What’s that smell? The pungent odour mystifying southern Brisbane locals
A pungent smell long puzzling residents along a stretch of Cavendish Road in Holland Park, Brisbane, has been identified as originating from green kamala trees. The distinctive herbal odour, often compared to rainforest or bush scents, has sparked decades of speculation including theories of illegal drugs or animal waste. The scent is strongest after rain and can be detected in specific locations near the trees, despite being barely noticeable up close. Brisbane City Council and locals confirm the source, ending years of mystery.
- ▪The mysterious smell along Cavendish Road in Holland Park has been traced to green kamala trees (Mallotus claoxyloides) near the corner of Opal Street.
- ▪The odour is most noticeable after rainfall and is often described as herbal, bush-like, or similar to monkey cages, depending on the individual.
- ▪Despite strong smell in the area, the scent fades when approaching the trees, making the source difficult to identify.
- ▪The trees have prompted false police raids due to the odour being mistaken for marijuana.
- ▪Green kamala trees are native to drier rainforest areas of Queensland and NSW and are also known as 'Smell of the Bush' or 'Scent of the Forest'.
Full article excerpt tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-04-28T10:12:03Z","datePublished":"2026-04-28T10:12:03Z","description":"It’s strong at times, but it can only be smelled along a small section of Cavendish Road.","headline":"What’s that smell? The pungent odour mystifying southern Brisbane locals","keywords":"City life, Brisbane, For subscribers, Just in BT, Roads, Holland Park","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Marissa Calligeros","jobTitle":"News Editor","url":"/by/marissa-calligeros-hve9e"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/what-s-that-smell-the-pungent-odour-mystifying-southern-brisbane-locals-20260415-p5zo7t.html","@type":"WebPage"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"1322.6666666666665","url":"https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.3868%2C$multiply_0.7025%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_109/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/62597c939855e5edf4520035dc95f3c5c0d59424","width":"744"},"isAccessibleForFree":false,"hasPart":[{"@type":"WebPageElement","isAccessibleForFree":false,"cssSelector":".paywall"}],"publisher":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"628","url":"https://www.smh.com.au/metro-assets/assets/static/smh.png","width":"1200"},"url":"https://www.smh.com.au"},"isPartOf":{"@type":["CreativeWork","Product"],"name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","productID":"smh.com.au:webonly"}}{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/national","name":"National"},"position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland","name":"Queensland"},"position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/topic/brisbane-city-life-5v8","name":"City life"},"position":3}]}AdvertisementNationalQueenslandCity lifeWhat’s that smell? The pungent odour mystifying southern Brisbane localsMarissa CalligerosApril 28, 2026 — 8:12pmSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.ShareAAAA distinct smell in the streets of Holland Park has been puzzling Brisbane locals for decades.The strong herbal-like odour has prompted discussions on social media.Some suggest it emanates from a clandestine drug crop. Some insist it is a build-up of bat faeces. Others say it’s possum urine. Others blame a noxious weed.The source of the smell has been identified.Marissa CalligerosGeorge Sotiriou, 48, remembers the smell lingering in the air back when he was a high school student.AdvertisementIt’s strong and pungent at times, but it can only be smelled along a small section of Cavendish Road, between Holland Road and Elgar Street, alongside Cavendish Road State High School.“I make sure I put my windows up every time I drive past,” Sotiriou says.“As soon as you turn the corner though, the smell disappears. I’ve been smelling it for decades and always wondered where it came from.”Sotiriou runs a hair salon on Holland Road, barely a kilometre from the smell zone.“You can’t smell it here,” he says from his salon.AdvertisementHis two children, who attend the high school, say the smell wafts through the school grounds at times.“They hate the smell,” he says.Cavendish Road, outside Cavendish Road State High School, where a smell has been puzzling locals for decades.Catherine StrohfeldtBut others don’t mind the aroma, likening it to the smell of a…
This excerpt is published under fair use for community discussion. Read the full article at The Sydney Morning Herald.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Sydney Morning Herald
