of creeks and vegetated corridors, and that helps support different kinds of wildlife in different ways. Platypus depend on functioning waterways. Powerful owls rely on tree cover, prey and nesting sites. Echidnas need room to move through connected patches of habitat.

It also shows the value of local observation. Formal surveys, conservation newsletters and public sighting posts each reveal a different part of the picture. When those pieces are read together, they suggest that the Kenmore district holds more wildlife than many people might assume at first glance. The natural systems around Kenmore are still active.

Published 21-April-2026

Brisbane Hailstorm: 4069 Locals Unite After Wild Weather Event

In the midst of violent storm tearing through Kenmore and the wider 4069 community — including Chapel Hill, Brookfield, Fig Tree Pocket, and Kenmore Hills — residents began assisting one another while official crews mobilised. As trees crashed through roofs and powerlines fell across roads, locals rallied — as shown in community posts offering chainsaws, four-wheel drives, and spare rooms to neighbours.

Warnings That Came True

Just a week earlier, meteorologists had sounded the alarm. Weather presenter Tony Auden warned South East Queenslanders that the same mix of wind shear and coastal air patterns behind the 2008 Gap Storm and 2014 supercell was reforming over the region.

“We could potentially have the right mix of ingredients to trigger some dangerous cells,” he wrote on his Facebook page, cautioning that timing and wind changes could turn ordinary thunderstorms into something “really nasty.”

His forecast proved correct. On Sunday, October 26, Brisbane was battered by wind gusts up to 96 km/h and hail up to five centimetres, with heavy rain affecting suburbs from Ipswich to Brisbane’s west.

Powerless but Not Helpless

The storm’s fury was immediate and far-reaching. Nearly 70,000 homes lost electricity across South East Queensland, including almost 40,000 in Brisbane and 15,000 in Ipswich. By dawn Monday, more than 17,000 properties were still without power, with Brisbane’s western suburbs among the hardest hit.

Energex said the storm caused significant damage, and safety concerns were slowing restoration.

Even so, many locals took matters into their own hands — safely. Roads were littered with branches and tangled wires. Local posts reported Kenmore Road between Sunset Road and Spinkabrae Street was impassable due to fallen trees. Residents warned others on social media to steer clear while waiting for Council crews.

Photo Credit: Mark Williams/4069 Community/Facebook

Photo Credit: Lisa Shaw/4069 Community/Facebook

Good Samaritans Step Forward

While Energex and SES worked around the clock, the Kenmore community didn’t stand by. Alessio Cooper, a local small-business owner, posted to the 4069 Community Facebook group, offering help to anyone who needed it.

Alessio Copper — Photo Credit: 4069 Community/Facebook

Armed with two chainsaws, a pole saw, and a 4WD, Alessio and his mates Cole and Liam spent the day clearing fallen trees from driveways and roads. “We just want to make sure everyone’s safe,” he wrote — a message that drew strong engagement and comments of gratitude in the group.

For some residents, the help couldn’t come soon enough.

Neighbours Coming Together

Group comments show neighbours offering accommodation and assistance; volunteers reported checking on vulnerable residents. With prolonged outages, some families reported difficulty contacting emergency services.

In the age of social media, the 4069 Community Facebook group functioned as an impromptu hub for local updates and offers of help. Members shared outage information and local damage photos to warn others. The group became a living record of resilience — people offering tarps, generators, or even just reassurance.

Elsewhere online, a Reddit thread about Kenmore captured the city’s anger after footage appeared to show someone interfering with power lines during the chaos, allegedly worsening the blackout. “You’re literally taught ‘look up and live’,” one commenter wrote. “How he didn’t get 415 volts to the heart is beyond me.”

Across the Western Suburbs

The storm didn’t spare the surrounding suburbs. Hail up to five or six centimetres was reported in parts of the western suburbs, including Pullenvale. In Goodna and Ipswich, fallen trees blocked railway lines and caused significant transport delays.

Widely shared footage showed the storm front sweeping across Brisbane with frequent lightning. The images were hauntingly familiar to those who remembered The Gap Storm of 2008, which destroyed dozens of homes, many of them in the same corridor between Kenmore and Arana Hills.

