Curtains for the Regent Cinemas

According to Queensland Heritage only the staircase and foyer of the Regent (pictured right image by Laserforce) have any heritage significance. The $800 million redevelopment is set to go ahead with a new showcase cinema, open only on weekends.  The rest of the Brisbane landmark heritage theatre will be demolished.

Very sad outcome indeed for Brisbane's heritage.  With some additional funds and some imagination the original theatre could have been completely rebuilt to undo the damage of the 1970s and Brisbane would have a prestigious heritage theatre to attract tourists and poach some of the big shows from down south.

Instead yet another boring office tower will leave its legacy.

Convict Windmill to open to public

Brisbane's historic convict built 1828 windmill at Wickham Park Spring Hill, the city's oldest structure is set to be open to the public for the first time in its history after a renovation.

There is a gallery of interior photos on the Brisbane Times website.

The windmill could become a must see for Brisbane cultural tourists.

Pink Palace, Herston to be restored

The 1931 Spanish Mission style Pink Palace in Herston is set to get a $1 million restoration.

The building was part of the first council run golf club in Brisbane.

Queensland's first building discovered by archaeologists

The remains of what could be Queensland's oldest building (built by Europeans) and evidence of the Redcliffe convict colony has been found at last.

A brick kiln dating back to 1821 has been found by archaeologists on the former banks of Humpybong Creek.

Shock demolition for 1908 Queensland Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institute

Queensland Health plans to demolish a Woollongabba landmark - two heritage buildings at the Blind, Deaf and Dumb buildings at 37 Kent Street.


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City Council rubber stamps Regent demolition

The spectacular 1929 Regent Theatre on Queen Street has survived almost three quarters of a century despite an effort by the state government to raze it in 1970.

Now it appears that the theatre building's days are numbered. Council has approved the demolition of most of the Regent by developer Brookfield Multiplex to erect an $800 million office tower development in its place. Although the foyer listed on the Queensland Heritage register in 1992 will be retained and incorporated into the new tower, the facades, 1929 plaster ceilings and decorations in the current cinema and bar are scheduled for demolition.

Big Pineapple Heritage Registered - Owners mount legal challenge

Very interested to see the first of Australia's Big Things get heritage listed.

Australians, it seems, just love our big things. The roadside attractions, examples of novelty architecture are quite unique to our culture and are major domestic tourist icons.

Nambour's iconic Big Pineapple, just outside of Brisbane which lays claim to being the "World's largest Pineapple" is now protected.

But not everyone's happy. The owners certainly aren't. Now they can't make any changes to the place without EPA approval and they're threatening to sue.