Clayfield College, one of Brisbane’s most prestigious private schools for girls from Year 7 to Year 12, will fully transition to a coeducational learning environment with a Parallel Learning model.
In a statement to parents, the administrators of Clayfield College revealed that the transition will be introduced in 2023 and will take place for five years, allowing incoming Year 7 students of all gender to enjoy “the best of both worlds and benefit from the Parallel Learning model.”
“Year 7s will begin single-sex learning streams, continuing through Years 8 and 9,” the statement read. “In Year 10 students come together for selected classes, and then benefit from fully coeducational classes in Years 11 and 12.”
Principal Dr Andrew Cousins confirmed that the school’s dwindling enrolment was a factor in the decision to shift to coeducational learning. Surveys conducted by the school showed that modern parents do not find any value in having a coeducational model from prep to Year 6 and then an all-girls model from Year 7 to Year 12.
At least 40 percent of parents supported the move to co-ed as it would also mean no more separate school drop-offs for siblings, especially since their sons in the lower levels would prefer to remain in Clayfield College for their secondary education.
Experts said that the students may benefit from having a diverse learning environment since genders learn to co-exist in real life.
Dr Cousins expect there will be at least 250 male students when Clayfield College fully transitions to coeducational learning in 2027. The school’s current population is below 500. Nearly a decade ago, there were more than 800 students a year.
Clayfield College, under the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association, turned 90 years old in 2021. The school produced notable students like Jan McLucas (politician), Tania Major (Australian of the Year), and Stephanie Rice (Olympic gold medalist).
With a median house price of $1.318 million, Clayfield continues to be an attractive investment for homeowners and investors seeking a high-end, quiet suburb close to Brisbane’s CBD.
From July 2020 to June 2021, figures from Property Market Updates show that the median house price in Clayfield is at $1,318,000, up 17.42% from $1,122,500 in the previous period. At the current median, the value of properties in Clayfield sits significantly higher than Queensland’s median house price of $540,000.
Highlights
Clayfield posted a 17.4 percent increase in the suburb’s median house price, now at $1,318,000 for the period July 2020 to June 2021. The suburb’s median unit price for the same period, now at $400,000, is up by 5.26 percent over the previous period.
There were 156 houses and 283 units sold for the same time period.
Clayfield joins over 30 other suburbs in QLD which posted double-digit increases in various quarters over the past 12 months, bolstering confidence in the suburb’s strong growth in a high-demand market.
Clayfield joins over 30 suburbs across the state which have hit double-digit increases in various quarters over the past 12 months. With 156 houses sold for the 12-month period ending in June 2021, Clayfield remains a high-demand market. According to popular site realestate.com.au, Clayfield property listings elicit 1,022 visits per property, compared to the QLD average of 836 visits per property.
Unit Price Growth
For the same 12-month period, Clayfield’s unit property market exhibited a 5.26 percent growth over the previous period, with 283 units sold.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
With a median unit price of $400,000, units in Clayfield remain popular and affordable among independent and established professionals working less than seven kilometres away in the CBD or at nearby inner-city suburbs like New Farm or Fortitude Valley, as well as retirees who want the convenience of living in a prestige community sans the hefty price tag of a house purchase.
Why Clayfield?
Good Education Options
Families moving to Clayfield have often cited its excellent education options, which include two private girls’ schools and the demand for school within the desirable catchment area has ensured good property appreciation.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
In May 2021, for example, a 1,215-sqm, five-bedroom California bungalow on 57 Enderley Road sold under the hammer for $5,075,000. That’s $400,000 more than the property’s sale price in 2018. The property sits on a corner lot and is considered highly desirable for families with school-age children, given its proximity to St. Rita’s College and location within the catchment area of Ascot State School.
Other school options include Clayfield College, St Agatha’s Primary School, Eagle Junction State School, and Ascot’s St Margaret Anglican School.
Accessibility and Liveability
Clayfield is in the top 30 most liveable suburbs of Brisbane, according to the inaugural Domain Liveable Brisbane study in 2019 which ranked 260 Greater Brisbane suburbs across 17 indicators. Several major factors considered by people when choosing a suburb to reside in include access to education, public transport, and employment.
