In this episode I sit down with my old friend, Ben Sung. A lifelong Sunnybank (well, Robertson) resident, Ben shares insights into growing up in Sunnybank as an Asian Australian person, his pet peeves (mow your lawns and tend to your gardens!) and the auspiciousness around the suburb and why so many have flocked there.  

I can't believe it either. This episode I sit down with Aussie TV and radio legend, Matt O'Kine, as we discuss the experience of returning to Brisbane in late stage covid, and an honest analysis of what the city needs to achieve its potential. I invite you to listen to this one with curiosity and an open mind. Thanks folks!

Welcome back to Brisbados, the show where we explore the stories, streets, and soul of Brisbane in sunny Queensland :)

In this episode, we’re heading to one of the city’s most storied and spirited suburbs: West End. Renowned for its mix of cultures, artists, activists, and long-time locals, West End has always been a place where identity and community are deeply felt. But like much of Brisbane, it’s also a place facing rapid development and transformation.

To help us understand what makes West End special — and what’s at stake as it changes — I spoke with Maeve Lejeune, creator of the Houses of West End project and part of the West End Community Association (WECA), a voluntary organisation dedicated to keeping West End's character alive.

Maeve grew up in the area after her parents bought there in the 80s, and has been documenting the character of its homes and the people who’ve lived in them — a kind of living archive of the suburb’s personality, before and after the cranes arrived.

We talk about growing up in West End before 2018, what makes the area feel like home, and how its identity is shifting. 

Check out WECA and consider donating here: https://www.weca.org.au/

Looks like Kurilpa Derby is on 8 Sep 2025 this year :)

Check out Houses of West End on IG: @housesofwestend

And online: https://flingoprojects.com/houses-of-west-end 

Enjoy!

This is our first episode! Come along as I contextualise Brisbane against its older sisters, Sydney (glam) and Melbourne (cool). 

Under 90 secs on what Brisbados is about and why were here - going from a simple small town to becoming *itself*, beyond the glitz and glam that southerners have brought us. More to come!