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New Learning Centre, Outdoor Centre Coming To Manly State School

Manly State School is set to have a new $11.6-million, multi-storey learning centre and an outdoor centre to cater to the school’s enrolment growth, brought by the housing boom in the bayside suburb.

Read: Manly Median House Price Grows By 16% As Buyers Seek the Sea Amidst Lockdown Lifestyle Changes

Manly State School’s enrollment surged from 2019 onwards, as many young families relocated to the suburb in hopes of seeking a more relaxed lifestyle. From 657 students in 2019, the school’s enrolment increased to 701 in 2021.

Photo credit: Manly State School/Facebook

Because of the trend, the State Government has allocated $11.6 million for the construction of a multistorey learning centre which consists of six general learning areas, a music centre and an outdoor learning area.

Besides the learning centre, a new $550,000 outdoor learning area is currently being planned for Manly State School. Now in the design phase, it will allow students to engage and learn in an outdoor environment whilst providing to various learning needs of all students.

Manly’s Median House Price Growth

Photo credit: Peter Mines/Google Street View

Based on data from Property Market Updates, Manly’s property values grew by 16.01 per cent from July 2020 to June 2021, compared to $844,750 in the previous year.

What attracts families and downsizers to Manly is its relaxing and quiet seaside vibes as many buyers are seeking lifestyle changes.

Another factor that brings people close to Manly is the continued growth of residential projects in the area. Two of the biggest developments coming to Manly are 191 Stratton Tce, a residential complex with 42-units and retail space and The Village Manly, a 100-unit luxury retirement village with two four-storey and two six-storey buildings.

Here Are The New Developments Coming To Manly

Photo credit: Google Street View

The future looks bright for Manly, with four developments currently underway that will help boost tourism in the bayside suburb. Here are the new residential developments as well as long-standing community landmarks with major upgrades underway, set to transform Manly in the near future.

Read: Manly Median House Price Grows By 16% As Buyers Seek the Sea Amidst Lockdown Lifestyle Changes

The Manly Hotel

The Endeavour Group, the company that owns BWS, ALH Hotels, Dan Murphy’s and more, has taken over the hotel in October 2021 and signed a 50-year lease to manage the venue. Endeavour Group revealed its plans to expand its hotel operations following its split from Woolworths.

Established in 1955, The Manly Hotel has changed hands for the first time this year, after the original owners, the McDonald family, announced that they will no longer renew the lease to the hotel.

It will undergo extensive renovations and upgrades, though there is no exact date yet as to when the works would begin. Endeavour Group has big plans for the iconic hotel and sees it as a jewel in their extensive hotel holding.

Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club

Artist’s impression of the new club (Photo credit: https://mbtbc.com.au/)

Known as one of the most popular venues in the bayside, Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club is currently in its biggest facelift yet in its 56-year history. Major upgrades include an extension of the clubhouse and adding a deck overlooking the harbour. Award-winning construction team Ashley Cooper Construction was tasked to do the refurbishment for the club.

Photo credit: Ashley Cooper Construction/Facebook

The revamp was needed to cater for the club’s significant growth and development over the past two years. Now, the club’s membership has reached more than 11,000. As the venue itself expands, the club is also planning to double its staff.

191 Stratton

DeMartini Fletcher’s residential development at 191 Stratton Tce, Manly is a four-storey residential complex with 42-units and retail space. Amenities include a resort-style pool, BBQ area and wellness gym. A rooftop recreation deck boasting stunning bay views is also available for all residents.

Works have been delayed following issues with some locals, but the developer agreed to tweak certain elements of the designs and lower down the number of units and retail space. The construction of 191 Stratton is now in full swing as construction officially started in July 2021.

The Village Manly

A project of The Village Retirement Group and Anglicare Southern Queensland, The Village Manly is a 100-unit luxury retirement village in two four-storey and two six-storey buildings.

Located next to the Edwin Marsden Tooth Memorial Home (Lota House), The Village Manly will be done in two stages. Stage 1 will be for the 46 apartments (23 apartments for each building) and Stage 2 for the communal facilities for residents.

Brisbane City Council initially rejected the project in late 2019 but the Planning and Environment Court overturned the decision after the developers made a few changes in their proposal and reduced the number of units.

Works on Stage 1 of The Village Manly is set to be complete between September 2022 and March 2023.

Whites Rd Residents Oppose Plans For New Childcare Centre In The Area

Photo credit: Google Street View

Some residents in Lota are opposing the proposal to build a 109-place childcare centre along Whites Road, citing safety issues and the added traffic it may bring to the area.

