Is your wardrobe overflowing with clothes that you don't wear? We've all been there, and we've all been too busy to do anything about it. Through its op shops, Australian Red Cross finds a new home for your pre-loved outfits, shoes and accessories, with proceeds going towards its charity efforts — but we all know that wanting to donate your old threads is one thing and finding the time to do it is another. That's why Australian Red Cross has once again partnered with Uber for its annual Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive. When it launched in 2018, it collected over 43,500 kilograms of clothing in that first year alone, which saw clothing items worth an estimated $800,000 donated. And you'd best take the drive part literally, as the ride-sharing service will actually drive to your house, pick up your unwanted clothes and accessories, and deliver them to Red Cross Shops. Even better: it's not only super easy to take part, but it's free as well. Brisbanites, make sure you're ready between 9am–4pm on Saturday, October 21. Once you've bagged up all of your old bits and pieces (items you'd happily give your best friend, and no toys, books, furniture or electrical objects) into a bundle that weighs no more than 20 kilograms, it's all incredibly simple. Open the Uber app during that seven-hour window, then find the 'package' option. After that, you need to click 'send a package', enter "Red Cross Shop" as the destination, and select one of the Red Cross Clothing Drive locations displayed An Uber driver will then stop outside your house, meaning that you just need to take your preloved goods out to their car. Voila, you've cleared out your closet and you've helped folks in need, all with the tap of a button.
Film festival opening nights aren't just about red carpets, a jam-packed guest list, plenty of photo opportunities and oh-so-much buzz. They're also about launching a cinema celebration as the event means to go on. So, with SXSW heading Down Under for the first time in 2023, hosting SXSW Sydney from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22, exactly which flick gets pride of place at the fest's Screen Festival is a particularly massive deal. The pick: The Royal Hotel, the latest film from Australian director Kitty Green. Green will bring her second fictional feature and fourth full-length effort to the Harbour City's first-ever SXSW, with the movie enjoying its Australian debut fresh from world-premiering at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. The Royal Hotel also marks the second collaboration in a row between Green and star Julia Garner, who was as stunning in the filmmaker's The Assistant as she was in Ozark and Inventing Anna. This time, the Casting JonBenet helmer and her current go-to star are teaming up on a tale about US backpackers who get jobs at an outback Australian pub — and also stay there. Amid the heat, the lack of wifi and drinking wine out of a cask, Hanna (Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) also cross paths with the town's male residents, including Hugo Weaving (Love Me) as the watering hole's owner, plus Toby Wallace (Babyteeth) playing charming and Daniel Henshall (Mystery Road: Origin) getting chilling. "Kitty Green's The Royal Hotel is a deft reworking of the Aussie outback thriller, reoriented with a female gaze, and we could not be more thrilled to open the inaugural SXSW Sydney Screen Festival with Kitty in attendance," said SXSW Sydney's Head of Screen Ghita Loebenstein, announcing the opening-night selection. "The film takes deliberate stabs at the more toxic shadows of the genre, and our culture, in sophisticated but ever entertaining ways. Kitty is a local luminary gaining international acclaim as a writer-director with a fearless vision for nuanced storytelling and this film is the perfect opener to the Screen Festival, which seeks to amplify and celebrate bold voices in film." The Royal Hotel joins ten previously announced titles on the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival lineup from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21, with more to come. Also a big local title on the bill: documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles, which will enjoy its world premiere at the fest. And, among nine flicks revealed in July, everything from flicks starring Indonesian rappers and documentaries about Tokyo Uber Eats rider to movies featuring viral Chinese dance crazes will pop up. Can't wait to watch your way through the fest? SXSW Sydney Screen Festival wristbands go on sale on Friday, August 25, starting at an early-bird price of $240 and getting people wearing one into unlimited screenings. [caption id="attachment_910715" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Netflix[/caption] The SXSW 2023 Sydney Screen Festival also features an array of speakers, with Queer Eye star Tan France set to hit Australia to get chatting. Indigenous filmmakers Leah Purcell (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson), Kodie Bedford (Mystery Road: Origin) and Jub Clerc (Sweet As) will also take to the stage; Osher Günsberg is on the SXSW Sydney bill recording an episode of his podcast Better Than Yesterday with a yet-to-be-announced special guest; and Gone Girl, The Nightingale, The Dry, Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers producer Bruna Papandrea and Binge's Executive Director Alison Hurbert-Burns will also appear. As well as showering viewers with movies and TV shows, with more titles to come — including First Nations Screen Festival programming by Winda Film Festival founder Pauline Clague — SXSW Sydney's film- and TV-focused strand will feature red-carpet premieres; digital and social content; an XR showcase; Q&As and panel discussions; parties and mentoring; and a screen market for industry deals. Free outdoor screenings are also slated, alongside indoor sessions at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and other yet-to-be-advised venues. SXSW Sydney will run from Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22 at various Sydney venues, with the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival running from Sunday, October 15–Saturday, October 21 at The ICC's Darling Theatre, Palace Cinemas Central and more venues to be announced. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details. If you're keen to make the most of Australia's first SXSW, take advantage of our special reader offer. Purchase your SXSW Sydney 2023 Official Badge via Concrete Playground Trips and you'll score a $150 credit to use on your choice of Sydney accommodation. Book now via the website.
It has been a long time between albums for Straight Arrows, but after 3 and a bit years in the wilderness they are back with their second LP, Rising. The garage-punks are highly respected amongst the Australian music community for their music, garage ethos and highly entertaining live show. Their 2010 effort, It’s Happening, was a perfect example of guitar fuzz executed to perfect and Rising follows that trend. With lead single, ‘Petrified’, the band has shown that they haven’t lost a step in their time off working on other projects and now they are ready to hit the road and show Australian crowds that they are still as energetic as ever. The band is playing The Brightside this Friday with support from acclaimed Canberra outfit, TV Colours and local punks Woodboot. TV Colours had a massive 2013 and are sure to be a highlight for any music fan. Tickets are $12 and are available from Moshtix.
Another Paul Schrader film, another lonely man thrust under a magnifying glass as he wrestles with the world, his place in it and his sense of morality. The acclaimed filmmaker has filled the screen with such characters and stories for more than half a century — intense tales of men who would not take it anymore — as evidenced in his screenplays for Martin Scorsese's brilliant Taxi Driver and Bringing Out the Dead, and also in his own directorial efforts such as Light Sleeper and First Reformed. You can't accuse Schrader of always making the same movie, however, as much as his work repeatedly bets on the same ideas. Instead, his films feel like cards from the same deck. Each time he deals one out, it becomes part of its own hand, as gambling drama The Card Counter demonstrates with potency, smarts and a gripping search for salvation. The film's title refers to William 'Tell' Tillich (Oscar Isaac, Dune), who didn't ever plan to spend his days in casinos and his nights in motels. But during an eight-year stint in military prison, he taught himself a new skill that he's been capitalising upon after his release. His gambit: winning modest scores from small-scale casinos. If he doesn't take the house, the house won't discipline his card-counting prowess. The money keeps him moving, but each gambling den could be the same for all that Tell cares. His motel-room routine, which involves removing all artwork from the walls, making the bed with his own linen, and covering every other surface and item with carefully tied cloth — making each space as identical as it can be, and resemble incarceration — lingers between fierce self-discipline and a stifled cry for help. Assistance arrives in two forms, not that Tell is looking or particularly receptive to having other people in his life. The regimented status quo he's carved out so meticulously is first punctured by fellow gambler-turned-agent La Linda (Tiffany Haddish, Like a Boss), who backs other punters and believes they should team up to profit big on the poker circuit. That'd bring Tell more visibility than he'd like, but it'd also increase his pay days, which would come in handy for his second new acquaintance. In Atlantic City, he meets the college-aged Cirk (Tye Sheridan, Voyagers), who has proposes a quest for revenge. Tell shares a grim past with Cirk's dad, and the twentysomething wants to punish the retired major-turned-security expert (William Dafoe, The Lighthouse) that he holds responsible — which Tell is eager to discourage. Isaac doesn't ask his reflection if it's looking in his direction. And, given that The Card Counter joins a filmography overflowing with exceptional performances — including Scenes From a Marriage already this year — it won't define his career as Taxi Driver did for a young Robert De Niro. Still, it's the highest compliment to mention the two in the same breath. At every moment, this blistering film is anchored by Isaac's phenomenal portrayal, which is quiet, slippery and weighty all at once. As conveyed with a calculating glare that's as slick as his brushed-back hair, here is a man who dons a calm facade to mask the storm brewing inside, revels in routine to avoid facing change, and anaesthetises his pain and past deeds with the repetition he's made his daily existence. Here is a man desperate to paper over his inner rot with time spent amid meaningless gloss, preferring to feel empty than to feel anything else, until he has an innocent to try to save and a clear-cut way to rally against the soulless world. In Isaac's case, here is a man surrounded by other impressive actors, too. Haddish is in career-best form, regardless of her comedy successes, and cleverly builds that confident, sharp-talking experience into La Linda's persuasive attitude. Sheridan is tasked with the most blatantly written character of the film's core trio, although that doesn't make Cirk any less riveting or pivotal. Across six decades now, Schrader has probed how America holds up, or doesn't, by using his protagonists as one-man case studies; however, due to Sheridan's single-minded, gun-ho and determined part, The Card Counter sports two examples of how the nation's decay is currently manifesting and spreading — and across two generations as well. Perhaps its plainest to see Schrader's commitment to the same themes — masculinity that's expected to brood stoically, a society that values ease over substance, a world with an ends-justify-the-means mentality, and the trauma, guilt and pursuit of redemption that all three inspire — as a filmmaker taking snapshots of the passing years. The notions he's so profoundly fascinated with are timeless, sadly, so each of his features steeps them within the US as it then exists. In The Card Counter, that also involves scrutinising American military might, the country's self-proclaimed status as the globe's leader and the horrific atrocities undertaken in its name. Indeed, the movie's most potent sequences take Tell back to his time as a guard in the Abu Ghraib prison complex following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. History has established why that's such a haunting choice, and why so much torment lingers deep in Isaac's eyes. When Schrader's now three-time cinematographer Alexander Dynan (Dog Eat Dog, First Reformed) isn't shooting those flashbacks like several layers of feverish nightmares — captured with an ultra-wide lens, warped like a carnival mirror and staged like a relentless onslaught, they're a masterclass in hellishness — The Card Counter takes ample time to peer patiently and intently. It surveys its leading man, eating up his hypnotic fastidiousness. It stalks through the faux casino glitz and lets it tarnish its own veneer, as one of the best gambling films ever made, 1974's California Split, also did. It sees not just lonely men, but sparse spaces, hollow dreams and vacuous ideals. In one short slip into a softer mode, it lets Isaac and Haddish's chemistry — and the sensuous joy of vibrant colours and lights — pose an alternative, too. Going all in on the power and passion of Schrader's lifelong cinematic obsessions and convictions, The Card Counter is another of the writer/director's aces — hands down.
Drinks packages are everywhere on New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, you'll find most of the offerings are restricted to house bevvies, with rarely a bottle of the good stuff in sight. Luckily, this year, you'll find Customs House is doing things a little differently with a premium New Year's Eve event in its Moët Rosé Garden. Round up the crew and settle in for a night of garden party elegance, fine champagne by the water and stunning views over the Brisbane River. So, expect to see fireworks at both 8.30pm and midnight. For $200 per person, you'll have four hours of free-flowing Moët & Chandon Rosé and Moët Brut Imperial NV — it's a celebratory occasion, after all. Or, you can opt for French rosé without the bubbles, rosé sangria or beer instead. And, to keep you fuelled (and to line the stomach), there'll be a range of substantial canapes to look forward to — think scampi caviar blinis, Moreton Bay bug croissants, fried cauliflower with a whipped lemon ricotta, popcorn chicken, duck spring rolls and more. The space will be decked out with flowers, white furniture and pink hues, adding to the garden party vibes. You can also kick back to some tunes, with a DJ playing chilled beats throughout the evening. For more info and to secure your spot, click here. Images: Brian Roberts.
Ask a few people when they fell in love with David Attenborough documentaries and you might receive an array of answers. Or, everyone might point to Planet Earth. The landmark 2006 series won both awards and love aplenty when it had the world's most-famous natural historian and broadcaster narrate a look at this pale blue dot we call home. Indeed, it was such a success that Planet Earth II followed in 2016, and now Planet Earth III arrives this year. In Australia, the third instalment in the franchise (because everything is now a franchise) starts screening and streaming from Sunday, November 26. Viewers heading to Channel 9 and 9Now can look forward to more spectacular glimpses at the rock from the sun, more time getting to peek at its creatures and more of Attenborough's guiding voice. Eight episodes will peruse the planet, each sending viewers to a different environment or focusing on a specific topic. The series starts with a look at the earth's coasts, including what happens where the land meets the sea, before diving deep into the ocean. From there, it's onto vast deserts and grasslands, then to the place where a tenth of all species live: freshwater. Next up is a wander through forests, before Planet Earth III embraces the extremes that its namesake has to offer. In episode seven, humanity's impact upon the planet is in the spotlight. Then, the series wraps up with a chapter devoted to meeting some of the folks in conservation who are fighting to save the earth. "In this new series of Planet Earth, we travel to the most astonishing wild places, see mysterious creatures, witness rare, spectacular wonders and reveal breathtaking animal dramas," said Attenborough during production, on location near Down House, Charles Darwin's family home. "The natural world continues to surprise us, but since Darwin's time it has changed beyond recognition, being transformed by a powerful force — us. We will see how animals are adapting in extraordinary ways to survive the new challenges they face. At this crucial time in our history, we must now look at the world through a new lens." Five years in the making, and boasting Planet Earth II and Prehistoric Planet's Mike Gunton as an executive producer, the latest must-see from BBC Studios Natural History Production also brings back a big name for its music: Hans Zimmer (The Creator), who has teamed up with Bleeding Finger Music's Russell Emanuel and Bastille's Dan Smith on the show's score. And those astonishing visuals, as glimpsed in the trailer for the series (and expected if you've watched Planet Earth and Planet Earth II)? You've got everything from drones and deep-sea submersibles to high-speed cameras, as placed in the oceans, in deserts, inside caves and in jungles, to thank. Check out the trailer for Planet Earth III below: Planet Earth III will start screening and streaming via Channel 9 and 9Now from 8pm on Sunday, November 26.
When HOTA, Home of the Arts opened its new six-storey gallery in May, it did more than just give Gold Coast residents a towering place to peer at art. That's obviously on the agenda — the site is Australia's largest gallery outside of a capital city, after all — but the colourful building is also home to a sky-high drinking spot. If walking through art-adorned halls and staring at masterpieces makes you work up a thirst, you'll want to end your visit to HOTA Gallery with a trip to its fifth floor. That's where you'll find The Exhibitionist, an attention-grabbing bar that pairs bites and beverages with views across the city, as well as out to the hinterland. Here, you can sit either indoors or outdoors, then tuck into tapas, sip cocktails and stare at the Surfers Paradise skyline. The drinks lineup goes heavy on cocktails; the 'Heat and Time' pairs gin, mezcal foam, lemon and ginger, for instance. You can also enjoy a glass of wine, knock back local craft brews or opt for a house-made soda. Food-wise, head chef Dayan Hartill-Law has whipped up a menu filled with share options, including salt and vinegar onion rings ($9), suckling pig sausage rolls with burnt strawberry ketchup ($9), oysters with finger lime vinegar ($6) and halloumi with green tomato pickle ($12). Or, there's the duck pie made with sour cream pastry (14), oven-roasted Gold Coast prawns ($16) and a brioche lobster roll with Sriracha mayonnaise ($16) — which you can then follow up with cheesecake mousse ($14) or cake truffles ($4) for dessert.
Before there was Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Al Green and Bobby Womack, there was Sam Cooke. Between 1957 and 1964, the legendary singer scored 30 top 40 hits on the US charts, including songs such as 'A Change Is Gonna Come', 'Bring It On Home to Me', 'Chain Gang' and 'Twistin' the Night Away'. Dubbed the King of Soul, Cooke was a bona fide star. He's also credited with making the genre what is is. Alas, his life was cut short when he was shot at the age of 33. That was back in 1964 — and 55 years later, his music is still having a huge impact. Across four smooth, soulful gigs, Gary Pinto will show Brisbane audiences just why Cooke is considered an icon, with the Aussie singer crooning classics like 'You Send Me', 'Cupid', 'Wonderful World' and 'Another Saturday Night' on the Brisbane Powerhouse stage. Songs of Sam Cooke plays nightly at 7.30pm from Thursday, January 31 to Saturday, February 2, and includes a daytime 1.30pm gig as well on the last date.
