Ghost Tours Australia is running the organised two-hour guided tour with historian Jack Sim, whose in-depth knowledge of real and spooky ghost stories should provide a historic, if not entertaining, account of the personalities buried at the South Brisbane Cemetery.
This guided tour isn’t designed to leave you with nightmares. Instead, this is another way to explore local lore and provide another perspective on the history of Brisbane.
The experience will give locals the opportunity to discover the history that’s in their backyard, visit famous burial sites, and learn unique insights about the past, as Mr Sims walks tour participants through parts of the cemetery where few dare to venture alone.
Photo Credit: RonL/Google Maps
Since the late 1990s, Mr Sims has led heaps of tour groups at the South Brisbane Cemetery, especially during Halloween.
Some of his stories include tales of crime, violence, murder, execution, and suicide; thus, the tour isn’t advisable for children under 10 years old. Teenagers up to 15 years of age should have adult supervision.
The ghost tour will entail moderate walking on steep hills and uneven surfaces so wear your best flat, enclosed shoes for comfort if you’re joining.
What a great night. Perfect clear conditions although I would have loved the ambience of a rainy, misty eve. The commentator was amazing. Well rehearsed stories embellished by his natural flair for story telling he held us engrossed for the entire time. He was funny, inclusive, safety driven and so full of knowledge. I will be attending more of your tours very soon.
Anissa
It was the best ghost tour I’ve been on and good experience for first time definitely coming back with friends the tour guide was amazing and funny made it worth it. I got the chills at the sewer bridge when I was left alone I felt like someone was watching me and made it so much better definitely doing more and my tour guide was funny as with his dad joke.
Tydan
I have done many of these tours, and they’re all great! It’s a different way to learn about Brisbane’s history whether you’re a ghost believer or a skeptic! Some of the guides are better at story telling than others, but they are all professional and provide great entertainment telling the tales of Brisbane’s criminal (and ghostly!) history. Definitely recommend.
“Back in 2002, I listed an old Queenslander on Ferndale St for sale. The homeowner contacted our office to sell her home because back in 1926 my grandfather, Robert Matthews had sold her father the land. Obviously her loyalty to her family and their experience with R. Matthews and Son was such that she felt compelled to use our office again in 2002. It was a very significant moment for me as I realized that the memory of quality and ethics in business had remained with her for three generations, and I had a responsibility to our reputation not to let anyone down.”
Russell Matthews
Queen Elizabeth first visited Brisbane only two years after her coronation in 1954 and returned in 1963, 1970, 1982, 1988, and 2011. Not many businesses in Brisbane have traded throughout the late Queen’s life, but there’s one business in Annerley, Matthews Real Estate, that was born when she was just six years old and is still going strong as it approaches its 90th year.
Having been trading for three decades already, the first Auction House for the business was in a converted plumber’s shed at 632 Ipswich Rd. They sold the shop to Esso petroleum in 1965 and moved across the road, renting office space at 653 Ipswich Rd.
In 1983, they purchased the current location on the corner of Cracknell Rd, at 678 Ipswich Road, moving to part of one of Annerley’s original buildings at Chardon’s Corner.
Generations at the Helm
First established in August 1933 as R. Matthews & Son Pty Ltd, the company was established by father-and-son tandem Robert and Leslie Matthews, who worked under local agent John Coleman before striking out on their own.
Leslie was a real estate clerk who was training at John Coleman auctioneers in Brisbane CBD. At the time, the hustle and bustle at the city centre was increasingly spreading outwards, towards Annerley, especially along Ipswich Rd.
Robert spent more than 40 years in the Army as a Staff Sergeant Major and drill instructor, before retiring and getting into the real estate business. A well-respected local, he also worked as a will executor.
Trevor, Robert’s grandson, joined the business at the age of 21, after his father, Leslie, died. Trevor was later joined by his brother, Ken.