Read: New Look For Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club As Major Renovations Finally Begin

Public submissions continue to pour on the development application (A005612652), which is currently being assessed by the Brisbane City Council.

The developer seeks to build an 871-sqm childcare centre with 22 carparks at 215 Whites Rd, Lota. It will be two storeys in height and will have a dedicated play area.

Artist’s impression of proposed childcare centre in Lota (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

Designed by Raunik Architects, the childcare centre would feature gardens suitable for deep planting to soften the aspect of car park entry and deliver an aesthetic suitable for a residential setting.

If given the green light, the childcare centre will have 17 full-time staff and will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Safety concerns

One resident in particular mentioned that Whites Rd is already heavily congested with obstructed views making it a dangerous place to be dropping off and picking up children.

“Currently there is no high demand for another childcare center when there is multiple in a less than 1 kilometer radius of Lota, and within the suburb itself,” said one resident, in a submission opposing the proposal.

In response to the submissions, the developer highlighted that the 22 parking spaces are compliant with Council’s Transport, Access, Parking and Servicing Planning Scheme Policy (TAPS PSP) which outlines a minimum requirement for one car parking space per every five children.

Regarding pedestrian safety, the developer noted that the proposal incorporates a dedicated pedestrian access point and pathway which is separated from the vehicle access to the site, to ensure no safety issues arise between vehicles and pedestrians accessing the site.

Manly Median House Price Grows By 16% As Buyers Seek the Sea Amidst Lockdown Lifestyle Changes

The median house price for the 12-month period ending June 2021 shows Manly just under the million-dollar mark, as double-digit growth in the bayside suburb is fuelled by the Brisbane property boom, a favourable investment climate, and a shift in buyer preferences.

From July 2020 to June 2021, Manly’s property values grew by 16.01 percent, setting the median price at $980,000 compared to $844,750 in the previous year, per data from Property Market Updates. Some 97 properties were sold during this 12-month period with the most expensive property going for $2,550,000.

The said house on Gordon Parade encompasses a 270-degree view of the bayside enclave with five oversized bedrooms, its own cinema and gym, and flowing indoor-outdoor living space. More buyers are keen on paying a premium on lifestyle assets or homes with a view of the natural beauty around the property, something that Manly could deliver.

The suburb’s relaxing and quiet seaside vibes with its quaint village-style shops have been very attractive for families and downsizers as everything the residents need is within a block of each other.

Distinct sea-change and tree-change trends have been observed, particularly in regional and coastal Queensland, as buyers seek lifestyle changes and move interstate, escape the city, or come back to Australia.

“A coastal lifestyle has become extremely important. There’s been a significant uplift in some coastal towns. We’ve seen those lifestyle properties really kick up in value,” JPM Valuers director Jason Matigian said.

Unit Price Growth

Most affluent property owners would love a lifestyle apartment in idyllic Manly despite the shortage of stocks. From July 2020 to June 2021, Manly units took an average of 88 days to sell with 37 unit properties sold, pushing the median price by 0.55 percent at $550,000.

Three years ago, Manly’s unit median price was at $800,000 amidst a buying frenzy for waterfront properties from investors who want to take advantage of high rental yields.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Manly West is currently among 11 Brisbane suburbs with the tightest rental vacancy markets, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).

According to REIQ CEO Antonia Marcorella, whilst low vacancy rates would be positive for landlords and investors, demand for housing from tenants could spur a crisis, leading to homelessness, that the Queensland housing system should address.

New Look For Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club As Major Renovations Finally Begin

Photo credit: Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club/Facebook

After more than two years of planning, the major renovation and expansion of the bar and restaurant facility at the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club in Manly have finally started.

Read: Endeavour Group Takes Over The Manly Hotel

It’s the biggest makeover yet for the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club, which has been around for nearly six decades. The last redevelopment happened in 2005 when the clubhouse was extended and a deck overlooking the harbour was added. The latest plan is a much-needed upgrade as the club’s membership continues to grow, having over 11,000 members to date.

Construction on the project was delayed after it was originally scheduled to begin in March 2021. In addition to funds coming from MBTBC, the project is being funded by the $1 million grant from State Member for Lytton (ALP) Joan Pease, as part of her commitment to back bayside clubs.

Luke and Zoran from the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club checking in on the progress of the refurbishment (Photo credit: Ashley Cooper Construction/Facebook)

Award-winning construction team Ashley Cooper Construction was tasked to do the refurbishment for the club. There are big plans for the club once the major renovation is complete, including hiring more workers to double their current staff number.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with such a time-honoured Brisbane venue, in undertaking the most significant refurbishment of the Club in 56 years which includes a complete refurbishment, constructing a spectacular new facade and implementing a significant building extension,” said Ashley Cooper Construction.