We've all been there. It's 6pm on a Wednesday. You've just commuted home from a long day at the office, and all you want is to switch your brain off with a good doom scroll. The temptation to tap your trusty delivery app in this moment is high. What could be easier than having a takeaway arrive straight to your door? But we all know the truth. From missing items to cold meals and soggy cardboard, the dream of a takeaway is often tastier than the reality. That's why we've partnered with MasterFoods™ to give you three quick and easy midweek dinner ideas that'll curb your cravings and save some precious dollars (and time) without compromising on flavour. Keep reading (and save this article) to have some easy mid-week meals in your kitchen arsenal. [caption id="attachment_1027005" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] Zesty Chicken Wrap Rather than ordering a Greek wrap via delivery (which, realistically, will end up a soggy, mushy mess), this 25-minute dish will have you eating a fresh and flavoursome meal before the delivery driver has even left the restaurant. Ingredients: 500 grams of chicken breast MasterFoods™ Lemon and Pepper Seasoning 1 tbsp of olive oil 4 pitas or flatbreads Sliced red onion Sliced tomato Shredded Lettuce Crumbed Feta (optional) MasterFoods™ Zesty Lemon & Herb No Rules Sauce Method: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breast and MasterFoods™ Lemon and Pepper Seasoning. Cook until cooked through. Heat the pita in a dry pan or wrap in foil and warm in the oven for a couple of minutes. To serve, spread a generous spoonful of MasterFoods™ Zesty Lemon & Herb No Rules Sauce onto the warm pita, add your chicken, then top with lettuce, tomato, onion, and feta. Fold, serve and enjoy. [caption id="attachment_1027006" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] Smokey BBQ Beef Burger Is there anything worse than a cold burger after a long day? (And dropping $30 for the privilege?) This Smokey BBQ Beef Burger takes just 30 minutes, makes four serves, and guarantees a hot, mouth-watering meal. Ingredients: 500g regular minced beef 1 tbsp MasterFoods™ All Purpose Seasoning 1 tbsp MasterFoods™ Smokey Barbecue Sauce ½ cup panko breadcrumbs 2 white onions, thinly sliced 1 egg 2 tbsp of olive oil 1 large tomato Iceberg lettuce Pickles Method: Add the minced beef, MasterFoods™ All Purpose Seasoning, egg and panko breadcrumbs into a bowl and mix until combined. Thinly slice the onions and squeeze out excess moisture to ensure extra crispiness. Divide the seasoned mince into four balls and set aside while you preheat the barbecue — no need to chill. Turn your barbecue flat plate or griddle to high and place the meatballs down, ensuring you have space between each to smash flat. Each meatball should be loaded with a generous handful of sliced onion before being smashed as flat as possible into the pan or barbecue plate. Cook for 3-4 minutes and flip. After another one to two minutes, add cheese, let it melt and remove from the heat. Toast your buns and load up with salad: tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, pickles, etc. Don't forget the MasterFoods™ Smokey Barbecue Sauce to top it off. Hot tip: If you're a huge fan of sauce, why not also add a squeeze of MasterFoods™ No Rules Zesty Lemon & Herb Sauce as well? [caption id="attachment_1030078" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] Chipotle Mushroom Tacos A guaranteed crowd pleaser, this vegan recipe will spice up your midweek dinner rotation. Featuring MasterFoods™ Taco Seasoning Mix of paprika, oregano and cumin, this four-serve recipe packs a punch and will be on your plate in just 30 minutes. Avoid the takeaway tax (and time) and turn your week around with these delicious mushroom tacos. Ingredients: 400g king oyster mushrooms 4 tbsp MasterFoods™ Taco Seasoning Mix 1 small white onion, finely diced 1 tsp tomato paste 2-3 tbsp soy sauce or tamari (for GF version) ¼ cup water 3 tbsp olive oil 1 ripe avocado MasterFoods™ Smokey Chipotle No Rules Sauce 2 limes, halved Pickled red onion Vine-ripened tomatoes, diced Lettuce Vegan sour cream 8 tortillas (flour or corn) Method: Rinse the mushrooms and remove and finely slice the caps. For the stems, make incisions with a fork and pull them apart with your fingers to resemble pulled pork. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan, add the chopped onion, and cook gently for about 10 minutes until translucent and lightly browned. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another 2-4 minutes until fragrant. Stir in four tablespoons of MasterFoods™ Taco Seasoning Mix and cook for one minute. Mix in the mushrooms, soy sauce, and water, cooking until the liquid is mostly absorbed. Season with pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. Spread the pulled mushrooms on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 15 minutes to add a nice crunch. Assemble the tacos with pulled mushrooms, chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, pickled onions, and add lime and vegan sour cream or MasterFoods™ Smokey Chipotle No Rules Sauce as a topping. Craving more flavour-packed ideas? Head to MasterFoods™ for inspiration. MasterFoods™ — You Made It. Lead image: Getty Images
When Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson made his movie debut back in 2005 with the excellent Brick, he did so with a mystery. That's a genre he hasn't strayed far from since, as Looper, Knives Out and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery have all shown. Accordingly, it should come as no surprise that his new TV show Poker Face is also a whodunnit — this time getting Natasha Lyonne sleuthing. In not one but two seasons of Russian Doll, Lyonne has tried to solve mysteries, too. As the Netflix show's sweet birthday baby, she's stalked around various time loops, periods and cities endeavouring to work out why she's reliving the same night over and over again — or how and why she can head into the past. Of course, one show featuring the Orange Is the New Black star getting playing detective is all well and good, including over multiple seasons; however, two is even better. There's a feeling of déjà vu about Poker Face for multiple reasons, clearly, and has been since its first sneak peek dropped in 2022. And, as the new full trailer for the ten-part series also demonstrates, that happens in the best possible way. Solving mysteries is 100-percent the focus here, with Lyonne playing Charlie Cale, who works her way through resolving a series of crimes — a mystery of the week each week, in fact — while she's on the road in a Plymouth Barracuda. Cale has an uncanny ability to tell if someone is lying, a skill that's going to come in handy as she encounters a hefty roster of other familiar faces. Adrien Brody (See How They Run), Chloë Sevigny (The Girl From Plainville), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Pinocchio) and Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley) are all set to pop up in Poker Face as well, and that's just the beginning of the show's stacked guest cast. Also on the list: Benjamin Bratt (DMZ), Ellen Barkin (Animal Kingdom), Nick Nolte (The Mandalorian), Cherry Jones (Succession), Judith Light (The Menu), Lil Rel Howery (Deep Water), Jameela Jamil (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and Danielle MacDonald (The Tourist). Again, there's more where they came from. Australian audiences will be able to stream the end result via Stan from Friday, January 27. And yes, Stan did also release a Russell Crowe- and Liam Hemsworth-starring movie in 2022 called Poker Face that's unrelated to this — so keep that in mind while you're scrolling through its catalogue. Check out the full trailer for Poker Face below: Poker Face streams in Australia from Friday, January 27 via Stan.
Dessert is far from being the most important meal of the day, but it might be the thing that keeps you going back to Brisbane's best cafes and restaurants — and there are pastry chefs who are impressing us again and again with decadent desserts making life taste that little bit sweeter. These well-known desserts not only inspire a cult-like following, but they're also easy to find and won't blow the budget. One key ingredient that unites these cult desserts is the humble egg. Whether it's creating a crisp yet chewy meringue for our national summer dessert — that is, pavlova — or whisked into a creamy custard for the traditional Portuguese tart, eggs are an essential part of the mix. You can find all the nutritional benefits as well as recipes for muffins, biscuits and tarts on the Australian Eggs website. Read on for some of the best cult desserts in Brisbane that cost less than you might think.
There are many reasons to thank Mike White, creator and writer of The White Lotus, for bringing the hit HBO series to our screens. Firstly, he's responsible for one of the best TV shows of late — a program that's weaponised luxurious settings, helped set travel itineraries, thoroughly eaten the rich, spun twisty murder-mysteries, and kept viewers guessing throughout each and every episode of two spectacular seasons. What else? He's brought cultural darling Jennifer Coolidge to her rightful place at the front of our consciousness — and the winning spot in awards season. The star of the show, she dazzled us in everything from American Pie and Legally Blonde to Promising Young Woman before she brought the cool, loveably clueless millionaire Tanya McQuoid to life. In huge news, on Saturday, June 10, worshipping the White-and-Coolidge pairing in the flesh is a possibility thanks to Vivid Sydney — and Concrete Playground Trips has an exclusive deal for you. First, the event details: the duo is coming to the Harbour City's Aware Super Theatre at the ICC Sydney for an exclusive in-conversation session moderated by Benjamin Law as a part of Vivid Ideas. As well as hearing about their careers and long friendship, you'll hear Coolidge talk about her time on The White Lotus, and White chat about the creation of the series especially for Coolidge: "Jennifer's the reason I did [The] White Lotus in the first place. I just wanted to write something for her, I just adore her," White told The New York Times. The exclusive Trips deal? Two tickets to Vivid Sydney's Mike White and Jennifer Coolidge in Conversation event on Saturday, June 10, plus a night at the lush Kimpton Margot in the CBD. That's one night to luxuriate into your inside look at this Hollywood pair's relationship before soaking up Vivid Sydney's bright lights and creative expression. So, whether you're a superfan of The White Lotus or simply witnessed the culture-altering effects of the show take shape, this Vivid Sydney session will have you immersed in a stellar friendship, creative storytelling, cultural commentary and the power of comedy. Mike White and Jennifer Coolidge in Conversation hits Aware Super Theatre at the ICC Sydney on Saturday, June 10. Take in the full Vivid Sydney experience with Concrete Playground Trips' exclusive event package, which includes two A-reserve or premium tickets to the in-conversation event and a one-night stay at Kimpton Margot (or another hotel handpicked by us). For more information, head to the website.
If 2020 has taught us anything, it's how much we value both creativity and community in tough times. Cast your mind back to those early housebound days: it was all a rush of sourdough starters and tie dyeing tracksuits. Wholesome, right? While some of those iso trends can stay firmly in the past (Dalgona coffee, we're looking at you), that shared creativity really sparked a sense of togetherness during an utterly bonkers time. As Brisbane continues to open up, it's time to rediscover the creative outlets our city has to offer. In partnership with LEGO Art, which is a new range of adult-friendly wall art including one featuring The Beatles, we've put together a list of creative classes so that you can craft a new 2020 hobby that doesn't have the aftertaste of being a lockdown trend. With these classes, you can get green-thumbed, musical or creative in the kitchen. It's now up to you to get started. [caption id="attachment_782015" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr; Gergely Hideg[/caption] CRAFT A NEW MOSSY HOUSEMATE If you're a fan of minimalist design, then you might have noticed these delicate Japanese string ball plants dotting your Instagram feed. Kokedama loosely translates to 'moss ball', and these hanging beauties are essentially living sculptures. If you'd like some guidance in how to create a moss ball to be proud of, join one of The Soul Pantry's upcoming sessions, which are held several times a month at Mappins Nursery, West End. During the two-hour class, everyone will make both a large and a small kokedama, and display bowls will also be provided for participants to take home. Workshops are $95 and you can book into an upcoming class, here. PERFECT YOUR BRUSH STROKE Sometimes, it just takes a few glasses of vino to unleash a wave of creativity, and the team at Cork & Chroma is here to help you channel that artistic flair. Classes are held daily, so all you need to do is book a seat and BYO drinks (anything except spirits). Each class lasts for three hours, which includes time for paint drying breaks, and opportunities to admire everyone's work. If your painting skills tend to be a bit more abstract, don't despair; Cork & Chroma encourages everyone to let their imagination run wild. Under the friendly tutelage of its resident artists, you'll go from rookie to Rembrandt in no time. Find Cork & Chroma at Montague Road and Little Stanley Street, and expect to fork out $60 per person per session. CHURN YOUR OWN CHEESE If you've been surviving exclusively on cheese since March (same), then you're probably ready to branch out from store-bought brie. This two-hour Cheese Making Basics class is held every few weeks at Work-Shop in Newstead. Your hosts Valerie and Joanne are experts in cheese making and sustainable living. The $65 class kicks off with wine on arrival, while you watch the ladies prepare a fresh batch of mozzarella. You'll get recipes and tips on how to make your favourite cheese, plus the chance to taste handmade feta and quark. Trust us, your next charcuterie board is in for a serious glow up. If you're unable to make the classes at Work-Shop, you can find more of their classes here. [caption id="attachment_782101" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex Lawton[/caption] MAKE WEARABLE ART Mark 2020 down as the year that earrings became the MVP of the jewellery world. Countless hours spent on Zoom calls meant that a pair of bold hoops (and some bright lipstick) could elevate any loungewear look to 'corporate professional' in an instant. If your accessory collection needs a quick update, then grab a spot at this Flora and Fauna Earring Making Workshop at Colab 4010 in Albion. Led by jewellery designer Alex Lawton (aka Lazer Unicorn), each participant will create four pairs of acrylic earrings over three hours. No experience is required, and all equipment is provided. Choose from a range of hand-drawn flora and fauna designs, such as proteas, gumnuts and bottle brushes, and then customise each piece to create your own bespoke jewellery. Each class is $120, and you get a $5 discount if you book in with a mate. SIGN UP FOR A NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE Anyone else have a digital camera gathering dust in a forgotten drawer? This one's for you. Award-winning photographer Alfonso Calero recruits some of Australia's brightest talents to lead photography workshops across the country. This $99 nighttime course is a great chance to learn how to juggle those tricky low-light situations, while shooting some of Brisbane's iconic locations, such as the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and the Storey Bridge. Classes run on one Saturday evening per month, and each lasts for three hours. Just make sure your camera is fully charged, and bring a tripod to get those slow shutter speed shots looking super slick. JOIN A COMMUNITY CHOIR If you've ever had aspirations to audition for The Voice, or join a glee club, perhaps it's time you joined a community choir? Cheep Trill is so much fun it'll have you singing in the streets as you meander home after class. Sign up for an eight- or ten-week term of weekly rehearsals, then take part in a live performance of contemporary vocal arrangements and mashups. No audition is required, and Cheep Trill encourages everyone from shower singers to experienced entertainers to join. Past choirs have performed at Laneway Festival, the Brisbane Powerhouse and the QPAC Concert Hall (and they're known for a good flash mob, too). Cheep Trill is planning to return to in-person rehearsals later this year, which it runs at Woolloongabba and Enoggera. It's $150 for one session a week, or $225 for two. And it definitely beats lip syncing to Cardi B on Tik Tok, we promise. Discover more about the new LEGO Art range, here.
