A newly completed wildlife underpass beneath Toohey Road is designed to help koalas and other native animals move safely between habitat areas within Toohey Forest, while reducing the risk of wildlife entering traffic lanes.
Project information outlines the underpass as a measure to minimise animal crossings across Toohey Road and improve safety outcomes for both motorists and fauna. The location sits within a connected habitat area linked to Toohey Forest, where maintaining movement between food sources and shelter areas is considered important for wildlife resilience and survival.
The project also aims to strengthen habitat connectivity, allowing animals to move more freely between bushland areas and reducing the likelihood of animals attempting to cross the road surface.
Photo Credit: CrSteveGriffiths/Facebook
What Was Installed
The underpass includes a 2.4-metre by 2.4-metre culvert installed beneath Toohey Road, positioned southwest of the Toohey Picnic Area. Inside the culvert, a raised log pole frame was constructed to provide a bridge-style option that allows animals to move through the crossing without travelling directly along the ground.
Mulch and natural materials were placed at the base of the culvert to help the structure blend with the surrounding environment and encourage wildlife to use the crossing. Fauna fencing with wildlife escape hatches was installed on both sides of the road to guide animals towards the underpass and away from traffic.
Construction Timing And Access
Construction commenced in mid-November 2025 and was completed within the expected two-month timeframe. Works were undertaken between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., Sunday to Thursday, to minimise traffic disruption. Toohey Road was fully closed from 8 p.m. Friday 14 November to 5 a.m. Monday 17 November 2025, with detours in place, including via Tarragindi Road.
Vegetation Management
Some tree and vegetation removal was required to allow installation of the culvert and fencing. The project design includes replanting native vegetation selected to support local wildlife habitat, with specialist input guiding vegetation management.
Community responses have included questions about fencing design and long-term performance. A site walk-through has been flagged to identify any gaps or defects in the fencing near the underpass, with repairs planned where needed to ensure the crossing functions as intended.
Few people may realise that one of Redcliffe’s most influential civic leaders began life in Ekibin. Keitha Drake would go on to quietly reshape life on the Redcliffe Peninsula, becoming its first female alderman and one of its most tireless community workers, long before women were a common sight in council chambers.
Born in 1906 as Keitha Mary Cousley Scurr, she was educated at Junction Park State School in Annerley and Brisbane State High School in South Brisbane.
Her early life in Ekibin would ground her in community values that later defined her public service, according to historical accounts compiled by local historians and media outlets. In her younger years, she was an accomplished hockey player and, in 1939, was considered for selection in Brisbane’s A-Grade competition.
A Newcomer Who Stepped Forward
She married George Drake in 1940. They had a son named Henry in 1947. She married George Drake in 1940. They had a son named Henry in 1947.
After arriving on the Redcliffe Peninsula in 1950, Ms Drake quickly became involved in local organisations and welfare work. Within two years, she stood for election to the Town of Redcliffe council and was elected in February 1952.
At the time, council meetings were small affairs with just six aldermen, modest pay and heavy workloads. She served continuously until she died in 1966, a period that saw Redcliffe transition from a town to a city in 1959.
Historical reporting shows voters repeatedly returned her to office and, in later elections, that she attracted more votes than any other candidate, reflecting strong community trust.
Ms Drake focused on everyday issues affecting local families rather than ideology. She worked to improve health services for the peninsula and represented Redcliffe on hospital boards at a time when access to medical care required travel to Brisbane. The opening of the first Redcliffe Hospital in 1961 aligned with the period of her advocacy.
At the time of her death, she chaired the council’s Building and Health Committee. She represented the council on both the Redcliffe Hospitals Board and the Redcliffe Municipal Library Committee.
A Life Beyond Council Chambers
Ms Drake’s influence extended well beyond local government. Over more than a decade, she led the Redcliffe Peninsula branch of the Queensland Spastic League, now known as the Cerebral Palsy League, and played a key role in establishing the local committee. She also served as secretary of the Red Cross for 10 years and chaired the Humpybong Welfare Committee.
Her involvement spanned sporting clubs, arts groups and educational support bodies. Records show she supported cricket, hockey, horticulture, writing groups and youth organisations, while also serving as the first president of Redcliffe State High School’s Ladies’ Auxiliary.
Lasting Recognition
Drake died at Brisbane General Hospital on 12 February 1966. Over a decade later, her contribution was formally recognised when an 18-unit pensioner housing complex at Woody Point was named Keitha Drake Lodge.