After the Storm: The Cleanup, the Forecast, and the Heat

Thunderstorms are still possible across Queensland’s central and south east regions this week as a cool change moves through, although Brisbane and the Gold Coast may be spared the worst conditions. Temperatures in Brisbane will climb to around 37°C before dropping sharply to 21°C on Tuesday, while a Bureau of Meteorology heatwave warning remains in place for central and northern parts of the state where highs could reach the mid-40s, prompting total fire bans and heightened bushfire danger until early next week.

Meanwhile, Energex crews continued restorations across affected zones. The outage map showed widespread outages across Brisbane’s west, with staggered restoration times. For some customers, restoration was expected to take longer than a day due to safety and access constraints.

ENERGEX OUTAGE FINDER

BOM Warning & ALerts

For many, power may not return until midweek. But in true 4069 fashion, the lights of community spirit never dimmed. As the community often proves, when the lights go out, people switch on for each other.

Where to Get Updates and Help

• Power and outages: Energex Outage Finder

• Emergency assistance: SES (132 500), Triple Zero (000) for life-threatening emergencies

• Brisbane City Council Hotline: 3403 8888

• School closures: Queensland Government School Alerts

• Community updates: 4069 Community Facebook Group

Published 27-Oct-2025

Kenmore Favourite iFruit Fresh Changes Hands After 8 Years

Photo Credit: iFruit Fresh

After nearly a decade serving the Kenmore community with fresh produce and friendly service, local grocers Mario and Maree of iFruit Fresh have stepped away from the local business they built with their family. The store, located in Kenmore Plaza, has been handed over to new, yet familiar, owners, marking a quiet but significant change for loyal customers.

A Local Staple Comes Full Circle

Mario and Maree ran iFruit Fresh for eight years, rarely taking a day off. They stayed open through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring their customers could still access fresh fruit, vegetables, pantry staples and household essentials when larger chains faced shortages. The couple supported local farmers and producers, offering a range of products, including handmade pasta, deli goods, and gluten-free and vegan items.

During their time at the helm, they also became well-known supporters of local clubs, sports teams and fundraising drives, often donating raffle prizes or helping out where needed. Their dedication to the area made them a reliable part of the Kenmore daily routine.

iFruit Fresh family — *Photo Credit: iFruit Fresh/Facebook*

The new owners are no strangers to the shop. According to a community post, they previously ran iFruit Fresh 15 years ago and have now returned to continue its legacy. Locals are encouraged to keep supporting the store during this transition period.

More Than Just a Grocer

iFruit Fresh isn’t your average fruit and veg outlet. It’s a community business that puts quality and connection at its core. The store offers a wide range of premium Australian produce and select international items, carefully chosen to balance both health and taste. Located conveniently with front parking at Kenmore Plaza, the open-style shop is designed for easy, quick visits.

The business also provides online ordering for local delivery seven days a week (excluding public holidays), serving the 4069 area. Customers can click and collect their orders in-store or arrange for them to be delivered to their doorstep.

Mario, Maree, their children, and their team made it clear that their goal was always more than selling produce. It was about creating a positive shopping experience and being part of the neighbourhood. Their departure has sparked a wave of gratitude and warm messages from customers online.

Staying Connected

While the shop changes hands, the focus on fresh, ethical, and locally sourced products remains unchanged.

Customers can still reach the store by calling (07) 3878 9995 or emailing orders@ifruitfresh.com.au. The address remains at Kenmore Plaza on Moggill Road.

iFruit Fresh also remains active on social media and continues to encourage feedback from the community — especially from local producers who may be interested in supplying goods.

Published 2-June-2025

Woman Rescued After Car Crashes into Kenmore Roof

Emergency crews rescued a woman after her car crashed through the roof of a Kenmore home, leaving her trapped for an hour.

On 28 January 2025, the crash occurred around 5:00 p.m. on Kersley Road in Kenmore. The vehicle became wedged in the home’s roof, requiring emergency crews to stabilise it before freeing the driver. Queensland Police confirmed that the woman was uninjured but needed assistance safely exiting the vehicle.

Kenmore - car crashes into roof — *Photo Credit: Paul Turner/Facebook*

Queensland Fire Department crews worked an hour to free the driver from the damaged vehicle. A spokesperson said the home’s roof was not destroyed but sustained significant damage. After securing the scene, the car was removed using a crane at approximately 7:30 p.m.

A neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, described hearing a loud bang before seeing the street fill with emergency service vehicles. The neighbour expressed relief that the driver was not seriously injured.

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. No further details about the circumstances leading to the incident have been released at this time.

Published 29-January-2025