From Hardgrave Road to Torbreck

West End was my home for 4 years and it has always been one of the most important parts of Brisbane for me.

It was a place where you could feel at home even when you felt a little crazy, because West End was the kind of suburb where EVERYONE was accepted, its openness and community spirit was what made it great. Also when I lived there it was a place where the Coles supermarket had run at a loss for years because everyone preferred to shop at the small vendors as they had better products and better prices.

 Once, I remember walking past one of the halfway houses for people with mental disorders and a whole group of guys was in the backyard watching while one mowed the lawn. This girl from the suburbs walked past in a black t-shirt that said MENTAL across the bust and all of the guys just cracked up laughing. 

It was a suburb you never really needed to leave for anything. And if you wanted to not run into anyone, you would have to take long elaborate routes to get into the city just to avoid the main street. 

This was six years ago, so I am wondering how all the new development and bars have affected the area. I was interviewing one of the key figures in local publishing for my first interview, who greeted me rather stylishly in a bow tie. Not disimilar to his earlier outfit when he first got into advertising. 

After scouring the area for a few more contacts and some really helpful information from locals and everyone alike I headed for my final interview in Torbreck. Recently flooded the ground floor smelt like a wet and mouldy rag. I always find it intriguing when places of decadence are in a state of decay. 

This photograph was there with some information about the building, it is a cut out photograph stuck onto an old image of Brisbane. Its original plans were quite extravagant according to the heritage register - 

"Due to spiralling construction costs and/or lack of Brisbane City Council approval, some of the more elaborate aspects of the scheme had to be abandoned: shopping facilities and professional suites at ground level; basement laundry service; a top-class restaurant offering room service; a terrace cafe; roof and indoor gardens; and a tennis court, putting green and fully equipped children's playground. A planned rooftop observation lounge translated as an enclosed rooftop viewing deck."

There is a pdf with all the news about it in the day here and a host of stories about the building as told by former residents here