Tarragindi recorded 335 offences between 6 January 2025 and 5 January 2026, according to the Queensland Police Service’s Online Crime Map. The figures reveal a suburb where most incidents involved theft and property-related matters rather than violent crime, with clear patterns emerging around timing and location.
The QPS heatmap shows strong concentrations of offences along Toohey Road, Arunta Street, Weller Road, the Pacific Motorway, and Vinray Street near the park. These locations align with the suburb’s main thoroughfares and recreational areas, suggesting that proximity to major roads and parkland creates more opportunities for opportunistic crime. The concentration along transport corridors also provides quick escape routes for offenders.
Photo credit: QPS Online Crime Map
The most common offences were other theft (excluding unlawful entry), unlawful entry, and traffic-related offences. The dominance of property crime over violent offences indicates Tarragindi experiences primarily opportunistic incidents rather than targeted or violent crime.
Time-of-day data reveals a striking pattern: the 2 pm to 10 pm window recorded the highest number of offences (127), followed closely by 10 pm to 6 am (126). Combined, these periods account for nearly 76 per cent of all reported crime, while the 6 am to 2 pm period saw just 82 incidents. This suggests criminals prefer low-visibility hours or target homes when residents are away during evening commutes and social activities.
Photo credit: QPS Online Crime Map
By day of the week, Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday were the busiest for reported incidents, creating an extended high-risk period from Friday through to Monday. In contrast, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday saw considerably fewer offences, with the mid-week lull suggesting that routine and predictability during the traditional working week may deter opportunistic crime.
The seasonal data reveals some interesting anomalies. July recorded the highest monthly total with 33 offences, despite winter typically seeing lower crime rates. This was followed by March with 32 offences and December with 30. The quietest months were August with just 19 offences—a dramatic 42 per cent drop from July—and November with 22, before the expected holiday-season spike in December.
Photo credit: QPS Online Crime Map
The yearly average works out to roughly one offence per day across the suburb, with most incidents being non-violent and property-focused. The data suggests that practical vigilance remains the most effective prevention strategy: securing homes and vehicles, particularly during the 2 pm to 6 am window and on weekends, and taking extra care if living near major roads or parkland areas.
For residents in the Toohey Road, Weller Road and Pacific Motorway corridors, or near Vinray Street and the park, the statistics indicate heightened awareness during peak times could make a meaningful difference in preventing opportunistic theft and property crime.
The streets of Tarragindi have been transformed into an open-air gallery, with local residents painting vibrant artworks on traffic signal boxes throughout the suburb. These eye-catching installations celebrate everything from native wildlife to school milestones, turning everyday street furniture into conversation starters.
At the corner of Toohey Road and Weller Road, Year 5 and 6 students from Wellers Hill State School have captured the essence of suburban life in their artwork “Life in Tarragindi”. Completed in July 2025 with support from teachers and parent volunteers, the box depicts locally owned businesses, the leafy canopy of Toohey Forest, and scenes of families, pets and children at play. The students incorporated the area’s characteristic rolling hills and city views into their design.
Derek Johnston’s “Camp on the Hill”, located at Toohey Road and Marshall Road, delves into the area’s history and natural environment. Created in August 2016 through Brisbane Visual Arts Community, the artwork references Tarragindi’s naming after a blackbirded Loyalty Island native who worked for a local landowner. The box also features native wildlife from Toohey Forest. The piece was nominated for Overall Winner and Best Organisation awards.
Laila Lagilli collaborated with her daughters Safia (7) and Chelsea (11) to create “Love Your Unique” at the intersection of Marshall Road, Birdwood Road and Bapaume Road. Completed in May 2018, the artwork centres on trees as symbols of grounding and growth. Lagilli designed elements specifically to catch children’s attention as they pass by in cars, repositioning the magical qualities of trees that often go unnoticed. The work was nominated for Overall Winner and Best 12 and under categories.
Belinda Peel’s “Kookaburra’s Having a Laugh” sits at Bapaume Road and Peronne Road, depicting the iconic Australian bird amused by environmentally friendly transport. The November 2017 artwork earned a nomination for Overall Winner and Best Adult.
Also at Birdwood Road and Weller Road is “The Natives” by Natalie Peel, created in September 2017 with assistance from Matthew and Su Ann Peel. The box presents a snapshot of Toohey Forest and was nominated for Overall Winner and Best 12 and under awards.
