Wing Fury grounded as taxman chases popular chicken eatery

A liquidator has been appointed to a popular Clayfield eatery that specialised in southern style chicken and pizzas, much to the ire of hungry locals.

A number of popular food retailers have closed recently in Clayfield. Picture: Craig Whitehead

A liquidator has been appointed to a popular Clayfield eatery whose southern style chicken attracted a loyal following from locals.

Travis Pullen, of B&T Advisory, has been appointed liquidator of Wing Fury that announced last month it was closing its doors despite a loyal local following.

Pullen in a report lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) noted the restaurant owes almost $200,000 including $102,000 to the tax man and smaller amounts to food and drink suppliers.

The eatery of Junction Rd announced its sudden closure on Facebook on June 28 with hundreds of locals expressing disappointment. The restaurant won the People’s Choice Award at the Australian Buffalo Wing Festival in 2018.

Wing Fury specialised in buffalo wings.

“I’m gutted by this, you guys have been amazing. You got us through the uncertain times of Covid outbreaks, lockdowns etc and always came through with the goods,” Andrew Higgins posted. “I dread to think of a future without your cheesy fries.’’

Another local said: “We loved your chicken wings and always supported you, so sorry to hear you guys are closing.”

It has been a tough time for restaurants around the state over the past couple of years with the impact of Covid-19 being followed by labour shortages and supply chain disruptions.

The loss of Wing Fury is the latest blow to Clayfield locals after the closure of the nearby Clayfield Market Meats and Brumby’s Bakery.

CHINA THAW

Good to see relations with our biggest trading partner starting to thaw. A special musical performance hosted by the new Chinese Consul General Dr Ruan Zongze will be held at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre next Wednesday, July 13, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canberra and Beijing.

Old-timers will recall the Whitlam Government established diplomatic relations in 1972 with an Australian embassy opened in Beijing, then called Peking, the same year.

In more recent years, relations between the two nations have been frosty to say the least, not helped by some in Australia wanting to make political capital out of the situation.

The new Albanese Government thankfully has taken a more sensible approach with some early attempts to improve relations.

Tensions will no doubt remain over issues such as the Pacific, but no one wins from the previous situation where both sides were not talking, especially Queensland businesses looking to trade with what is now the world’s second biggest economy.

Ruan (illustrated), who took up his appointment in June, is the fifth consul-general of the People’s Republic of China in Brisbane.

BUILDING TIES

National architecture practice DesignInc has joined with Brisbane-based Trapp Architects to build on its existing network of studios in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

City Beat hears the tie up has been a relationship long in the making with both firms working on projects across Australia for more than five years.

Trapp managing director Di Lund will join the DesignInc board as part of the deal with the combined firm having 250 professionals around Australia.

Trapp has worked on large scale commercial and industrial development as well as retail projects such at 15 James St in Brisbane.

Former QIC boss Damien Frawley. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

FRAWLEY GIG

Veteran Queensland executive and rugby great Damien Frawley has been appointed independent chair of superannuation giant Hostplus.

Frawley, who replaces David Elmslie, was most recently chief executive of the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), following a three-decade career at Merrill Lynch Investment Management, Barclays Global Investors and Citibank.

Frawley says it’s a great honour to be appointed chair of Hostplus, which has more than 1.5 million members and manages almost $90bn.

Hostplus co-deputy chairs Tim Lyons and Craig Laundy, says Frawley’s appointment will add incredible depth and breadth of experience to the board.