The two-metre tall fence was put up to improve security and prevent trespassing and vandalism at the school grounds. However, some residents believe it makes the school look too much like a prison.
“Agree with the idea but why security fence needed?” said one member of the school’s public group on Facebook.
Photo credit: Kedron State High School/Facebook
However, other locals argued that the fence was necessary to keep out troublemakers, with one saying it was not “fencing them in but rather fencing undesirables out.” Some even liked the colour of the fence, adding that it complemented the school’s uniform.
“At just over two metres tall, our first brand new fence since 1962 creates a remarkable security contrast with the previous (approx 2 foot 6 inch) chain wire fence next door at the former college,” said a member of the Kedron State High School Class Photos group.
Photo credit: Kedron State High School/Facebook
The school had reportedly seen an increase in vandalism and issues with dog waste being left on its sports ovals by non-students in recent years.
Kedron State High School is one of 58 Queensland state schools to have installed new security fences between 2020 and 2023 based on security incident reports, according to the Department of Education. Security incidents include trespassing, burglary, and arson attempts.
The new security fence is constructed from panels made up of black spear-top steel pickets and rails, with galvanised steel tubing. This type of fencing is one of the designs approved by the Department of Education for areas where the school boundary is accessible from public spaces like sidewalks or roads.
The department conducts annual security risk assessments of schools and funds security upgrades like fences to protect students, faculty, and property. Five more schools are slated to receive new fences in 2023 and 2024.
In the late 19th century, Kedron was a hub for tanneries, skin traders, and slaughter yards, which were clustered around it. Do you know what made the area so ideal for the ‘skin trade?’
Established in 1886 by Michael Joseph Gallagher, the Kedron Tannery quickly earned a reputation for producing high-quality leather products. Situated on the western side of Gympie Road and upstream from other tanneries along the creek, the success of this business reached nationwide recognition, thanks to Mr Gallagher’s business acumen and the effectiveness of his tanning methods.
Mr Gallagher’s efforts contributed significantly to the growth of Kedron as a thriving leather industry centre until its closure in the 1960s or two decades after he retired at 84 years old.
In the same period, Paul Maggs and his family settled in the area, and in 1889, he founded the Edinburgh Tannery at the end of Nundah Street, adjacent to Kedron Creek.
The Edinburgh Tannery, like Gallagher’s, experienced remarkable success, becoming another well-known name in Australia’s leather trade. With its strategic location alongside the creek, the tannery benefited from easy access to water, a crucial resource for the tanning process.
Mr Maggs was a prominent figure in the tanning industry, and apart from the Edinburgh Tannery, he owned two other tanneries in the region. The Avondale Tannery, established in 1889, was the first of his ventures, but it was later sold in 1894. The larger Edinburgh Tannery, established in the same year as the Avondale Tannery’s sale, operated until 1904 before Mr Maggs embarked on a new venture.
In 1906, he built the Bristol Tannery downstream, which would ultimately become the last and largest of his three tanneries. The Bristol Tannery thrived under his ownership for six decades, leaving a significant mark on the history of the local leather industry. It became a prominent landmark along Kedron Creek and contributed to the economic prosperity of the region.
Tannery Placed Kedron on the Map
The region’s abundant water flow, particularly in the catchment area of Kedron Brook, provided an ideal environment for tanneries, skin traders, and slaughter yards to flourish.
As the tanneries flourished, Kedron became the centre of the industry on the North Coast. At that time,tanneries were all running at full capacity, and their leather found its way to markets in the southern states, as inter-colonial barriers had been broken down.
Kedron’s tanners contributed substantially to the state’s economy through their importation of materials and their leather exports.
Inside the tanneries, powerful and efficient machinery aided in labour-saving processes. The supply of hides came from various locations across Queensland, amounting to tens of thousands of hides processed annually.
In addition to hides, there was also a substantial trade in sheepskins, with a high demand that the tanners struggled to keep up with. Kangaroo skins, on the other hand, were becoming scarcer each year, leading to a decrease in their trade.
The primary bark used for tanning came from the black and silver Wattle of South Australia, and tanneries imported significant quantities of it annually.
However, as the tanneries continued to prosper, concerns from local residents regarding pollution increased. This led to early legislation targeting the tannery trade in the area.
Despite the challenges posed by such regulations, the industry persisted, adapting to changing times and demands. Both Gallagher’s Kedron Tannery and Edinburgh Tannery continued to thrive in their respective locations.
