Parents, students, residents, and local businesses will soon have their chance to help shape the future of safer, smoother travel around the Wynnum and Manly school community.
Community consultation opens on Monday, 15 September, as part of the Wynnum Manly Safer School Precinct project. The initiative covers Manly State School, Wynnum State High School, and St John Vianney’s Primary School, as well as surrounding residents and businesses.
Safer School precinct map (Photo credit: BCC)
For six weeks, the consultation period will gather feedback on everyday experiences of moving around the precinct, from driving and cycling to walking and public transport. Locals are encouraged to share their expectations, challenges and ideas to improve safety and ease congestion, particularly during busy school drop-off and pick-up times.
Photo credit: Google Street View
The insights collected will help develop a plan to address issues such as traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and accessibility. With three schools and a mix of residential and commercial areas in close proximity, the precinct is a focal point for daily travel, making community input critical to shaping practical and lasting solutions.
Community members can have their say through surveys and engagement sessions, ensuring their voices contribute to creating a precinct that is safer and more efficient for everyone.
The Safer School Precincts program is designed to support Brisbane’s growing suburbs while creating lasting benefits for local communities.
The program places its focus on road safety upgrades, stronger pedestrian connections and better opportunities for active travel. These improvements are intended to make it safer for students on their journeys to and from school.
Planned improvements aim to strengthen connections to Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues, with upgraded pathways and public transport options making it easier for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to move within precincts and access key destinations.
Armed Robbery in Lota Leaves Local Man Shaken After Early Morning Attack
A man was threatened and robbed outside a Lota gym during a quiet early morning, shocking the small bayside community as police search for the person responsible.
Shortly before 4 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18, a 36-year-old man was approached outside a fitness centre on Railway Terrace in Lota. According to Queensland Police, the man was confronted by an unknown male who demanded his car keys and stole his grey 2017 Volkswagen Polo hatchback. The vehicle was later seen in Wynnum without its number plates.
Police Appeal to the Public
Investigators say the man believed to be involved in the robbery is described as Caucasian and was wearing a black hoodie at the time. Authorities have released images of the individual and the stolen vehicle in the hope that members of the public may recognise him or provide information to assist with the investigation.
The vehicle, a grey Volkswagen Polo with Queensland registration ZZD 750, was last sighted on Wondall Road, Wynnum, at approximately 9:15 a.m. that same day. Police have confirmed the plates were removed by that time, making the car more difficult to trace.
Community Concerns and Vigilance
The quiet community of Lota has been shaken by the early morning robbery, raising concerns about safety during daily routines. Police are treating the incident seriously, though they have not confirmed if a weapon was involved.
Residents are urged to stay alert and cautious. Authorities are also asking anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from Lota or Wynnum to come forward.
How to Share Information
Police are urging anyone with information to contact Policelink on 131 444 or submit a report at police.qld.gov.au/reporting. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersqld.com.au.
Wynnum and Manly have been identified as Brisbane suburbs where rents are expected to keep rising, driven by limited housing supply and sustained demand from tenants.
Wynnum and Manly have been included in a national list of 20 suburbs where rents are forecast to continue increasing over the next 12 months. The latest analysis attributes the pressure to ongoing low vacancy rates, constrained housing supply, and a rental market that remains more accessible than home ownership in these areas.
These bayside suburbs were identified along with other Queensland locations such as Loganlea and The Gap, which also face tight rental conditions and low stock availability.
In Wynnum, house rents have increased by 6.1 per cent over the past year to an average of $700 per week. Unit rents have grown 5.5 per cent, now averaging $580. House values in the suburb rose by 24.5 per cent over the same period, while units saw a 15.2 per cent increase.
Manly has reported a median weekly rent of $780 for houses and $620 for units. The rental yield for houses currently stands at 2.86 per cent, while units return 3.80 per cent. Properties in the suburb are moving steadily, with houses spending 32 days on the market and units 16 days.
Suburb Characteristics and Growth Drivers
Wynnum combines older Queenslander-style housing with newer developments and is supported by proximity to schools, parks, public transport, and a growing local population. A $1 billion redevelopment of Wynnum Plaza is in progress, with completion expected by late 2025.
Manly offers a marina-side lifestyle and remains popular with families and professionals. In 2021, 68 per cent of homes in Manly were owner-occupied, reflecting the area’s residential stability and long-term appeal.
