In the Brisbane suburb of Auchenflower sits a contemporary home that respectfully reinterprets the traditional character of its locality the original home had one redeeming feature; a breeze block screen to the street and also inspired the direction of the new build which was designed by Kelder Architects for Natural Lifestyle Homes “Natural Lifestyle Homes wanted an exciting and liveable family home that makes the most of the site and location The design also had to reference the modernist architectural style of homes from the American mid-century particularly the classic examples of homes built in Palm Springs in Southern California during this period,” comments Kelder Architects owner Wesley Kelder “It needed to be open to the outdoors and centred on indoor/outdoor living taking into consideration the orientation of existing trees on the property topography and Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate.” Needing to meet the requirements of Brisbane City Council’s Traditional Building Character Overlay Code presented some challenges for Kelder the planning constraints actually worked in the firm’s favour as it forced a development of the design and approach that may not have naturally occurred “The end result is that the design of this home had to uniquely respond to its place in the city of Brisbane and the client’s brief a clash of ideas that made for a much more interesting and layered response,” says Kelder “Brick has a timeless permanence and will age gracefully which are top quality attributes we wanted this house to have,” says Kelder “It gives the home a weighty and massive quality that anchors the home in the ground rather than looking like it’s going to blow away “We used white painted PGH Purpose Made Commons to achieve the painted brick look we wanted that was both an external and internal feature of the home We [also] selected PGH Smooth Black and Tan for some of the exterior walls and on the ground as the leading edges of the steps to the outdoor dining/living terrace and most prominently on the large retaining wall that divides the two levels at the front of the house The warm mix of rich reds and deep oranges of the bricks was the perfect complement to the greenery of the landscape and the overall white and grey palette of the house.” The result is a house centred around a landscaped north-facing courtyard that includes a pool All the ground floor living areas wrap around and open out to this space The courtyard provides many benefits for the home: it directs northern light and breezes into the interior all day protected landscape for the living areas to open onto and outdoor family life and activities are central to the home and very much connected to the interior In response to the shape of the site and its steep topography Kelder created a design with interesting angles and a dynamic interplay of levels The flow of steps runs from the street level down to entry level and then down again to the heart of the home the central courtyard and the key living areas around it however it sits on the site in a very unimposing manner retaining a single storey at the street level and stepping down the site to reveal its full height Through the use of durable materials and clever design Kelder Architects has creatively and skilfully designed a large house that presents itself to the street as a smaller more approachable residence that looks right at home in the character-filled Sign up to our newsletter for the latest industry news, products and inspiration. Down by the river, Auchenflower takes on a leisurely pace. Locals glide along the Brisbane River on the City Cat, whisking them to the CBD or South Bank. The riverside paths, claimed by cyclists and joggers, wind through the suburb’s lush landscape, invigorated by south-east Queensland’s subtropical climate. At the heart of Auchenflower lies the McIlwraith Croquet Club, where Ruth Matchett proudly serves as the 21st president. As one of Queensland’s oldest croquet clubs, it’s a cherished fixture in the neighbourhood. “Everything we love about Auchenflower is captured here, from the elegance of our heritage clubhouse to the jacaranda trees that shade our lawns,” Ruth shares. “Our four beautiful lawns are highly visible for rail commuters and visitors to Wesley Hospital, offering a serene glimpse into the suburb’s storied past.” Ruth reflects on the foresight and generosity of Lady Harriett McIlwraith, who gifted the club’s land to the Toowong Town Council for recreation, shaping Auchenflower’s future. “She envisioned this space as a community hub long before it became one and today, it stands as a testament to her legacy,” Ruth adds. “There’s always a buzz here – people walking dogs, parents dropping children off to Scouts – we’re proud to be part of the diversity that makes Auchenflower so special.” Sacha Hennessy, agent at Place West, describes the suburb as predominantly owner-occupied. “Families and professionals find a haven here, with excellent local schools, easy access to the University of Queensland, and expansive green spaces like Gregory and Frew parks,” Hennessy says. “The hospital is also a major draw for employment and healthcare services, solidifying Auchenflower’s status as a premium inner-city address.” Hamilton Island: Owning a home here is the ultimate Australian dream Newport: House prices here have increased 50 per cent in the past five years Clareville: Why locals call this Northern Beaches suburb their ‘happy place’ The property market echoes this desirability. According to Domain’s latest House Price Report, the median unit price here has soared 47.3 per cent over five years. Meanwhile, the lack of data for standalone houses highlights the tightly held nature of such properties. “Auchenflower offers an exciting variety of homes, from traditional stately Queenslanders to sleek contemporary dwellings and modern multistorey apartments,” Hennessy adds. “It’s no wonder it consistently ranks as one of Brisbane’s most desirable locations.” The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate It will comprise a trio of buildings rising three, seven and 10 storeys on a 6897sq m Catholic Church-owned site at 9-17 Harriett Street, Auchenflower. The existing Holy Spirit Catholic Church will be retained as part of the development. Previously approved for a vertical retirement village and residential aged care precinct, the site was part of the Greengate portfolio acquired by Australian Unity in 2021 for $65 million. The design has been subsequently tweaked by Fender Katsalidis with a development focus on the facilitation of social connection and community. According to the amended plans, the overall number of homes has been slightly reduced compared