Chermside Archives - Chermside News

The Coffee Club’s New Coffee Guarantee Comes With a Free Coffee Offer

Most coffee drinkers are loyal to their local café, but The Coffee Club is hoping its new Coffee Guarantee might convince a few people to try something different. To celebrate the launch, customers can claim a free coffee by bringing in a takeaway cup from another café.

The week-long promotion (15 to 21 June) is available at participating outlets across Australia and forms part of the company’s push to showcase its specialty coffee offering. The Coffee Guarantee promises to remake any coffee free of charge if it isn’t prepared exactly as ordered.

In Chermside, The Coffee Club is at Westfield Chermside. You can view other locations here.

Breaking one of coffee’s biggest unwritten rules

Most coffee drinkers don’t shop around. Once they find a place they like, they tend to stick with it. Whether it’s the café near work, the local drive-through, or the spot they’ve visited for years, loyalty runs deep when it comes to a morning coffee order.

That makes The Coffee Club’s latest campaign a tempting proposition for even the most loyal coffee drinkers. Rather than relying on discounts, loyalty cards or app-based rewards, the company is inviting people to step outside their usual routine and try its coffee for themselves.

It’s a bold move, but one backed by a growing confidence in the product behind the counter.

Why The Coffee Club believes customers will come back

The Coffee Club’s Coffee Guarantee promises to remake a coffee free of charge if it isn’t prepared exactly as ordered. Whether it’s almond milk instead of full cream, extra hot, no sugar or a flavoured syrup, the company says customers should receive the drink they asked for.

Nikki Price, General Manager of Marketing and Product at The Coffee Club, said the guarantee reflects the company’s focus on customer satisfaction and consistency. The confidence isn’t coming from the guarantee alone.

In recent years, The Coffee Club has invested heavily in its coffee program, including training more than 1,200 baristas across Australia and introducing its specialty-grade coffee blend, Three Stories, which is roasted in Melbourne.

The company has also received recognition in major coffee competitions, including awards at the Golden Bean Awards and the title of Best Overall Chain/Large Franchise at the Golden Bean World Series.

For a brand that has spent decades serving Australians, the campaign signals a growing focus on specialty coffee and quality.

What locals need to know

The free coffee promotion runs from 15 to 21 June at participating The Coffee Club stores across Australia. To claim the offer, customers simply need to bring in a takeaway coffee cup from another café.

Whether you’re fiercely loyal to your regular coffee spot or simply curious to see what all the fuss is about, this might be one of the easiest free coffees you’ll find this year.

And if nothing else, it’s a good excuse to shake up the morning routine.

Published 15-June-2026

‘Conquering Breast Cancer’ Screening at Event Cinemas Chermside

Residents across Brisbane’s northside can catch the new Australian documentary Conquering Breast Cancer when it screens at Event Cinemas Chermside. The film shares powerful stories of resilience, advocacy and medical innovation while highlighting the importance of prevention and early detection.

Presented beginning 10 June by filmmaker Sue Collins and produced by impact filmmakers Mike Hill and Sue Collins, the feature-length documentary combines expert medical insight with the personal experiences of survivors, advocates and researchers working to reduce the impact of breast cancer in Australia.

Among those featured are Olympic legend and breast cancer advocate Raelene Boyle AM, MBE, First Nations survivor and mountaineer Kristal Kinsela, male breast cancer survivor and former professional basketballer Paul Maley, and podcaster Dr Charlotte Tottman. The film also includes insights from leading experts including Professor Bruce Mann, Professor Kelly-Anne Phillips and Associate Professor Christine Chaffer.

conquering breast cancer documentary — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

More Than 20,000 Australians Diagnosed Every Year

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Australian women and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer overall.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, more than 20,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Around 56 people receive a diagnosis every day, while more than 3,300 Australians lose their lives to the disease annually — the equivalent of approximately nine deaths every day.

