Newstead parmis, Wilston beers: Brisbane sweeps ‘best of’ Queensland competition with seven winners

The winners of Queensland Day’s “best of” competition have been announced, with Brisbane locals claiming about half the winning spots.

The All the Best program invited Queenslanders to give a shoutout for local businesses, attractions, places to visit and food and drink, with more than 61,000 votes registered across 15 categories.

Slipstream Brewing in Yeerongpilly was voted best pub in the Queensland Day “All the Best” awards.Credit: Slipstream Brewing

While no awards are going to those who guessed the state’s best landmark would be the Story Bridge – despite the threat of concrete chunks falling off the iconic structure – and the Great Barrier Reef would claim honours as the top natural attraction, the list offered some surprises.

Wilston brewery Archer Brewing’s Queensland Pale Ale pipped the well-established XXXX Gold and Slipstream Brewing Company’s Billy Cart Pale Ale for the state’s favourite beer.

Slipstream Brewing did claim its own top spot, with the Yeerongpilly brewery and pub claiming status as the best Queensland pub, while the best parmigiana could be found at the Newstead Gasworks, on Botany’s menu.

Perhaps most shockingly, the Ekka was passed up as the best event, with Townsville’s India Fest receiving the honour. Brisbane’s Paniyiri Greek Festival received an honourable mention, alongside central Queensland’s Alpha races.

The Story Bridge was voted best Queensland landmark. The bridge’s footpaths have been closed since March 5.Credit: Courtney Kruk

And with cold winter mornings finally arriving in the Sunshine State, Brisbanites can be assured that the best coffee is close at hand in Bowen Hills, at roastery and cafe The Coffee Commune.

Shari Wilding from The Coffee Commune said they were pleased and humbled that Queenslanders had voted for them.

“It’s really great to stand amongst other Queensland businesses who are going out there and giving it a good try,” she said.

Slipstream Brewing director Elisa Stanley-Hunt said the award for Best Pub came in the wake of them being named Champion Small Australian Brewery at the Australian International Beer Awards last month.

“We’re celebrating our eighth birthday tomorrow with a big party here, so it might even be a bigger party after this announcement,” she said.

The competition is designed to boost interest in Queensland Day.

Five “local legends” were also announced, championing people for notable community contributions, including fundraising, natural disaster aid, and running support organisations.

Queensland’s ‘best of’ winners

Fish and chips – Bird’s Fish Bar (Bowen)

Meat pie – Blackbutt Bakery (Blackbutt)

Parmi – Botany (Newstead)

Banh mi – My Street Food (Woolloongabba)

Ice cream – Rad Rolled Ice Cream (Hervey Bay)

Burger – Mr Jeebus (Tingalpa)

Beer – Qld Pale Ale by Archer Brewing Company (Wilston)

Pub – Slipstream Brewery Co (Yeerongpilly)

Cafe – Dorney’s Cake Shop (Chinchilla)

Coffee – The Coffee Commune (Bowen Hills)

Event – India Fest (Townsville)

Big thing – Big Mango (Bowen)

Beach – Coolum Beach (Sunshine Coast)

Landmark – The Story Bridge (Brisbane)

Natural attraction – Great Barrier Reef

“Queensland Day is a day to honour our state and to celebrate who we are as Queenslanders and all the things that make it such a great place to live,” Premier David Crisafulli said.

However, when asked by this masthead if the premier would consider introducing a Queensland Day public holiday, the government was evasive.

Crisafulli again dodged the question when asked by 4BC’s Peter Fegan, saying the anniversary would fall on a weekend across the next two years.

“I promise you this, Peter, for the next two years, you won’t have to work,” Crisafulli said.

The date marks Queensland’s independence from the colony of New South Wales in 1859.

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