Ken and Trevor, the third generation of Matthews at the helm. Photo Credit: Supplied
“I was only 20 when my father died and I really didn’t have much experience in the industry,” Trevor said. “His death launched me into the role of Principal and I had to figure it out as I went along.
“If it weren’t for a few trusted business advisors that my father knew through the REIQ, we may have had to pack it in back then. We’re lucky now as we go through a proper succession that we are able to lean on the FBA and other trusted advisors once again for assistance,” he added.
Robert Matthews served as a Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) board member in 1938, under then-Chairman Ray White.
Robert Matthews and the REIQ Board, 1930s Photo Credit: Supplied
In 1947, Leslie also became an REIQ board member like his father, and he was on the Board again in 1951.
The father-and-son team of Robert and Leslie was active in many community groups like the Mt Gravatt Show Society, the Tarragindi Progress Association, and various bowling clubs.
Trevor also became an REIQ board member like his father and grandfather in 1991 and eventually earned his Life Member status with the peak body.
From the inception of the original Southern Suburbs Branch, including his time as President of the branch, Trevor has been a member of several REIQ committees and the Multiple Listing Service when it was first introduced to Queensland. He is still a member of the Professional Standards Tribunal Appeals Committee.
Preparing for the Future at Matthews Real Estate
Photo Credit: Supplied
Trevor’s son, Russell, and daughters, Kerry and Michelle, as well as Ken’s children, Darren and Melissa, currently make up the heart, brain, and soul of Matthews Real Estate.
Trevor and Ken’s better halves, Lyn and Kay, are also in the real estate business. Sons-in-law Kieran and Simon work in the same industry as well.
Each member of the new generation brings something new and fresh into the mix.
“Respect for the past doesn’t mandate doing everything exactly as it has always been done – we wouldn’t still be here if we did that,” Russell said.
“Making changes to business practices is what we must do to stay relevant. Respect for the past (our family) shows in our motivation, our desire to match their hard work with hard work of our own,” he added.
As the fourth generation of Matthews, led by Russell, ensure that the family business remains on course, the fifth generation is either training to be in the industry or pursuing a path elsewhere, whilst still getting some work experience with the family business.
“Everyone can be involved in one way or another, from a minor level to a high achievement level, with experience,” Trevor said of the family’s business dynamics. “There seems to be something for all interests and education levels.”
Complementing Each Other’s Strengths and Interests
Russell says the differences in their personalities and life experiences complement the time-honoured values that make their business unique.
One of Russell’s listings in the Australian Property Investor Magazine, December 2016.
For Kerry Matthews Forsythe, for example, being involved in the family business has also led her to pursue her interest in history.
It was a teenager’s bedroom wall at a Moorooka listing that led Kerry to her unique pursuit of maintaining an online album of Brisbane’s historic wallpapers and carpets.
The distinctive wallpaper in the room had been there since the 1960s and it featured a captivating red-lipped siren. Kerry just couldn’t stop looking at it. She took a photo so she could save it for posterity.
The wallpaper that started Kerry Matthews Forsythe’s unique collection
Today, Kerry has an impressive collection of images of old wallpapers, tiles, carpets, door handles, and light fittings that she regularly posts on the Matthews Real Estate Annerley’s Facebook page.
As the person in charge of social media for their company, Kerry said she has a platform where she can celebrate older styles and designs to show what she appreciates in a home.
She thinks it’s also a great way to preserve a moment in time, or an era, before it disappears.
“I just think it’s important to celebrate whatever era you’re in, whether it’s a Queenslander from the 1900s or something that’s mid-century modern, it’s nice to appreciate the design features of each one and what they have to offer.”
She believes that the memories also help people relate to a place and ultimately help them make a sale.
“People maybe think I’m a little bit strange, but I think generally people love to see that stuff. They may not want to keep it but they certainly appreciate being able to see it,” Kerry shared.
“There are definitely people who like to be visually reminded of their childhood… It’s just this immediate recollection of another time and another place. It’s usually good memories for people of something that doesn’t exist in their life anymore,” she added.