Hear that? It's the sound of the collective population shutting windows, zipping up jackets and switching the AC setting from cool to warm. Summer is officially over. You may have bemoaned what felt like an endless summer after one too many sunburns or sleepless nights. You also may have excitedly unpacked your winter coat and thought giddily of cosy nights in with Netflix and hot chocolate for company. But truthfully, for us coastal-dwelling folk who thrive in the great outdoors, the appeal of winter can wear off before it has even truly begun. And soon enough, you'll be plotting ways to escape to sunnier pastures. Well, lucky for you, we've teamed up with Coopers to handpick some the best destinations around Australia where summer never really ends. Just like the new Coopers Session Ale, a fresh and fruity brew, these spots keep the summer dream alive all year long. [caption id="attachment_605628" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Petra Bensted via Flickr.[/caption] RUN TO PARADISE IN THE WHITSUNDAYS Imagine this: rather than a blaring alarm, you're woken by the call of a native bird or lapping waves. Rather than woolly socks and slippers, you sink your bare feet into glorious white sand. This is Whitehaven Beach, one of the most popular spots in the Whitsundays. The picturesque surroundings and tropical climate (no frosty mornings here — temperatures sit pleasantly in the mid-20s during winter) are enough to please even the most cynical of campers. A maximum of 36 people is permitted at the beach's campsite, so the morning is yours to explore the oasis in relative seclusion before the day-trippers arrive. Time your 1.3-kilometre walk to the Hill Inlet viewing platform at Tongue Point to coincide with low tide, and witness a stunning display of swirling silica sands. The vista is the ultimate reward for 'roughing it', as is returning to the campsite for a cool beer as the sun sets. Winter blues be gone. EXPLORE FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND Tropical North Queensland is the perfect distraction from your wintery reality. Average water temps sit at a very acceptable 24-degree mark, and low rainfall vastly improves water visibility in the Great Barrier Reef, which will please both scuba and snorkelling enthusiasts. If donning a wetsuit is not your style, there are plenty of land-based activities around to keep you active, too. Cape Tribulation, where Daintree Rainforest meets the ocean, offers plenty of exploration options: foot, horseback, kayak, four-wheel drive or flying fox among them. Whichever you choose, the area has a real 'untouched' vibe to it, with pristine beaches, lush plant life and native wildlife waiting to be discovered. [caption id="attachment_619578" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Field of Light: Bruce Munro. Photo by Mark Pickthall.[/caption] VISIT OUR RED CENTRE Arguably our most famous natural icon, Uluru is a bucket list item for many. Witnessing a kaleidoscope of colours cross the sacred rock as the sun sets over the horizon — it's truly something to behold. Winter is actually the preferred time to visit as temperatures are milder — around the mid-20s during the day — which makes trekking the 10.6-kilometre base circumference a more achievable task. As night falls, so does the temp. Avoid shattering the summer illusion, and jump onto a helicopter tour for a birds-eye view of the spectacular Field of Light installation. Extended until December 2020, the artwork uses 50,000 glass spheres to transform the arid plains into an illuminated, multi-coloured blanket. It may help you temporarily forget the winter chill but you'll remember this magical experience forever. [caption id="attachment_669247" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Broome Visitor Centre.[/caption] RIDE A CAMEL AS THE SUN SETS IN BROOME Nestled along the coastline in the Kimberley region's far west, Broome is completely unique and yet quintessentially Australian. It's where the beach meets the outback with a tropical climate that encourages an itinerary of strictly outdoor activities. Start the day by hunting for dinosaur prints at Gantheaume Point before venturing to Willie Creek Pearl Farm for a boat cruise across crystal waters, complete with lessons on pearling. After you've properly explored the clear waters and rugged coastline, head to Cable Beach to watch a stunning sunset atop a camel — cliché be damned, it's an unmissable tourist attraction for a reason. Finish off the day with a visit to the over 100-year-old Sun Pictures, the world's oldest outdoor cinema still in operation. Those chilly nights will be a distant memory. TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA'S TOP END Darwin may be the oft-forgotten state capital, but in recent years it has established itself as a hot destination (pun intended) — particularly for younger travellers due to its thriving art and nightlife scenes. If you weren't quite ready to say goodbye to summer sundowners, waterside Darwin Ski Club will ensure your beers-by-the-bay quota is met. Kakadu National Park is usually a drawcard for visitors when up north. But if you're short on time or want to try something a little more off-the-beaten-track, the less-frequented Tiwi Islands provide an equally rich indigenous experience. There are two main islands, Melville and Bathurst, plus nine other smaller, uninhabited islands which are all just a 30-minute scenic flight from Darwin. Art is a hugely important part of the culture here and is best appreciated at morning tea with some local ladies from the Wurrumiyanga community. Over a snack of billy tea and fresh damper, you can watch the Tiwi ladies weaving and painting. Finish off your day trip with a scenic drive around the island exploring the lush tropical gardens, plus a visit to a Tiwi burial site. Grab a Coopers Session Ale and make the most of summer, all year round. Top image: Coral Beach, Gareth McGuigan.
Time to get tap-tap-tapping around one of Brisbane's mini-golf courses — without any kids for company. Part of Tingalpa's The Jungle Adventure Play since 2023, this jungle-themed putt-putt spot is usually family-friendly; however, for one night a week, it ditches that setup to throw adults-only parties. From 5–8pm on Saturday nights, the Proprietary Street venue puts its bar to good use, all while you and your pals get a-hitting. Sip cocktails and beers on tap, and grab a pizza or burger from the onsite restaurant to line your stomach. Entry costs $20 — for the mini-golf only — and can be booked in advance or you can just walk in on the night. Or, if you opt for the $79 package, you'll get unlimited mini-golf games for two, plus two drinks and a pizza to share. The leafy mini golf course spans 16 holes, with a setup that includes snakes, vines, caves, ruins and bullet-riddled trucks — all trying to make getting a hole-in-one tricky. That said, there's an easy option for every hole. Putters will find two paths for each, spanning holes both indoors and outside, so you can pick between the simplest way to mini golf glory or challenge yourself. The venue also boasts a giant inflatable bag that you can jump onto, climbing walls, high ropes and an indoor ninja course — plus, dating back to early 2022, a 140-metre flying fox track. Called The Hawk, it's the longest electric flying fox in the southern hemisphere. Take a spin before or after picking up a club and you'll be moving at 22 kilometres per hour, all while strapped into a harness eight metres above the ground. It spans both indoors and outside, too, and runs in all weather.
For its latest excuse to eat, drink and be merry, the Treasury Casino is taking inspiration from our neighbours across the ditch. Over one cheese and wine-filled evening, the CBD spot will be serving up New Zealand's best dairy and vino — and given the country's reputation on both fronts, it's certain to deliver. In the latest edition of the casino's regular cheese and wine parties, your tastebuds will think they've ventured across the ocean between 5.30–7.30pm on Friday, August 27. With vino on offer from Cloudy Bay, Mud House, Craggy Range and Squealing Pig and more, prepare to sip and sample away for two hours for $50 per person — which is definitely cheaper than jumping on a plane. The tastiness takes place not only in the Treasury's courtyard — complete with a starry backdrop — but also in The Lab and Ryan's On the Park, because there's just so much NZ-themed deliciousness to around. Cheese is obviously a big part of the evening, and there'll also be canapes and live entertainment. [caption id="attachment_680930" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Grace Smith[/caption]
UPDATE, August 12, 2020: Toy Story 4 is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. With Toy Story 4, Pixar returns to the franchise that brought it to fame. Nine years after their last cinematic adventure, the animation studio takes beloved cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) back out of the toy box, alongside his nemesis-turned-friend Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and their other fun-sized pals. On paper, it's a familiar, frequently used and hardly surprising move. While the Disney-owned company was once famous for championing new stories, its slate has been filled with follow-ups of late — this is a time when sequels, spin-offs, remakes and revivals monopolise our viewing, and when successful sagas seem like they could stretch on forever, after all. But in the process of giving the world its fourth Toy Story movie, Pixar does something that few others are even willing to contemplate: it offers up a farewell. Since it burst onto screens in 1995, the Toy Story series hasn't been afraid of goodbyes. It hasn't been frightened by the fact that everything evolves and comes to an end, either. The saga's first film contemplated the idea that Woody's time at the top of the pile might be over, with his owner Andy seemingly choosing a new favourite in Buzz. How Woody coped with his potential ousting drove the entire narrative, while similar themes of displacement, loss and moving on also featured in both 1999's Toy Story 2 and 2010's Toy Story 3. Wrapping up the franchise, Toy Story 4 continues the trend — contemplating what it means to realise that a part of your life is finishing, to embrace an unknown future, and to do so on your own terms. With Woody and company now the property of kindergarten-aged tyke Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw), much has changed in the Toy Story realm. All-too-often, the cowboy is stripped of his sheriff's badge and left in the cupboard during playtime — and his status slips further when, after sneaking into her backpack on her first day of pre-school orientation, Woody unwittingly helps Bonnie make another friend out of a plastic spork. Forky (Tony Hale), as she names the new critter, is now the number one plaything. Alas, to Woody's dismay, the Frankenstein's monster-esque piece of cutlery would rather be trash. When Forky attempts to escape to freedom during a family road trip, Woody puts Bonnie's best interests at heart and jumps out of the RV after him, embarking on an adventure to bring the spork back. Every child has screamed with sadness and anger when they've misplaced their favourite toy, and anyone who says they didn't when they were a kid is lying. Today, plenty of adults do the same thing — it's just called social media. Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley shows how Bonnie reacts when she realises that Forky is missing, however with a smart story credited to seven other writers (including initial Toy Story director John Lasseter, Wall-E's Andrew Stanton and Parks and Recreation actor Rashida Jones), the film also delves further into loss, change and their impact. Via Woody's own journey, it examines what this process genuinely feels like when you're facing these experiences head-on and with purpose, rather than simply throwing a tantrum. You could say that the movie grapples with its own place in the pop culture domain, too, and you'd be correct. Given that its original viewers have literally grown from toddlers to adults over the franchise's run, encouraging them to break out of their entertainment comfort zones is a particularly savvy touch. Reflective, sweet, sensitive and virtually guaranteed to wring a response out of even the most cynical of viewers, Toy Story 4 is a classic Pixar piece as a result — the type of film that lets humans work through the complicated feelings they usually bury deep, all by watching animated toys express sentiments we rarely have the courage to utter, and tussle with topics we'd much rather ignore. It's a layered piece of storytelling also, with subplots involving Bo Peep's (Annie Potts) blossoming independence and 50s-era newcomer Gabby Gabby's (Christina Hendricks) quest to be loved each delicately and astutely handled. Both narrative threads tie into the movie's overarching message as well: that continuing on as usual, just because that's easy and safe, is rarely the best option. You can't take the 'toy' out of Toy Story, of course, not that Pixar would want to. At its best, this saga is as imaginative, amusing and fun as it is thoughtful, with bright, bouncy animation to match — and, returning to the heights of the first film, the franchise is at its best again here. With anarchic stuffed toys voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, plus the one-and-only Keanu Reeves lending his slow-spoken swagger to charismatic daredevil figurine Duke Caboom, the series doesn't lack in spark or laughs. Visually, it doesn't forget to pair its story with vivid images, plenty of detail and a plethora of top cinematic nods either. And while melancholy may reign supreme, it's earned. That's the reality of sifting through nostalgia, remembering what's come and gone, and knowing that the future will always be different. More Toy Story fare may eventually hit screens, because money, however this fourth toy box tale well and truly provides a perfect ending. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl9JS8-gnWQ
Throughout autumn, Brisbane's nights start getting longer, with winter hovering close on the horizon. Don't think of it as a farewell to after-work sunshine, though, even if you're all about as much daylight as you can soak in. Instead, for ten days in May, think of it as the best canvas there is for the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens' returning after-dark art and light festival Botanica: Contemporary Art Outside. This luminous fest unfurls its fifth stint of dazzling sights from Friday, May 12–Sunday, May 21, once again turning the CBD's riverside patch of grass into a stunning outdoor art gallery — and yes, taking full advantage of the night hours. Running from 5–10pm daily, it'll see the gardens will come alive with artworks, installations and projections, with pieces from local, national and international artists set to liven up the already-scenic inner-city spot. The full artist lineup includes Phoebe Paradise, Theatre of Thunder and Keemon Williams, plus Slow Art Collective, Christian Reitano, Lyn Nagayama, Shelby Lee, Soma Lumia, Adriaan de Man, Mel Robson, Ellis Hutch, Lyn Haddon, Dan Luo and Weixin Huang, Together, they're all helping to give everything from the gardens' plant life to its furniture and buildings quite the vibrant makeover. Also, with Noa Haim on the bill, Botanica features its first-ever international artist, in its latest step to cement itself as one of Brisbane's and Australia's top cultural events. All those shimmering sights are paired with twilight walks, performances, and a discovery trail for children. You can interact with the installations, too — and contribute to them — and also hit up food trucks and an outdoor bar nightly. Of course, the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens has always been more than just that patch of grass and trees at the edge of the CBD thanks to its gorgeous greenery, ponds filled with cute turtles, free exercise classes and more — but it's never more alluring than during this fest. And if you missed the first three events in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 — or if you went along and loved it — 2023's's event promises a whole heap of new garden wonders. Either way, prepare to roam through the centre of Brisbane and see its natural splendour in a whole new way. Images: Bec Taylor. Updated Friday, May 12.
It might be the Gold Coast's most popular stretch of sand, capping off the city's busiest tourist strip — but no matter how many times you've seen it, Surfers Paradise's beachfront always knows how to stun. Here's another way to peer at its coastal expanse: from new dining and drinking venue Coast Beach Bar & Kitchen, which will open its doors on The Esplanade in early August. Come Friday, August 5, the latest addition to the new Ocean by Meriton precinct will start welcoming in patrons, with multiple spaces for Gold Coast locals and visitors to choose from. If you're keen for a meal, the 110-seat restaurant awaits. If you're in the mood for a drink, hit up the 160-seat bar. Either way, the venue boasts uninterrupted views — aka the kind of vista that's worth dropping by for alone. Also part of Coast: a lounge area as well as the main dining room, a sizeable outdoor bar, and booths to get cosy in with your mates or date. Drinks will be whipped up at the eye-catching 14-metre-long marble bar, while dishes are cooked in the Spanish-style Josper oven. For vino lovers, your tipples will hail from the venue's 2000-bottle wine cellar, which unsurprisingly takes price of place in the restaurant. There's around 120 drops on the menu, with about 80 percent skewing local. Feeling flush with cash? Coast also boasts the Penfolds Grange Magnum Collection, which is valued at over $60,000. Thirteen signature cocktails are on offer, too, including banana daiquiris, plus a 'Coast Espresso' made with vodka, coffee tequila liqueur and creme de cacao — or you can order all the classics instead. The spritz lineup spans four types, such as rhubarb, quince and lavender versions, and there's also five mocktails available. Owners Justin and Elizabeth Allie, veterans of Longboards Laidback Eatery and Bar in Surfers Paradise, The Fish Shak in Southport and catering company Gourmet en Counter, have enlisted chef Rhett Willis (ex-Jellyfish and Cha Cha Char) to oversee the modern Australian cuisine menu. It hews share-style; think: coal-roasted yogurt bread with smoked eggplant pate; beef fillet tartar with shoyu, avocado and miso-cured yolk; and wasabi leaves with sand crab, chilli, lime and caviar — as well as prawns with XO butter and truffled baked potato chips. Oysters from Stradbroke Island are also on the menu, and mains include cauliflower steaks, lamb shoulder, wild mushrooms with silkened tofu, and a 120-day, grain-fed, dry-aged tomahawk — the restaurant's signature dish. Can't decide? Opt for one of two set menus — a three-course version, or a four-course feast that ends with a banoffee eton mess for dessert. Sprawling over 750 square metres on level one of the building, Coast takes a glam approach, style-wise, but still embraces its beachy surroundings. So, here Tasmanian oak furniture sits alongside rattan, leather, brass accents and marble fixtures, with earthy hues and sea-inspired blues and greens featuring heavily. Coast Beach Bar & Kitchen will open on Friday, August 5 at Level 1 of Ocean by Meriton, 86 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise — operating from 11am–10pm daily
According to Dean Sewell — Moran Prize winning photographer and part of the Oculi collective — there was this duffel bag. Inside it was a banner a hundred foot long, decorated with two words. This was on the maiden voyage of the Sydney to Hobart ship, the Spirit of Tasmania. There was strict security. Four passengers waited to get on as that security looked at the huge lump of canvas inside their bag. It was a spinnaker for a yacht, claimed the four men, and time consuming to fold back up. The security guards considered if it was worth unrolling for a closer look, squeezed it a little, and let it through. As the ship pulled out, most passengers and security wandered upstairs. Amid empty decks, the four men clipped themselves onto the boat, jumped over the side and unfurled their banner. The four had spent months preparing for the stunt, doing photo recon on the boat and practicing abseils down the side of a car-park at the University of New South Wales. They had even made sure the banner's font matched the writing on the side of the ship. And as they unrolled the result, Dean Sewell was across the harbour on a water taxi taking photos for the Sydney Morning Herald. He had been covering these men, part of the activist group the Lonely Station, since the previous year. A highly-skilled successor to BUGAUP, the group would meticulously rework ads into satire, leaving a much more political message in their place. As time went on Sewell became involved in the group's actions, and his photos form the basis of a new exhibition at the Museum of Sydney, Culture Jammers. Dean recently sat down with Concrete Playground to talk about the Lonely Station, photography and the usefulness of good rope skills. What happened after the banner dropped? They ripped the four Lonely Station guys off the boat. A police launch met up with the pilot launch, took 'em back and processed them. They wore a $6,000 fine for it. Who were they? The Lonely Station was a pretty loose collective of artists, environmental activists and legal minds, about 2004 to 2007. I think it was really born out of the environmental movement. A couple of them were arborists, highly skilled abseilers. So that allowed them to pull off all these actions. You can search globally for culture jamming, you'll be hard pressed to find anything the size of the works these guys were doing: they were hanging off building tops, off boats, all sorts of things. I think they were just looking at giving people a moment of pause. Being that circuit breaker. The spin cycle was in overdrive and they just really wanted to stop it, if only just for a moment in time, to let people recalibrate. Did you have a go at it? I did partake in some things. I think there were times when I was behind the camera, and other times I was taking an active role in producing work. What sort of things were done? One my favourites was a Vodafone billboard at Kingsford Smith Airport. They used that now infamous image from Abu Graib. They climbed up in early hours of morning, abseiled off, put it on, even had ropes dangling off the fingers. It looked very authentic. There was a sub quote under the main slogan, How are you? Underneath that they wrote "Liberated!" They got to hammer the telco company, and at the same time send a message straight to Canberra. It was on the evening news on Channel Ten. Vodafone got hauled over the coals. Vodafone had pulled a stunt, maybe twelve months earlier, where they'd had a guy arrange secretly to run onto a football match naked in New Zealand. It was great. So, the question put to them was "Is this a stunt you guys did? Because if so, it's in really poor taste." You've said that, as a photographer you look for 'the extraordinary in the ordinary.' For me that's the challenge in photography. Exacting something special out of the mundane, ordinary situations. A lot of people think that photographers chase around incredible things. We do sometimes, fantastic and incredible situations. But also it's the ordinary that attracts us. So becoming a full time paparazzo doesn't appeal? The interesting people are real people. The people living out in the middle of nowhere. Living quite humble lives, just in suburbia. Mostly no-one ever hears of these people. You go sit in a pub in outback Queensland or go up to the Corner Country. That's where you find really interesting people. They're normally not in front of you walking a red carpet. One of the images I got, I was just coming back from Cockatoo Island with my friends. We went to the Biennale on Cockatoo Island. And I took a picture on a the ferry. I won the Moran photographic prize with that. You'll see a lot of photographers take flight, chasing this and that. "Oh, it's too boring here, nothing happens here." And they want excitement or thrills or something. I just think I have a certain level of responsibility to document the issues here. You got these interesting, cosmopolitan suburbs of bustling, thriving places. They've got character. You know, you go to Auburn: where all these enclaves of culture exist. And for me, the most interesting cultural scene here is the Inner West, Marrickville, those areas. All the artists collectives. Underground stuff. It's thriving. Leading image of Dean Sewell (c) Tamara Dean. Images Spirit of Tasmania and Helping You Communicate Better (c) Dean Sewell.