Together, Wynnum and Manly form a connected bayside corridor that benefits from established infrastructure, coastal amenities, and ongoing urban renewal.
Across Australia, the rental market continues to face pressure. SQM Research reported a national vacancy rate of 1.2 per cent in May, reflecting a slight improvement from April but still well below pre-pandemic levels. With rental listings limited and population growth continuing, demand is expected to remain elevated.
This sustained imbalance between supply and demand suggests that suburbs like Wynnum and Manly are likely to see further upward pressure on rents into 2025 and beyond.
At Manly RSL this May, a Brisbane writer will share the hidden story of his grandfather’s role in a forgotten WWI scene — one that hung on his wall all his life.
Manly Book Launch to Share Lost Family War Stories Unearthed in a Shoebox
A family war story buried for decades is set to be shared at the Manly-Lota RSL, where Brisbane writer Paul Dobbyn will launch a book that traces his grandfather’s forgotten role in one of World War I’s most haunting moments.
Photo Credit: Supplied
The event will take place on Friday, 9 May, at the Manly-Lota RSL Sub Branch Hall. The date is meaningful to Dobbyn’s family. It marks the anniversary of both his grandfather’s survival at the Battle of Aubers Ridge in 1915 and his uncle’s death during a 1944 Royal Air Force mission in France.
A Personal Discovery Leads to Public Sharing
Wynnum journalist and poet Paul Dobbyn found the heart of War Spoils in a leather-bound journal left by his grandfather, Captain Henry Dobbyn, a World War I veteran of the Indian Royal Munster Fusiliers. Discovered after his father’s death in 1991, the journal detailed frontline injuries, including wounds at the Somme, and the hardship of raising five children alone in Toowoomba.
A childhood memory of a painting gained new meaning when Dobbyn realised his grandfather was among the soldiers shown receiving a battlefield blessing in The Last General Absolution of the Munsters at Rue du Bois. Though the image hung in family homes, the connection had never been spoken of. It is a quiet discovery that became the book’s emotional centre.
Wartime Sacrifices Across Generations
The book follows Henry Dobbyn’s sons, Denis, who served in Papua New Guinea, and Robert, a Pathfinder pilot killed in 1944, with their stories rebuilt from family records and a blog that retraced Robert’s final flight.
War Spoils blends family history with poetry, drawing on Dobbyn’s public readings from the 1990s, enriched by archival images and wartime music.
Local Reflections for Anzac Day
With a foreword by RSL President Major General Greg Melick and praise from historian Dr Greg Poulgrain, the book is recognised as a moving tribute across three generations.
For Dobbyn, sharing these stories in Manly and Wynnum is about honouring those who served and highlighting the personal side of Australia’s wartime history.
After winning the 1971 grand final with the Booval Swifts, talented player Ross Nunn headed to the bay to join the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in 1972. This kicked off an illustrious career with the Seagulls, where Nunn contributed greatly before returning to Ipswich later in his career.
In the early 1970s, Wynnum Manly was struggling, winning just two games in 1972 and three in 1973. Nunn recalls that coach Jim Lewis, father of future star Wally Lewis, was fantastic but results were not there yet.
Under new coach Tom Berry in 1975, Wynnum Manly finally broke a 16-year finals drought. Nunn has fond memories of their incredible upset win over favourites Easts Tigers late in the season. However, they could not replicate this performance against the Redcliffe Dolphins the following week.
Nev Hornery’s brutal style transforms club
Photo Credit: Seagulls Forever
According to Nunn, the arrival of “Nasty Nev” Hornery in 1977 was transformative for Wynnum Manly. Hornery brought a new level of ruthlessness and winning mentality. Nunn never played against Hornery but understands why he struck fear in opponents.
Fond memories of talented teammates
Photo Credit: Seagulls Forever
Nunn looks back fondly on the many great players from Ipswich he got to play alongside in Brisbane. Talented players like Jeff Denman, Ian Robson, and John Crilly made the transition easier. He particularly recalls Tony Obst as one of the best he played with and against.
Ross Nunn is proud to have played a role in Wynnum Manly’s journey from strugglers to powerhouse. His fondest memories are of the club’s incredible supporters and the strong parallels with his hometown of Ipswich.