Russell thinks the synergy makes them uniquely prepared to take on the mantle of leadership as they step into the future.
“We are probably more prepared than any other generation has been, going into this generational transition. Dad (Trevor) was shocked with the sudden death of his Dad and being an accidental business owner much earlier than expected, and had to juggle all of that and learn on the fly.”
“We’re very lucky that we have his guidance and can learn at a practical pace. Also, (for the girls) starting later in our lives with previous work and life experiences to bring to the company is extremely helpful too.”
“Michelle is now in charge of the day-to-day running of the business with an active role across all divisions of the company.”
Acknowledging that sometimes, disagreements do arise, Trevor says it’s all par for the course.
“Luckily family ties are pretty strong and we all want to ensure good relationships remain at the end of the day,” he said.
Lasting Legacy
The family says the legacy of generations of hard work put into the business is a driving force to do even better.
In a show of loyalty that transcends the passing of time, generations of clients have trusted generations of Matthews.
“The legacy has its own weight. It’s not a burden, it’s more that the weight can give you some real momentum and push you to do your best. We still have people coming in to do business with us because their parents or grandparents did business with our previous generation.”
“We love that, those clients are very special to us – we really value their loyalty, especially with so many agents to choose from.”
“Our long history gives our business credibility in our community. We are careful to always live up to that, to take care of this reputation that we have inherited and see that it is deserved and survives,” he added.
“A legacy is something that many never get to be a part of … yet we can see Matthews Real Estate being transitioned before our very eyes.”
Significant Recognition as a Family Business
In 1992, Matthews Real Estate was hailed as one of the Top 10 Real Estate agencies in Australia, based on a national survey. They were the only company from Queensland to make the cut from a shortlist of 400 real estate agencies.
In 2019, the company was recognised as a Family Business Australia Hall of Famer for the company’s highly-regarded brand, reflecting “quality, value, integrity, professional spirit.”
Although 70 per cent of companies in Australia are family-run, just three per cent of that slice of the pie lasts for four generations, placing the Matthews family as one of the lucky few in a rare league that has withstood the test of time — in their case, for nearly 90 years.
Asked about luck, Russell said: “There is a famous quote which says ‘the harder I work, the luckier I get.’ We work hard for our luck. It also helps that “shelter” is a basic human need.”
As luck would have it, Brisbane’s oldest suburban real estate agency that’s still operating as an independent, family-run business has been working hard for their good fortune indeed.
A modern signalling system, state-of-the-art platform screen doors, and a revised blueprint for the South East Queensland rail network will be rolled out, once the Cross River Rail becomes operational in 2025.
The redesigned rail connect plan will benefit commuters en route to The Gabba or to their place of work, providing direct access to Albert Street and Woolloongabba within the rail network.
The restructuring covers three sectors. Sector 1 will be implemented via the Cross River Rail twin tunnels.
Expected changes also include the installation of a new modern signalling system along with the implementation of state-of-the-art Platform Screen Doors for underground stations. These will allow the rail network to run more train services more often whilst improving passengers’ safety.
“The rail connect plan is headlined by projects like the Beerburrum to Nambour and Kuraby to Beenleigh track duplications, Gold Coast Light Rail stage three, station upgrades across all of Queensland, plus the manufacture of 65 brand new trains in Maryborough,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.
“This network will be a change for Queenslanders, but it will open the door for future investment and timesaving timetable changes to help Queenslanders get home sooner and safer,” he added.
Mr Bailey added that despite the big change the revamped rail network, which will feature three new sector networks, will open up new public transport opportunities for many travellers to SEQ, locals and visitors alike.
Sector One will directly connect the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast with trains running through the Cross River Rail tunnel from Varsity lake and Beenleigh to Redcliffe Peninsula and Nambour.
Sector Two will have services running from Rosewood, Ipswich, and Springfield through Central then to Doomben, the Domestic Airport, and Shorncliffe.
Sector Three will have trains operating from Ferny Grove going through Central and Southbank before heading to Cleveland.
