ApartmentsTaryn ParisFri 05 Jun 26
WeAreLiving’s 366-Home BtR Opens in Fortitude Valley
Brisbane’s newest build-to-rent development has officially opened in Fortitude Valley, adding 366 apartments to the city’s rental market.
It is the latest milestone in a growing national build-to-rent portfolio for the Barings-Aware Super partnership.
The government-backed 27-storey development on Brunswick Street was officially opened on June 3.
It is part of the WeAreLiving brand, a partnership between Aware Super and global alternative asset manager Barings, which recently completed the acquisition of the project from developer Frasers Property Australia for more than $200 million.
The Cox Architecture-designed project was built by Hutchinson Builders and is part of the Queensland Government’s Build-to-Rent Pilot Program, with about 40 per cent of the homes offered at discounted rents through a government subsidy.
Market rents range from $645 per week for an unfurnished studio to $1050 for an unfurnished two-bedroom apartment, while discounted rents start from $480 and $764 respectively.
Furnished options, flexible lease terms of up to three years, on-site management and optional cleaning services round out the tenant offering.
Barings Real Estate Australia head of residential Warwick Dowler said the development set a new benchmark for build-to-rent in Brisbane.
“High-quality, resident-focused build-to-rent developments have a huge role to play in meeting the housing supply challenge not only in Brisbane but across Australia,” Dowler said.
“WeAreLiving Brunswick represents the gold standard as to what’s possible in this growing sector.
“We believe the sector is a powerful way to diversify the Australian housing market, adding critical supply and changing the narrative.”
Dowler acknowledged the development team of Frasers and Hutchinson Builders who had been on “quite the journey to get here.”
Aware Super senior portfolio manager for property Anjana Moran said the acquisition demonstrated how institutional capital could address housing supply while delivering long-term member value.
“We look forward to contributing to easing housing pressures in a high-demand market while also diversifying our national build-to-rent portfolio into Queensland,” Moran said.
Queensland housing minister Sam O’Connor said the development was part of the state’s broader push to increase housing supply.
“By working with industry we are increasing supply, giving more options for renters and delivering more homes in the places people want to live,” he said.
WeAreLiving Brunswick is 2km north-east of Brisbane’s CBD, next to the $500-million Valley Metro redevelopment.
The opening follows the April launch of the 292-home WeAreLiving Preston in Melbourne. WeAreLiving Zetland in Sydney and a 433-apartment project in Albert Park are nearing completion.
