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Anna Meares to Lead Australian Olympic Team to LA 2028 After Record Paris Campaign

Cycling legend Anna Meares took centre stage at a Champions in Business lunch held at North Lakes Hotel in May 2026, sharing her remarkable story with local business and community leaders after being reappointed chef du mission of the Australian Olympic team for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Read: Proposed Moreton Bay Indoor Sport Centre in Petrie to Proceed for the Olympics

Meares’ path to the role was far from conventional. It is the same position she held in Paris last year, where she oversaw a team spanning 33 sports and guided Australia to a record 18 gold medals at the 2024 Games, the country’s most successful Olympic campaign ever.

Meares told the North Lakes audience that her main job is to problem-solve, and that while she is the spokesperson for the Australian Olympic team, the headline and story must always be about the athletes and their journey.

Adding a local dimension to the occasion, Meares is now a Moreton Bay resident herself. She and her husband moved to Moreton Bay roughly 18 months ago after returning from New Zealand, deliberately searching for somewhere that reminded them of where they grew up and was within a practical distance of Brisbane Airport. They looked around, came close to settling elsewhere, then kept circling back. After a six-week trial living out of a caravan in the community, they were sold. They have not left since.

The lunch was hosted by the Greater Caboolture, Pine Rivers and North Lakes Chambers of Commerce, making Meares’ presence all the more fitting for a region she now calls home.

Meares grew up in Middlemount in central Queensland, where the nearest cycling club was 300 kilometres away in Mackay. Her family eventually relocated to Rockhampton, where they ran a barbecue chicken shop and she found her first coach. An AIS scholarship took her to Adelaide, and from there she built one of the most decorated careers in Australian sport, collecting 18 gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze medals across the Olympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games over 15 years.

Behind those numbers were some brutal setbacks. At 22, Meares crashed at 65 kilometres per hour on a velodrome, breaking her neck, dislocating her shoulder, tearing ligaments and suffering widespread injuries. Seven months later, she stood on an Olympic podium with a silver medal. Her view, shared at the North Lakes event, is that how you interpret a situation shapes the path you take out of it.

Retirement brought its own challenges. Without sport, she admitted, her sense of self took a hit. It was her husband who helped her find direction again, asking her what she would pursue if she set aside fear and expectation. Her answer was immediate: chef du mission for Australia. From deputy at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games to leading the full team in Paris, and now Los Angeles, she has followed through on exactly that.

Read: $180-M Five-Star Resort and Dining Precinct Planned for North Lakes Ahead of 2032 Olympics

Meares had a direct message for local businesses: you do not need to be a large company to play a role in LA 2028. She encouraged Moreton Bay businesses to make themselves known, identify what they can offer, and understand their measure of success in doing so, noting that even small contributions can help the Games run smoothly and improve the experience for Australian athletes.

Published 10-June-2026

North Lakes Cinema to Screen New Breast Cancer Documentary

Moreton Bay residents can attend screenings of Conquering Breast Cancer at Event Cinemas North Lakes. Featuring survivor stories, medical experts and advocates, the documentary aims to raise awareness and encourage greater support for breast cancer prevention, detection and research.

Presented beginning 10 June by filmmaker Sue Collins and produced by impact filmmakers Mike Hill and Sue Collins, the feature-length documentary combines expert medical insight with the personal experiences of survivors, advocates and researchers working to reduce the impact of breast cancer in Australia.

Among those featured are Olympic legend and breast cancer advocate Raelene Boyle AM, MBE, First Nations survivor and mountaineer Kristal Kinsela, male breast cancer survivor and former professional basketballer Paul Maley, and podcaster Dr Charlotte Tottman. The film also includes insights from leading experts including Professor Bruce Mann, Professor Kelly-Anne Phillips and Associate Professor Christine Chaffer.

conquering breast cancer documentary — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

More Than 20,000 Australians Diagnosed Every Year

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Australian women and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer overall.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, more than 20,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Around 56 people receive a diagnosis every day, while more than 3,300 Australians lose their lives to the disease annually — the equivalent of approximately nine deaths every day.

While the majority of cases occur in women over 50, breast cancer also affects younger Australians. Around 1,000 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed each year, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection across all age groups.

