Covers Off Brisbane Games Precinct’s Five-Tower Plan

A pub with no beer is the centrepiece of plans unveiled for a $1.2-billion multi-tower development within Brisbane’s Olympic precinct at Woolloongabba.

Developer Trenert Group’s mixed-use proposal comprising five towers and spanning almost an entire block has fired the starter’s pistol for large-scale legacy private development in the lead-up to 2032 Games.

It comes eight years after the beer taps were abruptly turned off at the landmark heritage-listed Railway Hotel—known back then as the Chalk Hotel.

And, significantly, it follows the Queensland and federal governments reaching a $7-billion-plus funding agreement to supercharge preparations for the Games and a decision to expand the Gabba Olympic Priority Development Area.

The DBI-designed scheme—not officially named but with the working title Station Square—is being spruiked as “the first significant example of private investment in Brisbane encouraged by the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

But according to Trenert managing partner Peter Priest, it is a race he never intended to run.

“I never bought [the site] on the back of the Olympics,” he told The Urban Developer. “I actually bought it because I thought it would be a really good transit-oriented development … it’s straight across the road from the Cross River Rail.

“It wasn't until eight or probably nine months later that the announcement came on the Olympic Games.

“I mean, I was happy to just do it stage by stage and just trundle along on my own merry way. But really the Olympics has given me a bookend and said ‘well, you've got to get your act together and push it as hard as you can’.”

Trenert plans to deliver 200,000sq m of gross building area by 2030—including a 40-storey-plus five-star international hotel with 320 suites, 36-level residential tower with 165 apartments, 18-level short-term accommodation tower and 16-level tower with 114 social and affordable housing units in partnership with community housing provider BlueCHP.

As well, the scheme includes a 22-level commercial tower with 50,000sq m of office space, retail plaza and food and beverage outlets totalling 6000sq m and 7000sq m of open and green space.

▲ A render of the proposed Olympic precinct development at Woolloongabba.

A development application for the site, which covers more than a hectare and fronts Stanley, Hubert and Reid streets, is yet to be lodged.

“We’ll have to work closely with the state government and Brisbane City Council for the next six months and at the end of that process, then we’ll lodge the DA … just to cover all of the parameters once they’ve gazetted the PDA,” Priest said.

He said the development, as part of the overall transformation of the Gabba Olympics precinct, would be a game-changer for the inner-city suburb on the Brisbane River's southside.

“This will be the catalyst for the extension of the city … it really is the Parramatta of Brisbane. Even though there’s a river there, from an urban design point of view it really is an extension of the city.”

Government investment in the Cross River Rail and a planned new Gabba stadium for the Olympics were the key drivers of that transformation, Priest said.

"This [development] is an investment in that vision. We’re looking forward to delivering much needed housing and creating a vibrant 24-hour precinct.”

A pedestrian link across Stanley Street, providing access to the Cross River Rail’s Woolloongabba underground station and future Metro station, is part of the proposed development.

The historic Railway Hotel—established in 1880—also will be restored and reopened. Once among the city’s most popular watering holes, it has sat dormant since its doors were suddenly closed in 2015.

“It’s been closed for over eight years now and when I first bought it, I went in to do the inspection … there was beer still sitting in glasses and carafes of wine,” Priest said.

Part of an amalgamated holding of adjoining properties totalling 8635sq m, it has changed hands twice since its closure and the landholding expanded.

In the ensuing years, it also had been earmarked for a multi-million-dollar development comprising three approved towers with 467 apartments. But no dirt was ever turned on the project after receivers took control of the site from its previous owner, failed western Sydney developer Dyldam.

The fact that Trenert has unveiled its ambitious new plans for the Woolloongabba site in the face of inflated construction costs, a shortage of skilled labour and other industry challenges is not a fact lost on Priest.

“There’s always going to be problems, that’s the game we’re in,” he said.

“In Brisbane, there has always been a shortage of top-tier builders compared to Sydney and Melbourne.

“But I'm talking to a number of joint venture partners at the moment … and I think once that’s organised, the project will command the ear of the tier one builders—it's certainly big enough.”

Three international accommodation operators already have been shortlisted for the hotel tower component of the development.

▲ An aerial view of the development site and Brisbane’s designated Olympic precinct.

It is understood the project was initially scheduled to be unveiled at the end of July but its launch was brought forward at the request of Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles “to get things happening”.

In a statement, Miles said the proposed development would contribute to the government’s vision of transforming the Gabba into a vibrant mixed-use hub with access to world-class public transport.

“This sort of private sector investment is an important part of delivering on that vision,” he said. “Urban renewal of the Gabba precinct can be an obvious Olympic legacy and this proposal has the opportunity to address a clear need for greater housing affordability in the inner city.”

Priest estimates, if all goes to plan, it will be a six-and-a-half-year construction journey to deliver the mixed-use project.

As an architect and former director with design firm Woods Bagot, he knows attention to detail will be critical for success—particularly given the Olympic spotlight that will be shone on the Gabba and beamed to a global broadcast audience of more than three billion people. Not to mention the tens of thousands of athletes and visitors that will flood the precinct.

“And what are they going to see? They're going to see our development and they're going to see the new stadium, ” Priest said.

“So I’m really conscious that the architecture has to be exemplary and, with a mixture of hotel, office, residential, short-term accommodation and retail, the design of the public spaces has to be really good as well.”

Initial on-site works—including the demolition of several houses and ancillary buildings—are scheduled to begin as early as next month.

Game on.