A grand residence in Westlake, boasting seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, and two kitchens, has earned an unexpected distinction: it’s been named one of PropTrack’s Top 30 Longest Running Sales Campaigns in Australia.
The property at 67 Carnegie Street, currently listed at a cool $2.8 million, has been on the market for an astonishing 2,349 days – that’s over six years, dating back to 2018. Despite its impressive features and prime location, this “enormous two-level home” on a “huge 2261 sqm riverside block” has struggled to find a buyer willing to commit.
Inside the Westlake property (Photo credit: centenaryrealestate.com.au)
Centenary Real Estate, handling the sale, described it in the listing as a “grand riverside residence.” And grand it certainly is, with features that read like a luxury property wishlist:
Four bedrooms, two with their own ensuite
Spacious formal lounge/dining area with a cosy fireplace
All-electric eat-in kitchen
Huge rumpus room with built-in bar
Wide, cool wrap-around verandah overlooking the pool and Brisbane River
Double lock-up garages plus off-street parking for another 4 cars
Tennis court with lighting
The Westlake Lifestyle
Photo credit: Google Street View
Westlake itself is no slouch when it comes to desirability. Residents paint a picture of an idyllic suburb:
“It’s quite peaceful and a happy place to live,” one homeowner shared. Another praised its “wide tree-lined streets, big beautiful houses.” The only minor gripe? A “lack of places to eat out,” which seems a small price to pay for such tranquillity.
The Million-Dollar Question
So why hasn’t this property been sold? Is it the price tag? The current $2.8 million asking price certainly puts it in the upper echelons of the market. However, without access to historical pricing data or information about local market trends, it’s challenging to determine if this is the sticking point.
Photo credit: centenaryrealestate.com.au
Perhaps it’s a case of being too unique. With seven bedrooms and five bathrooms, this home may simply be more than most families need, even in the luxury market. Or maybe, in a twist of irony, its long-standing presence on the market has become a self-fulfilling prophecy, causing potential buyers to wonder, “What’s wrong with it?”
Whatever the reason, this Westlake wonder continues to wait for its perfect match. As it enters its seventh year on the market, one can’t help but wonder: will 2024 finally be the year this riverside residence finds its new owners? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, it stands as a curious anomaly in Brisbane’s real estate landscape – a reminder that even in the most desirable locations, with the most impressive features, the property market can still throw up surprises.
Brisbane announced a pause in its food waste recycling service, affecting suburbs like Westlake. This temporary suspension follows a successful trial that provided valuable insights into the community’s food waste behaviours, which will inform the planning of an expanded recycling programme in the future.
Effective 1 July 2024, food waste will no longer be accepted in the green waste recycling bins of residents in the participating suburbs, like Westlake. Despite this change, the green waste recycling bins in eligible service areas will continue to be collected on the regular fortnightly schedule.
Residents’ Adaptation and Future Plans
Residents who have received a food waste caddy from the Council are encouraged to repurpose it for home composting or worm farming. These caddies, crafted from recycled materials, can also be used to transport food scraps to the nearest Community Composting Hub. In the event of damage, the caddy can be recycled by placing it in the yellow recycling bin.
Key Insights from the Trial
Photo Credit: Pexels
The trial’s findings have shed light on Brisbane’s food waste habits, which will play a crucial role in shaping a more extensive food waste recycling service. The insights gained will aid in developing strategies to improve waste management and sustainability across the city.
While the food waste recycling service is on hold, the city remains committed to enhancing its waste management systems. The Council is using this hiatus to refine and expand the programme, ensuring a more efficient and comprehensive service in the future.
Ongoing Green Waste Collection
Photo Credit: Pexels
During this pause, the city reassures residents that their green waste recycling bins will still be collected as usual. This continuation ensures that the temporary suspension of the food waste service does not disrupt the overall waste management routine in Westlake.
The Council encourages all residents to continue their efforts in sustainable waste management. By using the provided food waste caddies for home composting or participating in community composting initiatives, residents can still contribute to reducing the environmental impact of food waste.
This pause in the service is a strategic step towards a more effective and widespread food waste recycling programme in the future. Westlake’s commitment to sustainability and responsible waste management remains steadfast as the city plans for an improved service that benefits the entire community.
