St Anthony’s School in Kedron has secured State funding for a new two-storey learning wing, with five additional classrooms and supporting facilities set to form the next stage of the Catholic primary school’s campus development.
The project will include classrooms designed for Year 4 students, integrated Learning Support areas, a flexible outdoor learning terrace, connecting walkways, and additional student amenities.
The school announced its funding success through its official Facebook page, saying the investment would support its ongoing development and help provide contemporary learning environments for students and families.
Photo credit: Google Street View
The announcement identified two funding sources: the State Capital Assistance Scheme and the External Infrastructure Subsidy Scheme. However, it did not disclose the total construction cost, the amount awarded under either scheme or the school’s own financial contribution.
The expansion adds to the facilities of a school that currently enrols 700 students, according to its website. St Anthony’s provides co-educational primary schooling from Prep to Year 6.
New learning spaces for Year 4
Photo credit: Google Street View
The five additional classrooms will be designed to support Year 4 students, while integrated Learning Support areas will form part of the new wing. The development also includes a flexible outdoor learning terrace, giving the school an additional space for outdoor learning activities. Walkways and student amenities are included in the project scope.
The school has described the investment as part of its broader growth journey, with the facilities intended to support its students and families while strengthening its established Kedron community.
St Anthony’s has a long association with the suburb. Brisbane’s local heritage register records that the original school opened in Turner Road in 1930, serving children from the local Catholic parish. As enrolments increased, the school moved to a new site at the corner of Turner and Somerset roads in 1951. The latest expansion represents another stage in the development of the school, although no construction timetable has been announced.
Two funding streams support the project
The State Capital Assistance Scheme assists eligible non-state schools with capital works involving new educational facilities, conversions, refurbishments and upgrades. Approved projects receive one-off grants, with applications assessed through designated Capital Assistance Authorities.
The External Infrastructure Subsidy Scheme has a different focus. It helps eligible schools meet certain external infrastructure expenses associated with capital works, including headworks contributions, passenger pick-up and set-down facilities at developing schools and other related infrastructure costs.
Both schemes are administered through designated Capital Assistance Authorities, with Catholic Education Queensland responsible for the Catholic school sector’s capital assistance arrangements.
The funding announcement confirms support through both programs, but the individual allocations and how much each will contribute to the Kedron project have not been publicly established in the material reviewed for this article.
The school has also yet to announce the construction contractor, expected start date or completion timeframe.
St Anthony’s School Expansion at a Glance
Location: Kedron, Brisbane
Building: New two-storey learning wing
Classrooms: Five additional rooms for Year 4 students
Other facilities: Learning Support areas, outdoor learning terrace, walkways and student amenities
Funding: State Capital Assistance Scheme and External Infrastructure Subsidy Scheme
Not yet disclosed: Total project cost, individual funding allocations, construction commencement and completion dates.
HeartKids families will gather for a free Christmas get-together at Bradbury Park in Kedron, where children can play, make new friends and craft something to take home.
Brisbane Christmas in the Park runs on Saturday, 21 November, from 10 a.m. to noon. HeartKids is pitching it as a relaxed pre-Christmas event where heart families can connect and socialise.
Kids get time to play, meet other children and put together a handmade Christmas craft. The organisers haven’t said what the craft will be.
Heart kids and their immediate family pay nothing to attend. They do need to register, though, because the organisers use the numbers to plan the catering. Planning to go? Sign up before the day.
HeartKids has supported families through childhood heart disease for more than 40 years and runs state-based get-togethers for parents and families. In Queensland, the state’s children’s hospital says it supports more than 6,500 children and young people with heart conditions every year. The charity hopes families will come along for a bit of Christmas cheer and time together.
Kedron residents could face new parking restrictions and altered road access under a proposed school safety plan, while earlier consultation records raise questions about how existing traffic rules will be enforced.