to the existing approval. The 18,242sq m development now includes 87 independent living apartments (a reduction of one unit) and 108 residential aged care units (a reduction of two suites). But the changes also include a significant increase in the amount of communal space within the retirement and aged care village, almost doubling from 570sq m to 1139sq m. As well, the redesign has maximised northern light and taken more advantage of the site’s viewlines. An internal courtyard is aimed at enhancing the village typology, providing residents with amenities including a small cafe, hairdresser, consultation room for medical practitioners and a rehabilitation gym. Fender Katsalidis principal Jessica Lee said the project highlighted the firm’s commitment to providing human-centric design that holistically enhances the well-being of its residents. “Addressing our ageing population means addressing the infrastructure,” Lee said. “It is crucial that the way we design retirement living is conducive to positive, healthy outcomes for residents, and that each design is contextualised within its local neighbourhood, which is what our amended plans at Auchenflower have set out to achieve.” Fender Katsiladis opted for a high-quality mineral paint finish on the concrete facade, which will be articulated by the use of metal cladding at upper levels to create the illusion of a recessive shadow line. On lower levels, including around the internal courtyard, a tactile hand-cut brick will be used to promote fine-grain materiality. The architect has previously worked with Australian Unity on its award-winning retirement living project The Grace Albert Lake retirement community in Melbourne. “Creating a continuum of care allows older people living in the community to access a choice of accommodation and care services that provides the peace of mind a low-change environment, and the quality design outcomes that Australian Unity is committed to,” Australian Unity general manager of places Lorraine Calder said.  “In providing a choice of quality accommodation that promotes wellbeing, belonging and community, we are looking to improve the standard of Australian aged care, and ultimately, change the stigmas about ageing and older people more broadly.” Queensland’s ageing population is driving increased demand for retirement and aged care development throughout the state. The number of Queensland residents aged 85 years and over is projected to more than double between 2019 and 2049. A multimillion-dollar makeover to Auchenflower station has been completed, including accessibility upgrades to the gateway of one of Queensland’s busiest medical hubs. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey officially opened the station in the Wesley Hospital Precinct, which features a brand-new pedestrian overpass across the rail corridor, a new footbridge with lift access and partially raised platforms. “Finishing the project is a massive milestone for our $500 million station accessibility upgrade program,” he said. “Whether you’re in a wheelchair, pushing a pram or carrying luggage, this upgraded station will be much easier for you to use. “I’m sure the growing Auchenflower community will love their new station. “It comes as part of the State Government’s over $7.1 billion investment in rail over the next four years. “We’re making it easier to get around the state, helping Queenslanders spend more time enjoying our great lifestyle.” Member for Cooper Jonty Bush said workers had delivered a range of improvements, including accessibility additions for hearing and vision-impaired customers. “We know how important Auchenflower station is for people going to and from the Wesley, so it’s great to see these upgrades have been finished,” she said. “Upgrades include a new station building and ticket office, more shelter, and improved security cameras and lighting. “All platforms are accessible by lifts and stairs, while we’ve also upgraded the hearing augmentation loop and improved carpark accessibility, making the station easier for all Queenslanders to use the station.” Queensland Rail chief executive Kat Stapleton said the finishing touches were put on the station this month. “We’ve delivered a life changing accessibility upgrade which means more Queenslanders are able to catch more trains and we’re proud to see Auchenflower come to life,” she said. “This station is one of our busiest hubs, with just under half a million passenger trips passing through each year. “We’ve also catered for those using multiple modes of transport, with new bicycle facilities and upgrades to the car park. “With bike storage and better drop off points, we’re building the public transport system to complement our active lifestyle – it’s how our customers want to travel. “Our goal is to provide a world class railway, and by integrating active travel options with these much-needed accessibility upgrades, we’re on track to deliver that for our customers.” Stapleton joined Bailey in praising the local community for their patience during the construction process. “These accessibility upgrades mean we’re helping everyone catch public transport,” she said. Bush said the works were a long-term investment in community infrastructure. “There have been road closures, night works and noise but all these annoyances come part and parcel with improvement works of this scale,” she said. “At the end of the day the results have been outstanding, and I thank the community for their patience as we rolled up our sleeves and got the job done.” Bailey said Queensland Rail has also recently completed major upgrades of East Ipswich, Dakabin and Cannon Hill stations as part of its ongoing Station Accessibility Upgrade Program. “Next in line for upgrades are Banyo, Bundamba, Burpengary, Lindum and Morningside stations, with major works expected to commence later this year,” he said. “And the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority is also delivering fully accessible stations at the new Exhibition Station as well as from Dutton Park to Salisbury on the Beenleigh line. “This is in addition to three new accessible stations on the Gold Coast. We’re not just building Cross River Rail, we’re building a new network.”​ For the July issue of Rail Express, we’re homing in on two major topics: Tunnels and Cybersecurity.   From Sydney... Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) crews have discovered an "abundance of hidden treasures and trinkets" beneath the surface in Melbourne’s east... Transport for New South Wales’ Wollongong Station Masterplan has been released for public consultation.   