Motorists are being warned to slow down and be on the lookout for deer on Centenary suburbs, especially in and around Mt Ommaney, Westlake, and Jindalee.
This comes after a video emerged showing a herd of deer crossing Westlake Drive, Mt Ommaney in front of an oncoming vehicle at night.
Many residents pointed out that there seems to be a growing deer population in Brisbane’s southwest, as clearly seen in the herds of deer wandering the streets and blocking roads.
Aside from creating a traffic hazard on roads, deer also damage native vegetation through browsing and trampling and ringbarking.
Photo credit: Debabrata Das/Pexels
One resident quickly connected an urban legend with respect to the growing number of deer in these suburbs.
“Urban legend is that there was a deer farm in Brisbane back in the day and the wife divorced the husband and opened all the gates and let them out,” the comment reads.
Based on the popular urban legend, a couple once owned a large deer farm in Pullenvale. Following their divorce, locals said that the wife of the deer farmer apparently opened the gates to let the animals escape.
Locals who have had deer sightings, especially in the western suburbs, believe these animals are either from the herd or the descendants of the herd from the Pullenvale farm.
Whilst the story seems absurd, the Pullenvale deer farm owner confirmed in a radio interview that he used to own over 500 deer, but they escaped as a result of his marital woes.
Photo credit: Olga Lioncat/Pexels
The farm owner, John, who now lives in Cairns clarified it was his former mother-in-law and not his ex-wife who opened the gates to his deer farm.
Meanwhile, collisions between deer and vehicles normally increase during winter, particularly around June, when they hunt for food or look for shelter.
Brisbane City Council reminds motorists to slow down when driving and exercise caution when they see deer or deer warning signs. Locals can submit a feral animal sightings report or call Council on 07 3403 8888.
If you’re planning on going around West Brisbane to see some of the best Christmas light displays, then you shouldn’t skip a visit around the neighbourhoods in Jindalee and Westlake. Every year, residents from these suburbs set up the most colourful, impressive and magical Christmas display that it’s no surprise Jindalee and Westlake were big winners of this year’s 4KQ contest.
2019 Best Lights Display in West Brisbane
The annual 4KQ contest cited the house of Shane & Debbie Horswill at 20 Curragundi Road in Jindalee as the Best Display in West Brisbane for 2019. The Horswills are not first-timers in this competition as they also won the People’s Choice Award in 2018. Incidentally, the family is also vying for the same recognition this year, which is awarded by 7News. You may vote for the Horswills online.
2019 Best Neighbourhood Display
Meanwhile, a number of houses on Everard Street in Westlake were also big winners for the overall Best Neighbourhood Display. According to realestate.com.au, Everard Street is a popular strip for weekend cyclists. For years, however, Everard Street turns into a Christmas Wonderland filled with astounding light displays.
Here are the complete names and addresses of the 2019 4KQ Contest Winners from Jindalee and Westlake:
WHO
WHERE
AWARD
Shane & Debbie Horswill
20 Curragundi Road, Jindalee
Best Lights Display – West
Ian Wright
18 Mankinna Street, Jindalee
Judges Commendations
Shaun McFadder
28 Raeside Street, Westlake
Judges Commendations
Timothy Evans
2 Gillen Close, Westlake
Winner Neighbourhood Westlake Wonderland
Riley Mackenzie
18 Everard Street, Westlake
Winner Neighbourhood Westlake Wonderland
Laurence Cole
17 Everard Street, Westlake
Winner Neighbourhood Westlake Wonderland
John Milner
16 Everard Street, Westlake
Winner Neighbourhood Westlake Wonderland
Jeannette Watson
21 Everard Street, Westlake
Winner Neighbourhood Westlake Wonderland
Dannielle Robson
20 Everard Street, Westlake
Winner Neighbourhood Westlake Wonderland
Reid Moran
14 Everard Street, Westlake
Winner Neighbourhood Westlake Wonderland
Christmas Lights Tour Bus
You can still view these Christmas lights display by joining the tour bus organised by Brisbane City Council. Secure the tickets online and then head to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre (Stop C) before 7:00 p.m. The Christmas Lights tour bus will be servicing the public until the 20th of Dec. 2019.