As anyone who has booked a flight, had to suddenly change their trip and been stuck paying handsomely knows, travel and flexibility haven't always gone hand in hand. But with the entire idea of making firm and definite plans undergoing quite the shift in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Virgin Australia is responding to this uncertain period by scrapping its change fees until next year. Make a reservation to travel between now and January 31, 2021 and, if life gets in your way and you need to rearrange your trip, you'll be able to make unlimited changes to your booking without being charged extra. It's worth noting, however, that this only applies to the usual change fee — that is, the amount travellers can be slugged with just for the act of altering their itinerary. If changing your flights involves a difference in fare, you will still have to pay any shortfall amount. The idea, unsurprisingly, is to encourage Australians to get booking — even knowing that little is certain when it comes to leaving the house, interstate borders or just life in general in these coronavirus-afflicted times. Virgin is calling the move its 'Passenger Promise', which spans a number of other measures designed to make travellers feel safer and more confident about taking to the skies. Also included: contactless check-in, pre-flight health screening questionnaires for all travellers when checking in, staggered boarding as part of social-distancing measures, distancing between passengers onboard where possible and minimising movement during the flight. Passengers will also receive free face masks and hand sanitiser kits, and be asked to scan their own boarding passes to limit their contact with crew, while increased cleaning protocols are also in place. To find out more about Virgin Australia's new change fee policy, visit the airline's website.
Snapping street art is old hat now, with the halls of Instagram strewn with the point-and-shoot documentation of many a Banksy, Shepard Fairey Obey knock-off and epic East London murals. But the only real reward is a couple of likes from your buds back home, what if you could gain kudos from the artist themselves? Beloved Parisian street artist Invader has launched a brand new game for snappers, the perfect complement to his celebrated '70s 8-bit video game-inspired critters hanging about on walls worldwide. With the brand new app Flash Invaders, you're encouraged to find the artist's iconic little Space Invader installations, take a shot (or 'flash'), upload it to the app and earn points for each successful snap. The Flash Invaders app doesn't accept imposters, comparing your photo with a database of images to match it up. If you've found a genuine Invader, you earn points for that particular work. And don't try to trick the app with phony Google-searched photos either, as the software has been designed to only allow users to 'flash' the Invader works when you're actually in front of it — your bedroom-bound GPS location gave you away. But where can you find these little critters (and how can you tell if it's the real deal)? Head to Invader's website to check out the international locations of his official installations. Unfortunately, there's not too many in Australia, one in Perth and this one in Melbourne: Your best bet is to casually head to the artist's hometown, Paris, where there are over 1000 Space Invaders lurking in alleyways, atop buildings and along stairwells. These are the thumbnails from Invader's website, to get the picture: Or try Rome: Maybe Vienna: Perhaps Varanasi: Start playing Flash Invaders here. Via Vandablog.
Know what's brilliant? Extending a work trip into a long, playful weekend in Sydney, full of food, wine, culture and revels. In this case, you might want to stay in Darling Harbour, because it's home to the Sydney Convention Centre — but it also makes a great jumping-off point for exploring the city. You've got some of Sydney's best restaurateurs working their magic right in front of you, the new cultural precincts of Barangaroo and Darling Square to explore, water views everywhere you turn, and the ferry wharf enabling easy day trips across the harbour. Here's how to get a luxury winter weekender out of Darling Harbour. EAT AND DRINK To experience some of the most exciting cooking being done in Sydney, you'll want to follow the waterfront around to Barangaroo. The precinct only began opening its first completed sections in 2015, and already there's more life here than you might expect from a masterplanned development. Mainly, people come for the food and drink. At the fancier end of the spectrum, there's seafood-focused Cirrus Dining, the new offering from local food scene celebs Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt of Bentley. It's the spot for a quintessential Sydney blow-out lunch of oysters, trevally tartare and roasted king prawns with koji butter. Lotus Dumpling Bar and Turkish joint Anason are two more casual options that still wow. Alternatively (or afterwards), head to 12-Micron, a contemporary-Oz affair that stands out for its focus on dessert. They even offer a three- or five-course dessert degustation, with flavour combinations like Pyengana Cheddar, milk chocolate, plum and honeycomb all bundled together into one dish. Also note their use of native ingredients on every plate — it's something you don't see often enough in Australia. Follow all this up with some appropriately refined drinking. One luxe spot in this area is small bar Solera, with it's lush decor (think green velvet couches and flashes of marbles). Another good option is Banksii, where the specialty is vermouth and everything just sings. Back in Darling Harbour proper, Sofitel Darling Harbour's Champagne Bar is perfect for an indulgent nightcap after a long day of exploring. Over 20 different types of Champagne are on offer, from Carnard-Duchene and Pol Roger to a 2009 Louis Roederer vintage in collaboration with artist Philippe Starck. If you prefer brews over bubbles, Pumphouse has one of the best beer selections in the city, from easy-drinking lagers to heavy-going stouts. In this area, you'll also find one of Sydney's most well-known fine-diners, Sepia. This is still a great special-occasion spot, where your dinner looks like a procession of miniature landscapes and sculptures. A more casual option in this area is the Ternary at the Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour, a crowd-pleasing bar and restaurant with three distinct offerings: Grill Kitchen, Asian Kitchen and Wine Bar. They know how to do winter too — they've scheduled a five-course, whisky-paired degustation on Thursday, August 30 for $189 per head. If dining isn't the headline act for this evening, drop by the newly launched Pier St Kitchen at the Novotel Sydney Darling Square. They offer a pre-theatre menu of one or two courses with matching wines from $30 — a good call given major venues like the International Convention Centre and The Capitol and State Theatres are a short stroll away. Or, take a stroll along The Goods Line to the new Darling Square food precinct Steam Mill Lane — here, you'll find a bevy of casual food options including famed Melbourne burger joint 8bit and poké place Fishbowl. DO You're in Sydney's theatre district right now, so you might as well make the most of it. The critically acclaimed and audience-adored British touring production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is on at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, just up from Barangaroo, until the end of July. After that there's Ruth Park's great Australian novel The Harp in the South, given a new adaptation by Kate Mulvany. Meanwhile, Capitol Theatre down in Haymarket begins its run of Jersey Boys at the end of August. Or, head in the other direction and into Pyrmont, where big musicals land at the Lyric Theatre. This winter, that's The Book of Mormon — the Broadway hit that also manages to be hugely offensive to just about everyone. There's a treat for lovers of high fashion in this part of town too. The Powerhouse Museum is hosting Reigning Men, the world's biggest exhibition of men's fashion, with garments pulled from aristocrats of the 18th century as well as the runways of today. Divine. If you don't mind doing a little learning on your mini break, stop by the Australian National Maritime Museum, which is currently hosting James Cameron: Challenging the Deep. This immersive exhibition centres on the filmmaker's oceanic explorations. You will be able to virtually explore the Titanic and Bismarck shipwrecks and see props from Cameron's films, including the Heart of the Ocean diamond. Your final foray in Darling Harbour should be to Barangaroo wharf, where you can catch a ride on the F3 ferry to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island. It used to be a penal colony, then a dockyard, and the mix of natural beauty and industrial ruin here is quite special and poetic. It's a great spot to just wander around and photograph — though there's also a haunted night tour if you just have to get intense about it. SLEEP Back to the mainland, where you've been smart enough to book yourself more deluxe lodgings. The Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is pure 5-star indulgence, with an infinity pool infinity pool offering stunning views of the Sydney skyline and the aforementioned Champagne Bar. If you're celebrating on this trip, get a Luxury Room with Darling Harbour view, where you can enjoy harbour views from your freestanding bathtub through floor-to-ceiling windows. Another option is the home of the aforementioned Ternary restaurant, the 4.5-star Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour. Its rooms have just been refreshed, with dark feature walls, light wood accents and oversized art creating a contemporary yet cosy feel. Go for the executive rooms and suites if you want to bask in those city panoramas. The 4.5-star Novotel Sydney Darling Square, meanwhile, is comfortably situated equidistant from the ICC and Chinatown, making it a good option if you're partial to a mid-afternoon nap before heading out into the action again. Go to the AccorHotels website to book your stay in Darling Harbour, and to discover more of NSW, check out Visit NSW.
When Hereditary premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, it received the kind of response that first-time filmmakers usually only dream about. Ari Aster's debut feature was instantly likened to horror greats such as Rosemary's Baby, The Shining, The Wicker Man and The Babadook, while one critic dubbed it "this generation's The Exorcist". Given the movie's story and subject matter — a grief-stricken family grapple with the aftermath of several personal tragedies, uncovering sinister secrets about their ancestry and fate in the process — such comparisons might seem obvious. But as Hereditary tells its slow-burning tale in a masterfully unnerving fashion, it more than earns its place among such genre standouts. Led by Australian actor Toni Collette in an award-worthy performance, this meticulously unsettling and suspenseful effort delves into the lives of the Grahams, starting with a printed death notice for their matriarch. The mood is expectedly grim, although artist Annie (Collette) doesn't seem that upset about her mother's passing, and nor does her psychiatrist husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne) or pot-smoking teenage son Peter (Alex Wolff). It's a different story for 13-year-old Charlie (Milly Shapiro), who was closer to her eccentric, erratic grandmother than everyone else, and isn't coping quite as well as a result. While their varying reactions hint at the kind of domestic disharmony that most families weather, the Grahams are soon forced to face their demons. Indeed, Aster describes Hereditary as "a family tragedy that curdles into a nightmare" — and that's actually his favourite way to describe the film. "It becomes a nightmare in the way that life can feel like a nightmare when disaster strikes," he elaborates, touching upon the movie's uncannily effective ability to turn a familiar situation into something much darker and more disturbing. In fact, not only probing family struggles but pushing the boundaries has proven Aster's favourite terrain across short films Munchausen and The Strange Thing About the Johnsons. For his next feature, rather than making the jump from successful indie horror to the big end of town, he's sticking with his niche — this time following a couple on a trip that goes awry. With Hereditary now screening in Australian cinemas, we chatted to Aster about making a perturbing yet relatable horror film, the need for films to wade into emotionally difficult territory and casting Toni Collette — among other topics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3__y-uPwbe8 ON GROUNDING HEREDITARY'S HORRORS IN REALITY "I wanted to make a film that was a serious inquiry into questions about grief and trauma, that then spirals into something else. There is a tragedy that occurs in the film, and I feel like that there is a trend, certainly among horror movies, to like throw these things in and then not really address the impact that such an event would have on the people at the centre — and I did want to make a film that really, really dealt with that. And I feel like there is especially a trend among American family dramas where something horrible happens in the family, they struggle and they go through a tumultuous period, and there is some sort of breakdown in communication but then they ultimately come back together. Ultimately this tragedy has strengthened their bond and you know that they're going to be okay. But it's just that sometimes, that's not how it happens. Sometimes something horrible happens and it takes a person down. And sometimes that has a domino effect and people don't recover. I wanted to make a film about that, but if you make that as a drama then it's a pretty punishing watch — and you're maybe going to get ten people in the audience. If you make it as a horror film, you're able to reach more people because suddenly something that might be considered a downer in one genre is a virtue in another. So I wanted to make just a very sorrowful horror movie that was really trying to come to terms with hard things." ON THE CATHARSIS OF HORROR FILMS "It was certainly cathartic for me to write and direct it. I think there is a certain level of catharsis that is demanded of any genre film — and certainly horror. And it was a therapeutic process finding that catharsis. We need hope. I think that's how people get through things — they project into the future and they work towards something better. We need movies about how things can repair themselves. But I know that there are people who are suffering and are going through something horrible, and they're not out of it, and sometimes those films are not very helpful to watch — films about people getting through things. I think sometimes it can be a relief to watch a movie that takes suffering seriously." ON HEREDITARY'S SLOW-BURN APPROACH "I wanted to make a film that really took its time, and really made sure to root you in the experience of these people. And I knew I needed to address the family drama stuff before I even thought about the horror elements, because I knew that I needed the horror elements to all grow out of what we had established in that first hour. But then, at the same time, the film is about a family that has no agency, and they are being driven towards this inevitable end — so everything that's happening, it's like all of these snares are being set up for these things that need to be triggered at the end. It's just a matter of testing the audience's patience without actually giving them anything unnecessary. The editing process was a pretty gruelling one, because we had a three hour film at first. We ended up cutting around 30 scenes out of the film, because the movie was asking too much of the audience's patience. That's what happens on every film — you end up cutting a lot. But I think we cut more than I was expecting to cut, and it was all family drama stuff — so that slow-burn was slower." ON CASTING TONI COLLETTE "She was one of the first people we went to. It was a huge day when she responded to the script, and we met up and really got along. And when it became clear that she was attaching herself — I mean, that's the difference between having a movie go ahead or not. So when she came on, that was the beginning of the forward momentum that resulted in the movie being made. I'm endlessly grateful for that. But she's just a really reliable actress. I've been watching her since I was a kid — in Muriel's Wedding — and I've always loved her, I had never really seen her chew apart the scenery in the way this film challenges actors to. I mean, everything she does is in the script, but the way that she throws herself into it so completely and so without ego was really amazing to watch and really, it was necessary. The movie needed it, but it takes balls." ON RECEIVING SUCH AN ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE TO HIS FIRST FEATURE "It's been a really gratifying experience, and it's been wonderful to have it be so warmly received. Obviously that's just great. But I have some nerves about it coming out, only because it has been so well-received and it has been receiving some quite hyperbolic praise. I guess I don't know if you would describe me as a realist or a pessimist, but I guess I'm just waiting for the pendulum to swing the other way. So I'm waiting for the backlash — but hopefully people just continue to enjoy it."