The plan outlines a long-term... © 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited © 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time RSPCA Queensland have called for public assistance after a pet cat's tail was hacked off in broad daylight at Auchenflower Pellini had to stay in the vet surgery for four days after her ordeal Philippa Stanford had picked up her seven-year-old son from school early on Friday April 22 and came home to see their pet cat race upstairs to her favourite hiding spot The mother-of-one said she didn't take much notice but said her son noticed something was wrong I don't think the cat has a tail anymore'," she said "Sure enough we followed her up to where she was and you could see really clearly she only had 5 cm of tail and all this fur Ms Stanford took 14-year-old tabby Pellini to her local vet who told her the severed tail was likely a deliberate act "She said unfortunately she was pretty certain it had to be human intervention," she said "If it had been caught in something and she had to pull herself away there would have been tearing and jagged edges "She thought it couldn't be anything but a deliberate human act." The vet told Ms Stanford the incident had only happened about an hour earlier "The scarier thing is that it happened in broad daylight," she said "We don't quite know where it happened I really hope it wasn't on our property "I think we would be able to tell if it happened in our yard we couldn't find either her tail or blood or anything." Ms Stanford notified police and RSPCA after the vet told her a similar horrific situation had occurred about a month ago someone did bring in a magpie into the vet surgery that had had its feet cut off," she said "That is the only other thing we know of the vet was wondering if there was a connection Pellini was brought into the Stanford family more than a decade ago after she was dumped at a rescue centre who enjoys lazing on the deck and "pottering" around in the garden "Physically she is going quite well but when a human comes in she sometimes runs and hides," Ms Stanford said "We would never have thought anything like that would happen in the area "We are putting leaflets in the letterboxes of the neighbours it is a little worrying that we might have someone capable of doing this in the neighbourhoods." RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty has asked anyone with information about the incident to notify RSPCA and police Stay informed. Like Brisbane Times on Facebook RSPCA Queensland have called for public assistance after a pet cat's tail was hacked off in broad daylight at Auchenflower The mother-of-one said she didn't take much notice I don't think the cat has a tail anymore',\\\" she said \\\"Sure enough we followed her up to where she was and you could see really clearly \\\"She said unfortunately she was pretty certain it had to be human intervention,\\\" she said \\\"If it had been caught in something and she had to pull herself away \\\"She thought it couldn't be anything but a deliberate human act.\\\" \\\"The scarier thing is that it happened in broad daylight,\\\" she said \\\"I think we would be able to tell if it happened in our yard we couldn't find either her tail or blood or anything.\\\" someone did bring in a magpie into the vet surgery that had had its feet cut off,\\\" she said \\\"That is the only other thing we know of who enjoys lazing on the deck and \\\"pottering\\\" around in the garden \\\"Physically she is going quite well but when a human comes in she sometimes runs and hides,\\\" Ms Stanford said \\\"We would never have thought anything like that would happen in the area \\\"We are putting leaflets in the letterboxes of the neighbours it is a little worrying that we might have someone capable of doing this in the neighbourhoods.\\\" THIS classic 1800s Auchenflower colonial has a modern architectural edge which helps make it stand out from the crowd Clever use of timber as a design feature and striking red paint On a well treed block the home appears almost like a tree house perched among the greenery Owners Ed Matterson and partner Robyn Clarke have had the home for ten years Mr Matterson said it was the house itself that first sold him on the area but once he got to now Auchenflower that was also a pleasant surprise “As far as the house is concerned I am a sort of country person so I like somewhere that is a little bit quiet and this is very quite it’s got a lovely quiet secluded garden in the back “I bought it off an architect so that’s why it has got certain features One of the things that really attracted to me was that it had a good feel to it “You can by a house for the number of rooms it’s got or whatever and that sort of thing but I reckon I would never buy if it didn’t have a good feel to it It is a bit hard to describe what that is.’’ Mr Matterson particularly liked the way the veranda ran along the length of the house and or course the colour scheme “I bloody love that Chinese red colour that it is painted,’’ he said “It is so unusual it gave it a whole character of its own.’’ Mr Matterson said there were plenty of lovely features inside the house as well including the original old wood burning stove in the lounge area and a leadlight skylight in the kitchen “They are just sort of little features that an architect puts into a house and just makes it a little bit different.’’ The upstairs of the house has two bedrooms one bathroom and a combined lounge and dining area which has the wood burning stove and airconditioning The marble finish galley kitchen has full-height storage as well as a breakfast area which opens out onto an entertainment pavilion In the downstairs of the house are three rooms which are used as a rumpus room It has a wrap around pavilion style balcony which allows room for entertaining Marketing agent Richard Crist of Belle Property Toowong said there is a salt water swimming pool and a tropical style garden at the rear of the home which has a level lawn area as well as a paved area The area is designed to be used for a fire brazier in winter third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. A father has told police the first he knew of his daughter's violent death was when officers knocked on his apartment door for a welfare check was arrested at his Auchenflower apartment and was interviewed in police custody from early Tuesday morning until about 4pm Officers discovered the body of his 11-year-old daughter Celeste Pearson in the bathroom of the Dunmore Terrace apartment complex about 1.50am on Tuesday after family friends called police About four hours later the body of the girl's mother Chiaki Pearson at a nearby construction site in Toowong Floral tributes left at the apartment complex in Auchenflower.Credit: Kristian Silva Inspector Geoff Sheldon said the 