As time passed, the tanning industry faced further transformations. In 1966, Johnsons & Sons of Chermside acquired Paul Maggs’ tanneries, including the Bristol Tannery, marking a new chapter in the tanning business.
The tanneries remained operational until 1973, when Johnsons & Sons made the decision to sell the properties for housing development. They relocated their operations to the northern outskirts of Brisbane, an area with a long-standing tradition of hosting the tanning industry.
Plans by Brisbane Racing Club to revitalise the abandoned Stafford Bowls Club site have been met with fierce opposition from locals complaining about the proposed $7.5-million development and the prospect of pokies operating nine hours a day, seven days a week in the neighbourhood.
The State’s gambling regulator granted approval for 50 gaming machines to be operated by the Brisbane Racing Club. Although significantly less than the club’s initial request for approval for 76 machines, the decision has faced criticism from residents who believe that they have not had adequate opportunity to provide community feedback, having allegedly been given a tight, 10-day window earlier this year to voice their objections to the development.
Locals’ concerns
The Stafford Bowls Club ceased operations in 2016. Today, a group of locals have organised the Stafford Community Hub not Race Club, expressing their objections to the proposed makeover.
Photo credit: Stephen Bates – Greens MP for Brisbane, Stafford Community Hub Not Race Club/Facebook
The group believes that the addition of gaming machines represents an excessive and unsustainable increase in gambling capacity, particularly in an already saturated local community area with high accessibility and exposure to gambling.
A petition signed by over 200 individuals in early 2023 demanded the return of Stafford Bowls Club to the community. This call for action came in response to the Brisbane City Council’s approval of a lease transfer to the Brisbane Racing Club.
They have also expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on nearby socio-economically disadvantaged areas, which are home to high-risk groups, including a significant concentration of social housing.
Photo credit: Anna Campbell, Stafford Community Hub Not Race Club/Facebook
Furthermore, critics argue that the revenue generated from the gaming machines will primarily benefit membership groups and communities outside of the local community area, rather than directly benefiting Club Stafford members or residents.
Approval Conditions
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) imposed ten conditions on the gaming machines, including mandatory hourly staff walkthroughs and the maintenance of log books documenting any instances of problem gambling observed by the staff and the measures taken to address it.
The machines will operate from 10:00 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, with the added requirement of facial recognition technology to identify banned individuals and technology to enable patrons to set predetermined limits on their gambling losses.
Photo credit: Michael Costello/Google Maps
Another condition stipulates that no alcohol will be served after 10:00 p.m., aiming to minimise the potential negative effects of alcohol consumption on gambling behaviour.
The club’s plans for the site include the addition of new dining facilities, a cafe, and a sports bar.
In response to the objections, the Brisbane Racing Club has assured the public that it will collaborate with various community groups and relevant stakeholders to create a space that serves the wider community.
Her beloved “Äunty Erika” is both the inspiration and the subject behind the winning artwork of Lily Hobbs, a 17-year-old artist from Kedron, who won the top prize for the 16-18 age group at the 11th annual Young Archie competition.
Inspired by the famous Archibald Prize, the Young Archie competition asks young artists aged 5 to 18 to create a portrait of someone special to them, someone who plays an important role in their life.
Lily chose her aunt Ericka and lovingly painted her in a pensive mode, her face in light and shadow.
”Aunty Erika” | Photo Credit: Art Gallery of NSW / artgallery.nsw.gov.au
Lily explained that her winning artwork captured a rare moment. She said her aunt has a bright and charming personality and in the portrait, Lily said she chose to show deeper emotions and her aunt’s more vulnerable side. She said she also wanted to show her aunt’s generosity and strength even in difficult times.
In the 5-8 years category, eight-year-old Phoebe Raft from Terrigal, NSW, won the top prize for her amazing self-portrait and Toby Lopata, a nine-year-old from Elsternwick, Victoria, was awarded the 9-12 years prize for his portrait of his grandpa.
Jasmine Guy, 15, from Oatley NSW, won in the 13-15 years category with a striking painting of her friend. Finally, Kedron’s 17-year-old Lily Hobbs received the top award in the 16-18 age group for her thoughtful portrait of her aunt.
This year’s competition received a record number of submissions from all over Australia, with over 3,400 artworks entered.
The guest judge, artist Grace Lillian Lee, faced the difficult task of selecting the finalists from such a talented pool of young artists. Lee expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to learn about the artists and the people they depicted in their portraits.