The Survivors, Advocates and Experts Behind the Film

Rather than focusing solely on statistics, Conquering Breast Cancer tells the stories of Australians whose lives have been changed by the disease.

The documentary follows survivors, patient advocates and researchers from across the country, exploring everything from diagnosis and treatment to survivorship, recurrence, genetic risk and the emotional impact breast cancer can have on individuals and families.

breast cancer patient — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

The film also highlights the experiences of people living with metastatic breast cancer, as well as Australians making difficult decisions around preventative treatment after discovering they are at high genetic risk of developing the disease.

Early Detection Remains One of the Strongest Defences

A central theme throughout the documentary is the importance of prevention and early detection.

Medical experts featured in the film discuss advances in screening technologies, personalised risk assessment, targeted therapies and clinical trials that are helping improve outcomes for patients.

While Australia has achieved five-year survival rates of more than 90 per cent, the filmmakers argue that breast cancer is far from solved and that ongoing investment in research, screening programs and access to treatment remains essential.

The documentary also examines how researchers are working towards reducing recurrence rates and improving long-term outcomes for those who have already undergone treatment.

researchers working on breast cancer improvements — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

The Growing Impact on Australian Families and Communities

Beyond the personal toll, breast cancer continues to have a significant impact on communities across Australia.

More than 160,000 Australians are currently living after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis within the past decade. Research has also shown the disease carries substantial social and economic costs, affecting workforce participation, family wellbeing and quality of life.

breast cancer warriors and supporters — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

The filmmakers hope the documentary will encourage more Australians to understand their personal risk, participate in recommended screening programs and support ongoing efforts to improve prevention, treatment and research.

As the third instalment in the Conquering Cancer documentary series, Conquering Breast Cancer aims to start conversations, challenge complacency and highlight both the progress that has been made and the work that still lies ahead.

For more information and session times, visit ConqueringBreastCancer.com.au.

Published 9-June-2026

Griffin Childcare Centre Changes Hands in $7.7 Million Deal

Stonebridge Property

A private investor has paid $7.7 million for the Goodstart Early Learning centre, in a deal that drew more than 135 enquiries and reflects strong investor demand for childcare property in Brisbane’s northern growth corridor.

The sale was brokered by Stonebridge Property Group and completed via an on-market campaign in June 2026 after initially launching as part of a National Portfolio Auction campaign in March. The transaction settled at a yield of 5.30 per cent, which agents described as a benchmark result for the childcare asset class in the current market.

For families in Griffin, the sale changes nothing about the centre’s day-to-day operations. Goodstart Early Learning continues as tenant under a 15-year net lease running to 2035, with options extending to 2055 and CPI-linked annual rent increases built in throughout.

A centre designed for a suburb that needed it

The Griffin Goodstart centre was purpose-built in 2021 specifically to address an undersupply of childcare places in the suburb. At the time it was developed, Griffin had approximately 3.3 children aged between zero and five for every available childcare place, a ratio that signals significant unmet demand.

The 110-place facility sits on a 2,405 square metre landholding with 27 car parks and nearly 79 metres of dual street frontage. Its position directly opposite Griffin State Primary School was a deliberate development decision, creating a natural pathway for families moving between early learning and primary education on the same street.

Griffin State Primary School recently completed a $22 million extension bringing its capacity to 1,159 students, a figure that underscores how rapidly the suburb has grown since the Goodstart centre was built.

Griffin’s growth story is not slowing down

Griffin sits roughly 23 kilometres north of Brisbane’s CBD and has been one of the faster-growing suburbs in the Moreton Bay region for the past decade.

Population forecasts put growth in the immediate area at more than 61 per cent between now and 2046, a trajectory that makes infrastructure assets with long lease terms particularly attractive to investors looking for passive income in a growing catchment.

The suburb currently has a new Woolworths-anchored retail centre under construction approximately 450 metres from the Goodstart site, and is within 1.2 kilometres of Westfield North Lakes.

What Goodstart is, beyond a property investment

Goodstart Early Learning is Australia’s largest not-for-profit early learning provider, operating more than 677 centres nationwide and supporting around 64,000 children each year.