These train services will run through Roma Street either through the network’s existing stations or the new Cross River Rail station.
“Our rail revolution is all about building for growth and providing a legacy of infrastructure for generations of Queenslanders to come.
“The new network we build now will be the network Queensland kids and Olympic-goers will remember.”
The Cross River Rail, he said, is already supporting more than 1700 Qld subcontractors and will also see the project supporting over 7, 000 jobs on top of thousands of jobs that will be generated by the Queensland-made Train Manufacturing Program and rollout of the European Train Control System.
The $5.4 billion Cross River Rail and the $7.1 billion Qld Train Manufacturing Program are just two of the projects already in Queensland’s rail pipeline.
The list also includes the Gold Coast Light Rail, European Train Control System, and the Automatic Train Operation and Platform Screen Door fitment on New Generation Rollingstock. Learn more about the SEQ Rail Connect here.
Round up the whole family for a bigger and better Annerley Junction Fest! This annual community event brings established businesses, stall owners, food vendors, and local performers together for some fun in the sun in 2022’s “Spring into Annerley.”
Apart from market stalls where locals can shop for good deals, guests can expect food trucks and heaps of activities for kids and grown-ups, running on Saturday, 8 Oct 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Ipswich Road junction.
Photo Credit: Annerley Junction Fest/Facebook
The programs lined up for this year’s celebration include:
Live Music featuring Junction Park Parentals, Revelation Groove, and The Worm Turns
Fashion Show and performance by the crazily talented Sellma Soul along with the gorgeous students of Yeronga State High School
Model Railway (JPSS Hall) – All Gauge Model Railway Club Inc
Talent Show
Art Show
Garden Party & Jumping Castle at the Braille House along with a Shinkondo Dojo – Aikido Brisbane (martial arts) demonstration, Dara Chair Yoga, and the Yeronga Girl Guides & The Kurilpa Scout Group presentation
Kids Activities and Face Painting
Kids Story Time at the Annerley Library
Annerley 5 Neighbourhood Watch with Crime Prevention Officers demonstration with a police vehicle for kids to explore
Fire Truck exploration
This is a sustainable event so guests are encouraged to bring their own bags, keep cups and refillable water bottles whilst shopping, watching or joining in the activities. Recycling bins will be set up so you can deposit bottles.
Disability helpers will be all around the junction to provide assistance. The Annerley Junction Fest is a truly inclusive and accessible event.
“There are so many diverse and exciting things that happen in our community. Annerley Junction Fest is a wonderful opportunity to discover them together,” said Jeff Brunn, the chairperson for 2022.
Grab your tickets to this FREE event to win a fantastic prize when you register your intent to attend. Don’t forget to share your photos on social media with #junctionfest2022!
Annerley has evolved from an area of dairy farms to become a very important hub connecting the south and east of Brisbane down towards Logan and across to Cleveland and Ipswich.
Aerial view of Annerley c.1934 | Photo Credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
In 1842, Brisbane was opened for free settlement. In the ensuing period of rapid development, Annerley became a vital part of the evolving jigsaw puzzle.
The establishment of Boggo Road in the 1850s created a vital connection between the One Mile Swamp (now known as Woolloongabba) and Ipswich Road via a pathway leading to the top of the Boggo ridge.
The Boggo area is where Annerley now lies.
Thomas Blacket Stephens was one of the earliest settlers in the area. After moving from Sydney in the early 1850s, he built his original house, Cumbooquepa, on a block of land on a ridge overlooking the Brisbane River to the north.
Cumbooquepa is a one-storey house built of masonry and timber, with terracota-tiled and corrugated iron hip roofs.
Cumbooquepa. Photo Credit: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Cumbooquepa eventually became part of Somerville House.
In 1856, Mr Stephens acquired a 206-acre land in the Coorparoo area and another block of land on Ekibin Creek in 1857. The boundaries of these lands would later become Ekibin and Sexton Roads, respectively.
