Sumner Archives - Centenary Today

Meet the Next Generation of Dance Superstars from Centenary Dance Academy in Sumner

In Sumner, the Centenary Dance Academy is nurturing the next generation of dance superstars. Dance teachers have identified several standout students who are poised to make significant impacts on the dance world.

Read: Netflix Spotlight on Local Legend: Darra’s Que Huong Restaurant

Here are five young dancers from the Sumner dance school who are turning heads and winning hearts with their exceptional talent and dedication.

Nadine Mae Cabrera, 13

Nadine Mae Cabrera’s name is synonymous with excellence in dance. At just 13, she has already achieved remarkable feats, including winning the prestigious Jacqueline Morland Awards from the Royal Academy of Dance.

Her trophy cabinet is brimming with accolades from local dance eisteddfods, where she has shone both as a solo performer and as part of a group. Nadine’s talent was also showcased on a grand stage at the Ballet International Gala in Brisbane. Just recently, she was named as one of the eight finalists for the BPAC Intermediate Ballet Scholarship.

Her love for dance is evident in her passionate performances, where she embraces the freedom and joy that dancing brings.

Ashley Chen, 10

Ashley Chen has been dancing since she was two years old, mastering ballet, lyrical, tap, and jazz at Centenary Dance Academy. Her dedication has paid off with numerous awards at various eisteddfods, including a first and third place at a national competition.

Next January, she will be gracing the stage at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre as Snow White with Ballet Theatre Queensland. Ashley’s meticulous attention to detail in class translates beautifully on stage, where she thrives on the challenge of perfecting her craft.

Malcolm Doyle, 9

Photo credit: Centenary Dance Academy/Facebook

Malcolm Doyle’s dancing prowess has earned him acceptance into four prestigious international ballet schools, with three offering him full tuition scholarships. Competing in eisteddfods across Brisbane, Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, Malcolm consistently takes home first-place awards.

His talent has also been featured in performances of Sleeping Beauty with the Queensland Ballet Company and Ballet Theatre Queensland. Malcolm finds joy and fulfilment in the expressive and challenging nature of dance, working hard to achieve his goals and savouring the happiness it brings.

Alexia Henderson, 10

Alexia Henderson is another promising young talent at Centenary Dance Academy. She excels in ballet, lyrical, and jazz, earning accolades at multiple Ipswich eisteddfods. Alexia’s enthusiasm for dance is fueled by the camaraderie with her friends in class and the exhilarating experience of performing on stage. Her passion and dedication are evident in every performance, making her a dancer to watch.

Kayla York, 16

At 16, Kayla York is already a seasoned performer and an emerging dance educator. She has achieved a Certificate III in Dance and is currently pursuing a Certificate IV in Dance at RAW Dance Company.

Alongside her studies in ballet and jazz, Kayla also serves as an assistant teacher at Centenary Dance Academy. She finds immense joy in the storytelling aspect of dance, relishing the challenge of mastering new steps and perfecting her routines. Kayla’s commitment to dance and her ability to inspire others make her a standout in her field.

Read: Riverlife Street Teams: Strengthening Community Through Service

These five rising stars from Centenary Dance Academy in Sumner embody the passion, dedication, and talent that define future dance superstars. As they continue to hone their skills and chase their dreams, they are sure to leave an indelible mark on the world of dance.

Published 9-June-2024

Latest Land Valuations Show Centenary Suburbs’ Median Land Value Increased

Land values in the Brisbane City Council area increased by 6.8 percent overall since the last valuation in 2017. This overall land value increase is also reflected on Centenary suburbs, notably Jindalee and Sinnamon Park, according to the latest land valuation report published by the State of Queensland.

The latest land valuations report shows median land value in Jindalee increased 20.7 percent to $350,000 and Sinnamon Park’s climbed 20 percent to $420,000. Other Centenary suburbs also recorded moderate median land value increase: Mount Ommaney – $590,000 (9.3%), Middle Park – $365,000 (10.6%), Jamboree Heights – $350,000 (9.4%), Westlake – $410,000 (5.1%), Riverhills – 305,000 (10.9%), Sumner – $255,000 (10.9%), and Seventeen Mile Rocks – $340,000 (9.7%).

Queensland property is showing continued signs of strength in some areas, according to the recently released Valuer-General’s 2019 Property Market Movement Report. Based on the economic indicators, Queensland Treasury advise “dwelling investment in Queensland is entering a ‘recovery phase.’” This follows a 4.8 percent decline in 2017-2018, Queensland’s Valuer-General Neil Bray said.

“While approvals and construction have declined, the substantial amount of work remaining in the pipeline indicates dwelling investment is headed for a ‘soft landing’ compared with previous housing cycles,” he said

A total of 18 local government areas, representing 1.03 million properties, received new valuations this year: Brisbane, Burdekin, Cairns, Etheridge, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Longreach, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Somerset, South Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Weipa, and Western Downs.

Of the 18 local government areas that have been valued, 16 recorded an overall increase ranging between 4.9 (South Burnett) and 42.5 percent (Etheridge). There were nine LGAs with increases of 0-10 percent, five areas with increases of 10-20 percent, and two areas with more than 20 percent increases. Burdekin and Longreach, on the other hand, recorded overall decreases of 2.9 percent and 14.8 percent, respectively.

*Photo Credit: J Brew [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)] / Wikimedia Commons*

Majority of suburbs across Brisbane have recorded increase in residential land values, with most showing increases between five and 15 percent. Residential sector is the largest market sector in Brisbane, about 304,000 valuation. The median residential value has risen 7.1 percent as the overall median value increased to $455,000 from $425,000.