It was formed in 2009 when a consortium including Brotherhood of St Laurence, Mission Australia, The Benevolent Society and Social Ventures Australia acquired the former ABC Learning network after its collapse.

In the 2025 financial year, Goodstart delivered a solid surplus of $28.9 million, which it reinvested into quality improvements, safety upgrades and centre network expansion rather than distributing as profit.

The Griffin centre’s structure as a net lease means Goodstart pays rates, insurance, general repairs and maintenance, and land tax, keeping the investment fully passive for the new owner.

For enrolment enquiries at the Griffin centre, contact Goodstart here or on 1800 222 543.

Published 4-June-2026

Moreton Bay Koala Work Turns To Thermal Drone Surveys

Photo Credit: Save the Koalas and Wallabies of White's Hill/Facebook

North Lakes locals are close to a wider Moreton Bay conservation effort, with a koala population study now using thermal drones, detection dogs and scat analysis to better understand local koala populations.

A Closer Look At Koala Populations

A koala population study is underway in selected Moreton Bay reserves, bringing together drone technology and ground-based surveys to collect information about local koalas.

The work is being supported by the University of the Sunshine Coast and is intended to help improve knowledge of koala population dynamics in parks and reserves. The information gathered will later guide conservation work in the areas being surveyed.

Thermal-camera drones are being flown over specific reserve areas in a systematic scanning pattern. The drones are used to help detect koalas from above before field personnel and detection dogs conduct follow-up scat surveys on the ground.

The scat samples collected during the field work will be analysed to assess koala health and demographics. This will help build a more detailed understanding of koalas in the surveyed areas, including information beyond their location.

koala population study — Photo Credit: Save the Koalas and Wallabies of White’s Hill/Facebook

Survey Work Runs Through Selected Reserves

The confirmed survey locations are Murrumba Downs, Kallangur, Strathpine, Petrie, Lawnton, Whiteside and Joyner.

The work is scheduled to continue until 11 June 2026, weather permitting. Survey activity is being carried out between 10pm and 5am, with drone flights followed by ground-based checks where required.

At this stage, the project is still collecting data. No findings have been released about koala numbers, distribution or health, and the results are expected later this year.

koala habitat — Photo Credit: Save the Koalas and Wallabies of White’s Hill/Facebook

Data To Guide Habitat And Movement Measures

Once the results are analysed, they may help inform future koala conservation projects. These may include vegetation and habitat assessments, weed control, infill planting, disease management, koala hatches, underpasses and exclusion fencing.

The study is aimed at filling gaps in knowledge about koalas in selected parks and reserves. By using thermal drones first and detection dogs on the ground, the project can combine wider aerial scanning with targeted sample collection.

The findings will not be known until the analysis is complete. The survey work marks an early but important step in understanding how koalas are using parts of Moreton Bay and what future conservation work may need to address.

Published 1-June-2026

Lakes Knights Complete Hat-Trick With Australian Community Club of the Year Win

The Lakes Knights Cricket Club/Facebook

The Lakes Knights Cricket Club has achieved a stunning national hat-trick, sweeping three tiers of community awards in a single season to claim the titles of Brisbane North, Queensland, and now Australian Community Club of the Year. The Knights beat out more than 3,500 cricket clubs across the country to take the top spot.

It is the kind of achievement that takes years to build and a moment to announce. For the Knights, based in North Lakes and playing across fields in Woodside, Burpengary, Newport, and several local schools, the national award caps a four-year stretch that has seen the club transform from a modest suburban outfit into one of the most talked-about grassroots cricket communities in the country.

Club president Daniel Moyle found out about the national win in the most unlikely of circumstances. “It was pretty exciting,” he says. “We were actually told while filming for the Queensland award and had to keep the secret!”

A club that grew when it needed to

North Lakes has grown fast. It is a suburb built over the last two decades on what was mostly farmland, and the sporting infrastructure has had to catch up with the population at pace. The Knights have been part of that story since the start, and the numbers tell their own tale: four years ago, the club had around 240 registered players. Today, that figure sits at more than 700.

Photo Credit: The Lakes Knights Cricket Club/Facebook

That growth is not accidental. The club recently merged with the Burpengary Brumbies, expanding its footprint into a broader regional cricket hub and strengthening the pathway for junior players from Under 10s right through to the senior ranks.

