Little Provence, a French bistro once popular in Eatons Hill, has relocated to Brisbane’s George Street, bringing its Provençal-style menu and relaxed atmosphere to a historic inner-city venue.
Opening in Eatons Hill in 2024, Little Provence quickly became a well-known dining spot for residents along the Brisbane and Moreton Bay border. The restaurant, founded by chef and owner Romain Maunier, gained a loyal following for its home-style French cooking inspired by recipes from his family and his experience in southern France.
However, running multiple venues, including La Cache à Vin in Spring Hill, presented logistical challenges. Managing storage and staffing across different suburbs prompted Maunier to centralise operations. Earlier this year, he made the decision to relocate Little Provence to Brisbane’s inner city, closing the Eatons Hill venue and reopening on George Street in August 2025.
Photo Credit: Little Provence French Restaurant/Facebook
A New Chapter In A Historic Space
The restaurant now occupies the site previously home to Pneuma, housed in a heritage-style building featuring high ceilings, exposed brick walls, timber floorboards and tall casement windows. Inside, the space includes a lounge bar, private dining room, open kitchen and a main dining area overlooking both the street and courtyard.
The design embraces Mediterranean influences, using lighter tones and natural textures to reflect the warmth of Provence while maintaining the welcoming informality that defined its Eatons Hill origins.
Photo Credit: Little Provence French Restaurant/Facebook
Menu Highlights And Wine Selection
Little Provence’s menu continues to showcase the same Provençal-style dishes that earned it local acclaim. Appetisers include white anchovies with lemon whipped cream, caramelised onion tart with comté, and natural oysters. Starters such as snails à la Provençal, salmon soufflé, and beef tartare remain central to the offering.
Main dishes feature duck à l’orange, squid à la Settoise, beef cheek daube, and ratatouille with fennel and pork sausage. A blue-cheese gnocchi and the signature bouillabaisse for two—requiring one day’s notice—round out the selection.
The restaurant’s expanded wine list covers key French regions including Burgundy, Bordeaux and Provence, complemented by cocktails like the Apricot Blossom and French Martini.
Despite its move to Brisbane’s CBD, Little Provence remains true to its original suburban charm, prioritising generous servings and approachable French cuisine. The bistro aims to provide high-quality dining without the pretension of fine dining establishments.
The City of Moreton Bay is progressing with the Albany Creek Active Transport Project, delivering a shared pathway along the South Pine River to enhance connectivity for walkers and cyclists.
The Albany Creek Active Transport Project forms part of the City of Moreton Bay’s plan to improve safe and accessible active transport. The project will create a continuous shared pathway through parklands near the South Pine River, linking key destinations such as schools, shops, and local facilities on the eastern side of South Pine Road.
Community consultation and preliminary design were completed in 2021, followed by detailed design finalised in 2024.
The project covers around 1.5 kilometres of new and upgraded pathways from Faheys Road West to James Cash Court via Stanton Reserve, extending to Old Northern Road. The 2 to 2.5-metre-wide pathway is designed for shared use by pedestrians and cyclists, supported by landscaping and lighting upgrades within Stanton Reserve.
The works are being delivered in three stages, subject to weather and contractor availability:
Stage 3: October 2025
Stage 2: November 2025
Stage 1: February 2026
The total construction period is expected to take around 30 weeks. Stage 1 will build a new path along Kingfisher Street and Barwing Court; Stage 2 will upgrade existing paths, including a new ramp to South Pine Road; and Stage 3 will improve the southern section of James Cash Court, connecting to the Albany Creek Road roundabout.
Community Benefits
The South Pine River shared pathway will link homes, schools, and recreational areas, providing safer, more convenient routes for walking and cycling. Landscaping and lighting improvements will enhance visibility and usability while maintaining the natural environment of Stanton Reserve.
Upon completion across 2025–2026, the shared path will strengthen Albany Creek’s local connections and contribute to a broader active transport network across the City of Moreton Bay.
A new parkland has been announced for the Élan residential community in Warner, set to provide future residents with green spaces, recreation areas and trail networks.