Aside from getting top marks for education, Clayfield also rated high for its transport and amenities. The suburb has its own train station, as well as an excellent café precinct, giving it added liveability points for proximity to lifestyle amenities.
Aircraft Noise?
Some of Brisbane’s most prestigious suburbs have grown increasingly affected by aircraft noise as the new runway at Brisbane Airport doubles the airport’s capacity and increases the volume of overhead airplanes travelling along new flight paths.
Increased traffic from the new runway is seen to make some of Brisbane’s most prestigious areas less desirable, fueling greater interest and price growth in suburbs that are less impacted by the overhead noise.
The affected suburbs include some of Brisbane’s blue-chip suburbs such as Ascot, Hamilton, and New Farm, as well as popular suburbs Hawthorne, Bulimba, East Brisbane, Cannon Hill, and Seven Hills.
A new owner has come in to save Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse from closing permanently. The popular lolly store in Hendra was on the verge of liquidation but a restaurateur has big plans to continue the legacy of its former owner and the store’s namesake, Tom Jeanes.
Mr Jeanes died on June 2021, upsetting generations of adults who have been customers of the iconic shop in the last four decades. He was 78 years old.
Now, Adiel Ben-karmona, who owns Redcliffe’s Pilpel Restaurant, specialising in Middle Eastern cuisine, plans to revitalise Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse and continue Mr Jeanes’ legacy.
In a video posted on the candy store’s Facebook, Mr Ben-karmona said:
“We have to keep Tom’s legacy going as the best confectionery warehouse. We will continue with the same (concept), just bigger, better and newer. We’re keeping the same name in the same location.”
“The ideas I have here are crazy…to put a kid in a lolly shop! I can’t wait to start this project. This will be a great add-on to the Pilpel Group. This will become a ‘destination’ with a wall dedicated for Tom’s memory.”
Mr Ben-karmona was only one year old when the shop opened in 1982. He also shared plans to put up a Willy Wonka’s World with an interactive section for families and their kids, as well as an area for the adults to hang out and have coffee or snacks.
Whilst the store is currently closed, Mr Ben-karmona said the remaining stocks will be sold at discounted prices at his restaurant. More details of the transformation of Tom’s Confectionery Warehouse, including additional jobs, will be revealed in the coming months.
A portion of the historic Sisters of Mercy site in Wooloowin has been designated for development as a childcare centre. Changes could be made to the structure of the former convent.
Located on Morris Street, developer De Luca Corporation Pty Ltd detailed plans to build the facility that will accommodate 110 children via DA A005776689, lodged with Brisbane City Council on 16 July 2021.
The development is in line with Cedar Woods’ townhouse project, dubbed Greville Wooloowin, in the same Sisters of Mercy site covering sections of Bridge, Chalk and Merehaye Streets.
De Luca Corporation Pty Ltd said that it’s negotiating to buy the convent’s land for the childcare centre from Dunland Property Pty Ltd, which owns Cedar Woods. The facility will stand next to the aged care accommodations.
Highlights
De Luca Corporation Pty Ltd plans to build a childcare centre in a section of the Sisters of Mercy site in Wooloowin.
The developer intends to buy the land where the convent stands from Dunland Property Pty Ltd, the owner of Cedar Woods, which bought the Sisters of Mercy site in 2015 for residential development.
Some changes to the convent’s structure will be undertaken if the development application receives approval.
The former Sisters of Mercy property is a Local Heritage Place which was sold to Dunland Property Pty Ltd. in 2015. The convent has been empty since the purchase with the doors and windows boarded up to prevent trespassers.
In 2017, Council approved plans for the redevelopment of the sprawling Sisters of Mercy site as an aged care and residential facility. Greville Wooloowin has begun its first stage of civil works this year, where some of the townhouses have been pre-sold.
Photo Credit: Development Application/BCCPhoto Credit: Development Application/BCC
“As a consequence of the change of use of the heritage building some minor heritage fabric is proposed to be demolished and the remaining heritage fabric will be restored,” the developers stated.