The merger has added teams, coaches, and development opportunities while preserving the tight-knit community feel that made both clubs work in the first place.

Demand has exploded so quickly that the club had to cap its winter competition teams at seven due to a severe shortage of available pitches, turning away more than 50 players who wanted to lace up. For a volunteer-run community club, that is an extraordinary position to be in.

“Our growth has been phenomenal,” Moyle says, “but as with every sport, keeping people interested in that sport is so important.”

Volunteers who made it happen

Cricket Australia’s recognition came via the Toyota Community Cricket Club of the Year award, a flagship category of the national body’s annual Community Cricket Awards, now in their 10th year. The award recognises clubs that demonstrate sustainable growth, strong governance, community spirit, and a fierce commitment to inclusive participation.

James Allsopp, Cricket Australia’s Chief of Cricket, praised the club’s holistic approach to building a community. “The Lakes Knights Cricket Club embodies the absolute best qualities of grassroots cricket,” Allsopp said. “They’ve created a strong, vibrant environment for all members of the family to participate in the sport they love, while heavily giving back to the broader community through initiatives like Clean Up Australia Day.”

Max Parsons, from the Brisbane North Junior Cricket Association, offered a tribute to the people behind the scenes. “The club doesn’t just aspire to be welcoming and inclusive. It lives these values through its everyday actions in the club and wider community. This is just reward for the hard-working committee members and volunteers of the club.”

Daniel Kearney, Head of Participation and Club Development at Queensland Cricket, added that the state body is “extremely proud of the work The Lakes Knights and so many clubs around the state do,” noting that Moyle and his team of volunteers had “fostered some incredible growth in a rapidly expanding community.”

The club’s involvement in Clean Up Australia Day is just one example of that broader community ethic. Membership fees are deliberately kept low to reduce financial barriers for local families, with the club actively redirecting what it saves on infrastructure costs straight back into gear, coaching, and player development.

“We keep our prices quite low. We understand pressures on people,” Moyle says, “and with not a lot of infrastructure, more is spent on equipment, coaching and developing players.”

A ground to grow into

The one piece still missing from the puzzle is a permanent home. The Knights currently share fields across Woodside, Burpengary, and Newport, alongside school grounds at Bounty Boulevard and Mango Hill State Schools, Deception Bay State High School, North Lakes State College, and Grace Lutheran College in Rothwell. It works, but only just, and the pitch shortage is now actively choking further growth.

Securing a dedicated, permanent ground is the ultimate goal, which Moyle sees as the key to unlocking the next phase of what the club can offer the region. A dedicated facility would allow year-round programming, specialized academies, and winter cricket tailored specifically for younger age groups.

“Having our own ground would allow us to run programs all year round, especially running a winter program for our little ones, or academies,” he says.

For a club that has already outgrown its current footprint while conquering the country on community impact, the argument for a permanent home speaks for itself. The Lakes Knights have proved what they can achieve with borrowed fields and volunteer hours. The next chapter is about building something they can finally call their own.

Families and players interested in joining the Lakes Knights for the upcoming season can find more information here.

Published 25-May-2026

Investigation Underway After Police Allegedly Shoot Man in Narangba

QPS/Facebook

Queensland Police shot and killed a 48-year-old man on Cavill Way in Narangba after officers attending a domestic violence callout allegedly encountered him at the front door of a home armed with a long-arm rifle-related weapon.

First responders rushed to the scene at approximately 12.30am on Sunday 25 May, where the armed confrontation quickly escalated.

Police confirmed the man advanced toward officers after they arrived at the address. Officers gave verbal commands and performed a tactical withdrawal before the man allegedly continued to approach them and made threats. He was subsequently shot. Officers rendered first aid and commenced CPR at the scene, but the man died from his injuries.

The incident is being treated as a death in custody. The Ethical Standards Command is preparing a report for the State Coroner, with oversight from the Crime and Corruption Commission. Investigations remain ongoing.

Family members who were present at the property at the time were treated for shock, police said.

What police said at the scene

Acting Chief Superintendent Kerry Johnson confirmed the incident at a briefing shortly after. He said police were investigating whether the weapon allegedly carried by the man was legally owned. He noted the man was known to police.