Thirty-seven residential suburbs remained unchanged, whilst 126 increased by up to 15 percent and 16 suburbs increased by more than 15 percent. Inner-city suburbs Woolloongabba (26.1%), Auchenflower (19.6%), Paddington (19.4%), and Milton (19.2%) have the largest median valuation increases.

The new valuations will become effective 30 June, however, landowners who have additional or new evidence to justify the need to alter the new valuations should provide such information through the online objections process via www.qld.gov.au/landvaluation or at the address shown at the top of their valuation notice, by 7 May 2019.

The Rich History of How Centenary was Formed

Centenary, as it is known today, consists of several suburbs namely, Jindalee, Mount Ommaney, Jamboree Heights, Middle Park, Westlake, Riverhills, Sumner, Sinnamon Park, and Seventeen Mile Rocks.

Do you know how and why Centenary was formed? Let’s take a look back at the historic past of Centenary and the origins of the names of its suburbs.

In 1959, Queensland’s Centenary Year, a land developer named Hooker Rex planned the Centenary project. The project was a suburban development proposal that included a number of neighbourhoods with their own services and facilities that are capable of providing for all the needs of its residents.

The development started with the purchase of farmland in 1960. The contract for 1,416 hectare-development was agreed upon by the Council in 1961.

The Centenary Bridge and Highway were among the most important parts of the development as it provided access to and from the city and the northern suburbs. Officially opened on 14 October 1964, the Centenary Bridge was financed by the developers while the Centenary Highway was built by the Brisbane City Council still at the developers’ expense.

The suburbs and industrial estates that were planned to be a part of the Centenary project were Jindalee, Jamboree Heights, Mount Ommaney, Riverhills, Westlake, Middle Park, and Sumner. Meanwhile, Seventeen Mile Rocks and Sinnamon Park were developed separately.

The development was under the management of a public company called the Centenary Estates Limited for six years. In October 1967, the private shareholders were bought out by the Hooker Corporation Limited and the entire project was once again owned by the corporation.

The Establishment of the Centenary Suburbs

Jindalee

Jindalee is an Aboriginal word which means “bare hills”. The establishment of the suburb in September 1962 brought the first public transport in the area, a bus going to and from Oxley Station.

Among the earliest establishments in the district were the Jindalee Golf Course, Swimming Pool, Bowls Club and the Looranah St. shopping centre. With its well-established golf course, swimming pool, and sporting facilities, it wasn’t long before Jindalee became a centre for sporting activities.

Jamboree Heights

Jamboree Heights was initially a part of Jindalee. When the Boy Scout held it’s Eighth Australian Pan-Pacific Scout Jamboree in Brisbane, Hooker Centenary provided the site. Later on, the place came to be called Jamboree Heights.

The 50th Anniversary of that historic Jamboree was celebrated in Jamboree Heights in January 2018. During that time, the participants learned more about the first Queensland Jamboree in 1967-1968.

Read: Celebrate Jamboree’s 50th Anniversary in Jamboree Heights

Mount Ommaney

Mount Ommaney is considerably larger than Jindalee and Jamboree Heights. Despite the sloping nature of the terrain in the area, Hooker Centenary was able to develop a number of “Private Courts” in Mount Ommaney in January 1970, a feat considered a first in Australia.

Each private court contains approximately seven homes, each with their own private entrance and shared private ownership of internal roads and nature strips.

Mount Ommaney became a prestige homesite that offers excellent views of the mountains and the city.

The suburb is also home to the first women’s golf club in Australia, the McLeod Country Golf Club, which was completed in 1969. The original golf club was comprised of 9 holes and a clubhouse. It was later extended to a full complement of 18 holes in 1971.

Riverhills

Riverhills is named for its ideal location offering sweeping panoramic views of the Brisbane River. In January 1973, it was mainly marketed by the developer as a suburb for young people with young families, designed with a cul-de-sac concept that focuses on having a quiet environment with lots of privacy. Many of its streets were named after rivers, lakes, and other waterways of the world.

Westlake

Westlake was named by the developers in June 1973 for its nine-hectare freshwater lake. The developers maximised the landscape to give most of its homesites a view of the vast lake.

Sumner

Sumner was named after the Sumner family who had been farmers and landholders in the area. Though the name was originally given to a road, the suburb later adapted the name in 1969.

Seventeen Mile Rocks

The Seventeen Mile Rocks suburb used to include Sinnamon Park in 1975 as it extended farther west. With the development of Sinnamon Park, the boundaries of the suburb changed and currently, part of the Edenbrooke Estate is in Seventeen Mile Rocks and part in Sinnamon Park.

Seventeen Mile Rocks have gone through several developments under different estate developers namely ECOSSE Investments Pty Ltd, BMD Constructions, Baldwin-Riverlands, and Verandah.

Middle Park

Middle Park was strategically named by the developers in July 1976 to reflect its location in the middle of the Centenary Suburbs. The area offers northerly views of the McLeod Country Golf Club.

Sinnamon Park

In 1989, Sinnamon Park was developed originating from the suburb Seventeen Mile Rocks. The new suburb was named after the family of James Sinnamon and Margaret, who were the pioneer European settlers in the area.

Today, Sinnamon Park houses a memorial dedicated to Thomas Macleod to celebrate his historic flights on 22 December 1910.

Read: Thomas Macleod and the Birth of Queensland Aviation in Sinnamon Park

These are the historical origins of the names of the Centenary Suburbs. To have a deeper grasp on the history of Centenary, visit Centenary Suburbs Historical Society Inc.