Anyone who lives in a teeny, tiny apartment will love this one. The 1900s-invented wall-folding bed (or 'Murphy bed') isn't new by any means — Charlie Chaplin fought one in the the 1916 comedy short, One A.M. and James Bond was surprised by assassins in one to open 1967's You Only Live Twice — but Latvia-based Boxetti designer Rolands Landsbergs has taken the old space-saving trick to a new slick level. Landsbergs' 'Bedroom in a Box' is the most compact, Fifth Element-looking design we've seen in Murphy beds yet — primarily because it's not just the bed that shuts away, it's the whole room. Containing all the elements of a regular bedroom, 'Bedroom in a Box' contains your bed, bedside table, reading spotlight, headboard ambience lighting, wardrobe space and bookshelf, all in one origami-like, wall-mountable rectangle. But why fold away just your bedroom? Landsbergs has developed a whole series of modules to make your whole home able to pack away, from the kitchen to the lounge room. So if you're living in a claustrophobic loft, awkwardly small sharehouse or just want more floor space for at-home yoga/YouTube dance lessons/fisticuffs with Corben Dallas, there's a setup for you. Via Inhabitat.
When someone mentions staring at the stars, life on mars, the ocean's deeps, volcanoes or fossils, do you instantly start paying attention? Are futuristic visions your catnip? Do you love hearing smart people explore how everything works, and why? Being curious about the world we live in and beyond isn't just the realm of kids — and it's also the reason that World Science Festival exists. The New York-born event dates back to 2008 globally, then started its Brisbane offshoot in 2016. Accordingly, for almost a decade in Queensland's capital, it has been celebrating all things science and technology. That's on the agenda again from Friday, March 15–Sunday, March 24, alongside its fellow focus on where art and science collide, as the just-dropped lineup unveils. If you're keen on installations and interactive creativity, WSFB's past fest-within-a-fest Curiocity Brisbane has evolved into the Art/Science program, swapping a trail of works for heroing large-scale pieces. One certain highlight is Karina Smigla-Bobinski's ADA, with the German Polish artist bringing the three-metre helium sphere to Australia for the first time. It's a piece that you can play with, pushing and spinning the globe — which comes covered in 300 charcoal spikes — to make impressions upon the surrounding walls. Want to see sand rumble? Snooks+Harper and Philip Samartzis's Tectonic Resonance will allow just that using sand 3D printing and geophone recordings from the Pilbara region, all while musing on how humans use geological resources. Svenja Kratz and Bill Hart's Simulated Selves features an AI-filled room with two human forms representing the artists, and chatting with visitors. And with Drawing on Complexity: Experiment 9, Briony Barr wants attendees to contribute to a work that uses coloured paper tape. You'll add your own lines over eight days, helping to create patterns, as complex adaptive systems are in the spotlight. Art's intersection with science is just one part of the full World Science Brisbane 2024 program, of course. Elsewhere across the Queensland Museum-hosted event, talks abound. A reliable headliner, physicist Professor Brian Greene is back, this time for a multimedia trip through the cosmos, diving into artificial intelligence and its implications for humanity, and chatting about what space rocks and moon rocks can tell us about the evolution of our solar system. Also on the bill: Craig Reucassel presenting a session about waste and climate change, enlisting scientists to share practical ways that we can all make a difference; ABC weather presenter Nate Byrne delving into volcanoes, and Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb leading a panel about scientific discovery. First Nations takes on science will be the focus in a session overseen by Rhianna Patrick — and Mark Humphries hosts the returning Night of the Nerds, where two teams of scientists and comedians do battle, featuring Reucassel, Byrne and astrophysicist Kirsten Banks, as well as a band comprised of The Grates' Patience Hodgson, Velociraptor's Georgie Browning, Ball Park Music's Jen Boyce and Paul Furness, and Simi Lacroix. Obviously Dr Karl pops up, with great moments in science his wheelhouse for 2024's fest. For a great moment in sci-fi cinema history, Fritz Lang's iconic and influential 1927 masterpiece Metropolis is screening at the Gallery of Modern Art, complete with a live score. The overall program also spans the future of food, where medicine is heading, looking back on what Australia has learned since Black Summer, animal consciousness, parasites, shipwrecks and the red planet. If The Abyss isn't just a movie to you, there's a panel that'll pique your interest. And if insect superpowers get you thinking, there's one on that as well. Cocktail-fuelled social science sessions, the pop-up City of Science at South Bank, fighting robots, a walking tour of Brisbane's green infrastructure, fulldome film Earth Above: A Deep Time View of Australia's Epic History at the planetarium and the always-popular (and cute) turtle hatching are also included. And, so is the chance to step inside the Queensland Academy of Sport, Queensland Herbarium, Griffith Sea Jellies Research Lab and QIMR Berghofer. World Science Festival Brisbane 2024 runs from Friday, March 15–Sunday, March 24. For more information and to buy tickets, head to the World Science Festival Brisbane website. Top image:
If you like roast pork topped with plenty of crackling, then you're probably a fan of the Brisbane German Club's pork knuckles. Slow-cooked, weighing in at one kilogram, and served with fried potatoes, sauerkraut and smoked beer gravy, these authentic-style pork hocks are one of the city's iconic dishes — and, no matter when you head by the Woolloongabba spot, they're always popular. Expect them to be flying out the kitchen on Sunday, July 30 though. The German Club is dubbing the occasion $30 Pork Knuckle Sunday, and the details are self-explanatory — because yes, you'll be nabbing this tasty, crispy meal for a discount. Bookings are essential — again, these pork knuckles have many, many aficionados — by contacting the venue in advance. You'll likely want to make your reservation for an early time between the 12–2.30pm window, because this is a first in, best dressed offer. Sipping your way through the bar's hefty range of German beers and schnapps will cost you extra, of course, but it'll be well worth it. [caption id="attachment_622731" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Anwyn Howarth[/caption] Top image: Brisbane German Club.
When a trend spreads its wings everywhere from Coles to KFC — and above Australian beaches, too — you mightn't expect it to zip into theatres as well. But humanity's love of drones just can't be stopped, whether they're helping shoot sky-high aerial footage for cinema and television, taking to the heavens to put on a dazzling light show or, at Australasian Dance Collective's new world-premiering production Lucie in the Sky, providing almost half the cast for a new choreographed stage show. Performing at Brisbane's Queensland Performing Arts Centre, in the South Bank venue's Playhouse, this production pairs six dancers with five drones, with the latter mimicking the former's movements. The robotic part of the piece definitely isn't just about hovering around. The drones are named, given personalities and — in a big change to the usual drone shows — treated like individual players rather than a swarm. From Friday, May 5–Saturday, May 13, audiences will meet the friendly Lucie, the show's namesake with the Beatles-inspired moniker; M, the leader of the group; jester Skip; Rue, the wise drone; and the rebellious Red. As well as their own vibe, which could be anything from joyful to melancholic, each has their own light colour to match. The flesh-and-blood component of the show sees the five drones create relationships with ADC's dancers, all in a performance that's about exactly what you think it is: how people interact with technology, what that says about both us and the gadgets that we use in our lives, and also what it means to be human. "Contemporary dance and technology push boundaries and connect people. I wanted to explore this through not only melding drones and dancers but, ultimately, humanising the drones," explains ADC Artistic Director Amy Hollingsworth, who conjured up Lucie in the Sky. "I am deeply interested in how the relationship between humans and autonomous machines can transform when the drones are imbued with human-like behaviours." The production's drone work capitalises upon technical advice from World of Drones and Robotics Congress founder Dr Catherine Ball, and the overall project also includes am education and research program with World of Drones Education and The Australian National University's School of Cybernetics. "Creative experiments intertwining arts and technology enhance our ability to imagine our place in our future. AI already permeates our lives but how humans and AI agents interact in the arts can be inspired and guided by projects like this," says Hollingsworth. You probably won't see a ChatGPT dance piece hitting QPAC next — but never say never. Check out the trailer for Lucie in the Sky below: Lucie in the Sky plays QPAC's Playhouse from Friday, May 5–Saturday, May 13. Head to the venue's website for tickets and further details. Images: David Kelly.
Nine years after opening its first Brisbane outpost in Fortitude Valley, Gold Coast-born burger chain Ze Pickle has joined the city's recent spate of burg-slinging closures. In 2023, both Fish Lane's plant-based favourite Grassfed and chain Getta Burger shut up shop in the River City. Thankfully in Ze Pickle's case, only one venue has been affected. "Unfortunately due to circumstances out of our control, our Fortitude Valley store has closed indefinitely," advised the Ze Pickle team about its shuttered eatery via social media. "All other stores are trading as normal and will continue to do so. To our many awesome Brissie customers, please hit up to Camp Hill or Brisbane Airport for all your burger needs." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ze Pickle (@zepickle) The Courier-Mail reports that the Valley store, which was located at 4 Hynes Street, is in liquidation. All three other Ze Pickle venues remain unaffected, including its OG Burleigh Heads site. The chain became a southeast Queensland favourite over a decade back on the Goldie and since 2016 in Brisbane for its OTT creations. American-influenced standouts include the Pablo, which features corn chips; the 3am, with fried cheese sticks a big feature; and the Triple Loco, which comes laden with three beef patties, three slices of cheese and three rashers of bacon, all between two grilled cheese sandwiches. Among the chicken burgs, Mash Mash City Bish includes truffle-buttered mashed potato on the burger. And yes, living up to the Ze Pickle name, each one comes topped with a pickled cucumber. Also a highlight: each venue's laidback bar vibes, plus the desserts and cocktails on the menu. Indulging your sweet tooth means tucking into deep-fried Oreos in doughnut batter — or a skillet filled with baked caramel M&Ms, choc-chip cookie dough, ice cream and marshmallow gravy. The drinks include a Bacon Old Fashioned, of course, as well as boozy takes on banoffee pies and Hubba Bubba, plus a frozen bubblegum margarita. Ze Pickle has closed at 4 Hynes Street, Fortitude Valley — but is still trading on Newman Avenue in Camp Hill, at the Qantas terminal in Brisbane Airport and on Connor Street in Burleigh Heads. For further details, head to the chain's website.
For the people who care deeply about beautiful things — the ones who know their glassware silhouettes, have opinions on timber grains or can spot a well-cut bag from across a room — design-forward gifts always land best. This year's edit brings together thoughtful pieces from Australian makers and independent studios, spanning sculptural homewares, tactile accessories, sustainable fashion and objects that balance form with function. Whether they're curating their space piece by piece or simply appreciate good design in the everyday, these polished picks offer style, utility and a little artistic flair. Shopping for someone who prefers edible design? Explore our guide to the best small-batch foodie gifts. Balance Vase, Fazeek A sculptural glass vase that plays with symmetry and scale, this two-tone design turns a simple stem into a full display moment. Shop now. The Baguette Bag, Fred Home A bag made purely for carrying a baguette? Equal parts outrageous and totally gorgeous. Shop now. Incense Holder Bundle, Gentle Habits A ceramic holder paired with the brand's signature coastal-inspired incense blends. Shop now. Merino Alpaca Throw in Cobalt, Hommey A luxe throw woven from merino wool and alpaca, in a punchy cobalt tone to instantly elevates any space. Shop now. Ulna Ring (Emerald), Kto Made in Castlemaine, this cuttlefish-cast silver ring is a sculptural addition to any design lover's collection. Shop now. Roman Pool Towel, Baina A premium organic cotton towel featuring Baina's signature checkerboard pattern. Shop now. Sculptural Lobster Candle, Milligram A candle shaped like a lobster — do we need to say more? Witty, sculptural and very giftable. Shop now. Pin Drop Vessel, Leisa Wharington A playful hand-blown glass vessel with mix-and-match stoppers. Make it a bottle, a vase, or simply an objet d'art. Shop now. The Bronzing Duet, Fluff Fluff's unmistakable silver pebble compact, paired with a matching kabuki brush and a refillable bronzing powder. Shop now. Plaid Bag, Pan After A durable, handmade statement bag in bold woven plaid — made from 100 percent recycled nylon. Shop now. MECCA x E Nolan SPF + Lip Balm Beauty Bag Set, MECCA Cosmetica A fashion-meets-beauty collab pairing everyday essentials with a limited-edition scrunchie and pouch. Shop now. Long Stone Servers, Dinosaur Designs Hand-poured in Australia, these resin servers showcase Dinosaur Designs' signature organic forms and rich marbled colour. Shop now. Sakura Outdoor Mat, Sunnup Made from around 100 recycled polypropylene bottles, this picnic mat is as durable as it is chic. Shop now. Organica Day Bag, Brie Leon Spacious enough for daily essentials but refined enough for after-dark plans — and crafted from buttery vegan leather. Shop now. Mother of Pearl Oyster Plate, Jardan Crafted in Melbourne and slipcast to highlight natural texture, this Nattier oyster plate offers a fun take on functional serveware. Shop now. Organic Cotton Bedding in Watson Stripe, Sheet Society Soft, stonewashed organic cotton and quiet ruched detailing give this percale bedding set a refined, lived-in feel. Shop now. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence our recommendations, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Everyone has at least one piece of IKEA furniture in their house. Let's be honest: we all have more than that. And, when deciding which items to buy from the giant Swedish retailer, we've all consulted its thick printed catalogues that come out every year and give us all a big list of things that we suddenly want — and convince ourselves that we need — to purchase. From 2021, however, flicking through the weighty tome will no longer be a part of browsing through and buying the company's flatpack wares. After a whopping 70 years in circulation, the publication is being retired. The reason? IKEA says that both customer behaviour and media consumption have changed, its online sales increased by 45 percent worldwide in 2020 and its website received more than four billion visits over the same period. Given that the world spent more time at home last year — likely browsing the chain's website to look for ways to liven up our homes in the process — that's hardly surprising. Seven decades is a hefty run, and that only captures part of the IKEA catalogue's history. When it was first printed in 1951, there were 285,000 copies — all made available only in the southern part of Sweden — and the publication had just 68 pages. Jump to 2016, the biggest year in the tome's lifespan, and 200 million copies of the much thicker text were distributed — in 69 different versions, 32 languages and to more than 50 markets. The company will still be releasing a book in-stores in 2021 that'll allow customers to get ideas for furniture purchases and interior decoration choices — and to celebrate the old catalogue's history, too — but it won't be the printed guide that everyone currently knows. If you're not quite ready to farewell the publication, the chain's US branch has actually released its 2021 catalogue as a podcast, which you can listen to below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foNEPnmUAdU&list=PLk5L7f7HqQ7HAvWFx_Zd-h-iIkwc9p7QM IKEA will stop printing and distributing its catalogues from 2021. For more information, head to the Swedish retailer's website.
If you've been following Dark Mofo's 2023 lineup announcements, you'll have spotted that the Tasmanian winter festival knows how to serve up multiple courses. First, it announced Florentina Holzinger's dance theatre performance A Divine Comedy back in January. Then, it followed up with the full boundary-pushing lineup in March; however, there was still more to come. So, the fest added a few fresh events in mid-April, and unveiled the huge roster of talent for this year's Night Mass as well. Next on the menu: announcing that Ana Roš is hitting the Apple Isle to headline Dark Mofo's annual Winter Feast. For Dark Mofo newcomers, Winter Feast is all about tucking into local produce by the fire while listening to tunes and just generally enjoying an evening of revelry. It's one of the Hobart-based festival's annual highlights, returning for the 2023 event across eight nights — from Thursday, June 8–Sunday, June 11, then again from Thursday, June 15–Sunday, June 18. [caption id="attachment_898569" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ana Roš | Dark Mofo 2023.[/caption] Attendees will head to Salamanca Lawns and Princes Wharf Shed 1, where 90 stallholders will set up by the feast's blazes. (Concrete Playground Trips' Dark Mofo accommodation package might come in handy — it helpfully includes Winter Feast tickets.) Roš, who folks might know from Netflix documentary Chef's Table, heads to Australia with plenty of well-deserved fanfare. She's the owner of Slovenia's two Michelin-starred restaurant Hiša Franko in Kobarid, and was named the world's best female chef by The World's 50 Best Restaurants academy in 2017. The World Tourism Organisation have also given her the title Ambassador of Gastronomic Tourism. [caption id="attachment_898571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo and City of Hobart Winter Feast. Photo Credit: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford. Image Courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Dark Mofo 2018.[/caption] At Dark Mofo, she'll get cooking in a newly built 50-seat structure just for cooking and dining, and she'll have company: Stephen Peak and Rodney Dunn, both from New Norfolk's The Agrarian Kitchen. Peak is the eatery's Head Chef, Dunn is its co-founder, and together they're a key part of a spot that was named Regional Restaurant of the Year at the National Good Food Guide Awards — and also earned two hats in the process. They're particularly passionate about supporting local producers, as well as about ethical and sustainable farming, which will come through on the Winter Feast menu. That spread is set to span four courses, taking its cues from the dishes that that Roš and Peak whip up in their own kitchens. So, expect Slovenian-inspired fare, but made with Tasmania's top seasonal produce. [caption id="attachment_898570" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stephen Peak | Dark Mofo 2023.[/caption] "Both Ana Roš and The Agrarian Kitchen have elevated regional dining in their respective countries by taking a bold and innovative approach to their food. We're thrilled to be able to highlight such incredible artists of the culinary world," said Winter Feast Food Curator Amanda Vallis. As for who'll be taking care Winter Feast's stalls — and what'll be on their menus, and which installations will surround them — that's all still to be unveiled. Expect more details mid-May, ahead of Dark Mofo 2023's Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 dates. [caption id="attachment_898572" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo Winter Feast. Image Courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] Dark Mofo 2023 runs from Thursday, June 8–Thursday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania, with tickets on sale now. Top image: Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2022. Photo credit: Jesse Hunniford, 2022. Image courtesy of Dark Mofo 2022. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world — including our Dark Mofo tickets and accommodation package.