The Kedron Safer School Precinct proposal includes new pedestrian crossings, intersection upgrades and revised parking arrangements around Padua College, Mount Alvernia College and St Anthony’s Primary School.
Although some parking changes would apply only during school hours, others could permanently affect where residents and visitors can leave their vehicles. A proposed one-way section of Broughton Road would also change access for some households.
Photo Credit: BCC
Council says the improvements are intended to reduce congestion, improve visibility and make streets safer for students, pedestrians and motorists.
However, its earlier consultation findings identified illegal parking, blocked driveways and dangerous driving among the problems affecting the neighbourhood.
Some parking restrictions would extend beyond school hours
The proposed precinct design distinguishes between several types of parking controls, with different rules applying according to location and time of day.
Under the October 2026 plan, designated no-parking areas would operate between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. and between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. on school days.
Two-minute loading zones and 15-minute parking areas would operate during the same periods, while designated bus zones would apply between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. and between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on school days.
Other restrictions would have a more lasting effect.
The precinct map identifies yellow no-stopping lines near parts of the road network. Unless signs specify otherwise, these prohibit stopping at any time, including weekends and school holidays, subject to applicable road-rule exceptions.
For nearby households, the distinction could affect everyday parking arrangements for residents, family visitors and tradespeople, even when school traffic is absent.
Council says the changes are intended to improve visibility around pedestrian crossings, school entrances and bus stops while reducing conflicts between vehicles.
Its published project documents do not provide a precinct-wide figure showing how many existing unrestricted parking spaces would be permanently removed.
Kedron parking changes at a glance
Proposed restrictions near the three-school precinct:
No parking
7:00–9:00 a.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m., school days
Two-minute loading
7:00–9:00 a.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m., school days
15-minute parking
7:00–9:00 a.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m., school days
Bus zones
7:30–8:30 a.m. and 3:00–4:00 p.m., school days
Yellow no-stopping lines
Generally apply at all times unless otherwise signed
Proposed arrangements only. Final rules depend on
the approved design and installed signs.
Source: Brisbane City Council.
Broughton Road residents face changed access
A separate proposal would make Broughton Road one-way towards Wood Street between Wayland Street and Wood Street.
Council identifies the narrow, steep road as a location where opposing traffic movements create safety concerns. The change is also intended to discourage motorists from using residential streets as shortcuts.
Photo Credit: BCC
In its project information, council acknowledges that some residents may need to travel along different routes when entering or leaving their properties.
The one-way arrangement forms part of wider traffic changes involving Turner Road, Somerset Road, Cremorne Road, Goodall Street and nearby intersections.
Proposed improvements include roundabouts, raised pedestrian crossings, traffic islands and revised road markings designed to reduce speeds and make vehicle movements more predictable.
Council says technical investigations and traffic modelling helped shape the design. However, the published project documents reviewed do not include a street-by-street forecast showing how traffic volumes would change on surrounding roads following the Broughton Road conversion.
The extent to which nearby residential streets could experience altered traffic patterns is therefore not established in the publicly available project material.
Earlier complaints included drivers breaking road rules
The question of enforcement has a history in Kedron’s school precinct.
During community consultation in November and December 2024, residents and other road users identified unsafe driving, school pick-up queues and motorists using residential streets to avoid congestion as major concerns. Council received 311 survey responses containing 11,826 pieces of feedback, with more than 80 per cent of survey respondents rating congestion as poor or very poor. Its subsequent consultation report recorded complaints about motorists queuing through intersections, parking illegally and blocking driveways.
Council identified several possible responses, including traffic-calming infrastructure, driver education and working with Queensland Police Service on additional enforcement of road rules. The October 2026 plan includes physical measures intended to influence driver behaviour, such as raised crossings, redesigned intersections and changes to traffic movements.
Council also plans to work with the three schools through its Active School Travel programme to encourage safer journeys and help families adapt to the new arrangements.