While the majority of cases occur in women over 50, breast cancer also affects younger Australians. Around 1,000 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed each year, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection across all age groups.

The Survivors, Advocates and Experts Behind the Film

Rather than focusing solely on statistics, Conquering Breast Cancer tells the stories of Australians whose lives have been changed by the disease.

The documentary follows survivors, patient advocates and researchers from across the country, exploring everything from diagnosis and treatment to survivorship, recurrence, genetic risk and the emotional impact breast cancer can have on individuals and families.

breast cancer patient — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

The film also highlights the experiences of people living with metastatic breast cancer, as well as Australians making difficult decisions around preventative treatment after discovering they are at high genetic risk of developing the disease.

Early Detection Remains One of the Strongest Defences

A central theme throughout the documentary is the importance of prevention and early detection.

Medical experts featured in the film discuss advances in screening technologies, personalised risk assessment, targeted therapies and clinical trials that are helping improve outcomes for patients.

While Australia has achieved five-year survival rates of more than 90 per cent, the filmmakers argue that breast cancer is far from solved and that ongoing investment in research, screening programs and access to treatment remains essential.

The documentary also examines how researchers are working towards reducing recurrence rates and improving long-term outcomes for those who have already undergone treatment.

researchers working on breast cancer improvements — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

The Growing Impact on Australian Families and Communities

Beyond the personal toll, breast cancer continues to have a significant impact on communities across Australia.

More than 160,000 Australians are currently living after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis within the past decade. Research has also shown the disease carries substantial social and economic costs, affecting workforce participation, family wellbeing and quality of life.

breast cancer warriors and supporters — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

The filmmakers hope the documentary will encourage more Australians to understand their personal risk, participate in recommended screening programs and support ongoing efforts to improve prevention, treatment and research.

As the third instalment in the Conquering Cancer documentary series, Conquering Breast Cancer aims to start conversations, challenge complacency and highlight both the progress that has been made and the work that still lies ahead.

For more information and session times, visit ConqueringBreastCancer.com.au.

Published 9-June-2026

Chermside Library Has the Second-Highest Visits of Any Library in Brisbane — and the Numbers Keep Climbing

BCC/Facebook

Chermside Library logged 373,959 visits between July 2025 and March 2026, making it the second most visited of Brisbane’s 33 libraries during that nine-month period and one of the fastest growing, with visits up by more than 21,500 compared to the same period the year before.

New figures released this week show Chermside’s strong position in a Brisbane library network that has seen total visits rise by around 100,000 in the first five months of 2026 compared to the same stretch of 2025. Of that increase, Chermside accounted for the largest share of any individual library, recording 21,566 additional visits year-on-year, ahead of Wynnum with 17,623 and Kenmore with 14,070.

The data covers the nine-month window from July 2025 to March 2026 and captures foot traffic across all 33 Brisbane libraries. Brisbane Square Library led overall with 398,678 visits, followed by Chermside, then Garden City, Sunnybank Hills and Carindale.

During that same period, Brisbane residents borrowed more than 4.4 million physical items across the network, covering books, DVDs, CDs, magazines and audiobooks, alongside more than 1.6 million digital items.

A library that grew out of a different Chermside

Chermside Library has not always sat on Hamilton Road. Its origins stretch back to 1957, when construction of an earlier library building began on Gympie Road, its distinctive roofline visible from the street while the shell was still being erected.

The old School of Arts Hall, which had previously stood on that site, was moved back from the road and remained there until the 1980s. The library later relocated to its current Hamilton Road home, where it underwent two major renovations over the years. The Gympie Road site it left behind is now home to a restaurant and a spice shop.

The Hamilton Road location has since grown into one of the most comprehensive suburban library facilities in Brisbane. The building includes undercover parking, lift access and quiet meeting rooms with after-hours booking capability.

A dedicated parents room serves families with young children, and the children’s section is widely regarded as one of the largest in the city, built around a feature bridge, a reading nook housed in a van, and an open activity play space alongside an extensive collection.