Construction on the Élan community in Warner began on 27 July 2024. The 41-hectare site will deliver 387 homes across four neighbourhoods, along with parklands and extensive walking and cycling trails. Community involvement began early, with Albany Creek Scouts and local residents assisting in tree planting activities at the launch.
Photo Credit: Élan
Parklands As The Community Hub
The parklands are designed to act as the central feature of Élan. Facilities will include an adventure playground, kickabout area, picnic spaces and shaded seating. Nearly half of the community has been allocated for green space, bikeways and corridors, ensuring every home is within walking distance of a park.
Environmental Measures
As part of the project, 9.91 hectares of land containing koala habitat have been set aside for conservation. Three dedicated koala crossings are included, two as underpasses and one as an overpass across Kremzow Road, the first of its kind in the Moreton Bay area. Fauna monitoring will be used to track animal movements and improve understanding of local wildlife patterns.
Photo Credit: Élan
Builder Partnerships And Regional Growth
The Élan Builder Expo, held in February 2025, attracted close to 300 attendees who met with building partners such as Metricon, Plantation Homes and Coral Homes. The event showcased house and land packages designed to reflect the character of the Warner region. The project responds to population forecasts, with more than 210,000 additional residents expected in the Moreton Bay region over the next two decades.
Photo Credit: Élan
Lifestyle And Amenities In Warner
Within the community, residents will have access to a dog park, walking paths and cycling routes. Beyond the development, nearby facilities include sports clubs, bike trails and water-based recreation. The Warner area also offers schools, shopping centres, health services and transport connections, ensuring access to daily needs.
The first homes at Élan are expected to welcome residents in 2026. The park will be available from the beginning, designed as both a recreational hub and a focal point for neighbourhood connections in one of the region’s fastest growing suburbs.
A Bunya football player will have another opportunity to pursue her defamation case against the local Pine Hills Football Club after a judge ruled her initial legal claim was too unclear to proceed.
Pine Hills FC, which is located in Bunya in Brisbane’s north, found itself in court after player Violetta Marsh filed a defamation claim in August 2024. The case centres around communication between the club and Ms Marsh regarding her player registration status.
On 19 September, Judge Michael Byrne KC struck out Ms Marsh’s original statement of claim, ruling it was too vague and ambiguous to allow for a fair trial. However, the judge has granted her 28 days to file a revised claim, suggesting the case may have merit if properly presented.
The legal dispute stems from events in August 2023 when Ms Marsh, who had played for the club from 2021 to 2023, received an email from Pine Hills FC explaining why the club would not accept future applications for her player registration.
According to court documents, Ms Marsh alleges she was defamed in 13 separate instances arising from a single email sent by the club’s general email account on 24 August 2023. She claims the email purported to represent the response of the entire club committee and was motivated by malice or ill-will.
Ms Marsh has also named club official Samantha Mawdsley in her legal action, alleging that Ms Mawdsley either sent the controversial email or circulated a draft version to other committee members before the final version was sent.
The club and Ms Mawdsley successfully argued for the case to be struck out, contending that any email communications were legitimate internal business matters within the club’s organisational structure. They challenged Ms Marsh’s claims about the potential for a “grapevine effect” where allegedly defamatory statements might spread to other people, arguing these allegations were unsupported by facts.
While striking out the initial claim, Judge Byrne noted that allegations of malicious intent were significant and could potentially support Ms Marsh’s case if properly proven. He observed that malicious publication might fall outside the boundaries of legitimate organisational engagement.
Under Queensland defamation law, defamation involves the publication of unsubstantiated information that negatively impacts someone’s reputation, and plaintiffs must prove the material has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to their reputation.
The club and Ms Mawdsley also sought summary judgement in their favour, which would have ended the case entirely, but Judge Byrne rejected this application. This suggests the judge believes there may be sufficient grounds for a properly pleaded case to proceed.
Pine Hills FC, founded in 1984 and based at James Drysdale Reserve in Bunya, currently competes in Football Queensland Premier League 3. The club describes itself as inclusive, modern and forward-thinking, with a mission to provide a positive, supportive and family-friendly football environment.