Pedestrian improvements form a major part of the plan
Beyond changes affecting motorists, the proposal includes new and upgraded footpaths along Goodall Street, Cremorne Road and Somerset Road. Pedestrian crossing improvements are also proposed along Turner Road, Somerset Road, Cremorne Road, Jardine Street and Wood Street.
Council says the crossings, footpaths and kerb upgrades will improve access to schools and bus stops, particularly for children, families and people with limited mobility.
Changes to bus zones and school pick-up areas are intended to better separate buses, private vehicles and pedestrians during busy arrival and departure periods. The existing stop, drop and go arrangement outside St Anthony’s Primary School on Turner Road would remain accessible, while revised two-minute loading areas would serve the surrounding schools.
Council considers the combination of infrastructure improvements and school travel education necessary to reduce reliance on private vehicles and ease congestion. The proposed measures also reflect concerns raised during the earlier consultation about unsafe crossings, speeding and the large number of vehicles using local streets.
Final parking and traffic arrangements remain open for comment
Council has maintained that its priority is improving safety while considering the needs of surrounding households and on-street parking wherever possible. The project remains at the draft stage, with council stating that technical assessments and community feedback will inform the final design.
Residents have until midnight on Sunday, 1 November 2026, to provide feedback on the proposed parking restrictions, street layouts and traffic arrangements. Council says it will review submissions before releasing the final plan and construction details.
Work is expected to begin in December 2026 and continue until approximately mid-2027, subject to final design requirements, weather and site conditions. Construction is expected to be staged, with some activities scheduled during school holidays or outside peak periods where possible to reduce disruption.
Parking restrictions along Lutwyche Road are set to change as BCC prepares to update clearway operating hours between Windsor and Lutwyche, potentially affecting when motorists can park along the busy northside corridor.
The changes are part of the Brisbane Clearway Action Plan, which seeks to improve traffic flow by making kerbside lanes available to moving vehicles during busy periods. BCC has completed a technical review of the route and found that existing clearway hours no longer meet traffic demands.
The section under review extends from Northey Street in Windsor to Kedron Park Road in Lutwyche, near the Kedron boundary. New operating hours have yet to be announced, leaving the precise extent of the parking changes unresolved.
Parking Access and Traffic Flow
Photo credit: Google Street View
Clearways prevent vehicles from parking along designated sections of road during specified hours. When the restrictions are in effect, the kerbside lane can accommodate moving traffic rather than parked vehicles.
Under the proposed changes, existing parking periods could be reduced along affected sections of Lutwyche Road. The impact on individual parking spaces will depend on the revised operating hours and the locations covered by the restrictions.
Businesses with customers who use kerbside parking will need to check the final arrangements once they become available. BCC has not published a detailed breakdown of the new hours or identified which parking locations will be affected.
The plan also targets delays caused by parked vehicles occupying traffic lanes. BCC says keeping these lanes clear can improve road capacity without the need for major infrastructure works such as road widening.
Bus movements are another part of the initiative. According to BCC, clearways can help public transport operate more smoothly by reducing obstructions during periods of heavy traffic. Improved visibility for pedestrians and cyclists is also among the benefits identified in the plan.
Revised Hours Still to Be Announced
BCC has previously extended clearway hours along Musgrave Road and Waterworks Road between Red Hill and The Gap, completing that project in June 2025.
The authority reports that the changes are saving motorists more than 1,000 hours each week, with average travel times reduced by up to 4.1 per cent. Those figures apply to the completed western corridor and do not establish what results Lutwyche Road will achieve.
The Lutwyche Road project remains at the pre-implementation stage, with detailed operating hours and a commencement date still to be released.
Residents and businesses in affected areas will receive project notification newsletters before work begins. BCC also intends to distribute further updates and install temporary roadside signs to alert motorists before the new restrictions take effect.
Motorists should continue to follow existing parking signs until any changes are formally introduced. Further project information is available through BCC’s Brisbane Clearway Action Plan webpage.