A cafe operates within the building, open during library hours. Multilingual collections across Chinese, Italian, Punjabi and Tagalog reflect the breadth of Chermside’s surrounding community.

Books borrowed

Across Brisbane’s library network, these were the most borrowed books and series of 2025 so far:

Adult fiction

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman — borrowed 2,306 times
In Too Deep by Lee Child
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
Nightshade by Michael Connelly

Non-fiction

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
Wifedom by Anna Funder
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
RecipeTin Eats Tonight by Nagi Maehashi
Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks

Junior readers

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Adventures Unlimited by Andy Griffiths
Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey
WeirDo by Anh Do
Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland

Young adult

Powerless by Lauren Roberts
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Beyond the books

The figures capture more than just borrowing. Across the 2025 full year, Brisbane’s library network hosted more than 8,900 free events and workshops, downloaded 2.1 million e-books and audiobooks, facilitated more than 1.1 million free Wi-Fi sessions, and distributed more than 20,000 holds through 24/7 library lockers.

The BNELibraries app was downloaded more than 240,000 times over the same period.

The Mobile Library, which carries more than 4,000 books to suburbs without a permanent branch including Aspley, Bellbowrie, Brighton and Ellen Grove, contributed to the broader borrowing figures as well.

Chermside Library is at 375 Hamilton Road, Chermside, open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm (with extended hours until 8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays), Saturday from 9am to 4pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Phone (07) 3403 7200. Library membership and the BNELibraries app are free.

Published 28-May-2026

Long-Awaited Safety Upgrade Coming to Hamilton Road in Chermside

Traffic lights and new pedestrian crossings are coming to the Hamilton Road, Western Avenue and Staib Road intersection in Chermside, with concept design and investigation work underway following years of community advocacy for safer access to The Prince Charles Hospital.

The project is now in its design phase, with a preliminary design expected to be shared publicly in mid-2026 before the community is invited to meet the project team and discuss the proposal. Main construction is planned from 2027, following final design. The upgrade is jointly funded by the state and Brisbane City authorities.

A long-running push for safer access

The stretch of Hamilton Road outside The Prince Charles Hospital has been the subject of sustained community concern since at least 2009. By 2019, the community had been campaigning for 16 years to see the roads around the hospital upgraded after multiple serious incidents, and more than 722 of the 726 Prince Charles Hospital staff surveyed after a fatal crash said the intersection needed to be upgraded.

In November 2018, a serious crash at Hamilton Road and Staib Road involved a BMW sedan travelling at high speed colliding with a Nissan Micra leaving The Prince Charles Hospital, seriously injuring the Nissan’s driver.

That same month, nurse Solita Honorio died days after a traffic crash outside the hospital, prompting renewed community calls for traffic signals on Hamilton Road and bringing together an alliance of approximately 150 people from local churches, unions, hospital staff and executives concerned about road safety at the site.

The loss galvanised a community that had already been advocating for change for years and set in motion the sustained pressure that has ultimately led to this project.

The changes planned for the intersection

The approved design direction installs new traffic lights and pedestrian crossings at the three-way intersection of Hamilton Road, Western Avenue and Staib Road.

Traffic lights will improve visibility, manage traffic flow and reduce the risk of future crashes, while new crossing points will make the intersection safer for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.

Improving access to The Prince Charles Hospital has been a central priority throughout the design process, and following community feedback across multiple design iterations, this has now been formally incorporated into the design moving forward.

The Prince Charles Hospital is a 690-bed major teaching and tertiary referral hospital operated by Metro North Health, recognised as Australia’s leading cardiothoracic hospital, drawing staff, patients and visitors from across Queensland every day. The volume of movement generated by a facility of that scale makes the intersection’s upgrade not merely a local traffic matter but a regional health infrastructure one.