Ms Marsh now has until mid-October to file her new statement of claim. If she chooses to proceed and can address the court’s concerns about clarity and specificity, the case will move forward to determine whether the club’s communications about her registration constituted defamation.
Work on the Freshwater Village shopping centre in Griffin is about to commence, with a builder appointed to deliver the large-scale retail and community precinct.
The Freshwater Village development at Brays Road and Arcadia Drive in Griffin has progressed through several stages of approval. Moreton Bay Regional Council approved the original application in November 2017, followed by a change approval in December 2020. The project is being delivered by Wattle Run.
Photo Credit: CCN Architects
Builder Appointment And Construction Timeline
On 18 September 2025, Wattle Run confirmed Tomkins Commercial and Industrial Builders as the contractor for the development after a tender process. Tomkins will establish a site office in October before building work begins. Construction is expected to take about 18 months, with the opening scheduled between late 2026 and early 2027.
Photo Credit: CCN Architects
Retail And Service Mix
The centre will be anchored by a full-line Woolworths supermarket and BWS liquor store. Confirmed tenants include a newsagent, barber, nail salon, bakery, medical centre, dental clinic, and physiotherapy services. Dining outlets will feature Japanese, Indian, and Korean restaurants, along with a dessert venue.
Layout And Facilities
Freshwater Village will cover 17,870 square metres, divided into retail, health, and commercial zones. Features include landscaped boundaries, external footpaths, cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings, and a future bus stop.
Parking numbers differ between sources: one states 264 spaces, while another cites 335 spaces. Both confirm 64 bike spaces will be available.
Photo Credit: CCN Architects
Staging Of Development
The build will be delivered in phases. Stage one will bring the supermarket and most retail outlets. Later stages will expand food and beverage options and health services.
Community Vision
The development is intended to combine convenience with open spaces. Plans include nearby housing, parkland, and an urban farm section, alongside family-friendly cafes and shops. The vision aims to provide essential services within walking distance for residents.
Tomkins will begin site preparations in October, with updates to be issued through the Freshwater Hub newsletter and social media as construction progresses.
If the chaos and stress of modern life are getting you down, a new series of low-cost yoga and meditation classes in Albany Creek offers a welcoming space to find peace.
These low-cost sessions, supported by the City of Moreton Bay, are designed to help people manage stress and find a greater sense of calm.
The program includes two separate classes, a Hatha yoga session and a Mantra Meditation experience. The Hatha yoga class is suitable for all levels, from beginners to those with more experience. It focuses on using breath and awareness to improve flexibility, tone muscles, and reduce stress. The teacher, Amit, holds poses for longer periods and explains the benefits of each one, which helps participants feel more focused and relaxed by the end of the class.
The yoga class is priced at an affordable rate of $4 during school terms, with a slightly higher fee during other periods. Participants are asked to bring their own yoga mats and props.
The meditation class, known as a Kirtan evening, is described as a soothing yet uplifting experience that uses live music and mantras. The sessions aim to help people move away from life’s daily worries and find inner nourishment.
Amit, who has been a meditation practitioner for over 10 years, says he began his journey after feeling unfulfilled and found that these ancient practices can help others cultivate lasting peace. The meditation class runs by donation, making it accessible to everyone in the community.
Both classes are provided by the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga, a non-profit organisation that has been sharing yoga and meditation for over three decades.
A plain brick pump station on Francis Road in Bray Park has been given a colourful new look, with Unitywater unveiling a vivid mural that reflects the region’s local wildlife.
The artwork, painted by local artist Daniel Krause, was created as part of Unitywater’s Community Art Program, which aims to turn essential infrastructure into works of art for the public to enjoy.
Photo supplied
Unitywater Executive Manager Strategic Engagement, Joshua Zugajev, said the initiative was about more than just brightening up brick and concrete.
“Our Community Art Program provides local artists with a unique canvas to improve the aesthetic of concrete, brick, and metal water and wastewater assets for the community to enjoy,” Mr Zugajev said.
