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A triple-tower precinct-defining vision has been revealed for an inner-city site between a bend in the Brisbane River and the banks of Breakfast Creek.
Jonathan Leishman’s Churchill Development Group has filed the proposal for Breakfast Creek Quarter, a mixed-use project heralding the urban transformation of Newstead North.
It would comprise 752 apartments in a trio of towers rising 23, 26 and 28 storeys—just down the road from the creek's famed namesake pub.
Sitting above an activated ground-floor and podium, almost 80 per cent of the residential component would be build-to-rent units.
Leishman told The Urban Developer he was working with “a large, silent partner” in the proposed development.
But he would not be drawn on whether it was an institutional build-to-rent player.
“We see Breakfast Creek Quarter as kind of creating Newstead North as a precinct in its own right,” Leishman said.
“Obviously, a big part of that is the residential component and creating much-needed supply and housing diversity but there’s also going to be 1500sq m of retail activation on the ground floor.
“A lot of the work that’s gone into the project over the past eight months has been focused around that ground plane.
“It’s not just another project. It’s quite a strategic place-making project that’s going to create livable communities.”
Leishman said the scale of Breakfast Creek Quarter provided some advantage under the prevailing industry challenges.
“Of course, nothing is easy right now in construction, regardless of the size of the project, but there’s definitely a benefit that comes with scale that can help you get above those clouds creating a lot of the problems,” he said.
“We also have a large, silent partner that we’re working with … so from a capital perspective, we’re pretty comfortable that upon development approval we’ll be ready to move.”
The scheme designed by MAS Architecture Studio spans a 6778sq m site fronting Breakfast Creek Road as well as Ross and Durong streets.
It is directly across the road from Newstead Park, the home of Brisbane’s oldest residence—the 1846-built Newstead House.
Under the plans, a key element is the creation of a landscaped civic plaza oriented towards Breakfast Creek Road that “embodies an extension of Newstead Park”.
A new laneway from Ross Street through to Breakfast Creek Road also is planned to encourage increased pedestrian traffic through the site.
Churchill Development Group put its foot on the sizeable undeveloped holding—4km north-east of the Brisbane CBD, between a flagship Mercedes Benz dealershiop and a Bunnings Warehouse—in a $22.5-million deal that was settled in March, 2022.
It has an existing approval for an eight-storey, mixed-use commercial tower, which was secured in 2021.
“It’s no secret how hard office buildings are right now,” Leishman said. “Equally, it’s no secret that there’s growing need and value in good quality residential projects. And as developers, we need to be a little bit flexible and nimble.”
Breakfast Creek Quarter is planned to be delivered in two stages.
Stage one includes its 28-storey north tower accommodating 164 two and three-bedroom build-to-sell apartments plus a four-bedroom penthouse. It is to be followed by the simultaneous construction of the east and west towers with a combined 588 studio, one and two-bedroom build-to-rent units.
Rooftop and podium-top terraces—featuring amenities such pools, steam rooms, outdoor kitchen and dining spaces, grassed areas and sun decks—as well as other communal recreation spaces are planned across the towers.
Residents would also have access to dedicated work-from-home spaces.
Two basement levels and the three podium levels.are to accommodate parking for about 580 cars.
According to the development application, Breakfast Creek Quarter is “the first of its kind in what undoubtedly will be the future direction of Newstead North and Albion”.
“The challenge and opportunity facing Brisbane is to accommodate population growth by leveraging existing and planned infrastructure, services and amenities … [and] whilst some suburbs within the inner city are responsive to the demand for density, Newstead North is yet to unlock this potential to support our growing population,” the documents said.
“Breakfast Creek Quarter represents more than just bricks and mortar; it encapsulates Brisbane’s unwavering commitment to sustainable growth and the creation of inclusive, diverse, and captivating precincts that define the city’s identity.”
An Urbis planning report deemed that Newstead North was “absolutely suited to increased building height and shares all of the hallmarks of a suitable location for a high density residential living and mixed-use development”.
“As part of a broader neighbourhood renewal precinct, Breakfast Creek Quarter will play a key part in its transformation,” it said.
“The site is uniquely placed in the local urban context to accelerate the creation of an activated, walkable neighbourhood … [and] provides an opportunity to deliver the catalytic precinct heart for Newstead North.”
The application also noted: “Development activity is traditionally concentrated in and around the key lifestyle anchors—the catalysts of urban renewal. This includes around Gasworks in Newstead, King Street in Bowen Hills and Portside in Hamilton.
“With a new lifestyle hub in Albion linked to the Olympics and Paralympics and a potential for a new lifestyle precinct in Newstead North, additional demand for inner city living can be absorbed in these areas in conjunction with the existing centres.”
It is earmarked for a site the size of a CBD block at 99 Breakfast Creek Road, once home to the nation’s second largest automotive dealer, AP Eagers.
The proposed development incorporates a mix of residential, high-tech future industry—including robotics, computer-aided design and communication technology—and retail uses.
Buildings will range from 12 to 15 storeys and the Bureau Proberts-designed scheme includes a “green spine” of public open space through the 2ha site.