“He advanced towards police. They did the verbal commands and then did a tactical withdrawal from the situation,” Acting Chief Superintendent Johnson said.

Johnson said he had no concerns about the actions of the officers involved, and described the situation as one that “can escalate and de-escalate as quickly as possible.”

Queensland Police Union President Shane Prior said the union’s critical response team attended the scene, and would continue to offer support to the officers and their families. Prior indicated that the union alleged the man had a military background.

Photo Credit: Shane Prior – QPUE General President/Facebook

“It would seem, on the facts known, that mental health is going to be very significant in the investigation,” Prior said.

Prior said the union’s view, based on the information available to it at the time, was that the officers’ actions were justified.

Neighbours woken in the early hours

For the residents of Cavill Way, Sunday morning began with unexplained noises and then the realisation something serious had happened close to home.

One neighbour said she noticed a police car arrive at the house and then heard four to six gunshots. “Obviously witnessing that has really shook me up,” she said.

Another neighbour said she was asleep when she heard what she described as banging or popping noises. She initially thought little of it. “It almost sounded like someone was banging on the water tank out the back of our house,” she said. “I didn’t really think anything of it because it’s such a nice neighbourhood around here.”

She also said the incident left her unsettled. “Everyone’s so friendly and so it kind of makes you feel a little better that everyone’s feeling the same.”

The fifth police-involved shooting in Queensland in 2026

The Narangba incident is the fifth police-involved shooting recorded in Queensland so far this year. On 3 March, a 21-year-old man died after being shot by police during a welfare check in Tingalpa. The following day, a man allegedly armed with a firearm was shot in Woombye on the Sunshine Coast following a car crash on the motorway.

On 22 March, police shot a 27-year-old man at a shopping centre in Logan Central, where he was allegedly armed with a knife. On 1 April, a 19-year-old man allegedly armed with a large kitchen knife was shot in Arana Hills in Brisbane’s north and subsequently charged with assaulting an officer.

Each of those incidents, like the Narangba shooting, is subject to separate oversight processes.

Anyone experiencing distress following this incident can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 07 3364 6464. Domestic violence support is available through DVConnect on 1800 811 811, 24 hours a day.

Published 25-May-2026

Petrie Set To Host One of the World’s Most Advanced Computing Projects

A suburb better known for its university campus and train station is now being linked to one of the biggest technology projects on the planet, with Petrie selected as the future home of PsiQuantum’s planned utility-scale quantum computer and Asia-Pacific headquarters.

The project, backed through partnerships involving PsiQuantum, the City of Moreton Bay and the Queensland and Federal governments, is expected to be built at Moreton Bay Central in Petrie. The proposed site sits beside the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus, an area that has steadily grown into a centre for education, research and new industry.

A Global Technology Race Lands In Moreton Bay

Quantum computing has been described by researchers as the next major leap in computing power, with the potential to solve problems that current supercomputers would struggle to process. PsiQuantum is among a small group of companies worldwide working to build a machine capable of operating at a large commercial scale.

The Australian project forms part of a broader push to strengthen the country’s role in advanced technology and manufacturing. The company’s earlier plans centred on Brisbane Airport before attention shifted north to Petrie and the Moreton Bay region.

In statements released by the City of Moreton Bay and PsiQuantum, both organisations pointed to Petrie’s growing infrastructure, transport access and links to education and research institutions as major reasons behind the move.

The project still needs to pass Council approval and land processes before construction can move ahead. If approved, the project would place Moreton Bay alongside a short list of international locations connected to the global race to build practical quantum computers.

Petrie’s University Precinct Draws International Attention

The choice of Petrie reflects how quickly the area around Moreton Bay Central has changed over the past decade. Once dominated by former paper mill land, the precinct now includes university facilities, commercial developments and expanding transport links connected to Brisbane’s northern corridor.

The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus has become one of the region’s fastest-growing education sites, with local leaders hoping the quantum computing project could help create stronger pathways between universities, research groups and private industry.

The development could help attract advanced manufacturing businesses and specialist suppliers into the region over time.