The next stage of the upgrade process

On-site testing and surveying will take place along Hamilton Road and nearby streets throughout 2026 to support the finalisation of the design. This testing includes checking the condition and structure of the road surface, locating utilities, and accurately surveying levels, boundaries and existing features.

Works may take place during the day or at night depending on the activity involved.

Residents and commuters travelling through the area during this period may notice temporary noise, dust and vibration, construction vehicles, traffic controllers and temporary footpath diversions. Hamilton Road will remain open throughout, and there will be no impact to local property access.

The preliminary design will be shared from mid-2026, at which point the community will be invited to meet the project team and provide feedback before final design and construction proceed from 2027.

To register for project updates, click here or contact the project team on 07 3178 5413 between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday, or email cityprojects@brisbane.qld.gov.au.

Published 20-May-2026

Chermside Driver Injured During Alleged Brisbane Vehicle Theft Spree

Photo Credit: QPS/YouTube

A Chermside driver was taken to hospital after police alleged two vehicles were stolen and several others were targeted across Brisbane, with a 35-year-old Spring Hill man later arrested in Alderley.

Chermside Driver Injured During Alleged Vehicle Theft Incident

A 35-year-old Spring Hill man has been charged with 25 offences after police alleged two vehicles were stolen and several others were targeted across Brisbane on 13 May.

Police alleged the incident began about 8am at a Chelmer home, where a man threatened a woman with a knife before stealing a blue BMW coupe. The woman was not physically injured.

The BMW was later sighted at 1:45pm on Kittyhawk Drive in Chermside. Police alleged the driver then got out of the vehicle and stole a white Audi A1.

The Audi’s driver, a 67-year-old man, was injured during the incident and taken to hospital in a stable condition.

POLAIR Tracks Audi Through Chermside and Stafford

Police said the Audi was tracked by POLAIR as it travelled at speed through Chermside and Stafford.

During that period, police alleged the man attempted to steal at least five other vehicles at knifepoint.

The alleged sequence moved from Chelmer to Chermside and Stafford before ending in Alderley, where police arrested the man about 1:52 pm near the intersection of South Pine Road and Farrington Street.

At the time of the arrest, police alleged he was attempting to steal another vehicle.

Chermside vehicle theft — Photo Credit: QPS/YouTube

Spring Hill Man Charged With 25 Offences

The man was charged with three counts each of dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and attempted unlawful entry of a motor vehicle.

He was also charged with two counts each of wilful damage, attempted armed robbery, breach of a domestic violence order, and attempted robbery with violence.

Further charges include one count each of robbery with violence, evade police, obstruct police, threats, and stealing.

Police bail was refused, and the man was due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 14 May.

Police have asked anyone with information to contact Policelink or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Published 18-May-2026

The Chermside Choir That Made History Is Now Heading to the Sydney Opera House

Less than a year after becoming the first state school to place first in the Advanced Secondary Choir category at the Queensland Youth Music Awards, achieving a gold standard, Craigslea State High School‘s Chamber Choir is preparing for its next milestone: performing at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Australian International Music Festival, with a chance to perform at other superb venues.

The choir, which operates from Craigslea State High School, is raising funds through a community raffle to cover travel and participation costs for its members. Every ticket sold goes directly toward the trip, giving local supporters a tangible way to be part of what shapes up to be the most significant performance the ensemble has taken on.

“We’re raising funds to help these dedicated students travel to Sydney in July 2026 for an unforgettable International Music Festival experience at the iconic Sydney Opera House,” the school said in announcing the fundraiser.

The Work Behind the Moment

The Chamber Choir’s place at the Australian International Music Festival is not simply a participation opportunity. Ensembles are accepted to perform at festival venues, including the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage, through an Expression of Interest process.

As an outstanding music education and performance event, Craigslea’s participation is consistent with everything the group has demonstrated since it was formed in 2021 under the direction of music teacher Jennifer Pedder, who established the school’s vocal program in 2014.