“There will also be some alterations and extensions to the heritage building. There is a new single storey building proposed to the south and east of the heritage building which will provide the additional accommodation required for the Childcare Centre.”
De Luca Corporation Pty Ltd also intends to incorporate 22 car parking spaces, play areas at the rear of the building, and pedestrian access from Morris Street to the car park.
In November 2020, the developer met with Council officers to discuss its intention for the facility before lodging the application. As a Local Heritage Place, residents may appeal this project but, as of press time, Council has not yet set a public notification date for submissions.
Eager to try brunch classics with a Middle Eastern spin? Vic’s Place Cafe in Clayfield rocks a unique and interesting menu that serves up wraps, Turkish eggs benedict, and delicious coffee.
Founded by Giulia Di-Leo to honour her late father, Vic’s Place Cafe offers Clayfield delicious brunch with a Middle Eastern-inspired twist. One of the cafe’s signature meals is the Turkish Benedict Stack — their very own unique twist on the classic eggs benedict breakfast meal, consisting of two poached eggs served with crispy smoked bacon and grilled halloumi atop their homemade cheese, mushroom and spinach pide and dressed with hollandaise sauce.
Photo credit: Instagram/vicsplacecafe_
The cafe also takes great pride in its coffee, which has been described by numerous customers as “amazing”, “great”, and “very nice”. Small cups are priced at $4 while mediums cost $5. Large cups of coffee cost only $6. Those with dietary restrictions can take solace in the fact that Vic’s Place serves dairy alternatives such as soy milk, oat milk, and more.
Photo credit: Instagram/vicsplacecafe_
Took mother dearest this morning and meet the big bro for brekky. Fantastic place beautiful tasting food and amazing service. Will definitely be back to try more of the menu. Highly recommend. Jarvis do some work!!
Vaughtan T.
Had brunch on Saturday at Vic’s Place Cafe and it was simply AMAZING! The combination of flavors, the attention to detail, the board games, the customer service and the last but not least, my new fav dish: “Turkish Benedict Stack”… Very close to perfection! If you want to really treat yourself, you have to try this place! Highly recommended! Thanks for the fantastic food and great atmosphere guys! 👏👏👏
Richard A.
I cannot begin to express how much I love this place. Every single time we come here, the food is without fault and wonderfully tasty, the coffee is always amazing and it really does feel like home with how friendly and personable the staff are. I will recommend Vic’s to anyone who will listen.
Nick S.
Vic’s Place Cafe can be found at 262 Junction Rd, Clayfield, open seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekends. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on meals, deals, and other special announcements concerning the cafe.
Editor’s Note: Prices mentioned in this article are as of May 2021.
Did you know that kennel cough easily spreads in the air? The Clayfield Veterinary Clinic is raising the alarm about this highly contagious pet illness after an unusual spike in cases in northern Brisbane.
Workers at the pet clinic on Sandgate Road said that they had 19 dogs with kennel cough in April 2021 and 22 dogs in May 2021 when they normally see a maximum of 10 cases in a month. The overwhelming number of cases pushed the Clayfield Veterinary Clinic to post a public service announcement on their Facebook.
“Kennel cough is VERY contagious. Kennel cough can be transmitted by aerosols released when a sick animal coughs, by direct contact with an infected animal, or by the sharing of contaminated objects,” the vet said. “Kennel cough spreads rapidly when dogs are kept in close quarters but it can also spread if a dog greets an infected dog during a walk or drinks from a contaminated water bowl at the dog park.”
Brisbane’s northside has heaps of dog-friendly parks that families with pets visit frequently especially during the weekends. This raises their furry pal’s risks of coming into contact with infected dogs that might show no signs of illness.
According to the pet doctors, kennel cough’s incubation period, where the pups don’t show symptoms, is the most contagious stage. Once sick, however, the dogs will exhibit the following symptoms:
Dry hacking cough
Gagging or vomiting
Eye and nasal discharge
Sneezing/snorting
Fever
Lethargy
Dogs with mild symptoms will not need to be medicated as kennel cough will naturally go away within 14 days. For severe cases, bring your to the vet as soon as possible for a proper check-up.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
To protect your pets from kennel cough, pet owners are also advised to bring persona water bowls for their pets and limit sharing toys in the park. The Clayfield Veterinary Clinic also recommends vaccination.