Families considering secondary school in Kedron could reduce tuition costs through Mount Alvernia College’s academic scholarship program, which offers eligible students assistance covering 50 to 100 per cent of tuition fees for three years.
The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) lists 7 February 2027 as the application closing date and 27 February 2027 as the test date for Mount Alvernia’s cooperative scholarship program. The college lists a $180 ACER registration fee, which families should confirm when applying.
Two entry points for three-year scholarships
Photo credit: Google Maps/Mount Alvernia College
Mount Alvernia offers Level 1 scholarships for students entering Year 7 and Level 2 scholarships for students entering Year 10. The first level covers tuition fees for Years 7 to 9, while the second covers Years 10 to 12.
According to the college’s published scholarship criteria, applicants should demonstrate commitment to academic achievement, support for the school’s ethos and mission, respect for its Student Code of Conduct, and the capacity to act as positive role models.
The college says its program recognises general excellence or high potential in academic disciplines. All academic scholarship awards are at the discretion of the College Principal.
The published policy does not state how many scholarships are available, how award percentages are allocated, or whether recipients must meet specific academic results or other conditions to retain an award. Families should seek clarification from the college before relying on a scholarship in their financial planning.
What the tuition savings could be worth
Photo credit: Google Maps/Mount Alvernia College
Mount Alvernia’s 2026 fee schedule lists annual tuition at $10,490 for Years 7 to 9 and $12,045 for Years 10 to 12.
If those rates remained unchanged for all three years, a 100 per cent tuition scholarship would be worth $31,470 for Years 7 to 9 or $36,135 for Years 10 to 12. At 50 per cent coverage, the equivalent amounts would be $15,735 and $18,067.50.
These are calculations based on 2026 fees, not guaranteed future savings. Tuition rates may change, and the headline figure of up to $36,000 is a rounded description of the higher three-year projection. The actual benefit depends on the scholarship percentage awarded and the fees charged during the relevant years.
The scholarship covers tuition fees only. The college’s 2026 schedule separately lists a $750 annual technology levy, a $150 annual resource levy, a $425 annual capital levy per family and a $120 annual Parent Partnership Levy per family.
Other listed costs include a Year 7 locker padlock and Year 12 formal, graduation and senior tie charges. Families should check the fee schedule for the charges applicable to their child rather than assume these expenses are covered by the award.
How families can apply
Parents or guardians can register through the ACER scholarship portal, create an account, add their child and follow the instructions to apply for the school’s cooperative testing program.
The published dates are 7 February 2027 for applications to close and 27 February for testing. Families should confirm the entry year and all registration requirements before submitting an application.
Mount Alvernia says it contacts prospective candidates after an application has been submitted to provide further details about onsite testing in February.
Scholarship enquiries can be directed to the college’s enrolments team on (07) 3357 6000 or at enrolments@mta.qld.edu.au. Families should ask about award conditions, future tuition increases, non-tuition charges and any separate enrolment requirements before making decisions based on a possible scholarship.
Kedron is part of Brisbane’s proposed northern Metro expansion, bringing renewed attention to how buses could move more efficiently along Gympie Road as the city investigates smaller vehicles for suburban routes. Fresh congestion figures show the challenge facing transport planners, even with earlier bus-priority improvements along the corridor.
On 21 October 2026, RACQ released findings showing that afternoon peak traffic averaged just 25.2 km/h on Gympie Road between Kedron and Beams Road at Carseldine. The same week, Council’s investigation into smaller Metro-style vehicles emerged as part of broader planning for public transport expansion across Brisbane.
Gympie Road congestion adds pressure to Metro planning
RACQ’s Annual Travel Speeds findings show that congestion added almost nine minutes to the afternoon journey between Kedron and Beams Road. The speed figure covers the full road section and does not measure traffic through Kedron separately.
