Spring Hill's "Oxygen" apartments

Somewhere along the line the naming of an apartment building became really important to property developers. Creating a more emotional bond for buyers, a stylish, sexy and aspirational brand and logo was seen as a link to higher prices and faster sales rates. Back in the days of brick flats the names just seemed to be a mush-up of the builder’s kids’ names. Like “Shar-Lee Court”. The spirit of Sharon and Leanne captured in perpetuity.

Then when Brisbane’s first trend to city living started to really take hold developer’s scrambled to conjure lifestyle images of Manhattan and New Yorkers (not coincidently the names of 2 late 1990’s Brisbane buildings). Spring Hill got a “Tribeca”, after a trendy New York precinct of the same name – the Triangle Below Canal Street. Not surprisingly Brisvegas also got 2 new buildings called “Soho”, named in the same way for South of the Houston River. And yes there’s a “Melrose Place” in Brisbane. The Americanisation continued.

And to defend our property developers for just a moment – can you imagine how hard it is to set up a brand that will (hopefully) live on for many years as a residential address? Worse than naming a new child!

Your author helped name “Oxygen” apartments in Spring Hill, the design’s open space and fresh air inspiring that one. I also got involved with branding South Bank’s “Galleria” but somehow ended up with buyers confusing this clue to the arts and culture precinct with a duty-free shopping mall… It’s a tricky job!

So now it’s over to you! What’s the best apartment building name you’ve seen? Maybe it’s something clever or memorable or just so bad you have to share it. And I get first go at this – “The Village of Langler Drew”. I kid you not, it’s in Toowong’s Sherwood Road. An inside joke maybe?!

The community group meets every Sunday from 3pm for a working bee to maintain and build the garden. New members are always welcome and you can join for free by just showing up on a Sunday afternoon and pitching in or by emailing clytieb@gmail.com. As a member you get the benefit of picking fresh, organic produce from the garden, meeting new friends and learning about a range of organic gardening activities.

Despite the gardens Preston Street location and proximity to the creek it has remained relatively unscathed from the recent Brisbane floods. So the priorities of the group remain unchanged. At the moment they are looking to establish a worm farm, increase their compost production and create the means with which they can become self sufficient with water supply. If you would like to support any of these ventures but are time poor and not able to go to the working bees I recommend you contact Clytie on the above email address if you think you can help in other ways.

For those of you with young children there is also a small group of parents that meet at the garden on Monday mornings at 9:30 with their children to catch up for a chat and so their children can play in the fresh air. Sometimes the children get a chance to plant some seedlings, water the garden or pick some of the produce for lunch. Feel free to join in if you would like to meet other parents in the area.

Apparently the British Highgate Hill is one of London’s highest points and a sought-after part of town. So not entirely unlike our own!

Today the triangular garden has excellent views of the surrounding area and contains an elegant cenotaph in memory of fallen comrades from 1950 to 1966. It is a lovely place to sit and have lunch or take a wander through dedicated to , and is on the Queensland heritage register.

If you have time stop into the Cab Rank Cafe for a cup of Di Bella coffee and a chat to Greg the owner. A few metres down the road is Rotary Park with a great undercover area for the kids to play and covered benches for you to sit and enjoy your coffee.

A self-managed landlord at Greenslopes has had a black snake thrown at him by a cranky tenant. Facing court today the tenant pleaded guilty to assault, the incident occuring when the landlord issued another tenant a breach notice.

Turns out the snake was dead. It’s not known how far the landlord ran before he found that out…

And for each property sold by the Bees Nees team in November we’re donating $500 to the campaign. If you’re considering selling why not give us a call on 07 3214 6800? Or if you’d like to contribute to our team’s fundraiser please click through to our donation page.

Each year Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in Australia and around the world, with the sole aim of raising vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and depression in men.

l-r. Rob Honeycombe, Josh Manson, Braedan Kidd, Richard Fleming and Clint Dowdell-Smith

I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize;

Half the people you know are below average.

A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.

All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand.

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.

I intend to live forever…. so far, so good.

If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.

The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread

If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?