“There are three types of vaccines available against kennel cough: an injectable, intranasal, and newer oral form. Although these vaccines don’t provide 100% protection, they provide some protection against kennel cough and decrease the severity of symptoms.”
MooFree Burgers, a familiar food truck in Clayfield, has been moving with a new digital feature following the store’s adoption of Qoin, a contactless payment system that’s becoming increasingly popular in today’s new normal.
Owners Johnny and Michael Tabet, who founded the mobile, plant-based burger joint in 2015, have incorporated Qoin as one of the payment options for its popular Clayfield food truck after seeing the results of the system for its other business, Charlie’s Raw Squeeze.
“It’s a very popular payment option, which is why we’ve introduced it to our mobile MooFree Burgers truck and six of our Raw Squeeze stores,” Johnny said. “The Qoin community is all about supporting small business. As small business owners, we’re competing against the big supermarket chains and Qoin enables us to offer something different to our customers.”
Photo Credit: Supplied
The Tabet brothers have major plans to expand Charlie’s Raw Squeeze and MooFree Burgers across the country and they believe that Qoin will help grow their business.
“New customers are finding us because of Qoin,” Michael said. “They want to support small businesses that accept Qoin and we want to be part of a network that empowers small businesses to work together.”
Qoin, with its main office in the Gold Coast, has been partnering with 34,000 small businesses in Australia in the last 12 months, providing a blockchain infrastructure that helps merchants serve more consumers in a secure and innovative platform.
“Supporting small business is the cornerstone of Qoin. The Qoin model stands apart from other digital currencies in that the value of Qoin increases as the merchant ecosystem grows. The more businesses that join the Qoin community, the more everyone benefits, providing a vital boost to local economies.
“Now more than ever, Australian small businesses are looking for innovative ways to sustain cash flow and make the most of their downtime. Qoin enables them to do both while offering a payment method to their customers that is fast, secure and virtually contactless.”
Aside from the Clayfield food truck, MooFree Burgers has stores in North Lakes, Wynnum and Morningside. Follow the Facebook page for updates on deals, trading hours and the menu.
My Mistress, the cafe on Sandgate Road that’s fast becoming a Clayfield favourite, offers a range of delectable breakfast meals with delicious, piping-hot brew made with coffee beans from Allpress Espresso.
Founded by Rhiannon Redmond (the mind behind Albion’s She Bangs Coffee) and Natalie Vostok, My Mistress’ cheeky name isn’t the only thing that grabs a diner’s attention. Their menu is rife with humorous innuendo, featuring items like One Night Stand (toasted bagel with smoked bacon, fried egg, rocket, swiss cheese, tomato relish and aioli), or their signature Strip Tease (buttermilk fried chicken with baked waffles, avocado, chilli mayonnaise and maple syrup).
My Mistress offers a selection of some popular breakfast classics, as well as some unique menu items that promise to leave customers wanting more. Their all-day breakfast and lunch menu allows customers to indulge in a variety of meals, complete with sides and starters. One of their most popular dishes is the Eggs Marilyn, which consists of eggs benedict on top of a toasted bagel served with spinach, poached eggs, house made hollandaise sauce, and a choice of bacon, mushroom, ham, or smoked salmon.
My Mistress takes pride in one particular dish, and that’s their signature Strip Tease. This is a meal consisting of southern fried buttermilk chicken, baked waffles and smashed avocado, topped off with chilli mayonnaise and maple syrup.
Breakfast options and snacks aren’t the only thing available on their menu. The cafe also offers coffee made by specialty roasters Allpress Espresso which offer a variety of unique flavours and blends.
Customers who have left reviews were pleased with the cafe’s coffee and excellent service in particular, however the cafe’s breakfast options also stood out from the menu. One reviewer even wrote “The breakfast bagel I had was incredible! As was the coffee!” Many reviewers mentioned how delicious the classic options such as scrambled eggs and eggs benedict were.