Thirty-four-metres long, more than twice as big as a regular hot air balloon and ripped straight from Patricia Piccinini's inimitable mind, Skywhale might just be one of Australia's most recognisable recent pieces of art. It's a sight to see, and the largest-scale example of the artist's fascination with the thin line that separates nature and technology — and it's about to meet its match. In 2020, the National Gallery of Australia will unveil Piccinini's new Skywhalepapa, which is designed to form a family with Skywhale. They'll both float through the Canberra skies from March, with the second bulbous sculpture commissioned as part of the gallery's Balnaves Contemporary Series. In total, the pair will take flight from a site near the NGA eight times during the nearly three-month Skywhales: Every Heart Sings exhibition, with the exact launch dates yet to be revealed. [caption id="attachment_751759" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Skywhalepapa, 2019/20 (artist's sketch), Patricia Piccinini. Courtesy of the artist.[/caption] Just how big Skywhalepapa will be is also yet to be announced, but given the impressive size of its companion, expect it to be hefty. If you can't make it to Canberra to see the growing Skywhale clan, they will also tour the country for an NGA touring exhibition, with locations and dates to be confirmed at a later date. While both Skywhalepapa and the Skywhales: Every Heart Sings exhibition will be big Canberra drawcards for the NGA next year, that's not all that the gallery has in store. In fact, it'll also welcome another incredibly famous artwork before the year is out: Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers. The 231-year-old piece will arrive in November 2020, displaying during the four-month-long Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London exhibition. In total, more than 60 works from European masters will line the NGA's walls, including Rembrandt's Self-portrait at the age of 34 from 1640 and Johannes Vermeer's A young woman seated at a virginal from 1670 — and most of them have never before travelled to Australia. [caption id="attachment_751757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sunflowers, 1888, Vincent van Gogh. National Gallery London; Bought, Courtauld Fund, 1924.[/caption] Art lovers can also look forward to Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now, which'll shine a spotlight on the nation's female creatives across more than 150 works; Belonging: Stories of Australian Art, a major collection of 19th-century Aussie pieces; a six-month focus on Chinese artist and activist Xu Zhen; and The Body Electric, a showcase of works by female-identifying creatives that are all about sex, pleasure and desire. Or, you can ponder the evolution of contemporary art with The Shock of the New and see a large-scale installation by the Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Skywhales: Every Heart Sings runs from March 7–May 30, 2020 at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes, ACT. For further information about the NGA's 2020 lineup, visit the gallery's website. Top image: Skywhale, 2013, Patricia Piccinini. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Gift of anonymous donor 2019, Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
The Wizarding World is officially crossing the globe to visit fans in Australia, with the globally touring Harry Potter: The Exhibition announcing that it's coming later this year. Having welcomed over four million fans around the world already, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, alongside partners Imagine and Eventim Live, today announced that Sydney is next on the itinerary. Settling in to Sydney Olympic Park's Paddington Pavilion from Thursday, May 14, the immersive touring experience celebrates the world of Harry Potter and its expanded universe, bringing together elements from the eight original films, the Fantastic Beasts series, and the stage production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Designed as an interactive, behind-the-scenes journey through the wizarding world, the exhibition features authentic props, original costumes and detailed recreations of iconic locations from the franchise. Visitors will move through themed galleries inspired by Hogwarts and beyond, with installations dedicated to subjects such as Potions, Herbology and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Fans will also have the chance to take part in a series of interactive experiences, including digital wand activities, potion-making stations and a Patronus charm experience set within a Forbidden Forest environment. Among the exhibition's highlights is a first-edition copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, displayed in a Gringotts-inspired vault, alongside multimedia displays exploring the journey of the series from page to screen. A dedicated retail space will accompany the exhibition, offering exclusive merchandise including apparel, jewellery and treats such as Chocolate Frogs and Butterbeer. Based on the best-selling novels by J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter franchise remains one of the most successful entertainment properties globally, spanning blockbuster films, stage productions, games and a growing portfolio of location-based experiences. Warner Bros. Discovery is also developing a new HBO series based on the original book series. Tickets for the Sydney exhibition go on sale on Thursday, March 26, with a presale beginning Tuesday, March 24 for fans who sign up to the official waitlist. See here for details. Images: supplied This article first appeared on Variety Australia.
If you're already thinking ahead to summer, here's three trends that'll be shining in Australia: spots, gourds and kaleidoscopic reflections. You'll see them all over your social feeds. You'll spy them in exhibition merchandise sported by anyone who visits NGV International. And, most excitingly, you'll be surrounded by the trio at the Melbourne art gallery, which will be hosting a huge Yayoi Kusama retrospective as its summer blockbuster. When we say that Yayoi Kusama, the exhibition, is big, we mean it. While the Japanese artist's work is no stranger to Aussie shores — and was the focus of a comprehensive showcase at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art back in 2017–18 — NGV International's ode to the iconic talent will be the largest that country has ever seen. When it displays from Sunday, December 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025, more than 180 works will feature, the world-premiere showing of a brand-new infinity mirror room among them. It's a massive endeavour for the NGV, too. "It's the largest space that's been given a living contemporary artist, across the entire ground floor," Wayne Crothers, NGV's Senior Curator of Asian Art, tells Concrete Playground. [caption id="attachment_950475" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Yayoi Kusama's Chandelier of grief 2016/18 at Tate Modern, London, © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] The NGV has curated Yayoi Kusama with input from Kusama, with the end result stepping through the 95-year-old artist's eight decades of making art via a thematic chronology. Some pieces hail from her childhood. Some are recent. Her output in her hometown of Matsumoto from the late 30s–50s; the results of relocating to America in 1957; archival materials covering her performances and activities in her studios, especially with a political charge, in the 60s and 70s: they'll all appear. Half of the exhibition will be devoted to the past four decades — so, pumpkins galore; giant paintings; and an impressive and expansive range of room installations, complete with her very first infinity room from 1965, plus creative interpretations since from the 80s onwards. Again, this is a hefty exhibition. It's one of the most-comprehensive Kusama retrospectives ever staged globally (and the closest that you'll get to experiencing her Tokyo museum without leaving Australia). "We've been wanting to do a major exhibition with this artist for a long time. We're very focused on contemporary art. We're very focused on Asian art. And Kusama hasn't had a big solo show in in Australia for some time — and she's still very active. So there's past works, but also some contemporary works being produced right at the moment," continues Crothers. [caption id="attachment_950477" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama, Pumpkin 1981, Collection of Daisuke Miyatsu © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] If you're keen to be one of the first people in the world to be wowed by Kusama's new infinity room, it'll be as immersive as such spaces always are when she's behind them. Even the NGV team don't know the full details of the piece that's being produced especially for the exhibition, so it'll be a surprise to everyone. It'll be complemented by the aforementioned array of rooms, which is "one of the largest displays, for our audience, of those immersive rooms that have ever been assembled globally," Crothers advises. Eager to see a five-metre-tall bronze sculpture of a pumpkin? 2020's Dancing Pumpkin, which has just been acquired by the NGV, will feature. And, for the first time in Australia, 2019's THE HOPE OF THE POLKA DOTS BURIED IN INFINITY WILL ETERNALLY COVER THE UNIVERSE will unleash its six-metre-high tentacles — as speckled with yellow-and-black polka dots, of course. Almost six decades since first debuting at 1966's Venice Biennale — unofficially — Narcissus Garden will be a part of Yayoi Kusama in a new version made of 1400 30-centimetre-diameter stainless silver balls. Now that's how you open an exhibition, as this will. NGV's Waterwall is also scoring a Kusama artwork specific to the space, while the Great Hall will be filled with the giant balloons of Dots Obsession floating overhead. [caption id="attachment_950474" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Yayoi Kusama's Flower Obsession 2017 on display in NGV Triennial from 15 December 2017 – 15 April 2018 at NGV International Melbourne. Image courtesy of NGV[/caption] Basically, wherever you look across NGV International's ground level, Kusama works will be waiting, spanning paintings, installations, sketches, drawings, collages and sculptures, as well as videos and clothing. Dots will obviously be inescapable. One section of the gallery will replicate Kusama's New York studio. Over 20 experimental fashion designs by the artist will also demand attention. Infinity Net paintings from the 50s and 60s, Accumulation sculptures and textiles from the 60s and 70s, and a Kusama for Kids offshoot with all-ages interactivity (fingers crossed for an obliteration room) are also on their way. The must-see exhibition for Melbourne locals and travel-worthy event for art lovers located outside of the Victorian capital will benefit from pieces from the artist's own personal collection — and rarely seen photos, letters (including to and from fellow artist eorgia O'Keefe), posters, magazines, teen sketch books and films — while others will be sourced from Japanese and Australian institutions. [caption id="attachment_950473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama. The obliteration room 2002–present. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] "Kusama's imagery has become part of the general common visual vernacular of the society," notes Crothers. "And I think our role in the exhibition, or what I've really taken on, is to introduce how profound the journey has been that's led her to this point of global visual recognition, going right back to a very ambitious teenager in rural Japan, and then the letter correspondence and New York, and delving into a lot of archival material." "There are few artists working today with the global presence of Yayoi Kusama. This world-premiere NGV-exclusive exhibition allows local audiences and visitors alike the chance to experience Kusama's practice in deeper and more profound ways than ever before," said NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM in the summer showcase's official announcement. "We are indebted to Yayoi Kusama for her passion and collaboration on this special project. Without the artist's personal dedication to this exhibition — and excitement to share her worldview with Australian audiences — none of this would be possible." [caption id="attachment_950480" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Yayoi Kusama, 2022 © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_950479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Portrait of Yayoi Kusama c. 1939 © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_950478" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Yayoi Kusama's Infinity mirror room – Phall's Field 1965 at the Castellane Gallery, New York © YAYOI KUSAMA[/caption] Yayoi Kusama displays at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Sunday, December 15, 2024–Monday, April 21, 2025. Head to the NGV website for more details and tickets. Top image: excerpt of Yayoi Kusama, 2022 © YAYOI KUSAMA.
Fresh from starring in page-to-screen Australian series Invisible Boys, Aussie actor Joseph Zada is headed to the arena. Hunger Games fans, meet young Haymitch. When the franchise's latest book Sunrise on the Reaping becomes its next movie — with the latter due to hit cinemas in 2026 — Zada will be in its key role. Two crucial pieces of casting have been announced for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: Zada following in Woody Harrelson's (Fly Me to the Moon) footsteps as Haymitch Abernathy, plus Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl) as the character's girlfriend Lenore Dove Baird. Together, they'll be helping take the saga back to 24 years before Abernathy met Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, No Hard Feelings) in the first The Hunger Games novel. The new film couldn't be in the works if Suzanne Collins hadn't entered the arena again, of course, stepping back into Panem and The Hunger Games' past — and into the tale of a well-known character from her initial three books in the dystopian franchise — with the saga's second prequel. After the author first went down that route with 2020's The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, her next jump backwards hit bookstores in March 2025. When the novel was announced, naturally a film was as well. It might've taken three years for The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes to become a movie, but Sunrise on the Reaping is hitting the big screen just a year after the book made its way shelves. This time, the focus is on the Second Quarter Quell, with Haymitch winning those games — and Sunrise on the Reaping's narrative kicking off on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games. Harrelson portrayed Haymitch in 2012–15 movies The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part I and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part II, with filmmaker Francis Lawrence helming every one of them since Catching Fire — and also doing the same on The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. He'll be back in the director's chair on Sunrise on the Reaping. For Zada, this isn't his only big post-Invisible Boys project. He's also treading where James Dean once did, playing the same character as the late, great icon in a new version of East of Eden opposite Florence Pugh (We Live in Time), Mike Faist (Challengers) and Christopher Abbott (Wolf Man) — and he has the page-to-screen adaptation of We Were Liars also on the way, hitting streaming in June 2025. There's obviously no trailer yet for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, but you can check out the trailer for all of the past Hunger Games movies below: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will reach cinemas on Friday, November 20, 2026 in the US — which will likely mean Thursday, November 19, 2026 Down Under. We'll update you with more details when they're announced. Via Variety. Top image: David Dare Parker, Invisible Boys. Hunger Games images: Murray Close.
Real estate in Australia is a complex and pricey market, with prices in most cities steadily rising year on year. The median house price in Australia is now $883,000, and in capital cities, things are getting dire — dire enough that Sydney buyers are paying seven-figure sums for driveways, let alone houses. But hard as it may be to believe, some property is still cheap in Australia, as long as it's rural and small, according to a report from Realestate.com.au. In NSW, January's cheapest sale was a fraction of that media price at a mere $80,000 — the property in question being a sandstone Anglican church on 2000 square metres of land in Wilcannia, a town outside of Broken Hill with 735 permanent residents. According to Realestate.com.au, the property was put on the market because its Sydney-based owner failed to anticipate the logistical challenges of the renovation. [caption id="attachment_1074362" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Realestate.com.au[/caption] In Victoria, a low record for the month was set by a fixer-upper weatherboard cottage in Walpeup, which sold with an acre of land for $115,000. The decades-old, three-bedroom cottage had been abandoned for the last eight years but reportedly still attracted a lot of interest from cash buyers before it sold. Up in Queensland, Mt Isa saw the cheapest sale in the state, $105,000 for a three-bedroom home pitched as a 'renovator's delight'. With a plywood-covered exterior setting the scene for a bare, linoleum-floored interior. [caption id="attachment_1074361" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Realestate.com.au[/caption] It's not much of a step from Tasmania, where the cheapest deal was $110,000 for a two-bedroom lake shack set in a township of just 11 residents in the Central Highlands. Size didn't matter in South Australia either, where a partial ocean-view studio apartment sold for $165,000 in Victor Harbor. Prices were higher in the ACT and Northern Territory. In the former, the cheapest sale was a studio apartment for $235,000, while in the latter, an Alice Springs ground-floor apartment with 51 square metres of living space, a pool, a basketball court, and a barbecue area sold for $190,000. But the cheapest sale in the country occurred in Western Australia, where a rundown three-bedroom home with almost no images listed sold for just $60,000. Images: Realestate.com.au/sold
When you think of alpine luxury, you're probably picturing France, Switzerland or Colorado. Yet a reimagined five-star stay awaits that won't take the better part of 24 hours to reach on a plane. Enter New Zealand's newest indulgent stay — Coronet Ridge Resort — an intimate 41-room retreat perched above Queenstown's Shotover River. Previously known as the Nugget Point Hotel, an NZD $30-million renovation brings a new level of luxury to the edge of the Coronet Peak Ski Area. Meticulously crafted from top to bottom, guests can make the most of the Southern Alps' dramatic landscapes and rest in quiet luxury at the end of the day. Just a few minutes' drive from central Queestown, each room and suite features a private balcony or patio that invites spectacular mountain vistas. Meanwhile, the interiors emanate highland warmth through bespoke timber joinery, natural tones and thoughtfully curated objects. Dining is also a highlight, with the Elevation Bar & Restaurant offering a standout experience from its soaring vantage point. Set against panoramic views of the Wakatipu Basin and the Remarkables mountain range, Executive Chef Dominic Dsouza delivers a seasonally-inspired menu spanning gourmet breakfast to apres-ski bites. Start the day with buerre noisette pancakes, then round out with acclaimed Royalburn lamb. Whether you're dining en plein air or inside, the setting is suitably stylish with an open kitchen and bar offering a glimpse of the restaurant's culinary and cocktail theatrics. Plus, once winter arrives, the ultra-cosy Library Bar proves inviting with a roaring fireplace and a drinks menu brimming with single-malt whiskies alongside wines carefully selected from Central Otago's renowned vineyards. Contrasting with its rugged ridgeline, the hotel's amenities offer incredible relaxation, immersed in crisp mountain air and native flora. Guests can enjoy a Roman-inspired day spa with the signature treatment, The Ridge Journey, offering a three-hour experience featuring full-body exfoliation, a hydrating body wrap and a 75-minute massage and facial using luxe NZ-made skincare products from RAAIE and Corbin Rd. Plus, there are outdoor hot tubs, squash courts, a premium fitness centre and even a private cinema to heighten your time on the slopes. "We are delighted to welcome guests to experience a new era of luxury hospitality amid the secluded beauty of New Zealand's Southern Alps. Coronet Ridge Resort is a sanctuary where the peace and tranquillity of its location allow guests to enjoy a soul-soothing getaway yet still be minutes away from the excitement of central Queenstown," says Clare Davies, Founder and Managing Director of Capstone Hotel Management. Coronet Ridge Resort is now accepting bookings at 146 Arthurs Point Road, Queenstown, with special opening rates available from $650 per night. Head to the website for more information.