11-year-old girl suffered a "violent death" but did not reveal how she was killed It could be a murder-suicide and really it doesn't pay to have a closed mind in relation to these things," he said Inspector Sheldon said the 65-year-old father claimed he was asleep in a lounge room of the penthouse apartment at the time the young girl died The man had been unable to explain how he slept through the ordeal "He's trying to assist us with that and he's having a lot of trouble because his version of events is that he does not know how that has happened," Inspector Sheldon said on Tuesday afternoon The girl's body was found in the Auchenflower apartment while her mother's body was found hours later in Toowong.Credit: Kristian Silva "He's helping us with his inquiries .. answering queries and things like that that we've got "His assistance has been of great help trying to work out more about family life relationships and the history to this whole tragic scenario." Inspector Sheldon said police had been called to the apartment once in the past six months for a domestic violence-related incident however when officers arrived no action was taken He said the family was not known to child safety authorities "For all intents and purposes it was your average family living in Brisbane and there's no general welfare concerns along those lines," he said was staying with family friends on Monday night She is now in the care of Child Safety Services Inspector Sheldon asked anyone who may have seen the mother driving a white 2007 Nissan Tiida sedan near Benson Street in Toowong between 11.45pm on Monday and 1.30am on Tuesday to come forward Police are now trying to contact her family members in Japan forensic police and detectives are expected to spend at least three days combing through the Coronation Towers penthouse for clues well-wishers began leaving floral tributes at the property Cleaner Sheryl Hall said she occasionally saw the girls often as they were heading to school or arriving home "They are beautifully well-behaved children," she said Ms Hall said it was well known in the apartment complex that the Pearsons were having relationship difficulties Eleven-year-old Celeste Pearson was a student at nearby Milton State School with principal Paul Zernike saying the school community was "deeply shocked and saddened" high achieving and friendly young child who will be greatly missed by all her friends and teachers," he said "Our thoughts and sincere sympathies go out to the family friends and loved ones during this difficult time "Support is being provided to students and staff and guidance counsellors will remain at the school to provide support in any way they can and for as long as it is needed." For further information about depression contact beyondBlue on 1300 224 636 A father has told police the first he knew of his daughter's violent death was when officers knocked on his apartment door for a welfare check Celeste Pearson in the bathroom of the Dunmore Terrace apartment complex about 1.50am on Tuesday after family friends called police About four hours later the body of the girl's mother Chiaki Pearson at a nearby construction site in Toowong Inspector Geoff Sheldon said the 11-year-old girl suffered a \\\"violent death\\\" but did not reveal how she was killed It could be a murder-suicide and really it doesn't pay to have a closed mind in relation to these things,\\\" he said \\\"He's trying to assist us with that and he's having a lot of trouble because his version of events is that he does not know how that has happened,\\\" Inspector Sheldon said on Tuesday afternoon answering queries and things like that that we've got \\\"His assistance has been of great help trying to work out more about family life relationships and the history to this whole tragic scenario.\\\" \\\"For all intents and purposes it was your average family living in Brisbane and there's no general welfare concerns along those lines,\\\" he said \\\"They are beautifully well-behaved children,\\\" she said with principal Paul Zernike saying the school community was \\\"deeply shocked and saddened\\\" high achieving and friendly young child who will be greatly missed by all her friends and teachers,\\\" he said \\\"Our thoughts and sincere sympathies go out to the family \\\"Support is being provided to students and staff and guidance counsellors will remain at the school to provide support in any way they can and for as long as it is needed.\\\" Auchenflower went to auction on Saturday after being in the one family for more than 50 years TWENTY-one registered bidders were not enough to stop an inner-city house from passing in at auction after bidding stalled at $840,000 In one of the first Public Trustee auctions since the statutory authority returned to the market following the COVID-19 lockdown in Queensland, only three people raised their bidder cards to take part in the auction of 34 Annie Street, Auchenflower “(With Public Trustee auctions) people think they’re going to get a massive bargain but our role is to look after the seller’s interest So we sell for what’s fair on the market,” Public Trustee director of property Joanne Edsor said But after closing the auction and thanking the crowd of 100 for their attendance auctioneer and agent Paul Gaffney scrambled to secure a deal and within five minutes the property was sold under auction conditions for $860,000 to the family who made the opening bid Public Trustee auctioneer and selling agent Paul Gaffney at the auction of 34 Annie Street “We did 19 auctions last weekend and we sold 13 of them the first person to bid ended up buying the house,” Mr Gaffney said The crowd gathers before the auction begins Standing on the street in the middle of the crowd was freight train driver Anton Bubrle who had been looking after his mother’s two-bedroom house in Auchenflower since Ludmila Bartunek moved into a nursing home two years ago Anton and Bianca Bubrle in the house Anton grew up in a chapter of my life is gone,” Mr Bubrle said Anything around here is redone to such a high standard But the memories of his mother’s famous homemade cheesecakes and pork schnitzel that she used to make for the Czech Club and the creaking of a particular floorboard at the entrance to the living room The kitchen was where everyone came to chat while Ludmila Bartunek would make her famous Czech food “I’ve always liked the sound of that crack for me it sounds like home,” Mr Bubrle’s wife Bianca said “I noticed it the first time I came to visit Anton in 1994.” The property was one of more than 50 to go to auction across Brisbane yesterday ABC News News HomeGirl mother's body discovered nearbyShare Girl mother's body discovered nearbyTopic:Homicide A high-rise