Lizz Robb’s “Butterflies in the Breeze” graces 8 Kogarah Street with bold, fluid forms dancing amongst wildflowers. Completed in July 2025 with family members Bentley, Braxton, Ava, Paityn, Aria and Lettee Phillips, the abstract work uses blues, yellows and greens to create a meditative space celebrating nature’s resilience. The expressive composition invites viewers to find solace in the rhythmic movement of flora and the ethereal flutter of butterfly wings.
Wellers Hill State School students marked another milestone at the Toohey Road pedestrian crossing at Salkeld Street with “100 Years of Wellers Hill State School”. The July 2025 artwork celebrates the school’s centenary from 1926 to 2026, featuring the four school houses (Kangaroo, Koala, Platypus and Emu), mascot Wellie, and the school’s unique Japanese bilingual programme and connection to Japan.
St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School students Chantelle Webb and Lucia Willis, working with artist Lucy Hamer and Learning Enhancement Teacher Jane Goddard, created “Be a Light for Others” at Fernvale Road and Andrew Avenue in July 2025. The artwork honours Nano Nagle, known as the Lady of the Lamp, one of the school’s patron figures. Nagle visited the poor through narrow streets guided by lantern light and laid foundations for Catholic education in Australia.
Swimming Axolotls
Jim and Matilda Strachan added “Swimming Axolotls” near Bapaume Road and Sterculia Ave in March 2022. Painted on a busy road beside a freeway bridge where native Australian birds and animals already adorn the bridge supports, the father-daughter duo chose to feature axolotls, adding another beautiful creature to the local collection.
About Artforce Brisbane
These artworks are part of Artforce Brisbane, an annual community art programme run by Brisbane City Council since 1999. The initiative invites Brisbane residents of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to paint original artworks on traffic signal boxes throughout the city’s suburbs. More than 5,000 volunteers have painted over 1,200 boxes across Brisbane, celebrating local characters, cultures, histories and landmarks while reducing graffiti and vandalism. The programme is managed by Artfully, a Brisbane-based arts consultancy specialising in public art and placemaking. Each year, approximately 80 painting opportunities become available as the council upgrades intersections and replaces old cabinets.
Tarragindi locals don’t need to look far for a dining experience that feels fresh, fun and full of personality. Tucked along Denham Terrace, Oh Monk has quickly built a reputation as one of the suburb’s standout modern Asian eateries, and for good reason.
With a menu designed to push past tradition while still honouring the flavours people love, the restaurant has become a genuine community favourite.
Photo credit: Lucky SHU/Google Maps
Head chef and co-owner Chef Batt brings extensive experience to the kitchen, having trained at Bangkok’s Michelin-starred Le Du and worked at Brisbane restaurants Pawpaw and Longtime. This experience informs the bold flavours found in the restaurant’s contemporary Asian dishes.
Photo credit: Facebook/Oh Monk Asian
The menu is designed to be inclusive. Oh Monk offers several gluten-free and vegan options, and the kitchen has a dedicated gluten-free fryer to cater for coeliac diners. Guests can enjoy a variety of small plates and larger dishes, with highlights including popcorn cauliflower, slow-cooked curries such as Massaman and Panang, Peking duck pancakes, and slow-cooked beef ribs.
Photo credit: Facebook/Oh Monk Asian
Diners and reviewers have praised both the food and service. Feedback mentions warm, attentive staff, as well as dishes described as fresh, flavourful, and balanced, with standout items including the Beijing roast duck, Massaman Beef Curry, and chocolate dessert. Takeaway options are also available for those who prefer to enjoy Oh Monk at home.
Note: Oh Monk will take a short festive break from 22 December to 1 January, reopening on 2 January. Locals planning summer catch-ups may want to book early — especially with the restaurant’s popularity continuing to grow. Bookings and takeaway orders can be made through their website.
Following a hit-and-run on Friday, 21 November 2025 that left a local resident in critical condition, neighbours on Pring Street in Tarragindi have launched a petition calling for urgent safety improvements.
Residents say the incident has reignited long-standing concerns about traffic conditions on their narrow street. They report issues such as speeding cars, limited visibility over a blind hill and frequent near misses involving people, pets and parked vehicles.
According to residents, Pring Street is not suited to heavy or fast through-traffic, yet non-local drivers increasingly use it as a shortcut. They argued that this pattern has made the street unsafe and that the recent crash highlights the need for change.