Peta Prestidge, fourth from left with the MHV Chamber of Commerce team (Photo credit: Manly Harbour Village/Facebook)
Peta Prestidge was appointed as president of Manly Harbour Village Chamber of Commerce when David Farley retired after 35 years. The Chamber of Commerce oversees Manly Harbour Village and ensures it stays as a world-class leisure precinct, just like how Mr Farley envisioned it more than three decades ago.
“I love Manly and the bayside area, and have immersed myself in the local community, leading to my appointment as President of the precinct’s Chamber of Commerce in late 2021,” Ms Prestidge shared.
Before she took over the role, Ms Prestidge served as the general manager of The Consortium Group since 2016. The company is behind The Arsonist and Tide on the Jetty, two of the most popular restaurants in Manly.
As the current president of Manly Harbour Village Chamber of Commerce, Ms Prestidge hopes new and existing members would get more involved, believing that working together for the bigger picture is the key to success.
Nikki Kay
Photo credit: ManlyBoathouse/Facebook
Nikki Kay and her husband transformed Wilson’s Boathouse into Manly Boathouse, now one of the leading seafood restaurants in the bayside.
The Kays gave the space a brand new look with their relaxed outdoor area where guests can walk in and try their bar snack menu, and a patio featuring a fish and chippery, gelato bar, and licensed bar.
The husband and wife duo successfully owned many retail businesses since 1991, which include bulk butcher shops, seafood markets, and seafood restaurants.
They were the original owners of Reef Seafood + Sushi, which was sold in 2018, before they opened a second venue, ReefGasworks in the Gasworks Precinct in Newstead, with the help of their son Ryan.
Joan Pease
Photo credit: Joan Pease MP/Facebook
When Joan Pease became a representative of the bayside community, Ms Pease helped deliver 24-hour health services back to Wynnum following the establishment of the Wynnum Manly Health Centre.
Ms Pease’s other local achievements include:
Helping young people into work by restoring funding for the successful Skilling Queenslanders for Work program
Upgrading local schools with funding for new facilities at Wynnum West, Darling Point and Brisbane Bayside plus a teacher aide in all prep classes
Cleaning up Wynnum Creek and the removal of derelict, polluting boats
Ms Pease is the patron of the Wynnum Manly Historical Association, the Wynnum Manly Yacht Club, the Bayside Woodturners and Woodcrafters Club and the Bayside Eastern District Orchid Society.
Ciara Metcalfe
Photo credit: Cricket Ireland/Facebook
Ciara Metcalfeis an Irish former cricketer who was a right-arm leg break bowler. She is considered as one of the personalities who made cricket more popular among women on the bayside.
It started when she played and served as coach for the Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club in the lower divisions.
Cricket grew so popular because of Metcalfe’s help, which even led to the merger of Redlands and Wynnum to come up with a first grade team. Since then, the sport keeps reaching new heights in the bayside.
Merle Dippel
Aunty Merle (second from left), with Winnam Chairperson Becky Thomson, Director Jacqui Carter, and Joan Pease MP (Photo credit: Winnam Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation/Facebook)
Merle Dippel was one of the three original founding members of Winnam Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation, along with Cheryl Jacob and Becky Thomson.
From a $100 donation, Winnam has grown to one of the leading organisations providing affordable housing to the local community. Since starting their valuable work, Winnam has built up more than $17 million in assets.
Also known as ‘Aunty Merle,’ Ms Dippel was a founder of the Mariners and is a well-known Quandamooka Community Elder from North Stradbroke Island. She currently resides in Wynnum and was a long-term board member of Winnam.
After 12 weeks of digital training, workers at the Wynnum-Manly Primary Care Centre have done their first documentation of the patients’ integrated electronic medical records (ieMR), allowing the facility to finally go live on the digital platform.
With the new ieMR, Wynnum-Manly Primary Care Centre would be able to access the patients’ records electronically, thus bridging any gaps in the delivery of their needed healthcare.
“Sometimes it can be difficult accessing our patients’ medical information as a small community site,” Nurse Unit Manager Eric Ford said. “Having immediate access to electronic patient medical records will now be a great support for when a patient presents at the facility.”
The ieMR has been customised for Wynnum-Manly Primary Care Centre patients and whilst it was not an easy transition, the workers have welcomed the changes.