The club will remain open throughout the construction, which is estimated to last for 24 weeks. The management also advised visitors regarding the temporary entrance as the club undergoes renovations. You can visit MBTBC’s website for more details and further announcements regarding the construction.

Endeavour Group Takes Over The Manly Hotel

Endeavour Group, the company behind ALH Hotels, Dan Murphy’s, and BWS, is set to run The Manly Hotel beginning October 2021. They will hold a 50-year lease on the venue that used to be managed by the McDonald family.

Under the new management, The Manly Hotel will undergo renovations and upgrades that will see the longstanding venue revitalised to its former glory. The company will also retain the existing staff.

In early 2021, the McDonald family, who has been the steward of hotel since the 1970s, announced that they will not renew their lease after more than a year of mulling over their opportunities.

Sandy McDonald, who inherited the stewardship of the Cambridge Parade venue from his parents, Stewart and Dulcie McDonald, took The Manly Hotel to greater heights as an award-winning venue.

Highlights

Endeavour Group now holds a 50-year lease to The Manly Hotel in Cambridge Parade.
Endeavour Group has major plans to expand its hotel operations after splitting with Woolworths.
The McDonald family, which used to run the hotel, will continue to be a presence in the bayside hotel business at the Manly Marina Cove Hotel.

In 2013, Mr McDonald won the prestigious Queensland Hotels Association Hotelier of the Year. Three years later, his name entered into the association as a life member in 2016.

However, the McDonald family will remain a presence in the bayside as they manage the Manly Marina Cove Hotel at the Royal Esplanade.

Meanwhile, the Endeavour Group’s acquisition of the hotel and pub comes as the company finalised its separation from Woolworths. Bruce Mathieson, the company’s major shareholder, said that they will no longer be constrained to expand following the changes to their business.

Endeavour’s new chief executive Steve Donohue said that they will be focusing on the growth of their hotels division in the coming years.

New Manly Restaurant Serves Beef Fat Doughnuts

Photo credit: Hazel Anthony/Google Maps

When The Arsonist opened in Manly earlier this year, they demonstrated that open fire cooking and fine dining can go together. Much more than that, they introduced the unusual pairing of sweet doughnuts and beef in one of their popular menu items, the ‘smoked beef fat doughnut.’

Read: Take A Look Inside The Newly Opened Manly Boathouse

The Arsonist’s doughnut is sweet and savoury with an added tart flavour from the Davidson’s plum jam in the centre. The doughnut will be served to you plump and moist, and from the way it looks, you’d think it belongs on the sweets menu.

These goodies, offered at $7 each, are among the savoury bites offered at this new bayside restaurant, along with dark stout and rye bread, BBQ prawns, and duck liver parfait. It’s from Chefs Kyle Bradley and Mathew Fulford, who wanted to fill the gap for fire-powered restaurants in Manly.

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Equipped with custom-built, wood-fired, stainless steel grills and smokers, The Arsonist is a haven for meat-lovers. People come here for the smoked lamb and tongue skewers, and the dry aged sirloin. Guests can even watch the chef in action through the open kitchen. That’s if they don’t mind the aroma of smoke (albeit delicious!) clinging to their clothes!

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The savoury meals are best paired with a glass of pandan & pineapple gimlet or the popular smoked chilli & mango margarita. They also have a list of wines and whiskies sourced from around the world, including Scotland, Japan, and Ireland.

Chefs Kyle Bradley and Mathew Fulford (The Arsonist/Google Maps)

Anyone who has visited The Arsonist will suggest leaving room for dessert. Choices abound, like coal-roast banana parfait, chocolate pudding, creme brulee, and fig and smoked walnut tart. And in a wood-fired restaurant like this, who would say no to S’Mores?

If you want to experience The Arsonist’s open-fire kitchen and luxe bar, visit them at 457 Esplanade Manly, Wednesday to Sunday 12:00 p.m. to late. Follow them on Facebook for updates or promotions.

Urbex Sells Property in Prestigious Manly Location

Urbex, a residential and commercial developer in major cities across the country, has put up a rare opportunity for investors to purchase a spacious property in a prestigious location in Manly.

The site on 37 to 41 Oceana Terrace, atop Manly Hill, overlooks the Manly Boat Harbour and captures the gorgeous views of Moreton Bay and North Stradbroke Islands. Spanning 1,760 square metres, the land has potential for reconfiguration as a commercial or residential development for affluent locals, across three titles.