complex where the body of an 11-year-old girl was found in Auchenflower. (AAP: Dan Peled) Link copiedShareShare articlePolice are investigating the violent death of an 11-year-old girl in Brisbane's inner west, and the death of her mother in a neighbouring suburb. Officers were called to a high-rise complex on Dunmore Terrace in Auchenflower where the body of the girl was found in the bathroom about 1:40am. The body of her 49-year-old mother was located about 1.5 kilometres away in Toowong about 5:30am. At this time, the mother's death is not believed to be suspicious. Detective Acting Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said the body of the child was found when friends of the family asked police to do a welfare check. "They had some concerns and we've gone around and unfortunately those concerns have been validated to the worst possible degree," he said. Superintendent Sheldon said the girl's death was violent. "Every death of a child is horrendous, but this is particularly so," he said. Superintendent Sheldon said the mother appeared to have taken her own life at a construction site and was found by a member of the public. "Members of the public, early in the morning, have come across a body in the area and phoned police and we made the tragic correlation that it's the mother," he said. Her car was found nearby and has been towed away for examination. Forensic officers are also combing the apartment where the child was found for evidence. Superintendent Sheldon said there was a surviving father, 65, who was asleep and uninjured in the unit when they arrived. "He's been with us all day and assisting us greatly with our inquiries," he said. "That's a hackneyed phrase, but he has been with us all day assisting us, helping us, answering queries and things like that that we've got. "His assistance has been of great help trying to work out more about family life, the dynamic, what's going on around the house, the relationships and the history to this whole tragic scenario." A second daughter, an eight-year-old girl, was not home at the time. The mother and both daughters were born in Japan and police are yet to notify Japanese members of the family. Superintendent Sheldon said the family was not known to police. "We are trying to ascertain how the ... child died and who is responsible for that," he said. "We have a family which has literally been decimated. We don't know who fits where as far as the puzzle goes." The apartment within the inner city Brisbane precinct of Auchenflower has been sold by mortgagees the newly painted and re-carpeted third floor apartment was marketed as offering executive living with river views It fetched $800,000 when sold by Franzwa Van Vuuren from Brisbane West Real Estate The developers had sold it in 2006 at $1,150,000 the suburb's median unit price sits at $425,000 There were two sales in Linear last year with a three bedroom sub-penthouse fetching $1,275,000 having previously sold at $1.3 million in 2008 The developers has sold it off the plan in 2003 at $915,000 There was a $485,000 two bedroom sale which had sold at $440,000 in 2006 We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home Queensland Police and the Japanese consulate in Brisbane have been trying to contact the overseas-based family of a mother and daughter, a day after the pair were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide Police are continuing to investigate the death of 11-year-old Celeste Pearson who was found early on Tuesday morning in the bathroom of her family's Auchenflower apartment having suffered a "violent death" was then found near a Toowong construction site a few hours later Celeste's father Christopher Pearson was questioned by police before being released without charge On Tuesday investigators were struggling to reach Mrs Pearson's family in Japan and had been unsuccessful throughout the night Deputy Consul-General Takahiko Watabe confirmed the Japanese consulate in Brisbane was assisting who taught at a local Japanese language school listed her home town as the city of Yokohama on her Facebook page Inspector Geoff Sheldon said no other immediate relations of Mrs Pearson's were based in Brisbane "That's one of the things that has hindered our investigation," he said both the girls are born in Japan and we need to make sure that our processes are in place to officially advise the next of kin in as appropriate way as we can Police have renewed calls for anyone who saw Mrs Pearson driving a white Nissan Tiida in the Toowong area between 11.45pm on Monday and 1.30am on Tuesday to come forward Mr and Mrs Pearson had owned their penthouse apartment at the 24 Coronation Towers complex for more than a decade and were living at the property with Celeste and a younger daughter The second girl was at a family friend's home on Monday night Police said Mr Pearson had claimed he was asleep in a lounge room at the time of the death of his daughter Inspector Sheldon said Mr Pearson claimed he first realised his daughter was dead when police knocked on the door to conduct a welfare check having been called by concerned family friends Queensland Police and the Japanese consulate in Brisbane have been trying to contact the overseas-based family of a mother and daughter who was found early on Tuesday morning in the bathroom of her family's Auchenflower apartment having suffered a \\\"violent death\\\" Celeste's father Christopher Pearson was questioned by police before being released without charge On Tuesday investigators were struggling to reach Mrs Pearson's family in Japan and had been unsuccessful throughout the night Inspector Geoff Sheldon said no other immediate relations of Mrs Pearson's were based in Brisbane \\\"That's one of the things that has hindered our investigation,\\\" he said The second girl was at a family friend's home on Monday night Two men aged 29 and 33 are in custody after the six-hour standoff with Queensland police Two armed men who allegedly fired a shot at police are in custody following a six-hour standoff with officers in a building in Brisbane’s inner west. The men, aged 29 and 33, were taken away in police vehicles after surrendering to officers around 4.40pm on Monday. The standoff was sparked when officers investigating a series of property offences across the city’s southside went to an apartment on Chasely Street at Auchenflower on Monday around 11am where they confronted two men. Inspector Tony Ridge said one of the men fired a shot at officers, sparking an emergency situation. Read more“When our SERT officers were gaining entry to the unit there was a shot fired and the two male offenders barricaded themselves inside a unit,” Ridge said. The emergency situation