Residents in a huff over elite school’s ‘monstrosity’

Residents of one of Brisbane’s ritziest suburbs are appalled by what they’ve seen built at a nearby private school, likening it to a garish Ikea store and a “greedy, obscene, bigger is better statement”. SEE THE PHOTO

St Margaret’s new sports complex under construction. Picture: Richard Walker

BOX FROM HELL

They liken it to a big blue box from hell.

A bunch of Brisbane residents are appalled that a new gymnasium under construction in their Ascot street looks like a garish Ikea store.

St Margaret’s most outstanding former students

The building on Butler Street, featuring large blue panels, is part of a sports complex for the students at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School.

Homeowner Elizabeth Sligo told City Beat on Monday that she and her neighbours have contacted the school to request they have the colour changed to something less gaudy, such as plain white.

Part of St Margaret’s sports complex.

She says she has yet to receive a reply to multiple emails sent to the school, which kicked off work in late 2018 on the sporting precinct set to include a pool and tennis courts.

To rally support from her neighbours and encourage them to lodge complaints with the school, Sligo penned and distributed a scathing one-page flyer last week about the building.

She slammed it as an “unsightly circus blue monstrosity’’ that looks nothing like the artists impressions originally presented.

The new building does seem a little different to some others at the site. Picture: Heather Faulkner

“How did anyone possibly think that it was a good idea to replicate an Ikea warehouse in the midst of our residential properties in Butler Street?,’’ she asked.

“It is extremely unfortunate that the ugly gymnasium will be the first impression that the public will see when arriving at the school from Sandgate Road … It is a greedy, obscene, bigger is better statement.’’

St Margaret's principal Ros Curtis has not commented on the backlash. Picture: Peter Cronin

St Margaret’s principal Ros Curtis, who earlier this year oversaw celebrations for the school’s 125th birthday, did not return a call seeking comment.

But her spin doctor noted the sports centre is still a work in progress, while refusing to say whether any changes would be made to the gym’s colour.

“The school can assure residents that all construction is in accordance with existing approvals. It should be noted that landscaping and other aesthetics are yet to be completed,’’ she said.

“The area is still very much a construction site, and this is just one aspect of the overall sports precinct design.’’

STOLEN CAR

A blackened carcass is all that remains of Patrick Dixon’s beloved Audi A6 Allroad station wagon.

The long-time Brisbane real estate player had racked up 235,000 km on the 10-year-old vehicle before it disappeared on the evening of Good Friday.

Thieves knicked the car from the driveway of his Currumbin holiday home, dumping two sets of surf skis and golf clubs at a nearby industrial estate before disappearing.

His wallet, keys and prescription glasses were also inside so he’s had to go through the time-consuming hassle of cancelling and replacing all those little bits of plastic we depend on.

The wreck of Patrick Dixon’s stolen car

Making matters worse, he’s received four speeding fines courtesy of the grubs, who decided it was a good idea to spray paint the vehicle body black and the lights red.

But their luck ran out earlier this month, when police gave chase and managed to twice spike the tires. That didn’t stop the couple in the car, who drove another 32 km on the rims from Coolangatta to Murwillumbah before they were arrested.

Dixon told us on Monday that he managed to recover one set of surf skis and one set of golf clubs so it’s not a total loss.

He only got a paltry insurance payout but is hoping to snare a good deal on a new Audi before the end of the financial year.

“You haven’t got to look far to find people a lot worse off than me but it’s still a pain,’’ he said.