Across South East Queensland, more than 70 per cent of the major road sections surveyed were slower during 2025 peak periods than in 2019. The results have prompted further calls for coordinated road and public transport investment rather than isolated congestion measures.
Kedron sits along the Northern Metro corridor, which Brisbane City Council is investigating between the CBD and Carseldine, via Lutwyche, Chermside and Aspley. The business case remains in development, with route alignment, infrastructure, depot locations and delivery stages yet to be settled.
Existing bus lanes provide a starting point
Gympie Road is already used by high-frequency bus services, including routes 333 and 340. Translink’s route information confirms that the 340 runs between Carseldine and Woolloongabba via the city, serving Kedron stops at Rode Road, Kitchener Road, Strathmore Street and Sadlier Street.
Route 333 also serves Gympie Road through Kedron, linking Chermside with Woolloongabba via the city. Both services use the northern corridor that could be affected by future changes to Metro operations.
Earlier bus-priority planning provides important context. The Northern Transitway was designed for a 2.3-kilometre section of Gympie Road between Sadlier Street in Kedron and Hamilton Road in Chermside, with dedicated bus lanes intended to improve reliability during peak periods.
Under the 2020 final design, the lanes were to operate on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The design retained stops near Coles at Strathmore and Castle streets following community concerns about access.
The planning also addressed intersections and turning movements, including changes near Boothby Street. Those earlier decisions show how bus travel times, local road access and on-street parking have already competed for space along Gympie Road.
Smaller vehicles remain under investigation
The latest proposal involves investigating smaller Metro-style vehicles that could operate beyond the dedicated busways used by Brisbane’s existing Metro fleet. Battery-electric buses are among the options reported to be under consideration, although no vehicle model, procurement decision or deployment timetable has been confirmed.
Smaller vehicles would not automatically eliminate delays at traffic signals or congested intersections. Their ability to offer more reliable journeys through Kedron would depend partly on the corridor design and the priority measures ultimately selected.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads is separately examining transport improvements between Herston and Carseldine through its Gympie Road Planning Program. The work covers road access, safety, active transport, network reliability and congestion.
Final route and delivery timetable still to be decided
Brisbane City Council is developing the Metro expansions business case with Jacobs Group (Australia), covering proposed northern, eastern, southern and airport connections. The assessment will consider infrastructure improvements and delivery stages before final routes are determined.
Infrastructure Australia lists the expansions as a planning investment and identifies a $50 million Australian Government commitment supporting the business-case development. The national assessment does not amount to approval for constructing a Metro route through Kedron.
The outstanding issue is how future Metro services would differ from buses already using Gympie Road. No final Metro stops, additional bus lanes or traffic-signal changes have been announced specifically for the suburb under the current expansion proposal.
Training twenty-four hours a week in Kedron, young gymnastics standout Zhariyah Akiba is rapidly turning local dreams of an Olympic home showcase into reality.
Local clubs are bracing for a forty percent participation surge as more than 135,000 adults and children embrace the sport by the year 2032. Training up to twenty-four hours across five weekly sessions at Delta Gymnastics’ high-performance program, the young athlete known affectionately as Big Z has advanced rapidly through the competitive levels since moving from the Cairns region.
Her rigorous routine includes competing at the Australian Gymnastics Championships representing Team Queensland and testing her skills against older international prospects in Sydney.
Mentored by club director John Mitchell, the dedicated youngster transitioned smoothly from Level 5 to Level 7 before jumping three additional levels. Coaching staff attribute her swift progress to a natural ability for picking up complex skills and maintaining composure under high-pressure competitive environments.
Akiba draws daily inspiration from American Olympic champion Simone Biles, openly sharing her dream of performing signature vault maneuvers on the world stage.
While age restrictions keep her out of upcoming international fixtures, timing aligns perfectly for a home showcase when Queensland hosts the global competition. Gymnastics Queensland forecasts massive community growth over the coming decade, transforming local training hubs into breeding grounds for future champions. Facilities across the region are expanding programs to accommodate the surging wave of enthusiastic families and aspiring competitors stepping onto the floor.