The choir’s defining moment came in 2025, when it competed at the Queensland Youth Music Awards in the advanced Auditioned Secondary Choir category against some of the state’s most established and well-resourced school programmes, many fielding ensembles of 80 or more singers.

Craigslea entered with 17 voices and walked out with a gold standard and first place, becoming the first state school in the competition’s history to have its name engraved on the Perpetual Trophy for that category.

Choir member Thomas described the moment the winner was announced.

“I didn’t know that I could lose my voice in just 20 seconds,” he said. “We all jumped up and screamed, we were so happy!”

One of the adjudicators was particularly taken with the choir’s performance of Madonna’s Like a Prayer, with one judge noted to have been clapping along during the piece and admitting she had not managed to take any notes, having been too absorbed in the performance.

“There weren’t many of us, but we still filled the space with sound,” Thomas said.

Mrs Pedder said the win reflected more than a year of committed early-morning rehearsals.

“Choir members must audition to be part of the group and commit to practising every Monday and Friday at 7.30am,” she said. “Singers must be able to sight-read music and carry a harmony part on their own.”

A Festival That Takes Young Musicians to the World Stage

The Australian International Music Festival, now in its 37th year and organised by World Projects South Pacific, draws over 1,000 participants each year from Australia and international ensembles from the United States, China, Europe, Singapore, Japan and New Zealand.

Performances during the week-long festival take place across Sydney’s most iconic cultural venues, including the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Angel Place City Recital Hall, Sydney Town Hall, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, St Andrew’s Cathedral and Darling Harbour.

Participating ensembles are adjudicated by an international jury and awarded gold, silver or bronze plaques based on their concert performances. Alongside the competitive programme, the festival runs educational workshops with world-class clinicians at the Conservatorium, rehearsal exchanges with other ensembles, and cultural experiences across the city.

For 24 students from a state school in Chermside West, performing on the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall stage alongside international ensembles is the kind of experience that does not come around twice.

Support the Choir Before They Go

The community raffle is open now. Tickets are available here, with online ticket sales available until 7pm of 16 May 2026. Prizes are drawn at 7:30pm in the same day and winners will be contacted via phone or email.

The Australian International Music Festival will run from 5-12 July 2026. For more information about the Craigslea State High School Signature Music Programme and the Chamber Choir, visit the school’s website or follow the school’s Facebook page.

Published 29-April-2026

The Timber Footbridge at Raven Street Reserve Is Back Open

CrTracyDavis/Facebook

The timber footbridge at Raven Street Reserve in Chermside West has reopened following major structural works, with residents and walkers now able to cross freely again after what has been a notable absence from one of Brisbane’s northside most popular bushland corridors.

A small section of the bridge remains temporarily fenced while minor finishing tasks are completed over the next week, but the main span is now accessible and the reserve is once again fully walkable from end to end.

A reserve worth the visit

Raven Street Reserve sits tucked between Rode Road and Raven Street in Chermside West, and for a park this close to the suburban grid it carries a surprising amount of wildness. Downfall Creek winds through the lower reaches of the reserve, and the footbridge that has just been repaired sits across one of the creek crossings that connects the reserve’s internal trail network.

The broader reserve links into the Chermside Hills walking network, giving walkers access to the Giwadha Circuit Track, the Xanthorrhoea Track named for the grasstreets that line its ridges, and further routes toward Milne Hill and Chermside Hills Reserve.

Wildlife sightings in the area are reliably good: lace monitors, scrub turkeys, water dragons, and if you move quietly along the upper ridgeline sections, wallabies. The reserve also features a grassed oval with public toilets, picnic facilities and plenty of shaded trail under eucalypt canopy.

The Xanthorrhoea Track in particular draws walkers back repeatedly, especially in late winter and spring when the native understorey comes alive with yellow pultineas, golden banksias and purple patersonia lilies.

Getting there

Raven Street Reserve is accessed via Raven Street, Chermside West, off Rode Road. Bus route 353 stops on Hamilton Road near Trouts Road, providing access to the broader reserve network. Street parking is available on Raven Street and the surrounding streets.