PsiQuantum has also signalled plans to work alongside Australian universities and researchers as the project develops. The company previously partnered with government agencies and academic institutions during earlier phases of its Australian expansion.

Jobs, Construction And Long-Term Growth For Locals

Local leaders believe the development could reshape employment opportunities across Moreton Bay over the coming years, particularly in engineering, construction, advanced manufacturing and technology.

Statements from Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery described the proposal as one of the largest technology projects ever connected to the region, with expectations it could support thousands of skilled jobs both during and after construction.

While many of the long-term technical roles would require specialised training, large infrastructure projects of this scale also tend to create demand across local businesses, hospitality, transport and support services.

Australia’s Quantum Industry Continues To Expand

Quantum computing has become an increasingly competitive global industry, with governments and private companies investing heavily in research centres, chip manufacturing and specialist talent.

A Queensland Government statement confirmed significant state and federal support connected to PsiQuantum’s Australian operations, reflecting growing interest in keeping high-level technology development within Australia.

Industry experts believe quantum systems could eventually assist with medical research, logistics, climate modelling, cybersecurity and energy systems, although large-scale commercial use is still years away.

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Local Developer Lodges Grand Plans for Luxury Hotel and Retail Hub at North Lakes

Photo Credit: Comiskey

A local hospitality heavyweight is set to reshape the North Lakes central business district with a massive 180-million-dollar five-star hotel and commercial hub designed to give residents a premium lifestyle destination right on their doorstep.

The proposed development aims to bring a luxurious, resort-style atmosphere to a long-vacant local site. Spanning nearly two hectares, the project will feature a nine-storey luxury hotel towering above a vibrant public precinct.

Planners have designed the ground level to serve as a community gathering space, incorporating a leafy central plaza, a large tavern, boutique retail shops, and a swimming pool. The goal is to replicate the bustling, high-end feel of popular urban dining and shopping strips, creating an area where locals can socialise, shop, and relax without leaving their neighbourhood.

The project blends high-end accommodation with practical commercial spaces to boost the local economy. The upper levels of the main building will house 141 five-star hotel rooms and suites, supported by first-floor function spaces and administration offices. Right next door, a separate three-storey mixed-use building will cater to commercial businesses and retail.

To keep up with the expected influx of visitors and workers, the plans outline a massive parking network, including two levels of basement parking for hotel guests and hundreds of additional spaces dedicated to the commercial precinct, alongside dozens of secure bicycle racks.

The development application recently went before the Moreton Bay City Council following an initial project announcement late last year. The developer, a well-known family-owned group based right in the Moreton Bay region, is drawing on decades of local experience for this build.

While the group previously missed out on a tender for the same North Lakes site nearly a decade ago, management noted that the delay allowed them to return with a vastly superior, more mature design. The company has a long history of establishing major local landmarks, with a portfolio that includes the Eatons Hill, Sandstone Point, and Dakabin hotels, as well as an active 50-million-dollar country club build in nearby Strathpine.

Published Date 20-May-2026

Old Petrie Town Revival Mirrors Petrie’s Changing Identity

Photo Credit: Peter Akers/Google Maps

For years, Old Petrie Town stood as a reminder of the suburb Petrie used to be — practical, familiar and shaped by its industrial past. Now, as restoration works move ahead across the historic village, the site is becoming part of a much bigger story unfolding north of Brisbane, where Petrie has steadily shifted from a commuter suburb into one of Moreton Bay’s fastest-changing education and lifestyle precincts.

A Suburb Once Defined by the Paper Mill

Long before the arrival of university students and new commercial developments, Petrie was closely tied to the Australian Paper Mill, which operated beside the North Pine River for decades. The mill shaped the local economy and identity until its closure in 2011 left behind a massive industrial site near Petrie railway station.

What followed was one of the largest redevelopment projects in the region.

The Queensland Government later declared the area a Priority Development Area, paving the way for what is now known as Moreton Bay Central. The project spans hundreds of hectares and includes public spaces, commercial land, future housing and the growing UniSC Moreton Bay campus.

This period marked the first major shift in how Petrie was being viewed.

Moreton Bay Central
Photo Credit: EDQ QLD

UniSC Changed More Than the Skyline

When the University of the Sunshine Coast opened its Moreton Bay campus in 2020, the suburb began attracting a different mix of people. Students, researchers, hospitality businesses and new residents started moving through an area once known mainly for train commuters and passing traffic.

