I basically grew up at the Stafford Skate Centre. It's "Skate 'N' Blade" signage at the front of the building always made me feel tough, even if I was nine, wearing a helmet, sweat bands around my wrists and pads around my knees. I'm still not crash hot at skating, but boy, do I love being out there on the rink. Armour and all. More than 15 years on, I'm glad to see that nothing has changed. The candy bar is still in the business of keeping kids bouncing off the walls, and the whole place seems to be run by 15 year olds. They've added in a few additions like 'learning how to skate 'n' blade' classes which are held on Saturday mornings and Wednesday nights which are only $10 for an hour lesson. Score! Skate hire is $2.50 and blade hire is $3.50. It's cheap, and it's unabashedly old school. There is no doubt in my mind that they still put the strobe lights on of a night time and play classics like "I will survive". Lets' not forget the overexcited announcer directing everyone on the rink with shout outs like "Ok! Now, everyone, when the music stops, we're going to reverse! ONE....TWO.....THREE...REVERSE!!". The young and agile glide in the opposite direction, and the crusty and rigid like myself just continue to slowly roll along and squat until they can stop themselves with their hands. Despite my obvious lack of skill, skating is one of my favourite past times. There's nothing quite like going back to your childhood haunt after 15 years and still finding yourself doing the same things you did back then. Yes, I left there today with a packet of clinkers, just like I did when I was 9. read more

Stafford Skate Centre - Skating Rinks Near Me - Stafford, QLD

Yep, this place is dripping in my childhood from when I was a little'un unable to stand up straight in a pair of skates to when I thought I was a really cool rollerblading aficionado. I remember getting so angsty about the group activities/competitions like red rover because I so desperately wanted to win or at least, be as cool as my brother who was already miles ahead of me. Alas, I always fell behind but enjoyed myself regardless. My favourite times in this skating ring were freetime where they would play some awesomely relevant song like Hit Me Baby One More Time or Backstreet's Back and I would jive a little as I skirted the edge of the rink, careful to avoid falling and bringing down three other people with me. My high school used to love including this place in a list of appropriate venues for sports activities, and even then I was overly enthusiastic to go. Such fond memories. And then my friends and I would sneak off to get snacks and drinks and then gaze in wonder at the professional rollerblades and skates inside glass cabinets, signed by people we had never heard of. Stafford Skate Centre is the perfect venue for group activities because there's room for hours of endless fun. Who's have thought that skating in a circle for hours could be so entertaining? But there you go. You can hire skates and blades or bring your own. This place has a massive car park to accommodate the influx of visitors - particularly during school holidays - but it's probably in your best interest to get in early to avoid huge crowds. I think every parent should bring their kids here or to some other skating rink because it's the best place to spend time as a kid and it gives you some really cherished memories. Sigh. read more

Stafford Skate Centre - Skating Rinks Near Me - Stafford, QLD

As a kid growing up in Brisbane, there was a dichotomy. Everyone loved to skate (rollerblade, actually) in the 90s and there were very few skating rinks in Brisbane so every kid I knew had a diehard loyalty to a particular skating place. The main two were Stafford Skate (or SkateCity as it used to be called) and Skate Arena in Red Hill. I'm no ashamed to say that I was firmly in the Skate Arena camp and there was nothing I loved better than to spend a weekend skating around and around and participating in all those awesome skating games like Red Rover, limbo, corners, and speed skate. None of this was complete without the late 80s disco music (Mr. Vain, anyone?) and a few sugary treats. Unfortunately, some bastard decided it might be fun to set my beloved Skate Arena alight and since then it's sat there, a charred shell. To make matters worse, I have to drive past it every day. Sad face. Anyway, the point of this long story is that when a couple of years ago a friend and I, in a flight of fancy, thought it might be fun to go skating, I felt like a traitor entering the doors of Stafford Skate. And sure, for me it lacks the nostalgia of Skate Arena, but it's still pretty damn fun. The rink is spacious, the games are fun (and still the same ones we used to play back in the day). There are picnic tables and a kiosk and the skate hire and entry prices are very cheap. I even attended a friend's little sister's birthday party here which was a hit amongst kids and adults alike. With the roller derby craze still in full swing, you'll see adults skating here too, so don't feel weird about strapping on your skates this weekend and taking a spin around Stafford Skate. read more

For an 80's themed birthday, we donned appropriate apparel and headed down to the Stafford Skate Centre for a night of hilarity. It had been around six years since I'd worn a pair of roller blades and the first joke of the evening was on me. Because I had decided to have a celebratory beer before we went down, upon my arrival I was told that I wasn't able to skate because I had the smell of alcohol on my breath. Everyone around me had a chuckle at that, but I was made to understand that if in half an hour I didn't smell of booze I was all-good to get my roll on. So in order to get my skate license I visited the candy bar and began to fill my stomach with hot chips, chocolates and water until I was given the OK. For a three-hour session on a Friday it cost $13.50. Rollerblades were $3.50 to hire and to skate was $10. Over the evening, there was a number of fun games like red rover for beginner and intermediate skaters and some speed skates for those, mostly the ones with fancy skates, to partake in. It was great to see that there were kids as young as 8 to adults as old as 50 having a skate. The owners were pretty good and got everyone to sing happy birthday for our friend and even supplied us with a knife to cut the cake. I also found out that Stafford Skate Centre has some in-line hockey squads if you're looking for a team to join, but bear in mind, those kids can skate. Good times read more

So much nostalgia with this place! I spent most birthday parties in primary school here and got pretty good at skating! Only downside was the creepy presenter guy. I'm sure they've got a new person by now but the guy there used to talk on the overhead about girls skating and say things like 'looking good' and commenting on their clothes? Made it pretty uncomfortable but always a fun time regardless read more

The Stafford Skate Centre. Home of nostalgia, stinky feet, and screaming children. I came here for my 20th birthday because I'm a child, and I had a bone-crunchingly good time. I say bone-crunching because I really am too old for this now. There were a few birthday parties going on (real parties, as opposed to my hodge podge collection of family and friends who crashed the rink), with kids who were small and nimble enough to limbo and brake properly when the games round began. Yes - there is still the games round. If you ever attended a birthday party at a skate rink you'll remember. The song requests; the skate-in-the-opposite-direction round; the statues competition; the limbo stick; the simple yet well stocked candy bar; the nets suspended for hockey games...they never left! Stafford Skate Centre has immortalised these childhood traditions, but have also incorporated some modern touches, e.g. the flash skate gear store inside the centre, which sells professional skates and helmets. Be sure to swing by if you're after a clean and safe environment for a family expedition, or if you want to muck around with friends. Try to avoid coming on the weekends - that's when Stafford Skate Centre becomes the stomping ground of young families. read more