Maud Page, the deputy director of the Art Gallery of NSW, praised the Young Archie competition for supporting the next generation of Australian artists. She emphasised the importance of encouraging young artists to express their individuality and creativity.
The winners in each age category were announced in Sydney, and now an exhibition of all the finalists’ artwork can be seen at the Art Gallery of NSW. The winners in each category will receive a cash prize of $200, while the remaining finalists will be awarded $50 each.
The Young Archie exhibition, featuring incredible artworks, is now open to the public for free at the Art Gallery of NSW. Visitors can also explore the Archibald, Wynne, and Sulman Prizes for 2023. This competition celebrates the talent and artistic expression of young people while showcasing the power of art to capture emotions and tell stories.
Kedron’s Bradbury Park has undergone a remarkable transformation just in time for the school holidays, with a new, futuristic playscape for older kids, updated play areas for activities that include cricket and netball, and spaces for the whole family to gather, pets included.
Located at 91 Kitchener Road, Bradbury Park has long been a popular recreational spot for the community. Designed to cater to children aged 10 to 15, the park now boasts a revitalised playscape, complete with climbing towers, bridges, and whimsical play structures. The exciting additions to the park aim to provide older kids with an engaging and thrilling outdoor experience.
Aside from the new playscape, families can enjoy a range of amenities, including shady spots for picnics, electric barbecue facilities, and various sporting facilities like cricket nets and a netball facility.
The introduction of the futuristic playscape fills a gap in the recreational offerings for older kids in the area. With indoor play centres often being expensive, this innovative outdoor play area provides a more accessible and affordable option for families.
Photo Credit: BrisbaneCityCouncil
The park also features a dog off-leash area, making it a suitable destination for the entire family. Parents and children alike have expressed their gratitude for the addition, praising the park as an amazing and much-needed facility.
However, one visitor did offer a word of caution, advising others to wear dark clothes when visiting the playscape. The wooden structures in the park have been charred, resulting in black residue. Whilst this may not deter the adventurous spirits of children, it’s important for parents to be aware.
Photo Credit: BrisbaneCityCouncil
The Bradbury Park improvement project is part of Brisbane City Council’s commitment to enhancing and maintaining over 2100 parks across the city. As the Marchant ward continues to grow, it is crucial to ensure that parks can cater to the recreational needs of residents.
The project has been a collaborative effort between Brisbane City Council and the community. Extensive community engagement was conducted in late 2019 to gather feedback and ensure the park’s enhancements align with the community’s desires.
A development application has been lodged for a multiple dwelling project located at 19-25 Norman Avenue. Designed by HAL Architects, this proposed development aims to offer a modern and vibrant living space whilst prioritising community engagement and comfort.
The centrepiece of the project is a six-storey residential building that will house a total of forty-two (42) apartments. The design incorporates a range of materials and innovative screening techniques, ensuring a visually appealing facade that enhances the living experience for both future residents and neighbours.
Level 2 | Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au Level 3 | Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Each unit above the ground floor will feature a minimum of 12 sqm private balconies, allowing residents to enjoy outdoor spaces and soak in the surrounding views. Additionally, the ground floor units will have the added benefit of a minimum 35 sqm private courtyard, providing ample room for relaxation and leisure activities.
One of the standout features of this development is the generous rooftop garden and communal recreation area. Situated on the top level, this space will offer on-site passive recreation opportunities for the residents, fostering a sense of community and providing a tranquil retreat amidst the urban landscape.
Level 4 | Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au Level 5 | Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Parking and accessibility have also been carefully considered in the plans. The proposal includes 75 car park spaces, with 67 dedicated to residents and 8 for visitors. Furthermore, the development will provide 53 bicycle spaces, catering to the increasing demand for sustainable transportation options.
The design philosophy behind the development emphasises a human scale, promoting casual surveillance and an engaging streetscape. Balconies, openings, and strategically positioned windows overlook Norman Avenue, encouraging interaction between residents and the neighbourhood.
Roof terrace | Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Privacy is also a key consideration, achieved through fine-level elevation detailing and screening techniques that ensure a sense of seclusion whilst enhancing the facade’s visual appeal.
In terms of landscaping, the proposed development strikes a balance between the built form and green space. Ample deep planting areas, capable of accommodating subtropical shade trees, will be incorporated along the front and rear property boundaries. This thoughtful approach will soften the overall built form of the apartment building, providing shade and contributing to a visually pleasing environment.