Photo credit: Google Street View
The petition, posted on Change.org, proposes installing roadblocks similar to those on neighbouring Prior Street to deter non-local through-traffic. The proposal would maintain access for local residents and nearby businesses, including the Windmill Street shops, while guiding through-traffic towards main roads via intersections such as Andrew Avenue that are better designed for higher volumes.
Petition organisers say their goal is to reduce dangerous traffic and improve overall safety. They are encouraging residents to call on Deputy Mayor and Cr Krista Adams of the Holland Park Ward as well as Queensland MP for Miller Mark Bailey to express their concerns.
Photo credit: Google Street View
Brisbane’s Local Area Traffic Management program outlines options such as speed humps, chicanes, roundabouts, slow points and traffic islands, which are intended to calm traffic and discourage rat-running in residential areas. The program also details how residents can initiate consultation and how proposals may be considered for future works.
Some residents say they feel frustrated that their calls for safety treatments have not progressed despite other road changes occurring in nearby areas. They believe Pring Street’s risks have been evident for years and that action is overdue.
Discussions about improving street safety are happening across Brisbane, including calls for lower speed limits and more traffic-calming measures in suburban neighbourhoods. For Tarragindi residents on Pring Street, the petition represents a renewed effort to secure long-awaited improvements. They say their aim is straightforward: to make the street safer for everyone who lives there.
A Tarragindi family is grappling with the reality of being homeless just weeks before Christmas after their Marshall Road home was completely destroyed in a fierce blaze this morning.
Emergency services rushed to the residential property shortly after 11.30am following reports of the fire, arriving to find the home completely engulfed in flames. More than 10 fire crews worked to bring the inferno under control.
Photo Credit: Facebook / Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)
Queensland Fire Department Cannon Hill Commander Chris Daniel said the fire originated at the front of the house and caused catastrophic damage. The carport collapsed, trapping two vehicles beneath the wreckage.
While the occupants managed to escape with their dogs, they watched helplessly as their home and belongings were consumed by flames. Commander Daniel confirmed the residents were physically unharmed but deeply traumatised by the experience.
The home has been deemed uninhabitable, with the roof expected to collapse completely. Fire investigators are working to determine what sparked the blaze.
Neighbour Hayden Fitzsimmons witnessed the fire’s rapid escalation and attempted to help. He noticed smoke from his own home and spotted a small fire beneath a car. By the time he retrieved a fire extinguisher and returned, the shed was already fully alight and the flames were spreading too quickly to contain.
A neighbourhood wine store in Tarragindi is reshaping how locals experience wine, blending education, accessibility, and community connection in one welcoming space.
Opened in March 2025, LPO Neighbourhood Wine Store has quickly become a focal point for local wine enthusiasts. Located at 100 Windmill Street, the store was co-founded by Dan Wilson and comedian Matt Okine, who shared a goal of creating a relaxed venue where residents could learn about wine while enjoying a tasting experience.
The store operates under a wine merchant licence, which allows the sale of wine by the glass. Between eight and twelve bottles are open daily for tasting, providing visitors with the opportunity to sample different varieties before deciding on a purchase. This approach encourages discovery and builds confidence among customers looking to expand their palate.
LPO aims to make quality wine more approachable. The store offers a range of bottles at various price points, including options under $20, ensuring accessibility for casual drinkers and enthusiasts alike. The interior is designed to encourage browsing and conversation, focusing on experience rather than transaction.
The name “LPO” pays homage to the building’s history as a Local Post Office, maintaining a sense of local character and connection. Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the shop has quickly become a community gathering point for those who enjoy exploring new flavours in a relaxed, social setting.
After spending years running wine bars in London, Dan Wilson returned to Brisbane in 2021 with the vision of bringing that same sense of neighbourhood connection to his hometown. To meet the requirements of the merchant licence, Wilson collaborated with Konpira Maru winemakers in the Granite Belt to produce SQUID, a Queensland-made skin-contact Verdelho. The project reflects his commitment to supporting local production while encouraging education and experimentation.
Part of Brisbane’s Independent Wine Movement
LPO is part of a growing network of independent wine retailers across Brisbane that are transforming how the city experiences wine. Similar venues, such as Craft Wine Store and Wineism, share a focus on education, conversation, and the joy of discovery rather than traditional retail transactions.
Through these efforts, independent stores like LPO are not only selling quality bottles but also helping residents understand and appreciate the diversity of wine. This shift marks a broader move towards a community-driven wine culture, positioning Tarragindi as one of the city’s emerging destinations for approachable and enjoyable wine experiences.