The reserve is free to enter and open daily. For more information about Raven Street Reserve and its trail network, click here.

Published 29-April-2026

Newest Italian Restaurant La Regina Now Open at Westfield Chermside

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Chermside locals who’ve been craving a proper sit-down Italian feed will want to take note: a new Italian restaurant has opened at Westfield Chermside, and it’s already turning heads on Level 1.

La Regina, which sits just outside the main food court below Event Cinemas — near Grill’d and GYG — takes its cues from the warmth and generosity that Italian dining is known for. The space is set up for everything from a weeknight dinner with the family to a longer, more celebratory meal, and the menu reads like a love letter to the Italian table.

For starters, there’s a generous antipasti board piled with prosciutto, mortadella and salami, alongside arancini, marinated olives, bread and bocconcini. Other entrée options include rosemary and herb focaccia, salt and pepper calamari with aioli and rocket salad, and chilli prawns made with local prawn cutlets in a chilli garlic sauce. The arancini deserves a special mention — the kitchen rotates the flavours each week, giving regulars a reason to keep coming back.

The pasta selection is the kind of thing you’d want on a cold Brisbane evening. The Linguine Marinara is loaded with mussels, clams, prawns, scallops and calamari in a Napoli sauce with chilli and garlic, while the Pappardelle Al Ragù D’Anatra features flat ribbon pasta slow-braised with duck and tomato. There’s also ricotta and spinach Cannelloni, Lasagna, and a Gnocchi Boscaiola — soft potato gnocchi in a creamy sauce with Italian pork sausage and mushroom.

Those after something more substantial can choose from the mains, which include a Veal Scaloppini (served with either a creamy mushroom sauce or white wine and garlic sauce, steamed vegetables and roast potatoes), a grilled 250g rump Bistecca with fries and salad, and a Brodetto Di Pesce — a traditional Italian seafood stew with mussels, clams, prawns, scallops and calamari in a tomato-based sugo, served with sourdough.

The pizza list covers the classics — Margherita, Capricciosa, Diavola, Calzone and Marinara — alongside more indulgent options like the Montanare, topped with mozzarella, mortadella, burrata and crushed pistachio, and the Primavera, finished with rocket, prosciutto and shaved parmesan.

Dessert is not an afterthought here. The tiramisu is made in-house, layered with espresso-soaked savoiardi biscuits and mascarpone. There’s also a panna cotta with mixed berries and cannoli filled with sweet ricotta cream, crushed pistachios and dark chocolate.

On the drinks side, the bar carries an Italian wine list available by the glass or bottle, Italian and Australian beers, and a solid cocktail menu featuring Italian classics like the Negroni, Bellini and Rossini, as well as house originals including a Basilico Martini, Italian Mojito and Rose Negroni Fizz. Aperitivo options — Campari, Aperol, Cynar and Cinzano — round out the pre-dinner possibilities, and there are also mocktails, Italian sparkling water, soft drinks and coffee.

Families are well catered for, with a dedicated kids’ menu offering spaghetti bolognese, Margherita pizza or chicken nuggets and chips.

La Regina is located on Level 1 at Westfield Chermside, Cnr Gympie and Hamilton Road. The nearest parking is at ground level off Gympie Road near Grill’d. Bookings can be made at laregina.com.au/chermside.

Published 3-March-2026

Margot Robbie And Jacob Elordi Appear At Chermside Cinema On Valentine’s Day

Photo Credit: Warner Bros. AU/Facebook

Moviegoers in Chermside were met with an unexpected appearance from Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi during a Valentine’s Day screening of Wuthering Heights.

The Queensland-born actors visited several Brisbane cinemas on February 14, including Event Cinemas Chermside, where audiences had gathered for the latest adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel.

Valentine’s Day Visit To Chermside

At the Chermside V-Max session scheduled for 6:40 p.m., the actors entered the theatre before the film commenced, prompting a strong reaction from the audience. Attendees reported audible cheering as the pair greeted the crowd.