The mural’s design was shaped by the community, with 153 votes cast to decide which animals would be included. The final artwork features a green tree frog and butterfly on the front wall, and a koala and cockatoo on either side.
Photo supplied
Krause said the design carries both visual and symbolic meaning. “The green tree frog is always a favourite, and an abstract blue swirl ties it all together to symbolise the way water connects all life on earth, and the essential role Unitywater plays in delivering it in our region,” he said.
The project took around 25 hours to complete, using a mix of acrylic house paint and aerosol before being sealed with a protective anti-graffiti coat.
The Bray Park mural is the second Unitywater site in Moreton Bay to receive an artistic makeover in recent months, following the transformation of a roadside cabinet on Bribie Island by local artist and wildlife scientist, Jayda Bruce.
For locals passing through Francis Road, the pump station now stands out as a burst of colour and a reminder of the wildlife that calls Moreton Bay home.
David Stewart, whose life’s work consisted of recording sounds of Australian birds for many decades, has died in Albany Creek. Along with the Bowerbird Collective, he is the man behind the recordings of 53 native birds facing extinction, used in Songs of Disappearance, an album that contains nothing but birdsong that beat Abba, Michael Buble, and Mariah Carey, reaching No. 5 in Australia’s Aria chart one week after its release.
Mr Stewart, who had been living in a retirement village in Albany Creek, was critically injured after losing control of his vehicle during a drive through the suburb in August. His car struck a fence, and he was rushed to Royal Brisbane Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he later passed away surrounded by family.
For decades, Mr Stewart devoted his life to recording, preserving, and sharing the sounds of Australia’s birdlife. His contributions have been instrumental in both ornithological research and in helping Australians connect with their natural heritage through sound.
From the 1960s through the 1980s, while working with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Stewart traveled widely across remote parts of Australia. In his spare time, he compiled extensive tick lists of species encountered in Cape York, Arnhem Land, and the Kimberley.
His transition to digital recording in the 1990s raised the quality of his library, allowing him to re-record species he had first taped on cassettes.
Photo credit: Birds Queensland/Facebook
Some of his rarest and most cherished recordings include the call of the female Plains-wanderer, captured just half a metre away in 1982, and the flight call of the endangered Princess Parrot recorded along the remote Canning Stock Route. These painstakingly collected sounds, often achieved after days of waiting in the field, underscored his reputation as one of Australia’s most dedicated wildlife sound recordists.
His recordings have become part of the national soundscape, from the Stewart Australian Bird Calls app, containing more than 3,800 meticulously catalogued calls from 725 species and subspecies, complete with maps and sonograms, to the bestselling album Australian Bird Calls: Songs of Disappearance.
Over more than forty years, the calls of 53 native bird species have been collected for an album designed to raise both money and awareness for species at risk of extinction. The album—made up entirely of birdsong—has climbed near the top of Australia’s ARIA charts, surpassing the likes of Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, and ABBA to secure a place in the top five just a week after its release.
Indeed, his works have played vital roles in conservation awareness by bringing the voices of threatened species to a wider public.
His death marks the end of a remarkable life dedicated to listening, recording, and preserving the sounds of Australia’s birdlife. Widely regarded as a trailblazer in bioacoustics, his decades of work helped transform ornithological research and gave everyday Australians new ways to connect with nature.
Birds Queensland paid tribute to Mr Stewart, describing his life as “a symphony of curiosity, care, and deep listening—to nature, and to those around him.” Fellow birding enthusiasts also remembered him as a generous mentor and a friend whose knowledge and dedication reshaped fieldwork practices across Australia and beyond.
Long-time friend and journalist Greg Roberts, who shared news of his passing, said Mr Stewart’s contributions to bird and wildlife acoustics were “ground-breaking” and would be remembered for generations.
Although his influence reached far beyond Brisbane, Mr Stewart’s final years in Albany Creek connected him closely to the northside community. Locals who may have walked the same leafy streets might not have known that a man who had dedicated his life to amplifying the voices of Australia’s birds was among them.