shut down local traffic, including the major nearby road Coronation Drive, causing significant traffic congestion in the area. Police boats also stopped all traffic, including ferries, on the nearby Brisbane River. The lockdown prevented some people from leaving or travelling to the nearby Wesley hospital, however ambulances were still able to get through. The hospital did not need to be evacuated, but police did move some people out of rooms on the side of the hospital closest to where Monday’s incident took place. ABC News News HomeMother and daughter deaths: Queensland police seek public help after bodies discovered in Auchenflower ToowongShare Mother and daughter deaths: Queensland police seek public help after bodies discovered in Auchenflower ToowongTopic:Homicide A high-rise complex where the body of an 11-year-old girl was found in Auchenflower, (AAP: Dan Peled) Link copiedShareShare articlePolice are seeking public help as they continue to investigate the deaths of an 11-year-old girl and her mother in Brisbane's inner west. Celeste Pearson's body was found in the bathroom of a unit at Auchenflower early on Tuesday morning. The body of her 49-year-old mother was found about four hours later at a nearby construction site and police believe she took her own life. Forensic officers and detectives are still working to establish who is responsible for the death of the girl, who was described as a high academic achiever and was about to finish Year 6 at Milton State School. Her eight-year-old sister is being cared for by family and friends. Police are urging the public to come forward if they have any information about the family's history. Officers are continuing to comb the apartment where the child was found for evidence. Detective Acting Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said there was a surviving father, 65, who was asleep and uninjured in the unit when they arrived. Police spoke to the man for hours yesterday and he was released without charge. A century-old Auchenflower icon is available to buy today for the first time when it goes to auction Place Paddington principal Andrew Degn described the three-bedroom, one-bathroom house at 45 Thomas St as a “time capsule” Auchenflower which hasn’t been touched over the years “All the furniture is included in the sale so you can get the records Mr Degn said everyone in the suburb is familiar with the home which is going to auction due to a change in the owner’s personal circumstances ‘I know this house and admired it forever’,” he said “It’s the quintessential Queenslander on a high block Auchenflower is an elevated 617sq m block with city views The 617sq m parcel of land offers buyers the opportunity to shift the house and extend Mr Degn said interest from potential buyers had been fabulous “We’ve had 20 to 30 people through each Saturday,” he said The auction of the property is scheduled for today Privately-held Brisbane developer Lantona has lodged plans for a mixed-use development in the inner-city suburb of Auchenflower Led by founder Andrew Hanna, Lantona closely partners with Brisbane Builders to deliver each project, with the collaboration years in the making due to Hanna’s long-term friendship with Brisbane Builders founder The group’s latest project stays true to Lantona’s vision: which where you build is important “Typically we choose locations that allow residents a variety of outdoor and leisure pursuits, which is why you’ll find our projects in some of Brisbane’s most dynamic suburbs,” Lantona says Render of the Auchenflower development at 131-137 Eagle Terrace The project will be constructed across a unique three-frontage, 1537 sqm site at 131-137 Eagle Terrace, near to Auchenflower Station, the Brisbane River and a number of parks and green open spaces 36 apartments will be spread across a 12-storey building A shorter seven-storey commercial building will also be constructed on the site complete with space for a cafe across the ground floor The podium levels of the proposed building will be wrapped in gentle while the upper portion of the building changes language with vertical angled blades to delineate the upper facade while also providing privacy and sun shading in addition to maximising viewpoints steel and concrete materials has created a raw and low maintenance development across the ground plane and within the facade and balcony edges Crowning the residential building will be a suite of resort-inspired amenities with the communal open space designed as a space for resident’s to relax and take in the surrounding views Further communal space will be provided in the lower levels of the building with a balcony which will wrap the entirety of the building providing a multitude of outlooks and outdoor space Lantona’s proposal comes off the back of the group’s Woody Point development in the Moreton Bay region, which launched to the market in September this year.  Located at 1 Lilla Street, Echo on the Bay will deliver just 10 apartments to the coastal suburb upon completion, with the architecturally designed residences to set a new standard for bayside living.  Situated on a commanding oceanfront, cliff-top location, the project features a selection of high-quality finishes and fixtures, with floorplans designed to make the most of the coastal locale.  We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia. We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home! ABC News News HomeAuchenflower: Queensland floods one year onShare Auchenflower: Queensland floods one year onTopic:Floods Link copiedShareShare articleWhen the floods were on their way, Angus Sinclair's wife Le-Ann and their two boys, James and Oliver, moved into a motel while he stayed at home with their two dogs. The family moved a few things from downstairs, but did not really believe any serious flooding would occur. They were wrong, as their pictures from that week attest. Waters inundate the bottom storey of this home in Auchenflower during the floods of January 2011. (Audience submitted: Angus Sinclair) By 5am the next morning there was about two metres of water outside the front of our house and inside downstairs. The Sinclair family's backyard becomes a sea of muddy water. (Audience submitted: Angus Sinclair) I had to break through the back fence (higher than the front of the house) with the dogs to get out. Water as far as the eye can see. (Audience submitted: Angus Sinclair) Two days later we were evicted from our motel because we had the dogs with us. I then moved back into our house with the dogs, the upstairs had been saved. I had a borrowed generator for power. It was another 10 days before Le-Ann and the boys moved back in, having had power restored to the upstairs of our