Several near misses and the presence of trip hazards caused by uneven ground have been worrying residents familiar with the controversial crossing. Compounding the issue are the ongoing bus works taking place at the same location.
These bus works are part of the Northern Transitway project, a large-scale initiative which involves constructing a dedicated bus lane on Gympie Road between Kedron and Chermside. Once completed, this project is expected to benefit over 5,000 people during peak periods each weekday.
Photo credit: Department of Transport and Main Roads
However, the safety of pedestrians at the said crossing on Gympie Road is currently safeguarded only by a rope barrier placed at the centre traffic island where Castle and Strathmore streets meet. The ongoing construction works have not only raised safety concerns but have also disrupted access to some establishments in the area.
Photo credit: Google Street View
In response to the situation, a spokesperson from the Department of Transport and Main Roads acknowledged that the pedestrian island would be rebuilt as part of the Northern Transitway project.
The works are expected to be completed by late June 2023, assuming construction progresses smoothly and weather conditions permit. The entire project covers a 2.3km corridor along Gympie Arterial Road between Sadlier Street in Kedron and Hamilton Road in Chermside.
Meanwhile, Councillor for Marchant Ward Fiona Hammond has been actively involved in addressing the issue, having received multiple calls from concerned locals, particularly those worrying about schoolchildren and elderly individuals who must cross the road daily.
Would a toll tunnel from Kedron to Carseldine alleviate traffic congestion? That is the $35-million question. The proposed 7-km tunnel would potentially traverse the long-preserved North West transport corridor and closely follow Gympie Road to connect the two suburbs.
This proposal for a tunnel from Kedron to Carseldine comes after Brisbane City Council’s North West Transport Network plan, which included two options for a road tunnel, was rejected by Infrastructure Australia earlier this year.
Council’s proposal had yet to sufficiently consider a cheaper surface route, although this alternative faces community opposition and environmental concerns due to its impact on ecologically sensitive areas.
To undertake the necessary assessments and analysis, a new entity named North Brisbane Infrastructure will be established by the Queensland Investment Corporation. This entity will be responsible for detailed transport modelling, technical assessments, and financial analysis.
In addressing traffic congestion, the project will also consider public and active transport needs, including bicycle lanes.
A recent statement outlines the potential benefits to be examined as part of a detailed investment proposal, including:
shorter commuter times
better connections with the Bruce Highway to and from the Sunshine Coast
better connections to the west of the city through Legacy Way and south through the Clem7 to the M1
improving amenities and liveability for locals by removing through traffic from Gympie Road
Treasurer Cameron Dick is confident that the tunnel could be constructed within eight years if it proves viable.
Mr Dick emphasized that the state government’s proposed toll tunnel offers a new solution to the long-standing challenge of easing congestion in Brisbane’s north. The forecasted population growth in the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay region is expected to increase traffic into Brisbane, making it an opportune time to address this issue.
“This is a new solution proposed for a long-established challenge – easing congestion through Brisbane’s north,” he said. As a world leader in funds management, the Queensland Investment Corporation has nearly $30 billion worth of infrastructure assets under management.
“It has the expertise to give us the clearest answer in the shortest time to decide whether a Gympie Road toll tunnel stacks up.
“Forecast population growth on the Sunshine Coast and in the Moreton Bay region will increase the traffic into Brisbane, so now is the right time to do this work. Based on Brisbane’s most recent road tunnel projects, from this point the tunnel could potentially be built within about eight years if it stacks up.”
The Kedron to Carseldine tunnel’s construction would be tolled due to the project’s significance. The project’s proponents anticipate that the tunnel would improve connections with the Bruce Highway to and from the Sunshine Coast, as well as facilitate better connections to Brisbane’s west via Legacy Way and south through the Clem 7 to the M1.
A community consultation will be conducted in the last half of 2023 to gather input from local residents, businesses, and other stakeholders. The work on the investment proposal is set to begin in the 2023/24 financial year.
The Brisbane property market is maturing. As the 2032 Olympics looms on the horizon, it’s a rare analyst that sees anything other than substantial growth over the next few years. Did you know that there’s a new agency in Kedron who’s building market share with a fresh approach to the real estate agency space?
After selling homes for the last three years from his home-office, Daniel Hooper opened his new office at 7/359 Gympie Road, Kedron in January 2023 and has already built a reputation as the highest sales volume agent in Kedron.