The campus has continued expanding, with three major buildings added in 2024, including health, engineering and research facilities.

That growth has flowed into surrounding suburbs including Kallangur, Lawnton and North Lakes, where increased demand for housing and local businesses has followed the area’s population growth.

New student accommodation proposals and upgrades around the lake precinct have added to the sense that Petrie is no longer developing around a single project, but through several layers of change happening at once.

Old Petrie Town Finds a New Place in the Story

Against that backdrop, Old Petrie Town has taken on fresh importance.

City of Moreton Bay has committed millions of dollars towards restoration and maintenance works across the heritage village, including upgrades to ageing buildings, infrastructure repairs and improvements to public areas. The council has also flagged plans to refurbish the Heritage Hotel and Function Centre following the retirement of its long-term leaseholder.

The village has remained a regular stop for markets, weddings, school excursions and community events over the years, even as the surrounding suburb changed around it.

Rather than removing the area’s older identity, the current works aim to keep one of Petrie’s best-known landmarks active while newer developments continue reshaping the district.

Council statements linked the project to preserving the site’s historical value while improving the visitor experience and supporting future tourism activity.

Growth Around Petrie Starts Reaching Further North

The changes taking place in Petrie are also being felt across the northern corridor, particularly in North Lakes, where population growth and transport links have increasingly tied the suburbs together.

Petrie railway station remains a key connection point for workers and students travelling between Brisbane and Moreton Bay, while nearby road upgrades and commercial investment have continued drawing attention to the area.

The transformation has not arrived in the same way as masterplanned suburbs like North Lakes, which expanded rapidly over a shorter period. Petrie’s shift has happened gradually through redevelopment, education investment, public infrastructure and community projects spread over several years.

That slower pace has made the changes less dramatic day-to-day, but more noticeable over time.

A Different Future Taking Shape

Old Petrie Town still looks much the same in many places, with heritage buildings, market stalls and timber shopfronts remaining central to the site’s character. But around it, the suburb has entered a very different chapter from the one many long-term residents remember.

Between the university expansion, redevelopment of the former mill land and continued investment in community spaces, Petrie has become one of the region’s most closely watched growth areas.

The work now happening at Old Petrie Town reflects that broader shift — not replacing the suburb’s past, but finding a place for it inside a rapidly changing part of Moreton Bay.

Published 20-May-2026

Quarter-Million Dollar Win Sparks Mortgage-Free Celebration in Warner

Photo Credit: Pexels

A lucky Warner resident has achieved the ultimate Australian dream of housing security after winning a massive quarter of a million dollar windfall.

The Moreton Bay local bought her winning twenty dollar ticket from Nextra Warner, located inside the Warner Village Shopping Centre on Samsonvale Road.

She discovered the win recently but kept the valuable ticket hidden away safely at home for a week before she felt ready to officially come forward. The local winner admitted to feeling quite anxious during that week of waiting, but her nerves finally began to ease after she travelled to the headquarters to formally secure her prize money.

The resident explained that the reality of the windfall would truly sink in only when the funds officially landed in her bank account. With the prize money secured, she plans to completely pay off her home loan much earlier than she ever expected, and she hopes to use the leftover funds to take her family on a well-deserved holiday. Russell Went, the owner of Nextra Warner, expressed immense excitement over selling the top prize ticket to a local customer.

He noted that his business has a long history of bringing luck to the community, having previously sold multiple major winning tickets over the years, including a major division prize worth three-quarters of a million dollars.

The recent local win highlights the broader economic footprint of these games across the country. In 2025 alone, players across Australia won a combined total of more than 3.93 billion dollars in prize money across various official lottery games. Beyond making individual winners happy, these games also channel significant funding back into the public sector.

During the last financial year, official Australian lotteries generated more than 1.66 billion dollars through state taxes and direct donations. This money is used to support vital community services nationwide, including funding public hospitals, backing medical research, providing disaster relief, and boosting education. The organization also supports Play For Purpose, a charitable raffle that helps raise money for hundreds of different good causes across Australia.

Published Date 17-May-2026