house. A Lancia Fulvia in need of serious restoration. (Audience submitted: Angus Sinclair) We lost everything that was downstairs from the boys' bedrooms - a bathroom, a lounge area, garage and storeroom, including a 1967 Lancia, and all the boys' early toys and keepsakes. With the floodwaters gone, the clean-up begins. (Audience submitted: Angus Sinclair) It was another eight months before downstairs was renovated, and we only had the front yard finished a few weeks ago. Auchenflower residents rally to clean up the flood mess. (Audience submitted: Angus Sinclair) We had so much help from strangers, friends and work colleagues which pulled us through. Auchenflower homes submerged in floodwaters. (Audience submitted: Angus Sinclair) Ray White New Farm principals Matt Lancashire and Haesley Cush HOMES worth almost $21m sold in an inner-city auction event on Saturday with multi-millionaires and first-home buyers sitting side-by-side in a demonstration of the depth of interest in Brisbane property this year The auction day crowd at the Calile Hotel in Fortitude Valley Fifteen apartments and houses went under the hammer in the Ray White Event at the Calile Hotel in Fortitude Valley with 10 properties selling at auction for between $595,000 and $3.4m one selling for almost $4m prior to auction and four others worth more than $14m passing in MORE PROPERTY STORIES At one point, Ray White New Farm principal Matt Lancashire had car collectors salivating over what they could do with a five-car garage in the penthouse at 39/8 Dunmore Tce, Auchenflower, which eventually sold for $3.3m Photo by Kevin Kane/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) “We had three to four properties with over 10 registered bidders and there seemed to be this element of not wanting to miss out with buyers saying ‘No’ multiple times and then bidding again They were doing the Taylor Swift shake – shake and then bid again For all the results from this auction event and Saturday’s major sales, read our auction blog. Ray White auctioneer Haesley Cush with his daughter Vivienne after Saturday’s auction event The three-bedroom apartment was the second last on the schedule and the crowd of 80-100 had dwindled to a little over a dozen when Mr Fantastic Furniture Bidding started in the low $1m with Ray White Bulimba principal Scott Darwon providing the main competition He was bidding on behalf of a local buyer on the phone Mr Cush announced the property was on the market The fourth row bidder increased his offer to $1.317m the man in row four made another attempt to break away with a $1000 bid increase but it was not enough and the phone bidder restored his lead we’re done,” Mr Fantastic Furniture said but that turned out to be a ‘Taylor Swift shake’ The answer was ‘Yes’ and the bidding continued until at $1.372m and with the budget for the furniture package well and truly thrown into the auction Mr Fantastic Furniture bowed out and Scott Darwon’s phone bidder bought the house This five-bedroom Queenslander at 10 Harding St Auchenflower is located in one of Brisbane’s ‘safest’ suburbs Data released from RACQ has revealed Brisbane’s ‘safest’ suburbs off the back of a new report released today which highlighted home safety as the highest priority for Brisbane residents The realestate.com.au and Ipsos publication Life in Australia reported perceptions of Brisbane’s liveability remain among the highest in the country with 70 per cent of respondents selecting ‘feeling safe’ RACQ spokesman Lucinda Ross said homeowners who implemented extra security measures such as ensuring good visibility from the street “These all help make your home less desirable to opportunistic thieves,” Ms Ross said There are eight postcodes within Brisbane where not one claim has been lodged for home theft vandalism and malicious damage during the past three years With less than 50 properties on the market which has a median house price of $1.135 million is the most prestigious on the list Place Paddington principal Andrew Degn, who has 10 Harding St, Auchenflower listed said people were attracted to Auchenflower because it has a “character overlay” which meant protection over the top of it because it’s low density and has less transient traffic “Everybody knows everybody and there is a neighbourhood watch,” Mr Degn said “It is very tightly held because people are very safe there and move around the family orientated suburb With a 4123 postcode, this property is ideal for the ultra security conscious, 87 Splendour St, Rochedale features a back-to-base security system Splendid security is on offer at 87 Splendour St No. 5 McKie Cres, Cannon Hill is within the 4170 postcode and comes with a home security system as well Cannon Hill is within one of RACQ’s no claim precincts Ms Ross said the low theft numbers for was great news for members in these suburbs but other insurers may have received claims from their customers “Insurance is there to protect you when the unexpected happens and we’re here for our members when they need us.” Along with home safety Brisbane residents believe affordable decent housing (60 per cent) high quality health services (59 per cent) good job prospects (43 per cent) and reliable and efficient public transport (36 per cent) complete the liveability picture Photo: Nine News/TwitterFirefighters battle a house fire in Auchenflower Photo: Ben ChoThe fire was brought under control about 3.30pm Photo: Ben ChoOne of the occupants of the house was treated for smoke inhalation Photo: Ben ChoFirefighters have extinguished an Auchenflower house fire Emergency services arrived to find the home ablaze but were able to bring it under control just before 3.30pm Firefighters were then working to dampen down hot spots before the fire was fully extinguished just before 3.45pm It has been reported eight people escaped the home along with two cats One occupant was being treated for smoke inhalation before they were transported to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a stable condition Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing Firefighters are battling a house fire in Auchenflower just west of the Brisbane CBD Emergency services were called just after 2.15pm to reports of a structure fire and arrived to find the house well alight It is understood the house is an old timber Queenslander The house is opposite railway lines but trains were not affected with paramedics treating one patient for smoke inhalation Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. A move across town brings with it all kinds of suburban dilemmas. Where will I buy my morning coffee? Where is the nearest chemist? Where am I going to go to get Thai food? Given that most Brisbane neighbourhoods