When scientists and volunteers took to Toohey Forest for a weekend survey, they documented part of a rich ecosystem hidden in plain sight at the forest, home to more than 500 species.
Between 5 and 6 September 2025, more than 80 volunteers joined Griffith University researchers for the Toohey Forest BioBlitz. This two-day survey invited everyday nature lovers to help document the forest’s rich ecology.
Using the app iNaturalist, they photographed plants, insects, birds and fungi across the campus and surrounding bushland. In total, they recorded 4,166 observations and identified 516 unique species, nearly doubling the site’s previously known biodiversity record.
Lead organiser Wade Hadwen from Griffith’s School of Environment and Science said the data not only mapped the forest’s ecological health but also created a valuable baseline for future monitoring. The project was run in partnership with the Griffith EcoCentre, with community engagement at its core. Many participants were new to biodiversity surveys, yet their observations significantly expanded scientific records of the area.
Photo Credit: Griffith University/LinkedIn
Findings That Matter
Among the hundreds of records were sightings of endangered and vulnerable wildlife, including the Koala and the Powerful Owl. The findings confirmed that Toohey Forest still supports species of conservation concern despite sitting within metropolitan Brisbane.
Specialists and enthusiasts working across plant, insect and fungi groups helped uncover major data gaps, especially among smaller species such as spiders, beetles and fungi.
Photo Credit: Griffith University/LinkedIn
Griffith University noted that the expanded dataset could inform management of the forest, including habitat protection, fire control and biodiversity planning. The results also showed how collaborative research can reconnect urban residents with the natural world in their own backyard.
A Baseline for the Future
Hadwen explained that Toohey Forest acts as a “biodiverse island oasis” surrounded by urban development, making it an ideal site to track how ecosystems adapt to environmental pressures. Organisers said the success of this first BioBlitz could pave the way for ongoing volunteer monitoring programs that continue to build on the dataset.
Participants reported the experience as educational, with many saying it strengthened their connection to the local environment. The BioBlitz has become a model for community-driven conservation, blending academic research with public participation to protect one of Brisbane’s last remaining forest corridors.
Tarragindi-based entrepreneur Barbara Spooner launched her cyclewear from scratch back in 2017 and there seems to be no stopping her, with bigger plans for the brand.
Spooner, who created Birds on Bikes for plus-size and older women with the help of her husband, wanted to hire new staff and expand across New Zealand, Britain, Canada, and the US.
The company now proudly manufactures all of its products in-house, ensuring production meets the highest quality and ethical. From a home-based business, it has now expanded to a professional manufacturing facility, which serves as its hub located at Annerley Arcade. This transition has allowed them to maintain their commitment to ethical practices and sustainability.
Photo credit: Birds on Bikes/Facebook
Spooner also carries cyclewear for ‘normal-sized’ women.
It all started when her husband, an avid cyclist, encouraged her to ride but the problem was she couldn’t find cyclewear that would make her feel comfortable and stylish.
Birds on Bikes founder Barbara Spooner (Photo credit: Birds on Bikes/Facebook)
“I’d go into the cycling stores and the reaction would be ‘No sorry we haven’t got anything like that, but we have been asked a lot lately…’ It was then that I decided to create my own range of cycling clothing for women of ALL sizes. Lumps, bumps and all,” she shared.
Whilst Birds on Bikes was launched in 2017, it was in 2019 that the business kicked off.
She was inspired to develop and launch the new range of products after participating in the Fashion 360 Incubator programme, an intense 6-month programme where she worked on the business, spoke to industry specialists and had access to great mentors.
It helped that she has a diploma in Graphic Design and Advertising, which she obtained from the Commercial Arts Training College in Brisbane.
One of the things that will help her with her expansion plans is the $5,000 grant she received through the Lord Mayor’s Women in Business program. It would allow her to invest in an industrial coverstitch machine for her business.
More than being a brand, Birds on Bikes also has an online community group for like-minded women that ride or want to ride a bike, providing a safe space for the ladies to share their stories, make new friends, and encourage the other riders.
Photo credit: Birds on Bikes/Facebook
Through her group, Spooner wanted members to feel safe and to enjoy bike riding whilst sharing time with family and friends; to be active participants, involved and engaged with the beautiful outdoors.
“When I look at this group it always reminds me why I created Birds on Bikes. The joy on the faces of women that are normally neglected when it comes to cycling fashion is what keeps me going,” she said.
First published 2-May-2022 / Updated 10-October-2025