Residents, parents, and motorists are being invited to have their say on the newly released Kedron Safer School Precinct Plan, which proposes upgrades to pedestrian crossings, footpaths, and traffic movements around three local schools.
The proposed improvements aim to make travel safer and easier for students, families and the wider community, with construction expected to begin in December 2026. Mount Alvernia College, Padua College, and St Anthony’s Primary School helped refine the plan during its development, providing input on proposed changes affecting their school communities.
Photo credit: BCC
Brisbane City developed the precinct plan following community consultation in late 2024, when residents and road users were asked about their experiences travelling through the area. Their responses helped prioritise proposed safety improvements alongside technical investigations and traffic modelling.
Feedback highlighted several concerns, including speeding, unsafe driving behaviour, heavy traffic volumes, and motorists using local streets as shortcuts. Residents also called for more pedestrian crossings and footpaths throughout the precinct.
Safer Crossings and Traffic Improvements Proposed
Photo credit: BCC
The precinct plan includes safer pedestrian crossings at key locations, footpath and accessibility upgrades, and changes to traffic movements intended to improve road safety and traffic flow. Concrete islands and line markings are also proposed to help guide motorists through the area. Brisbane City said these treatments are intended to address identified safety concerns and improve movement through the precinct.
The project prioritises locations with higher safety risks and areas where the proposed improvements are expected to provide the greatest benefits. The final plan and construction details are expected to be shared before work begins.
The design process involved Brisbane’s engineering and design teams, who used technical investigations, traffic modelling and feedback from residents, schools and road users to determine which treatments should be prioritised. The project also seeks to encourage walking, cycling and public transport use by making different ways of travelling through the precinct safer and more accessible.
Residents Invited to Have Their Say Before Construction
With the precinct plan now released, Brisbane is seeking another round of community feedback before progressing towards construction.
Three drop-in information sessions have been scheduled, giving residents an opportunity to speak directly with the project team, ask questions and learn more about the proposed changes.
The sessions will take place at the following locations:
Thursday 22 October, 2pm to 4pm: Cremorne Road, Kedron, near the intersection with Goodall Street.
Sunday 25 October, 8am to 10am: Keith Payne Park, 38 Buddina Street, Stafford.
Tuesday 27 October, 2pm to 4pm: Turner Road, Kedron, near the intersection with Jardine Street.
Residents who cannot attend can provide feedback by emailing SaferSchoolPrecincts@brisbane.qld.gov.au or calling 07 3178 5413 during business hours. Brisbane’s 24-hour contact number, 07 3403 8888, is also available.
The project timeline identifies school empowerment initiatives during Term 4, 2026, intended to support school communities as they transition to using the new infrastructure. Construction is expected to begin in December 2026, with completion anticipated in mid-2027, subject to weather, site conditions and finalisation of the plan.
Community feedback on the Kedron Safer School Precinct Plan closes at midnight on Sunday 1 November 2026. Residents can review the plan and find further information on Brisbane’s project website before submitting their comments.
A Queenslander built in 1921 has fetched $2.03 million at auction in Gordon Park, marking a change of ownership for a historic home that had remained in the same family for 105 years.
The property at 87 Khartoum Street attracted 10 registered bidders, with competition driving the final price to $2,030,000. The sale was recorded on 12 October 2026.
Photo credit: Ray White Wilston
Marketed by Ray White Wilston, the home occupies an 810-square-metre allotment across two lots. Its original architectural details, substantial land area, and long family history were among the features highlighted in the property’s marketing campaign.
A Century of Family History in Gordon Park
Photo credit: Ray White Wilston
The Khartoum Street residence remained in the same family from its construction around 1921, with two sisters who were born in the home continuing to live there until recent years. Much of the property’s original character remains visible throughout the interior, where traditional architectural features sit alongside updates made over the years.