contain more than one restaurant that specialises in this particular cuisine, you try them all once, pick your favourite and stick with it. The convenience and ubiquity of Thai is such that so long as a certain threshold of quality is met, you're satisfied. If you happen to leave the area, rarely does loyalty to the local Thai place transcend suburban borders. Of the many Thai restaurants in Brisbane, there are few for which people will travel. My Thai is of this minority. The highly popular, fully licensed (BYO wine only) establishment has graced Auchenflower for over 20 years. Dining in is a pleasure — the interior is lush, colours are deep, the lighting rich. Though there are some familiar final touches: each plate is topped with a folded paper serviette crown. Offering more than the usual go-tos of green curry and tom yum goong (though fret not, they do feature), the menu's diversity encourages diners to embrace variety. Handmade entrees include the hor tong: a golden parcel of crispy wonton pastry filled with water chestnuts, ground chicken and fresh herbs and spices served with a tangy sauce ($9.90). The Tofu My Thai (steamed tofu with chilli paste, tamarind, fried shallots, coriander and peanuts, $21.90) is an enticing flavour combination. A page of their menu is dedicated to 'Special Dishes' and from this list it is hard to resist the festive Big Pineapple, a pineapple 'boat' stuffed with a fried rice of pineapple pieces, peas, sliced chicken breast, tiger prawns, egg and sultanas topped with cashew nuts and coriander leaves ($29.90). If you're not full by this time, some tapioca pudding or black sticky rice will finish you off. ABC News News HomeMother and daughter deaths: 11yo girl a high-achieving student Milton State School principal saysShare Mother and daughter deaths: 11yo girl a high-achieving student Milton State School principal saysTopic:Homicide Link copiedShareShare articleA young girl who suffered a violent death in Brisbane has been described as a high-achieving student who recently won a citizenship award at her grade six graduation ceremony. Police found the 11-year-old girl dead in an apartment on Dunmore Terrace at Auchenflower in Brisbane's inner west about 1:40am on Tuesday. By 5:30am, her mother's body was found about 1.5 kilometres away at a construction site in Toowong. Detective Acting Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said it appeared the girl's mother had taken her own life. Both mother and daughter were born in Japan. Police have not yet released their names as they are still trying to notify members of their family in Japan. The girl was a grade six student at Milton State School. School principal Paul Zernike said teachers and students were shocked and saddened by the news of her death. "The student who has deceased was a beautiful young lady," he said. "She was a high-achieving student; she was very well liked amongst her peers and right across the school community." He said her classmates would describe her as "a really caring, friendly, lovely, happy student". Milton State School principal Paul Zernike said the girl's friends would describe her as "a really caring, friendly, lovely, happy student". (ABC News) "They would say that she's a really good friend to all - in fact she recently won the citizenship award at the graduation ceremony, so a beautiful child," Mr Zernike said. He said students at the school were holding up well after hearing of her death, while guidance counsellors and additional teachers and support people were on hand. Superintendent Sheldon said the girl's body was found when friends of the family asked police to do a welfare check on their apartment. "They had some concerns and we've gone around, and unfortunately those concerns have been validated to the worst possible degree," he said. "Every death of a child is horrendous, but this is particularly so." Superintendent Sheldon said the girl's father, 65, was asleep and uninjured in the unit when police arrived. He continued: "His assistance has been of great help trying to work out more about family life, the dynamic, what's going on around the house, the relationships and the history to this whole tragic scenario." The man was released without charge on Tuesday afternoon. A female neighbour who knew the family described the woman's children as "beautiful little girls". "I'm aware the wife was very, very depressed," she said. "None of us knew what to do about it." The neighbour said she had cleaned the apartment for the father and daughters when the mother returned to Japan for several months last year. "I only just saw the mother last week. But in other times we've seen her and she's almost been in tears," she said. Superintendent Sheldon said police believed the mother took her own life in Benson Street, Toowong. "We're seeking public assistance to see if anyone saw her or her vehicle from 11.30 [Monday night] night until about 1:00am [Tuesday], in and around that area," he said. "She was driving a 2007 Tiida sedan, a white-coloured sedan." He said police could not definitively say who killed the girl. ART ATTACK: This Paddington home doubled as an art gallery A PADDINGTON home that is going to auction this weekend has been modified to be the perfect pad for art lovers The four bedroom home at 16 Collingwood St Paddington once doubled as a prominent art gallery Owner Emilia Seibold used to run the Higher Art gallery on the ground floor of the home from nine years The ground floor was modified for extra hanging and art storage space She closed the gallery in 2011 after the GFC shrunk art sales but much of the home is still set up to display and store a lot of art The ground floor has removable display walls which can give 30 metres of space for displaying art it really lends itself to that,” Ms Seibold said The home is close to Paddington’s cafes and shops and it will go to auction on Satrurday Over in Auchenflower a historic Queenslander will hit the market for the first time in 35 years The home at 20 Rathdonnell St Auchenflower is set on an elevated 1022 sqm block that has views of the CBD Agent Alan Woo from Harcourts Solutions said the home “Having such a sizeable land holding in that street is rare there are only one or two homes larger,” Mr Woo said Despite renovations that expanded the home it retains the character of the time of its construction with its french doors and VJ walls The home will go to auction on Saturday Over in Manly a triple storey home going to auction offers some of the best views of the Harbour Place agent Marc Sorrentino said the home was designed with a lot of outdoor and indoor living area “It is a really solid construction,” Mr Sorrentino said It will go to auction on Saturday