Clearing out your wardrobe, sifting through your old clothing and making a pile to give to a new home rank among life's necessary but often overlooked tasks. It's also an easy process to get just partway through — pulling unloved shirts off their hangers and bagging up a heap of your old outfits to donate to charity, but then letting said bag sit in your hallway for months and months. Sound familiar? If you have the enthusiasm to gift your pre-loved clothing to a new home, but never quite get around to dropping off your old pieces for whatever reason, then you might be interested in The Iconic's new donation scheme. Called Giving Made Easy, it's an extension of the online retailer's free returns mechanism. Just print out a pre-paid shipping label from the company's website, pop it on a box or satchel filled with clothes that you're never going to wear again, then take it to an Australia Post box or office. Obviously, it still involves you actually moving your pile of unwanted clothes out of your house — but even if you never manage to make it to a Salvation Army or St Vincent's store or bin, you're never too far away from a post box. Once posted, your old threads will be sent to the Salvos to sell in their 330 shops across the country, which raise money to assist folks dealing with homelessness, addiction, domestic violence and emergency situations. To nab a label, you will need to have an active account with The Iconic. Once you've done that and printed out the label, you can stick it on any box or satchel you choose. And if you're a customer with one of the company's delivery satchels in your possession after your last order, you can also use that to send in your pre-loved pieces. The initiative is part of The Iconic's efforts to help reduce textile waste, with around 6000 kilograms of fabric and clothing ending up in Aussie landfill every ten minutes. As always when you're donating pre-worn clothes, pieces will need to be in good condition. If you'd happily give it to a friend as it is, then it's okay to give it to the Salvos. The charity is accepting dresses, tops, t-shirts, singlets, skirts, pants, shorts, jeans, coats, jackets, jumpsuits, playsuits, sweats, hoodies, jumpers, cardigans, suits, blazers, shirts, polos and activewear, as well as footwear and shoes. Used underwear, socks and hosiery won't be taken, nor anything that's damaged. To find out more about The Iconic's Giving Made Easy scheme — or to download a pre-paid shipping label — visit the online retailer's website. Top image: The Iconic.
The drive down the Mornington Peninsula to the Peninsula Hot Springs retreat is somewhat of a Melburnian pilgrimage — where Victorians escape the chill of the city every winter via thermal means. One of the first hot springs in Victoria before the 900-kilometre bathing trail was proposed, the team constantly looks to deliver the best service and experience. A $13 million upgrade in 2018 saw the addition of two cold plunge pools, seven new hot spring pools and an impressive outdoor Bath House Amphitheatre to the site's remote and picturesque hilltop location. Guests also have access to two 30-person saunas, a chilled (and Australian-first) ice cave and a 'deep freeze' treatment room, which will be kept at a cool 25 degrees below freezing. This is in addition to the existing hamam, underground sauna, cave pool and the pool at the top of the hill which affords 360-degree views of the area. The venue also has a new cafe, a cultural meeting space designed in collaboration with local Indigenous elders, and a multipurpose wellness centre for classes and talks. Further renovations were announced at the end of last year to expand accommodation and other facilities. A trio of new eco accommodation lodges, three outdoor massage pods and an undercover cafe dining space, as well as a new relaxation and sleep lounge in the Spa Dreaming Centre are all expected later in the year. [caption id="attachment_726805" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Updated April, 2023.
When Corbett & Claude opened their first eatery in Indooroopilly in August, a piece of the puzzle was missing. The restaurant is named for architect Claude Chambers, who designed the Corbett Chambers building on Elizabeth Street, so setting up shop in the western suburbs rather than the CBD didn't quite seem fitting. That was just step one in unleashing a new source of historically minded tastiness to Brisbane, with the newly launched city outlet step two. That means there's now double the places to grab a drink, listen to live music and enjoy the share plates, pizzas and antipasti that comprises their menu. Wine as well as beer on tap is a great way to start any Corbett & Claude meal, as is one of their three signature cocktails. From there, picking one of the ten types of pizza is a harder choice, though the C&C special with meatballs, caramelised onion, crispy prosciutto and barbecue sauce is a certain favourite. Those after a deli-style snack can mix and match from a selection of cheeses and meats to suit their preferences. And when it comes to something sweet, a dessert pizza with nutella, hazelnuts and strawberries sounds too good to pass up — but if you must, then the waffles with honey ice cream are just as great. Find Corbett & Claude at 283 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane. For more information, visit their website and Facebook page.
It takes 50 minutes to cook the 1.2-kilogram tomahawk cut of angus beef that's on the menu at Black Hide Steak and Seafood. When it's ready to serve, the $240 dish caters for up to three people. It's a big meal, with a big price, available in a big new location for The Gambaro Group's upmarket steak brand. Black Hide by Gambaro at the Treasury is no more, with the chain moving its Brisbane CBD restaurant into the Queen's Wharf precinct. This is a change of space by necessity, of course, and one that's impacted the other restaurants and bars in the Sunshine State capital's old casino as well. Fat Noodle has moved, too, as has LiveWire, with the latter changing its focus to late-night entertainment and live music. Black Hide announced back in May 2024 that it would have a new home in The Star Brisbane, then opened its doors on Wednesday, September 11 as part of The Terrace, on the same level as the landing for the new Neville Bonner Bridge. Black Hide is The Terrace's largest restaurant, catering to more than 250 guests. The Gambaro team has embraced the opportunity to scale up, as well as the chance to ensure that seafood is a key focus alongside steak. That menu shift seems fitting given the restaurant's prime waterside location, with river views while you eat as much as a highlight as the range of wagyu cuts and multiple lobster dishes — whether or not you're sat on the balcony. While the food remains a drawcard — oysters, caviar and caviar oysters are among the starters; tuna tartare and miso-glazed beef skewers are snack choices; Black Hide's signature meatballs and kingfish crudo feature on the entree lineup; mains include grilled Moreton Bay bugs and chargrilled squid; and dessert picks span sundaes, lemon meringue, and coconut tapioca, ginger and avocado sorbet — the new site is also a cocktail lounge. A shorter small-plate menu is available to pair with drinks, and the bar operates from open till close, even when the restaurant isn't serving lunch or dinner. It was back in 2018 that Black Hide set up shop at the Treasury, expanding from Caxton Street in Petrie Terrace, where Gambaros has long been synonymous. The eatery made the Queen Street side of the casino its home, delivering river views, a bar overlooking Reddacliff Place and a six-room setup that makes the most of the heritage building's features — including a ten-person private dining space filled with timber, brass and marble. At its new digs, the same team remains on staff, with new additions given that the restaurant is bigger. Meals are whipped up in the open kitchen, letting guests view the culinary magic as its taking place.
UPDATE: MARCH 23, 2020 — Due to restrictions surrounding COVID-19, Barbara has temporarily closed. We'll let you know as soon as it has reopened. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Some nights — and some weeknights too — you just want to enjoy a hard-earned beverage and watch one day turn into the next. Brisbane doesn't have that many establishments that cater to late-night revellers outside of the weekend, but Barbara is trying to change that. Barbara is the name of the new venture from the Calypso Boys, although the five-man team would like you to think of her as more than just a venue; their motto is "she will take care of you", after all. The 100-person McWhirters-based spot is a small bar with an inviting attitude, including furniture, light fixtures and even a DJ booth designed by the group themselves and handmade in Brisbane, as well as a love of several types of alcohol. Of course, it's the drinks and the vibe that will lure you in — and neither disappoints. The former spans new and classic cocktails to drink solo or to share, craft beers, a signature brew on tap and a select wine list, plus spirits, apperitifs and liqueurs as well. The latter keeps things intimate and personal thanks to a delicately curated music lineup and a willingness to welcome everyone. If you're a night owl, you might've just found your new super-cool mid-week watering hole.
ANZAC Day is upon us for 2020; however with the usual parades and dawn services cancelled and downscaled due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year's commemorations are looking considerably different than usual. Given that pubs, bars and RSLs are closed across the country thanks to social-distancing requirements, the great Aussie tradition that is two-up has also been affected — but, like most aspects of normal life at the moment, the game has moved online. At 2up 2.0, you can yell "come in spinner" while you're playing along virtually (and while drinking brews and eating ANZAC biscuits, too, if that's part of your April 25 routine). As you're watching digital coins flip, you'll also be helping a very worthy cause, with 100-percent of the site's proceeds being donated to Wounded Warriors to help support Australian servicemen and women and their families. To play, all you need to do is head to the site — and, while purchasing virtual coins in order to make a donation to diggers is obviously encouraged, you'll receive 100 free virtual dollars just for signing up. Prizes are on offer from Rocks Brewing Co, while a leaderboard keeps track of how everyone is faring. And remember that you'll only be able to play along today, Saturday, April 25, as that's the only day each year that two-up is legal to play in most places in Australia. To play 2up 2.0 and donate to Wounded Warriors, visit the game's website.
Imagine a place where cheese reigns supreme, other than in your own kitchen. Imagine more than 100 different varieties on offer for the tasting. Imagine being able to sample whatever you liked from this dairy feast, too. And, picture just buying one ticket to devour all the cheddar, brie, camembert, raclette and whichever other cheeses take your fancy. Is this the real life? It isn't just a cheesy fantasy at Australian dairy festival Mould, which started making cheese-loving dreams come true in 2017. In 2024, it's not only returning — it's back for its biggest festivals yet, including for three days in Brisbane at the John Reid Pavilion at Brisbane Showgrounds across Friday, May 24–Sunday, May 26. If you're a cheese fiend, then you'll know that there's only one suitable way to tuck into the beloved dairy product: all the time, or at least as much as possible. As presented by Revel — who are also the organisers of Pinot Palooza — that's an idea that Mould not only understands but encourages, celebrating the mild, hard and soft bites made by Australia's best cheese wizards. There won't just be a few cheeses on the menu. More than 100 artisan cheeses from around the country will be ready and waiting, spanning dairy from around 27 producers. In past years, that lineup has included Bruny Island Cheese Co, Grandvewe, Milawa Cheese, Yarra Valley Dairy and Stone & Crow, as well as Section 28, Red Cow Organics, Nimbin Valley Cheese, Dreaming Goat, Long Paddock Cheese and Second Mouse Cheese. Alongside unlimited tastings of Australia's best cheeses — snacking on samples is included in your ticket, but you'll then pay extra to purchase slices and slabs to take home with you — the fest features cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and talks. Courtesy of 2024's The Grate Cheese Commission, a range of cheeses created solely for the fest will also tempt your tastebuds. This year's events will include more of the foodstuffs that pair extremely well with cheese, too, such as olives, crackers and conserves. It wouldn't be a cheese festival without beverages to wash it all down with, so expect a bar serving Aussie wines, whisky, vodka, gin, beer, cider, cocktails and sake, all of which match nicely to a bit of cheese. Archie Rose and Hartshorn will be among the tipples featured.
There are food festivals, and then there's Noosa in June. From Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, June 14 2026, the Noosa Food & Wine Festival transforms the coastline into a playground of waterfront lunches, live cooking battles and beachside dinners that blur the line between refined and raucous (how Noosa). Sand underfoot, champagne in hand, some of the country's best chefs on the tools – it's a format that's hard to beat, and the 2026 lineup looks particularly electric. Come hungry. Official Opening Party Friday, June 12 Promising to be "bigger, brighter, and even more unforgettable" than its sold-out 2025 equivalent, this is the celebration that sets the tone for everything that follows. Expect continuous canapés and interactive pop-ups from an all-star culinary cast, including Guy Grossi, a South African braai from Warren Mendes, and Lucio's Marina's interactive seafood bar. As the sun drops behind the marquee and the sky shifts to gold, live DJs take over, and the three-hour beverage package keeps pace – welcome Enough cocktail on arrival, wines from Mojo and beers from Stone & Wood flowing freely. Part marquee comfort, part open-air beachfront beauty, this is Noosa at its most celebratory: sand underfoot, drink in hand, chefs at full throttle. Sunset Sessions: Beachside Dinner Saturday, June 13 Sunset Sessions brings fire, flavour and three of Australia's most exciting restaurants together for one collaborative feast on the sand. Lanai's Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stanley's Louis Tikaram and Serai's Ross Magnaye join forces for a share-style dinner inspired by the islands of the Pacific and the spice markets of Asia – bold, expressive and designed to pass across the table. Canapés on arrival lead into three generous courses, with interactive cooking stations adding theatre as the sky shifts to gold. The Catalina Afternoon Float Sunday, June 14 Swap sand for something sleeker and step aboard Noosa's most iconic vessel for a two-hour river cruise where flavour, sunshine and soundtrack align. Presented by Florcita Tequila, this Sunday session blends Latin-inspired canapés, premium pours and DJ-curated beats as you glide along the Noosa River. At the helm is Jason Jones, the culinary force behind Melbourne's acclaimed Mamasita and Noosa's Bandita. His menu of continuous canapés celebrates bold Latin flavours with a refined coastal twist – vibrant, punchy and designed to match every sip. If your ideal Sunday involves midday margaritas, river breezes and dancing in the golden glow of a subtropical afternoon, this is your move. The Festival Sundowner Sunday, June 14 One last, sun-soaked celebration to round out the weekend. As golden hour settles in, this big-finale beach party blends continuous canapés, flowing drinks and DJ sets that roll effortlessly into the evening. On the tools is Light Years, serving bold, punchy modern Asian flavours designed to share. Expect playful combinations, vibrant spice and the kind of dishes that demand a second lap. At the bar, Stone & Wood keeps things crisp and easy-drinking – think Pacific Ale in hand, sand underfoot and that salty twilight breeze coming off the water. Three hours. 350 guests. Toes in the sand and festival energy at full tilt. Restaurant Series Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, June 14 If the beach parties bring the spectacle, the Restaurant Series is where things stay intimate. Across four days, almost 20 of Noosa's top dining destinations will host one-off collaborations, curated menus and chef pairings that exist for one service only. It's billed as "an unmissable series of fully curated events, top-tier collaborations, and never-before-seen culinary experiences" – and many of these line-ups may never share a kitchen again. Expect Rickys Bar & Grill with Brisbane's Essa, Light Years alongside Long Time (Bali), Bandita and Byrdy bringing Melbourne energy north, Peli's teaming up with George Calombaris, Sum Yung Guys collaborating with Marion Grasby, The Wood Shed (Kin Kin) partnering with Lancemore (Melbourne), Humble on Duke joining forces with Makepeace Island, plus brand new venue Cibaria Noosa stepping into the mix. Smaller rooms. Sharper menus. Blink, and you'll miss them. American Express Festival Village Saturday, June 13 If you want it all in one place, this is your base. The American Express Festival Village is the beating heart of Noosa Food & Wine – a high-energy day packed with live cooking, cold drinks and more than 40 bars and restaurant pop-ups to roam between. Your General Admission ticket sets the tone early: a reusable festival glass, canapés on arrival and a welcome mocktail in hand before you dive into the action. From there, it's a choose-your-own-adventure of 10+ live cooking demonstrations across the Main Stage and Olsson's Salt Culinary Stage, plus a full soundtrack of DJs and live acts. The Main Stage brings the theatre, with headline cooking demonstrations and the ever-rowdy PorkStar Live Cooking Battles. Over on the Culinary Stage, guest chefs share tips, tricks and samples, with Interactive Tickets available for front-row seats and extra tastings. Between sessions, settle into the Village Pavilion for laid-back luxe under shady palms, explore producer pop-ups from around Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, or post up in the Premium Lounge to sip and watch the action in comfort. It's dynamic, delicious and delightfully buzzy – a full-day immersion in everything the festival does best. The full festival program has just been unveiled, with Signature Events and Festival Village tickets on sale now. The Restaurant Program tickets will go on sale from Friday, March 13 – subscribe to access an exclusive 24-hour presale. Images: Supplied
There's a new gin in town and it's pink. And when we say pink, we mean really pink — like, Grease girl gang pink. This delightful concoction will be in glasses for spring and its creators are the master distillers at Bass and Flinders, which you'll find on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Dubbed Cerise, the gin gets its pinkness from a blend of cherries and raspberries, which is layered with hibiscus and orange blossom aromas. These ingredients are sourced from farms at nearby Red Hill. All bottles are made in small batches, to keep the gin's high quality and delicate flavour profile. Apparently it will have a slight sweetness, similar to Turkish delight. As with all Bass and Flinders gins, the spirit is based on grapes. "Using grape spirit for gin provides another dimension to the gin's botanicals and adds to the viscosity, texture and flavour — this, combined with seasonal produce, produces extraordinary spirits," says head distiller Wayne Klintworth. The gin will go on sale on September 12. It'll be available for a limited time, only at the cellar door and via the distillery's website. Bass and Flinders have been making unusual gins and other spirits, including vodka, limoncello, grappa and a five-year-aged brandy called Ochre, since 2009.