If the tour bus isn’t the best option and you’d rather arrange your own trip, download these resources below to map out your drive carefully. These includes all the other participants and winners of the 2019 4KQ Christmas Lights Competition:
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.
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.
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.
Photo credit: cshsoc.org.au
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.
Photo credit: Kgbo/Wikimedia Commons
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.
Photo credit: Facebook/Brisbane Retro
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
Photo credit: Twitter/Property Observer
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.
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.
Photo credit: www.mcleodgolf.com.au
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
Photo credit: realestate.com.au
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
Photo credit: raywhitecentenary.com
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
Photo credit: Google Street View
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.
Photo credit: monumentaustralia.org.au
Today, Sinnamon Park houses a memorial dedicated to Thomas Macleod to celebrate his historic flights on 22 December 1910.
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.
Every dog lover knows how much their dog wants to have some freedom to run carefree without the restraint of the leash. Brisbane dogs are lucky as there is a host of parks where they can roam and play freely off the leash.
Brisbane has over a hundred dog off-leash parks. (Photo credit: (Forest Lake Off-Leash Dog Park / Facebook)
In the Centenary area, there are several parks that allow dog owners to let their dogs loose. These dog parks are fenced areas where dogs can run around and socialise with other dogs and park visitors.
The use of the dog parks comes with some responsibility on the part of the owner. Brisbane City Council reminds dog owners of their obligations when releasing their dogs in the park.
Before they can use any Centenary designated dog park, the dog must be registered with the City Council, wormed regularly and should have updated vaccinations. The dog owner must also have full control of his or her dog.
The Dog owner should make sure that the dog does not have behaviour issues and can socialise well with other dogs and humans in the park. Dog owners should also take care of any dog droppings and dispose of them properly in poo bins provided inside the dog park.
Here is a list of dog parks in the Centenary area where you can go and set your dogs loose and give them an enjoyable time.
Thomas Macleod Park, Sinnamon Park
Thomas Macleod Park in Sinnamon Park provides the largest dog off-leash area in the Centenary area. The park is located at 40 Sinnamon Road and allocates 6,512 sqm of dedicated off-leash area for dogs.
(Photo credit: Centenary Pet Sitting / Facebook)
Visitors can feel relaxed and comfortable as there is a picnic shelter, benches, table with benches, tap, dog water, trash bin and poo bin to help them clean up after their furry friends.
Jindalee Boat Ramp Park, Jindalee
In Jindalee, locals can bring their pets to the Jindalee Boat Ramp Park at 99 Mt Ommaney Drive. This park has good facilities for its 912-sq-m dog off lease area, with bench seat, dog water, bubbler, poo bin and regular trash bin.
Phil Denman Park, Jamboree Heights
The Jamboree Heights dog park is at Phil Denman Park located at 56 Loffs Road. The park, which has a basketball/netball court, provides 2,298 square metres of dog off-leash area. The Phil Denman Park has a picnic shelter, bench and table, bubbler, dog water and poo bin. The park also includes a dog agility and exercise equipment.
Wolston Creek Bushland Reserve, Riverhills
(Photo credit: Centenary Pet Sitting / Facebook)
Located in Riverhills, Wolston Creek Bushland Reserve has an off-leash dog area of 2,621 sqm. The dog park is off Sumners Road and has regular park amenities such as benches and tables, picnic area and tap.
The dogs are provided with dog water and there is a poo bin for dog droppings.
Tigris Street Park, Riverhills
There is also a dog off-leash park at 22 Tigris St in Riverhills. Dogs can run and play around the dog park of 1,516 square metres. Aside from benches, picnic shelter and tables, there is a bubbler, tap and poo bin at the dog park.
Barcoorah Street Park, Westlake
Dog owners can opt to bring their dogs to the Barcoorah Street Park, located at 88 Barcoorah St in Westlake. The area is a bushland with a dog off-leash park on Loffs Road.
Delapine Place Park, Seventeen Mile Rocks
Delapine Place Park at 6 Delapine Place provides an off-lease dog park with an area of 3,399 square metres. There are bench seats in this dog park.
Locations of off-leash dog parks in the Centenary area. (credit: Brisbane City Council)