Photo credit: Ray White Wilston
Original sash and casement windows, decorative leadlight glass, curved archways and breezeways are among the surviving features. Well-preserved hoop pine flooring, picture rails and a bay window seating area in the lounge further reflect the home’s early 20th-century design.
Photo credit: Ray White Wilston
The separate dining room retains its original light fitting, while the eat-in kitchen includes bench space, storage and a walk-in pantry. An upstairs storeroom and separate playroom provide additional spaces within the residence.
Ray White described the home as having two main bedrooms, a sleepout and two bathrooms. The listing also identified a downstairs bedroom and bathroom.
Outside, the property includes a separate remote-controlled lock-up garage, covered parking for two vehicles and additional driveway parking. Side access, a 3,000-litre water tank and a 5kW solar panel system complete the advertised features.
Ten Bidders Compete at Gordon Park Auction
Ten prospective buyers registered to participate in the auction, reflecting the interest in the historic property. A young first-home buyer opened bidding at $1.4 million. Four bidders competed during the initial stages, with further competition taking the price beyond $2 million.
The property was declared on the market at $2.01 million before the final bids lifted the result to $2.03 million. Around 80 people attended the auction, where the eventual purchaser competed against a local woman during the closing stages.
Photo credit: Ray White Wilston
The final figure followed a competitive campaign for a property whose land configuration and original architectural features were prominent in its marketing. Positioned on the higher side of Khartoum Street, the home spans two lots. Ray White Wilston also highlighted its future potential, without identifying any approved redevelopment plans for the site.
What began with a $10,000 investment has grown into a fashion business for Stafford Heights resident Claudine Blondeau and her sister Olivia, who launched EAU Bags in 2022 and are planning to expand into the US market.
The Brisbane-founded label has secured retail partnerships with major Australian names, including David Jones and The Iconic. Its growth has seen the sisters move from developing their products in a spare bedroom to running a business with a growing team and an expanding network of stockists.
A Small Investment With Big Ambitions
Photo credit: EAU Bags
Claudine, 29, and Olivia, 32, had discussed starting a business together for years. Claudine had worked in journalism and public relations, while Olivia brought experience in branding and marketing for start-ups. Based in Brisbane and Melbourne respectively when they launched EAU Bags, the sisters set out to create bags that were fun, low-maintenance, and suited to everyday use.
The founders discussed their early days in a podcast, reflecting on how their small venture developed into a brand supplying major retailers. The sisters eventually left their secure jobs to concentrate on EAU Bags full-time, despite the financial uncertainty involved. Claudine reported that EAU Bags was growing 290 per cent year-on-year, with 13 employees, two warehouses and more than 300 independent stockists, alongside its major retail partners.
Recycled Materials Behind the Brand
Photo credit: EAU Bags
EAU Bags also uses recycled nylon made from waste materials, including discarded fishing nets, old carpets and factory offcuts. The materials are collected, cleaned, and transformed into recycled nylon yarn, which is dyed and woven into the brand’s distinctive striped fabric. Production involves artisans in India, where the sisters have established a dedicated studio that they visit each year.
Olivia has said the goal was to make something useful from materials that already exist, while creating bags customers would genuinely want to use for years.
US Expansion on the Horizon
Photo credit: Instagram/EAU Bags
Claudine said EAU Bags was preparing to enter the US market through Anthropologie, a fashion and lifestyle retailer. The planned expansion would give the sisters another opportunity to grow the brand beyond its Australian retail network.
The founders are also set to share their experience with Brisbane audiences at Fashion Queensland in Conversation at Brisbane Powerhouse on Friday, 16 October 2026.
The event, scheduled for 6.30pm, will feature the sisters in conversation with business mentor Deanne Luke. Topics include developing EAU Bags, working with artisans in India, building sustainability into the business and navigating the challenges of growing a fashion label.