Robbie distributed long-stem roses to cinemagoers during the appearance. In some Brisbane locations, sweets were also handed out as part of the Valentine’s Day gesture.

The visits were unannounced. Some audience members indicated they suspected something was planned after noticing microphones positioned at the front of the cinema prior to the screening.

Chermside cinema surprise — *Photo Credit: Warner Bros. AU/Facebook*

Brisbane Screenings Across The City

In addition to Chermside, the actors made appearances at screenings in New Farm and Red Hill. Reported venues included Palace Cinemas on James Street and Five Star Cinemas at Red Hill.

The Brisbane stops formed part of the film’s Australian promotional activity. Robbie, who grew up on the Gold Coast, and Elordi, who is from Brisbane, have both publicly acknowledged their Queensland ties during recent appearances.

*Photo Credit: Wuthering Heights Movie/Instagram*

Wider Promotional Tour

Before arriving in Brisbane, the pair attended the Sydney premiere of Wuthering Heights at the State Theatre. They also surprised a large audience at Westpac OpenAir at Mrs Macquarie’s Point and appeared at Vogue Forces of Fashion at the Sydney Opera House, as well as an iHeartLIVE event in North Sydney and a photocall at Bronte cliffs.

The film is directed by Emerald Fennell, with Robbie also credited as a producer. Discussion surrounding the adaptation has accompanied its release, with the cast noting that varying audience responses were anticipated.

The Chermside cinema visit marked one of several in-person appearances during the Valentine’s Day promotional schedule.

Published 18-Feb-2026

High-Density Zones Approved for Chermside Shopping Centre Precinct

New high-density zones allowing apartment buildings are part of the plan for Chermside Centre Suburban Renewal Precinct. The precinct plan aims to concentrate these zones near established transport infrastructure and established retail and service areas like the Westfield shopping complex.

Chermside already features the Westfield shopping complex, multiple bus routes including the Eastern Busway, and extensive retail and dining options, making it positioned to accommodate additional residential density.

The precinct plan passed with broad support and will now proceed to Queensland authorities for approval before returning to Council for final details including specific rezoning areas and building height limits. Chermside was chosen because of the shopping centre’s location near a planned future Metro line, providing anticipated public transport connectivity for future residents.

Community Perspectives on High-Density Development

Brisbane residents have shared mixed views on the high-density zones proposal for Chermside. Some community members expressed strong support for building apartments near high-frequency public transport, arguing these are exactly the sort of locations that should accommodate denser housing.

Others suggested broader upzoning around all train stations and busway stations across Brisbane, rather than isolated precinct-by-precinct changes. Several residents called for comprehensive transport infrastructure to support high-density corridors, warning against creating pockets of apartments separated by areas with limited public transport options.

Some community feedback emphasized the need to bring back medium-density development options, suggesting that encouraging property owners to consolidate two to six lots at a time could create more housing diversity. The sentiment reflected interest in various density options rather than only high-rise apartments.

Urban Densification Near Shopping and Transport

The precinct plan forms part of Brisbane’s urban densification approach, intended to build taller apartments near public transport to reduce car dependency. Recent changes include reducing minimum block sizes to 120 square metres and cutting parking requirements for new buildings.

Other precinct plans under development include Stones Corner, Wynnum Central, Salisbury, Moorooka and Alderley. Each precinct focuses on areas with existing or planned public transport infrastructure and established commercial centers.

The Chermside high-density zones will complement the shopping centre’s role as a major retail and service hub for Brisbane’s northern suburbs. The precinct serves residents from Chermside, Chermside West, Aspley, Carseldine, Stafford and surrounding areas.

Following approval from Queensland authorities, final details will be determined including exactly which areas receive rezoning and maximum building heights permitted. The timeline for development following final approval will depend on developer interest and market conditions.

Published 15-February-2026.