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Brookfield Old Friary in Kenmore Hills Seeks Expression of Interest

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 Kenmore Hills — 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.

Local Opposition

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.

Find out more about the Old Friary.

Kenmore Hills Residents Experience Slow Internet with NBN, ACCC To Investigate

NBN was rolled out in Kenmore Hills just last month; however, instead of the residents feeling happy with the speed of their internet connection, their reaction was quite the opposite.

Unhappy Residents

Kenmore Hills resident Martin Lack has represented all 31 households on his street in their internet connection speed struggles. Having worked in the computer industry for almost 50 years, Mr. Lack definitely qualifies as their go-to guy for their internet connection woes. Living on a street that houses senior executives and business people, the residents were all using HFC, a pay-TV internet cabling since 2003.

Recently however, they were all forced to connect to the NBN. Six of his neighbours who took the plunge have nothing else to say except how bad their experience is now. He said that their internet connection has become worse compared to the speed they had before.

Mr Lack said that after 6:00 p.m. their connection takes a turn for the worse and becomes erratic. This was unlike their prior internet speed under Telstra HFC. Since availing of the 100MB NBN package through Telstra, his expectations were high. He was very disappointed upon noticing the erratic connection that he started documenting it since 1 June. He has since come to the conclusion that the connection he’s getting is less than a quarter of the plan he’s paying for.

ACCC Takes Action

This is not a new complaint, though. Last month, the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) revealed that they are formally investigating broadband retailers’ speed claims. This investigation will also let them know whether the NBN is to blame for the current issues.

As NBN rolls out in major cities, more Australians are spending a lot of money on fixed-line broadband services. However, plenty of people are complaining when they found out that the speed is far less than what was being advertised. The NBN advertised that it can deliver “lightning fast” speeds.

There has been a recorded 117% rise in official complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman since last year.

The ACCC’s investigation program will run for four years beginning late 2017. This will help them identify if the NBN is to blame or if the retailers have failed to buy sufficient capacity to accommodate households. They aim to have 4,000 households connected by the fourth year; however, in order to achieve this, they plan to choose a specific mix of users in cities and regions that use different technologies on basic and high-end packages with different retailers.

Kenmore Hills’ The Creek House Embraces Nature

Kenmore Hills, with its stretches of fertile land, rich bushland, streams, and hobby farms offers a serene sanctuary to its residents, right smack in the foothills of Mt Coot-tha.

Stuart and Davina Gray knew exactly what they wanted in 2013, when they hired their long-time friend, Andrew Munro, the principal of Define Landscape Architecture, to redesign the property and transform a run-down two-storey house into their very own residential sanctuary.

Photo credit: http://www.caandesign.com/

Their 225-sqm property is perfectly situated in an area that slopes down to a natural creek. When choosing materials to use for the house, Shaun Lockyer Architects went with natural materials such as stone and timber to bring the home and its lush, surrounding garden perfectly together. Today, the home is more commonly known as “The Creek House.”

The living area provides a picture-perfect marvellous view of the greenery outside and a glimpse of the creek. There are several climate-proof entertaining areas spread out across two levels of the garden. Each area serves several parts of the home.

The garden has fifteen separate areas, each with its own distinct character. Social gatherings can be held on the verdant lawn areas. Those seeking peace and quiet can look for the hidden retreat down by the creek. The guest courtyard has its own outdoor shower. A birdhouse, fishpond, and beehive provide a touch of whimsy, while the soothing sound of tinkling water from the water feature provides a relaxing ambience to the masterfully designed garden spaces with its lush garden beds. Seasonal garden produce is also grown for food, allowing the occupants and guests to have a garden to gourmet dining experience while at the home.

Easily one of the most attractive properties in Kenmore Hills, the Creek House’s unique take on contemporary design and landscape architecture makes it a real gem, complementing its forest surroundings and bringing nature in, effortlessly and beautifully. Evidently the Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers think so too. They named The Creek House as their 2016 Gold Awardee and recipient of the Best in Category Award.