He spent 4 years buying, renovating and flipping houses between 2016 and 2019 which gave him an insight into the main drivers of improving value in property. From the value of a new kitchen to the flow of a home to removing stud walls to open up living space, Daniel developed a fundamental understanding of what buyers value most.
“We would increase the value between 30k and 150k over the course of a four-week renovation,” he said.
Photo Credit: One Percent Property/Daniel Hooper
Though he says the main thing he learnt was that the flipping “gave me insight into how to structure a sales agency from the customer’s point of view as I dealt with so many agents, which gave me an opportunity to assess the things I wanted as a buyer and vendor, as well as the things I didn’t want in an agent.”
Over the last three years, Daniel Hooper has sold over 160 properties in his new agency, One Percent Property, which as he says gives him incredibly fresh data.
“As we are selling so many properties due to our much more attractive commission and business model, our buyer data is incredibly fresh. Every week, we have a lot of buyers that miss out on a property which means the new listings we take on will be placed immediately in front of those pre-qualified buyers” says Daniel.
A recent listing, 15 Parkdale Street in Kedron was on the market for three months with another agent at the peak of the market but failed to sell.
“We were approached by the owner of 15 Parkdale Street to take over the listing last month. We had it sold before we could even get the sign up.”
Another successful sale by Daniel Hooper and his team at One Percent property
Other recent sales in Kedron by One Percent Property include homes on Glenhaven Street, Seventh Avenue, View Street, Sixth Avenue, Armentieres Street, North Street, Childers Street, Eleventh Avenue, Somerset Road, Achilles Street, Figgis Street, Tanimbla Street, Homebush Road and Emerald Street.
Daniel’s real estate model looks beyond the standard “fixed fee”commission structure. He has instigated a policy of “pay what you wish” commission, giving vendors the option to pay less or more at the end of the transaction.
“Decide our fee AFTER the sale! – Our revolutionary commission structure allows you to decide how much we get paid after you have seen how hard we have worked for you and the price we have achieved. What better way to know I will strive to get you the absolute best possible result? No Sale, No Fee – We do not ask our clients to pay massive sums of advertising upfront. Instead, we have a small marketing levy that covers all advertising costs and it is charged out of the settlement. If I can’t sell your home, you don’t pay me a cent!”
Origin 1 was on a knife edge. The Maroons had lost the lead to a controversial try (surely it was a knock-on) then wrestled it back when “The Hammer” was put away by the mercurial Cam Munster. Only 12 men on the field with tiring legs, then as they say, “cometh the hour cometh the man.” Step forward the prop, Padua College, Kedron’s Lindsay Collins.
It was a moment of utter brilliance! Daly Cherry-Evans launched a speculator. James “Teddy” Tedesco went up in the challenge with Lindsay but Collins launched himself and attacked the dipping ball as if there was only one outcome and the quick offload to the genius that is Cam Munster, sealed yet another extraordinary chapter in the Maroons’ Origin Legacy.
It was no surprise that the whole Maroons team ran to Collins after the try. Munster had created room for Hamisa Tabuai-Fidow a few minutes earlier to put the Maroons back in front but the sheer effort of Collins to put Munster over was iconic.
Lindsay’s grandfather, Lionel Williamson, was known as the “Innisfail Flyer,” a speed machine on the wing representing the Innisfail club, 50 years before Billy Slater scorched the Innisfail touchlines.
Williamson went on to play first grade for the Newtown Jets in Sydney and represented Queensland and Australia, including scoring two tries in the 1968 World Cup final win over France.
Lindsay himself, as a Padua College youngster, represented Queensland in Rugby Union as a flanker and played AFL as a ruckman. This led to him being invited to a Brisbane Lions rookie camp, though his junior Rugby League club, Brothers, fed his passion.
A stint at the Broncos began whilst still at Padua in year 11, but he continued to play Union for Padua which led to selection for the National Gold Squad with the ARU.
Lindsay Collins training in training with the Roosters. Photo Credit: https://www.roosters.com.au/news/2022/10/18/kangaroo-collins-following-footsteps-of-famous-grandfather/
The Sydney Roosters saw his potential and signed him in November of 2016, slipping through the Broncos’ fingers, the team he had always supported.
Collins was considered one of the standouts of Origin 2022. In Adelaide, the Padua boy took his reputation to a new level and delivered a boost to the extraordinary reputation Padua College has built, becoming their 6th graduate to play State of Origin.
Origin 2 kicks off at 8.05 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21 at Suncorp stadium.