Mr Stephens later would go on to become one of Brisbane’s first orchardists in Brisbane’s south side. He established one of the earliest wool scour and tanneries in the district, which he built on Ekibin Creek.
Junction of Ipswich and Annerley Roads c.1915 | Photo Credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
The area at the junction of Boggo Road and Ipswich Road didn’t have an official name until 1892, when the members of Stephens Division Board with Honourable Digby Denham (later Premier of Queensland) officially named the district Annerley, after a town of the same name located in Surrey, England.
The Thompson Estate
Prior to the separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859, Annerley belonged to the Parish of Yeerongpilly in the County of Stanley.
A survey conducted at the time defined the boundaries of the then-District of Boggo, a bustling area where a population of farmers and market gardeners thrived.
The boundaries were defined to include Ipswich road, the cemetery, Rocky Waterholes Creek, and the Brisbane River.
In 1859, additional blocks of land were sold to Joseph Thompson, James Toohey, and John Cockerill. After acquiring the land, Mr Thompson ventured into entrepreneurship, shipping 40,000 pine shingles to Melbourne.
Floods at Thompson Estate, Stones Corner, 1887 | Photo Credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Negative number: 55976
Mr Thompson would then subdivide his paddocks in the mid-1880s to create the Thompson Estate.
Another significant residential estate established during the time is the St Kilda Estate, which is bounded by Annerley Road, Ipswich Road, and Cornwall Street.
Evolution of Public Transport
Instrumental to the introduction of public transport in Brisbane’s south side was John Soden. He was known for his horse-drawn omnibuses.
In 1879, he purchased Hardcastle’s Hotel, opposite the present-day Chardon’s Hotel, where he opened a small shop and established a mail delivery service.
The mail service initially ran between Brisbane and Rocky Waterholes (Rocklea) but residents soon requested him to expand his service into a regular public run.
In the early 1880s, Mr Soden did just that. At the height of his run, he had a total of 25 buses servicing his routes which included Highgate Hill, Boggo Road, Rocklea, and Mt. Pleasant (now Holland Park).
Workmen in front of a horsedrawn bus, ca 1895 | Photo Credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Negative number: 6155
From horse-drawn buses, public transport moved to electric trams which began in Brisbane in 1897 and extended to Cornwall that same year.
By 1899, the service had expanded to Mary Street (Dudley Street) on Ipswich Road before further extending in 1914 to Chardon’s Corner.
The arrival of electric trams spurred the transformation of Annerley into a residential area.
The introduction of the railway line from South Brisbane to Corinda in 1884 also played a role in the suburb’s transformation by bringing more settlers into Annerley.
At the time, the closest station was Fairfield. In 1895, after the 1893 flood, the station was moved to its present location. Another station north of Annerley also opened at the present Dutton Park.
Some 19th- and 20th-century Development Milestones
A postal office was established at Boggo in 1880. It was named Boggo Post Office two years later, before it became Annerley Post Office in November 1892, following the official naming of the district to Annerley.
In 1886, Saint Philip’s Anglican Church was dedicated. A 1905 storm damaged the church, although it was later rebuilt and re-dedicated. The current church was consecrated in 1955.
Mary Immaculate Church | Photo Credit: LukeMoloney, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0> / Wikimedia Commons
Other churches established in the area include the Thompson Estate Methodist Church (1888), the Mary Immaculate (1914), and the Annerley Congregational Church (1925).
In 1871, Chardon’s hotel opened its doors at the corner of Cracknell Road and Ipswich Road.
In 1883, Princess Alexandra Hospital was opened, named after the wife of Queensland Lady Diamantina Roma, Bowen’s first governor.
In April 1888, The Thompson Estate Provisional School opened on Oxford Street. From 52 students, the school grew and expanded to a hall on Regent Street. After it moved to Waldheim St in 1893, it officially became a state school.
Other notable schools established in early Annerley include the Ipswich Road Convent School (1917), and Our Lady’s College (1964).