I will remember him as a terrific birder and a very memorable character. Much of his quirky advice sticks with me to this day. It was thoroughly enjoyable birding with him at the Dunmore Road site west of Toowoomba in 2021 and an honour to be given a glimpse of his extremely vast catalogue of recordings in his home soon after. I suspected he must have been a person of prodigal talent to have done what he did. Very tragic news to hear of his passing and I lament that we did not do more birding together.
Tyber Brands
I had the pleasure many years ago to spend time with David Stewart at Melaleuca when he recorded Orange-bellied Parrot calls. One of his recordings, “feeding and flight calls”, immortalised in Michael Morcombe’s eGuide to the Birds of Australia, was a dozen of so male OBPs at the feedtable near Deny King’s garden. If you listen carefully, you can hear their feet pattering on the rubber mat as they chase each other around the table. I’ve always thought of David and these great times when I hear this recording. Vale David.
Mark Holdsworth
Stunned to learn of the loss of David Stewart. We shared many an hour over a “jaw” as he put it and, along with Don Kroodsma, superb days in the field together. A superb fellow memories of whom I will always carry.
Greg Budney
As tributes flow from conservationists, researchers, and bird lovers worldwide, Albany Creek residents are quietly reflecting on the presence of a global figure who spent his last chapter in their neighbourhood—listening, as he always had, to the songs of the natural world.
Just minutes from Albany Creek, the new Élan residential estate in Warner is taking shape with a strong focus on preserving local wildlife and bushland. Nearly 10 hectares of mature habitat have been set aside within the 41-hectare site, providing a permanent home for koalas, gliders, and native birds.
What makes the project especially meaningful for our community is the involvement of the Albany Creek Scouts, who recently joined tree-planting events to help strengthen wildlife corridors. Their efforts, alongside environmental groups and residents, are directly contributing to conservation outcomes in our backyard.
A key feature of Élan is the region’s first koala overpass, now under construction above Kremzow Road. Once complete, it will allow koalas and other species to cross safely over busy traffic. Two additional underpasses at the estate’s entrances will provide further safe passage, linking habitats across the growing Warner area.
Wildlife monitoring technology will be installed to track how animals use the crossings. Early surveys already confirm the presence of five koalas on site, as well as gliders, possums, and even White-bellied Sea Eagles.
Photo Credit: elan.avid.com.au
For Albany Creek locals, the area has become more than just a nearby housing project. It’s an example of how community and conservation can work hand-in-hand — and a reminder that everyday actions matter. Driving carefully near wildlife zones, keeping pets secure, and supporting local tree-planting days are all simple ways to protect the animals that share our region.
With its blend of new housing and preserved bushland, Élan is set to become a community where people and wildlife thrive together — and Albany Creek can be proud of its role in making that vision a reality.
The redevelopment of John Bray Park on Walsham Street has been in planning for around two decades. Construction commenced in 2024, with completion now forecast for October 2025, weather permitting.
The $3.4 million project is transforming the site into a district-level park with a wide range of facilities. Key features include an all-ages, nature-inspired playground, a multi-sport court suitable for basketball and futsal, courts for pickleball and badminton, gym equipment, picnic shelters, and an amenities block with accessible and ambulant stalls.
Additional elements include misting water play, a wet/dry creek bed, open space for casual ball games, car parking, and a footpath linking the park to Bray Park train station and Strathpine Centre.
More than 100 trees were initially planted, with an expanded replanting program adding a further 100 trees and over 2,500 predominantly native shrubs and groundcovers. Many of these plantings are koala food trees.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Community Input and Design Changes
Community consultation in 2021 led to key design revisions. The amenities block was repositioned centrally, about 90 metres from the nearest residence, while the multi-purpose court was set over 50 metres away near established trees. The playground was located among existing trees to maximise natural shade and reinforce the nature-based design.
Construction and Access
Construction is carried out Monday to Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. For safety, access to parts of the site is limited, although John Bray Park remains open to the public during works. Residents can register online to receive weekly updates on construction progress.
With the project due for completion in October 2025, the upgraded district park is set to provide long-term recreational, sporting, and community benefits for Bray Park.
