The Clock Starts … NOW!

Do you like working as a team? Do you like puzzles and mind games? If you answered yes then you’ve got to have a go at the new craze of Escape Room games.

Escape Rooms have become a worldwide phenomenon and even international travel guides like Fodor’s provide reviews and a top ten listing of the world’s best. What exactly is an “Escape Room Game”? According to Fodor’s website, they began as interactive video games in 2004 and were brought to life in Japan around 2007. Since then their popularity exploded and they can be found in cities throughout the world.

Escape Rooms are still interactive games and they are often themed – Egyptian mystery; Sherlock Holmes murder etc. You work as a team of two or more to solve a variety of puzzles (including Sudoku and maths puzzles) that lead to clues which steer you towards a key or door to escape the room. You usually have around an hour to work your way through the mystery. However, you won’t get trapped because each group has a guide watching and providing helpful hints and encouragement.

All in all, it’s a great experience; fun, challenging and something that appeals to all ages. Perfect for parties, school holidays, staff team building and just for fun.

Some people even have a bucket list of Escape Rooms around the world.

Here in Toowoomba we have our very own “Tick Tock Escape Room” at 195 Margaret Street. There are two escape experiences: The Cabin which is set in a dark forest and Room 204 where you are a private detective solving a mystery. Be warned, once you start – you might get addicted!

LAST weekend I was lucky enough to escape to the Sunshine Coast (finally) for a much-needed break.

While there, I was able to catch up with some friends who own a beautiful house backing onto a canal and inevitably our conversation turned to the local real estate market.

From all reports it’s booming and as we drove home and saw the many new developments popping up around the area, I’d have to agree.

Without a doubt, the massive University Hospital precinct around Birtinya/kawana has been a huge catalyst in the explosion of the area.

Critical infrastructure brings jobs, the staff filling these jobs need accommodation and communities instantly grow as a result. As the population increases, so do services and industry, shopping centres are needed, parklands and leisure facilities follow as well.

It’s great urban progression and everyone benefits.

You’re probably thinking: “Yeah, but that’s the coast, it’s different here in Toowoomba”.

Is it?

Don’t forget, we have our very own Birtinya in waiting. Darling Downs Health is producing a business case for a new Toowoomba Hospital to be built and that’s extremely exciting news for us all, – especially for the suburbs of Rockville, Wilsonton Heights and Cranley.

Pending government approval, the hospital will stand on the old Baillie Henderson site and this will bring huge gentrification to the area.

As I said, jobs bring people to fill the roles – professional people. So, whether they’re buying or renting in the area, they’ll want a certain level of accommodation.

This means quality homes will be in high demand and extensive renovations will begin transforming neighbourhoods. Knock downs and new builds may become common.

I’m certainly looking forward to the turning of that first sod for the new hospital.

Not only will it be the green light for more world-class health care in Toowoomba, it will also signal a new era of metamorphous for the north western corner of our great city.