Project Manager Karen Davies and the staff have been actively involved with the customisation, collaborating with the Project Team and Cerner, the software developers.
“It’s great to see Wynnum-Manly PCC join the clinical community of Digital Hospitals in Metro South Health and across the state,” Ms Davies said.
“Clinicians will have access to instant, real-time patient information from across Metro South, as well as from digital facilities around Queensland with each patient’s electronic record now travelling with them.
“That means no need to obtain charts from Medical Records and better collaboration between clinicians, and more linked-up care for patients.
“Clinicians also have access to early warning alerts in a medical emergency and improved patient safety with patients accurately identified through wristbands with unique barcodes.”
For more than 25 years, Bayside locals have been looking forward to the annual Manly Halloween Parade but the festival has been called off due to the pandemic restrictions in the last two years and it’s still the case for the third year, post-pandemic, as the organisers have chosen not to do the parade for 2022.
Former Manly Harbour Village president, David Farley, who has been the head organiser of the Halloween street party, said that they have decided since February to defer the parade as COVID-19 remains uncertain despite the loosening restrictions.
Photo Credit: Manly Harbour village/Facebook
Instead, Wynnum will be taking over and hosting their inaugural Ampol Wynnum Halloween Parade on 29 October 2022 along Bay Terrace. It is expected to be smaller than the Manly event, which attracted over 20,000 people during the 2019 Halloween party.
The Wynnum festivities, organised by Wynnum Commerce with the help of Council and local businesses, will likely have over 5,000 guests. The celebration will run from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. There will be no fireworks as well but the group said it will still be a fun community event for the locals.
Here’s what the guests can look forward to at the Wynnum event
Market stalls are open from 4:00 p.m.
Yummy food from our local vendors & Food Trucks from 5:00 p.m.
Trick & Treat Trail in Wynnum Central from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Parade starts at 6:00 p.m. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to dress in costumes to win in the Best Dressed Competitions.
Street Entertainment from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Wynnum Commerce group said they have an agreement to host the Halloween party for the next three years.
Meanwhile, Mr Farley said that he doesn’t know if Manly will resume hosting a Halloween festival by 2023 or 2024.
A big cultural celebration will take place at the George Clayton Park in Wynnum this July, as part of the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day of Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week. Dubbed the Winnam NAIDOC Kunjiel, this special event gathers different Aboriginal communities consisting of the Nughi, Nunukul and Goenpul clans through music, dance, and a feast.
Kunjiel means “corroboree,” a term coined by Europeans to describe the ceremonies and practices of the Aboriginal tribes. This corroboree is also part of the annual Quandamooka Festival, a three-month-long commemoration of the People of South East Queensland.
Set for Saturday, the 20th of July 2019, at the Lower Esplanade in Manly, Winnam NAIDOC Kunjiel will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Aside from dances and music, this free event will feature different markets, traditional sports activities, food trucks, storytelling, arts and crafts and language classes.
Photo Credit: Quandamooka Festival/Facebook
“This year’s program brings the superstars of Australian music together with the next generation of performers in a series of magical events showcasing the depth and diversity of contemporary indigenous culture,” Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) CEO Cameron Costello said.
This could be good news for fur-parents as Brisbane City Council prepares to trial a number of off-leash beaches in Manly, Wynnym, and other seaside suburbs across Brisbane.
Come mid-2019, a number of beaches and foreshores will be designated as off-leash areas for a year.
Currently, there are a number of off-leash beaches where Brisbane dogs can go. Some of the best beaches for pooches include the North Shore off-leash beach in the Sunshine Coast, Coolum Beach and Nudgee Beach.
Under the council’s plan, selected beaches and foreshores in Manly, Wynnum, Lota, Sandgate, Nudgee Beach, Shorncliffe, and Brighton will allow dogs, small and big, to run free within a designated area. However, dog owners will be warned that they can be fined if they unleash their pets outside the off-leash area.
The off-leash beaches trial is in response to public clamour for more freedom for their fur babies. But a possible hindrance to making beaches off-leash are the birds that treat the beaches as their temporary home.
The council plans to conduct the trial during the non-migratory period. That way, they can strike a balance in providing freedom areas for dogs, whilst still protecting the birds.
Should the trial be successful, it could lead to more off-leash beaches and foreshores in Queensland.