In 1957, the Annerley public library opened at 448 Ipswich Road. Designed in 1956 by architect James Birrell, it is now listed on the Brisbane Heritage Register.
21st-century Annerley
From its dairy farm roots to its development as Brisbane transportation and migration patterns evolved, Annerley has established its place as a significant growth hub in the corridor connecting Brisbane’s south and east sectors.
Based on the 2021 census, Annerley has a population of 11,935 people. Majority of the population are between the ages of 24 to 33 years, with the median age at 33 years old.
A secret message in a bottle written by a 16-year-old apprentice carpenter in 1935 and discovered by restoration workers in 2022 finally made it home, after it was turned over to the writer’s children during a ceremony held atJunction Park State School.
The spire where the note was discovered | Photo Credit: Queensland Heritage Restorations / Facebook
The time capsule that survived being hidden for 86 years was a 15cm tall, green glass bottle that contained a handwritten note by Gordon Benson, a teen apprentice carpenter at the time.
Dated October 12, 1935, the pencil-written letter was placed inside the top spire of the Annerley school. It was discovered by Queensland Heritage Foundation restoration workers in 2021.
The 86-year-old green bottle containing the note | Photo Credit: Queensland Heritage Restorations / Facebook
The note reads: “Douglas Heron, carpenter. Gordon Benson, apprentice. Built this fleshe for Dept of Public Works, 12 of July, 1935. We now are looking down of [sic] you. Since removing it, if any of my children, children are living, pass this onto them. RIP. ”
First half of the written note| Photo Credit: Queensland Heritage Restorations / FacebookSecond half of Benson’s written note | Photo Credit: Queensland Heritage Restorations / Facebook
Gordon Benson worked for the Department of Public works until he reached 60. He served in the army during the second world war. He has five children, 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
On 23 August 2022, Transport Minister Mark Bailey presented the written note to two of Benson’s children, Geoffrey Benson and Marilyn Blundell. To the siblings, the message in the bottle is a testament to how their father has always loved his family and thought about his future children.
Heritage-listed Junction Park State School was established on 30 April 1888 and was then known as Thompson Estate Provisional School. In 1889, the school transferred from its four-room cottage in Oxford Street (now between the Pacific Motorway and Norman Creek) to a hall in Regent Street (west of Oxford Street) before again moving to a larger, permanent location in Annerley in 1891.
Residents living near Yeronga Commercial Park are calling on authorities to remove an unauthorised fill at the rear of the property, which allegedly makes flash floods worse as it prevents floodwaters from getting away quickly.
Locals have been complaining about it even before the floods in 2011, and even sought the help of a hydrologist who warned the earthworks significantly increased the flood risk to adjacent homes, but those who were responsible have never been charged.
The subject site is at 133 Hyde Road, Yeronga, which was owned by Moxon Timbers until 2014.
Council records indicate that the former owner of the said property told a Council officer that filling the creek would help ‘improve drainage.’
Around 20 years later, residents have been suffering its aftermath and the problem only became worse after the 2022 flood.
One of the potential actions of the residents is a class action against both Council and the property owner, for compensation should flooding occur and damage affected properties. Compensation can include increased insurance premiums that may result in the increased risk of flooding.
Photo credit: Google Street View
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey wrote a letter to Council, asking Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner for an immediate investigation on the matter.
Mr Bailey wanted to know how development has been allowed to occur in the past, to identify any ongoing flood impacts it is causing for local residents.
The Transport Minister also wanted to proceed with investigations to see what rectification measures can be identified to retain the natural drainage flow capacities.
In response to the issue, a Council spokesperson said they have no current plans to undertake any creek or drainage modifications on council land in this area and any changes on private land would be a matter between individual landowners.
Still, BCC’s compliance team has initiated action regarding the alleged illegal use of the property, with reports that it’s also being used for sport and recreation other than the storage of timber.
Spring Bloom Art & Design Show, the popular biennial exhibition featuring the works of emerging local and renowned artists, marks its 48th year with another must-not-miss exhibition for art lovers. Over 200 original artworks will be on display at the two-day event at St Sebastian’s Primary School in Yeronga.