If you've ever stopped by Doughcraft in Albion, where it slings pistachio praline croissants, truffle danishes, lemon meringue croissant tarts, chocolate and raspberry brioche, Vegemite sticks and more, and wished that you could add a cocktail over charcuterie to your visit, the bakery chain has you covered at its CBD outpost. Since early 2024, the European-style venture is indeed a chain now, with its second location open in Mary Street. Its second eatery is a panini-and-vino kind of place, too. Doughcraft initially opened its debut location in 2022, joining Craft'd Grounds' inner-north dining precinct. Because there's no such thing as too much of its pastries and bread, hitting Brisbane's inner city has followed. The menu is different. This venue isn't just a bakery and deli, but a wine bar as well. And while it only operates on weekdays, it stays open till 7pm from Thursday–Friday for after-work sips. Whether you sit by the window overlooking the street for a stint of people-watching, or you choose to get comfortable beneath the interior art — murals that take their cues from Keith Haring, plus a framed gallery that features pieces by Brisbane artists, with the work showcased set to rotate — you can feast your way through Doughcraft's French- and Italian-leaning bites. If you'll follow Doughcraft's croissants anywhere, the same delights made with Normandy butter remain one of the venue's pride and joys. Expect to be tempted, by the croissants and other pastries. A wall of baked goods accompanies the counter, for snacking while you're settling in and for taking some sourdough home with you alike. The all-day panini range features seven options, including a classic ham, cheese and mustard combination — and the vegetarian-friendly eggplant, artichoke, capsicum and feta. From the selection of boards, meat-only, cheese-only, a mix of of both, and olive and bread varieties are available, or you can make your own vegetarian or vegan styles. Beverage-wise, morning patrons can begin with coffee. If you're after a cocktail, they're only on offer from 3pm Thursday–Friday. Three types of sparkling, five rosés, seven whites and nine red wines are on the vino list — plus a port — with some by the glass and others by the bottle. And those cocktails include three types of negroni, a trio of spritzes, a margarita, a mojito and a cosmopolitan.
"Well, Kriv got talking to me, you see. At a certain point late in the filming of The Correspondent, he mentioned in passing that he wanted to talk to me about another thing. And when he told me about the idea, I had some initial reluctance, because I guess playing another important Australian political figure wasn't the first thing that would come to mind on my list of most-desired projects," Richard Roxburgh tells Concrete Playground. The Australian actor is chatting about director Kriv Stenders, who he worked with on 2019's Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, then on 2025 cinema release The Correspondent and now on Joh: Last King of Queensland as well. "And I guess the way that he talked about it, the way that he pitched it to me, I just thought it was such a kind of crazy, excellent idea that I thought I had to go for." In Roxburgh and Stenders' aforementioned movie collaborations so far, the former has continued a trend that's popped up repeatedly across his career: portraying real-life Australian figures. Danger Close tasked him with stepping into Brigadier David Jackson's shoes. In The Correspondent, he helped bring journalist Peter Greste's ordeal after being arrested in Egypt, then put on trial, found guilty and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, to the screen. Now, however, Roxburgh is playing former Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen — and doing so not in a drama, but in a documentary. Joh: Last King of Queensland initially premiered at the 2025 Sydney Film Festival, then made its way to streaming via Stan. While Stenders has compiled a wealth of archival footage to fill its frames, as well as contemporary interviews with the politician's family members and friends, plus journalists, historians and more, Roxburgh couldn't have a more pivotal part. In recreations of the final days that the conservative figure at the doco's centre spent in office in 1987 after years leading the Sunshine State — when he refused to leave, in fact — the acclaimed actor delivers Bjelke-Petersen's speeches. Stenders grew up in Queensland, and has crafted a cautionary portrait of Bjelke-Petersen's time in charge of the state. The prolific filmmaker, who has kept jumping between fiction and fact, and the big and small screens, via everything from The Illustrated Family Doctor, Lucky Country, Red Dog and its sequel, Kill Me Three Times, the Wake in Fright miniseries, Jack Irish, Bump and Last Days of the Space Age to The Go-Betweens: Right Here, Brock: Over the Top and Slim & I, has also made another timely film with Roxburgh after The Correspondent also proved exactly that. Watching Joh: Last King of Queensland's survey of one man's authoritarian-style power, a regime filled with corruption and the vast suppression of dissent, for instance, means seeing blatant parallels to global politics today. [caption id="attachment_1015675" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images[/caption] Despite his initial hesitation, Roxburgh felt that this was a unique opportunity. "It really did. It felt really quite odd, and I was still unreally unsure about it when we started shooting it — but Kriv was so determined about it and was loving what he was seeing so much, he kept reassuring me that it was just going to slot into what he was doing. So, I trusted him," he advises. He was aware of the type of material that would surround his performance in the documentary, too. "I picked Kriv's brains about a lot of it, so I did know quite a bit of what was going on. I knew the people he'd interviewed, what the general thrust of their interviews were. I was across quite a bit of that stuff." Portraying Bjelke-Petersen doesn't just follow Roxburgh's time as Greste and as Jackson for Stenders. He has played former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke twice, in both Hawke and The Crown. His performance as corrupt police office Roger Rogerson in Blue Murder won him his first Australian Film Institute Award — the accolades that are now the AACTAs — and Logie. Then there's Roxburgh's efforts as pianist Percy Grainger in Passion; as Ronald Ryan, the last person legally executed in Australia, in The Last of the Ryans; and in Bali 2002 as Graham Ashton, the Australian police's operational commander in the investigation into the bombings. That parts as real-life Australian figures keep coming his way, alongside interrogations of power and how it impacts those in prominent positions — streaming series Prosper and The Dry sequel Force of Nature equally fit the latter bill — were also topics of discussion in our second chat for 2025 with Roxburgh. Among other subjects, we spoke with him about putting in another performance for Stenders that places him in one space alone, as portraying Greste largely did; not growing up in Queensland under Bjelke-Petersen like Joh: Last King of Queensland's director; if there's a real-life Aussie that he's keen to take on next; and the diversity he's enjoyed beyond his stints inhabiting IRL names, with Thank God He Met Lizzie, Oscar and Lucinda, Mission: Impossible II, Moulin Rouge, Van Helsing, Rake, Sanctum, Looking for Grace, Go!, Elvis, Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe and Lesbian Space Princess just some of his other projects. On the Theatre Feel to Roxburgh's Solo Scenes in Joh: Last King of Queensland — and the Process of Stepping Into Bjelke-Petersen's Shoes "It was a weird little moment in time, obviously. Because it felt after a couple of days, I said to Kriv, like a stage production that no one would see about the life and times and great strangeness of this powerful Australian political presence. So it was odd. But I think the more I settled into it, into the rhythms of that character, and tried to burrow into what he was doing in those last three days when he was alone, the more settled I felt. I thought it was going to be easier than it ended up being — because I thought, the way that Kriv talked about it, we weren't going to do makeup, we weren't going to do any of the lookalike stuff, in particular. But there were some elements that were so key to his personality, and so key to the way that he crafted sentences — the way that he conveyed information. And then there were other things, like the fact that he had polio as a child. There were so many things that went into the physical and vocal life of the character that ended up being so important and, in a way, they were sine qua non. I had to at least find the song of it. I had to find that cadence, that particular gift for clouding argument, for obfuscation, for changing sentences midstream. And you couldn't do that in the end without actually doing it. So it ended up being quite a lot of work — a lot of pre-work." On Getting Into the Mindset of a Leader That Everyone Wants Out of Office But Is Refusing to Leave "There's quite a bit of really excellent footage of Joh strongly inhabiting his argument, whatever the argument is. And so that was really useful to see how he commanded the space in those times. There was a lot less of his cloudiness, his wooliness, his diversion, obfuscation, when he was speaking like that — and a lot more control and determination, incredible determination, that he was absolutely right. Joh was an absolutist. He believed in his authority, and the fact that it was a kind of gift to Queensland from god, as it were, because he felt like he was obeying divine instruction. He was always serving his version of his lord. And so there's, to my mind, a really salient warning in that as well." On Whether There's Anything That's Key to Roxburgh in Inhabiting, Rather Than Merely Impersonating, a Real-Life Figure "I guess it's not more than it is for any other character you do. It's just a different landscape, because it's a landscape that everybody's seen before. So the difference is that an audience is going to watch it with a precondition and pre-understanding of what that character is meant to look like or how they were. It's not really different in the sense that you always have to find yourself in the in the centre, in the makeup of — and I don't mean makeup as in hair and makeup, I mean in the cellular energy of that individual, which doesn't change whether the character is fictitious or was somebody who lived and was very much in the public eye. But the difference is that everybody knows that landscape. So the people watching this documentary, at least 90 percent of them will be enormously familiar with the personality and personage of Joh. And so they'll be coming in with a pre-understanding or a preconditioning to what that character is like. So that's the thing. The risk is to do the comedic version of the character, because there were so many great versions of that and I didn't want to fall into that." On If Having an Outsider's Eye, Not Growing Up in Queensland, Helped with Roxburgh's Task in Joh: Last King of Queensland "Interesting thought. I don't know the answer to that. I feel like probably my work would be the same no matter what. Because your work, when you're inhabiting that character, is going to be always the same — and in a sense, it's to not judge it. Because Joh, whatever we think of him, he had his own incredibly powerful reasons for doing what he did — and incredibly powerful self-justifications for doing them." On What Interests Roxburgh About Interrogating the Nature and Influence of Power On-Screen "I think it's definitely something that interests me, because it's so front and centre in the human experience — because we're either living it, aiming for it ourselves, or we're suffering at the hands of it. And so it's always there. And it's such a rich and compelling part of what it is to be a human being, as evidenced in everything that Shakespeare ever wrote. There's no drama, in a sense, without it, without the mechanics of it in one way or another." On Why Portraying Prominent Real-Life Australian Figures Keeps Coming His Way "No clue why I get offered these things because I obviously don't look a thing like Bob Hawke. I don't look at thing like Joh Bjelke-Petersen, either. I don't know why this happens. And as I said, I did have really strong tendrils of reluctance when Kriv was first talking to me about this. And he said 'look, I understand if you don't want to do this, having played Bob and various others — Peter Greste and other Australian famous figures'. But then I think I just really love the audacity of this project. I love the audacious way that Kriv was finding to tell this story. I just thought 'it's a great, really ballsy, wonderful piece of cinematic thinking that I loved I really'. I just really dug it. And I trust his opinion." On the Parallels That Joh: Last King of Queensland Draws Between Joh-Era Queensland and the US in 2025 — and If It Felt Like This Would Be a Timely Film While Making It "Yeah, it did. I think it's really fascinating because I have spoken to 30-year-olds in Australia who didn't know the name Joh Bjelke-Petersen, and I thought 'holy crap, come on, everybody should know that name'. These people need to be known about. As the famous saying goes about history repeating, I just think there's so many shots across the bow in that administration of Joh Bjelke-Petersen. There's so many warnings about untrammelled power and where it can lead — that one tiny rollback of something here then leads to a bigger rollback of democracy there, which just keeps leading democracy further and further afield, until you end up with, I think, a kind of deeply embedded, corrupt, pretty rotten administration where there is so much fear, so much resentment, so much anxiety. And where anybody with a slight sense of sitting outside the paradigm had to escape to safety. And I don't think that's a great place to be, and so I would love Australians to know about what happened under the administration of Joh Bjelke-Petersen." On How Roxburgh and Stenders' Working Relationship Has Evolved Over Multiple Films Now "A lot of trust in it. I really do. And a lot of the time, not having to say too much to each other. I'll still pick his brains and he'll obviously give me direction and talk about stuff. We will do that. But I think I just know what he's after. I can assess what he's after at any given moment, I think. And sometimes, we just scratch our heads after a scene and say 'I don't know if that? Did we get that right? Or do we — fuck it, let's do another one'. So there's a really great, very relaxed, trusting shorthand, I would say. And I think Kriv is an artist who is at his peak of his powers. I think he's doing such really, really interesting, strong work." On How Roxburgh Sees His Almost Four-Decade On-Screen Journey So Far "I think I've been really lucky because I've had a working life in the thing that I love. And I do still love it. I love the hell out of it. I love doing what I do so much. I love the various shapes of it. So I also like the idea of producing, of directing, of creating material, as well. I love being able to step between theatre and film and television. I like the gradation of difference that exists between film and television. I like all of it. I love all of it. So I feel really lucky and I feel privileged in the matter that I have had a life in it, and been able to make life in it. Because it's not always the case, and it can be a tough life at times. But I feel incredibly fortunate." On the Diversity That Roxburgh Has Enjoyed Across His Career — Even If Recurring Trends and Themes Pop Up "I love it. I love the kind of weird, wacky, family-photo-album madness of that particular curriculum vitae, I guess. I think, again, I'm lucky. I'm lucky to have experienced things that were ridiculous comedies. I love my time on Rake so much, because it was familial because I was deeply involved creatively — and it was so meaningful to me on lots of levels. But I think it's just a really madcap photo album that is kind of fascinating to thumb through, not that I ever do. But I guess one day in my dotage I'll be siting around, thumbing through: 'my god, I did this thing called Go!. I did this thing called — can anybody remember Lesbian Space Princess? I mean what did I do in that?'. I think it's fascinating. It's crazy." On Whether There's Any Other Key Australian Figure That Roxburgh Is Keen to Portray "No — I can say in all honesty there's not particularly. That person does not exist particularly at the moment. Generally what happens more is that you get offered something and your first thought is 'well, that's insane. That's ridiculous. Why would they? I don't. I'm not. I couldn't play that person'. And it goes from there so. No, I would say this — it's not like I would ever sit around thinking 'I'd love to have a crack at that character'." Joh: Last King of Queensland streams via Stan.
The '90s really are the decade that just keeps on giving. You lived through the outfits and the music, then looked back with astonishment after they passed. Now, enough time has elapsed that you can embrace them again with the affection you’ve always been secretly harbouring. You know it's true. That’s where the ‘90s Music Video Party comes in, celebrating the decade everyone once pretended to forget but now loves to remember. Nostalgia is unavoidable as three hours of your favourite tunes set a retro mood, accompanied by the corresponding music videos on the big screen. Yes, the bubblegum pop of Aqua and the grunge of Soundgarden will combine, and the MMMbop of Hanson and the room shaking of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince too. Hop on to the event’s Facebook page in advance to request your must-hear track, then make like The Spice Girls and say you’ll be there.