The land has existing houses that may also be primed for an upgrade, subject to Council approval. The houses have a combined nine bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Craig Covacich of Urbex said that the offer is a “perfect opportunity” for investors to capitalise on an established and beautiful location amidst a lack of supply in an in-demand market like Manly.

Ubex expects that the site will fetch a record price, with both locals and interstate buyers expressing interest.

In Manly, the average price for a house with at least four bedrooms is $1.2 million as of 25 June 2021. The general forecast for Brisbane’s property will continue to strengthen in 2022 as a result of the city’s improving infrastructure.

Kerbside Collection Finally Returns to Manly and Manly West

Kerbside collection is returning to Brisbane one year after the service went on hiatus. Manly and Manly West are among one of the many suburbs due to receive its aid later in the first quarter of 2022.

After a yearlong hiatus, kerbside collection is back, earlier than planned, after Brisbane City Council decided that the service can resume for numerous Brisbane suburbs this year, including Manly and Manly West.

Last year’s break was able to generate $6 million in savings for Council but this year’s resumption is a welcome move for locals.

The service was put on hold in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in a bid to save $13 million over two years, however it is returning ahead of schedule, starting with the suburbs that were affected by its sudden hiatus.

Of the $6 million saved as a result of Kerbside Collection’s temporary cancellation, half was given to community groups, charities and sporting clubs to recover from the pandemic and prosper. Business fee waivers were also given to small businesses that were negatively affected by the virus.

Suburb	Kerbside Collection Schedule
Murrarie, Cannon Hill & Morningside	February 14, 2022
Hemmant & Lytton	February 21, 2022
Manly, Belmont & Wynnum West	February 28, 2022
Manly West & Tingalpa	March 7, 2022
Carina	March 14, 2022

According to Councillor Lisa Atwood, each suburb will be letterboxed an information pamphlet weeks before the event on what can be placed for kerbside collection. Note that dates are subject to change in the event of inclement weather or from complications brought about by operational requirements.

Check Suburb Schedules Here

About Kerbside Collection

Kerbside collection is an item collection service that was created to help people get rid of large household items that would be difficult to dispose of otherwise. All one has to do is leave the belongings they no longer want on the kerbside at 6:00 a.m.

Acceptable items include bath and laundry tubs, bicycles and sporting equipment, carpets and rugs, furniture, household appliances, and wood products smaller than 1.5 metres among many other things. Conversely, bricks, car parts, garden waste, glass and mirrors, hazardous waste, and liquids will not be collected.

Labor councillors worked to have the popular service return as it was a basic and essential service that many Queensland residents relied on, however Lord Mayor Schrinner had commented that he had no regrets putting the service on hold.

Manly West in Top 11 of the Tightest Rental Vacancy Market

Vacancies in the rental market have tightened considerably in the first quarter of 2021, ushering in a crisis for the market despite this being good news for landlords and investors. Manly West, in particular, has a 0.5% vacancy and it’s one of the top 11 tightest rental markets among Brisbane and its outer ring suburbs.

According to Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) CEO Antonia Mercorella, the vacancy rate squeeze across the state, the lowest since 2012, has been affected by the rush of migrants to the state due to the pandemic. The situation has been static for the last four quarters with Brisbane LGA generally averaging a rental vacancy rate of 1.1% over a 12-month period.

Here are the rental markets with the lowest vacancy rates in the Queensland capital:

SUBURB	RENTAL VACANCY RATE
Anstead	0.5 %
Birkdale	0.3 %
Capalaba	0.2 %
Ferny Hill	0.3 %
Gumdale	0.4 %
Manly West	0.5 %
Rothwell	0.2 %
Sandgate	0.5 %
Shailer Park	0.4 %
Thornside	0.3 %
Wakerley	0.4 %

Whilst low vacancy rates would be positive for landlords and investors, demand for housing from tenants could spur a crisis, leading to homelessness, that the Queensland housing system should address, according to Ms Mercorella.

“The rental sector plays a critical role in Queensland’s housing system and the role and size of our investor market has never been so important,” she said.

“The State Government say they want to help households transition from community housing to housing in the private rental market. Given that, more needs to be done to better support both increased and ongoing property investor activity in the Queensland property market and the contributions they make to the State economy.”

The REIQ is also supporting the amendments to the First Home Owner Grant, allowing the public to afford their own house instead of becoming tenants. Ms Mercorella believes that this will “help reduce pressure on the rental market” and stimulate the economy.