Brisbane’s best artisans in the field of 2D artwork, 3D sculpture, glass and ceramics, miniature work and jewellery making will showcase their work in interactive activities, demonstrations and creative stalls.
The Spring Bloom Art & Design Show Gala Evening is an event for adults on Saturday 10 Sept 2022, from 6:30p. p.m.and will be filled with quality art, music, auctions, raffles, food, and wine.
Tickets are $75 which includes an Osteria Epoca 3-course meal, two drinks and access to Art Show and Gala Jewellery Tent.
The Spring Bloom Art & Design Show Family Day on Sunday 11 Sept 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is a family-friendly fun day with art demonstrations, creative stalls, and interactive activities for all ages.
Beautiful artwork made by the children of St Sebastian’s will also be on display. Entry is a gold coin donation, with free and low-cost activities on offer as well as access to food vans and coffee.
Photo Credit: Supplied
This is a fundraiser for the school’s goals to procure equipment and technology, as well as enhance the classrooms’ teaching support and other general school improvements.
After the COVID disruptions in the last two years, the school community is looking forward to achieving its fundraising goals and reconnecting.
“Boy Swallows Universe,” a uniquely Brisbane production for a new Netflix series, will be filming at the Boggo Road Gaol and other Brisbane landmarks in the coming months.
“Boy Swallows Universe” is an adaptation of the 2018 international bestseller of the same title, which was written by Bracken Ridge local Trent Dalton. The semi-autobiographical story centers on Eli Bell, 13, and has themes like “drug addiction, ex-cons, poverty, violence and the discovery of hope through the power of love,” per Variety.
It begins with Bell receiving a mysterious phone call in a secret underground room, ordering him to save his mother at the Boggo Road Prison on Christmas Day.
Mr Dalton said that his book is a “very deep and personal love letter” to Brisbane.
“This adaptation to the screen couldn’t happen anywhere else, and I am proud to be part of this exciting adventure on my home turf.”
“Brisbane-based author Trent Dalton captivated the world with his brutal yet magical tale set in 1980s Brisbane among iconic local landmarks such as Boggo Road Gaol and Brisbane City Hall’s clock tower,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
Photo Credit: IMDb
“This uniquely Brisbane production will also boost our local screen industry by injecting around $33 million into the Queensland economy and creating approximately 185 jobs for cast and crew, and an estimated 2500 extras.”
Brouhaha Entertainment, Chapter One, Anonymous Content and Netflix will produce the limited eight-part series. John Collee has adapted the book for the screen and will be executive produced by Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, and Joel Edgerton.
“Brisbane has earned its reputation as a one-stop-shop for production, including film-friendly locations, experienced local crew, renowned post-production facilities and a fantastic studio facility in Screen Queensland Studios,” Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said.
“Boy Swallows Universe” was previously adapted for the stage and was presented by Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
Get ready to witness and enjoy a different kind of competition among six breweries, including Helios in Yeerongpilly, as they take each other on at the Battle of the Beers invitational!
Joining Helios are Currumbin Valley Brewing, Moffat Beach Brewing, Parched Brewery,
Precinct Brewing, and White Lies Brewing for the competition on Saturday, 13 Aug 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 15 Palomar St in Yeeroongpilly.
The winning beer will be decided by the attendees.
A certain style of beer and guidelines have been set for this competition (hop-forward and between 5.5 – 7% ABV), and the competing breweries will submit one beer each that matches this outline.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Patrons attending will sample each of the beers across the day, as the entire Helios venue opens up to ticket holders only. Representatives from each brewery will give a brief talk on their submitted beer throughout the day, and ultimately, the beer which has sold the most across the bar will be named champion!
The event will also feature food trucks galore, DJ entertainment, prizes throughout the day, and of course, plenty of quality beers.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Tickets to the Battle of the Beers are now on sale, which come with a schooner of your choice (of the beers entered) on arrival.