Photo credit: Tripadvisor
My Mistress cafe can be found at 515 Sandgate Road, Clayfield, open seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekends. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on meals, deals, and other special announcements.
Would you like some Pudgy Imperfect Pears, Lumpy Pink Lady Apples, Warped Eggplant, Twisted Sweet Potatoes, Unruly Imperfect Zucchini and Scruffy Mangoes? These ‘Imperfect Picks’ from Harris Farm Markets Clayfield might not look perfect on the outside, but they’re still the same great quality for an even greater value.
According to co-CEO Tristan Harris, the Imperfect Picks program helps reduce the number of perfectly edible crops going to waste due to their less attractive appearances. A staggering 25 percent of Australian crops never leave the farm gate simply because they do not meet the visual specifications of supermarkets and consumers.
Customers will be able to order an array of fruit and vegetables with a few extra bumps that taste exactly the same as normal produce, with options — or in this case, newer options — such as the Pudgy Imperfect Pears, or the Warped Eggplant, or the Lumpy Pink Lady Apples.
Warped Eggplant, one of Harris Farm Markets’ newest products. Photo credit: Harris Farm Markets
“We say ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ and it’s never been more accurate when it comes to buying fruits and vegetables,” says Mr Harris.
“What looks perfect might not truly be the best option for the environment, Aussie farmers or for your hip pocket. The choices you make at the supermarket can make a big impact.”
Other all-new products from the Imperfect Picks selection include Twisted Sweet Potatoes, Unruly Imperfect Zucchini, and Scruffy Mangoes.
Scruffy Mangoes, one of Harris Farm Markets’ newest products. Photo credit: Harris Farm Markets
The program has been used by the Harris Farm Markets for roughly six years now, saving a total of 28 million kilograms of crops from being thrown into landfill — approximately 100,000kg of food a week.
Those interested in purchasing produce online from the Imperfect Picks selection can do so by visiting the Harris Farms Market online store here. For the latest updates and announcements concerning the seasonal crops available, as well as any special deals, follow their Facebook page.
Clayfield homes continue to deliver a strong performance in terms of appreciation value this quarter, with a median house price growth rate of 19.9 percent for the first three months of 2021.
The median house price for Clayfield this quarter shows a slight increase at $1.25 million, making it one of the highest in North Brisbane.
The recent big sale for the suburb is an old Queenslander located on a 974-sqm block at 14 Enderley Ave, Clayfield. The house was sold in March 2021 for $2.7 million, fives times higher than its last price in 1995. The house was built in 1950 and attracted buyers nearly 16 months since it was first listed in October 2019.
With its $1.25 million growth this quarter, Clayfield remains to be one of the most expensive suburbs in Brisbane’s north. In contrast, Wavell Heights recorded a median house price of $765,750 whilst Bridgeman Downs remains an affordable option with a median house price of $824,900.
Wilston’s median house price is a bit lower compared to Clayfield’s, at $1.15 million and a quarterly growth rate of 13.4-percent. The recent big sale here is a renovated Queenslander located at 38 Watson St sold at $1.5 million this February.
Although Bridgeman Downs only recorded a quarterly growth rate of 2.4-percent, it’s worth noting that the latest big sale here is a 1.14ha land sold at $3.1 million — slightly higher than its asking price of $2.9 million.
Meanwhile, topping this quarter’s list is Chelmer which recorded a growth rate of 65.1% a median house price of $1.27 million. Two significant sales were recorded just this year, with the latest one sold at $1.85 million. The recent big sale for Chelmer is a contemporary house located at Laurel Ave.
Clayfield Suburb Profile
Located seven kilometres from the CBD, Clayfield attracts both couples with children and professionals. The latest demographic data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed 42 percent of the population are couples without children whilst 41 percent are families. The remaining percentage pertains to single parents.
Clayfield is considered a great suburb to live in because of its proximity to schools, parks, amenities, and the airport. The suburb also offers excellent public transports, cafes, and restaurants.
