Infrastructure + Precinct Summary

The following updates have been provided by the Queensland
State Government and are current as of April 2007.

North Quarter CBD Overview and specific precinct detailed updates
can be viewed and downloaded below.

Precinct Update Overview

• Infrastructure Updates (163KB)
• Retail and Commercial Updates (365KB)
• Residential Updates (40KB)

Specific Updates

• Roma Street Upgrade (762KB)

Infrastructure Updates

Tank Street Footbridge - Brisbane City Council

$63.3 million Tank Street Bridge will be a pedestrian and cycle bridge in Brisbane’s inner city, linking the city centre and South Brisbane and completing a pedestrian and cycle loop linking the city and South Bank via the Goodwill Bridge.

Construction is due to commence in 2007, with completion scheduled for mid 2009. Baulderstone Hornibrook Queensland Pty Ltd, has been selected as the preferred tenderer to design and construct the bridge. 

Local design/engineering consultants, Cox Rayner / Arup, form part of the company’s design team.

The bridge will stretch from the North Quay end of Tank Street in the city to Kurilpa Point in South Brisbane, adjacent to the new Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. This is the point where the CBD Reach and the Milton Reach of the river meet.

The proposed Tank Street Bridge will provide an environmentally-friendly and enjoyable walking and cycling pathway to the city from South Brisbane.

Currently around 53,000 people per week cross the Goodwill Bridge and it is expected that similar numbers will cross the Tank Street Bridge per week.

More information as well as an image gallery are available on the Tank Street page here.

City Heart Objectives:

1. To revitalise King George Square as the central civic focus of the city. This revitalized Square will provide an exemplary public space from which the new busway station to be located underneath the Square can be accessed.

A new cycle centre will form a key component of the new station, providing city cyclists with safe and quality facilities. Beyond the added activity generated by people moving through this space, the Square has the potential for added vibrancy and activity generated through shade structures and small-scale and event structures that support community activities.

2. New busway network to link Queen Street Station, through a new King George Square Station and westwards to Roma Street transit Centre. The busway will link from Queen Street Mall Busway Station, servicing buses traveling westwards and connecting to the Inner Northern Busway at Countess Street.

3. Enhanced green pedestrian spine along Albert Street to connect the Queens Street mall with King George and on to Roma Street Parklands.

4. Pedestrianise Adelaide Street with a strong retail force and activation. The new Adelaide street mass transit route will have its City Heart stop strategically places adjacent to the Albert Street axis.

A new Adelaide Street busway and mass transit station will link directly with King George Square, the King George busway station and Queen Street Mall. Streetscape, landscaping and road network changes will provide a pedestrian proritised connection from Queen Street Mall through King George Square and on to Roma Street Parklands.

King George Square Redevelopment :

Forming part of the Inner Northern busway and to be constructed underneath the square the new depot is due to be operational by late 2007.

Brisbane’s central meeting place, King George Square, is undergoing a ‘revitalisation’. Its revitalisation will create a space that reflects the historic values of the Square, as well as its evolving roles as a destination, transit hub, ceremonial space and civic heart for the city.

Council has integrated the revitalisation of King George Square with the construction of the Inner Northern Busway.

UrbisJHD design proposal is to see King George Square become the city’s premier civic destination, integrating a major transport interchange with a world class public space. The square will provide an elegant platform for events that works in tandem with an exciting new deck structure to reintroduce life into the square.

Integrated transport, high quality materials, sub-tropical design, and simplicity of form mark an evolution in the sophistication of Brisbane’s public realm and create an iconic space in transition.
There are three major milestones involved in the revitalisation of King George Square:

• Milestone 1 involves the work currently being undertaken, and is scheduled to be completed by May 2007.
• Milestone 2 commences in September 2007, and represents the construction of hallmark features of the new Square.
• Milestone 3 involves the completion of the revitalisation and subsequent launch event, which is scheduled for completion toward the end of 2008.

Inner Northern Busway – State Govt. / BCC project:

The $278 million inner-city section of the Inner Northern Busway.

The 1.3 km link will take buses from Queen Street through to the current Roma Street entrance to the busway, via the King George Square carpark.

A $25 million Brisbane City Council contribution to the project comes via the donation of two lower levels of the car park for construction of a new busway station.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2007 and when completed will link the Inner Northern Busway with the South-East Busway network, and will deliver time savings of around nine minutes on a normal trip, and up to 20 minutes at times of heavy congestion.

Once completed, the INB will:

• improve travel times between the Queen Street Bus Station and Upper Roma Street -a reduction of up to nine minutes during normal traffic and up to 20 minutes in congested times
• improve bus connections between the central business district, and the western, northern and southern suburbs
• reduced inner city traffic congestion
• improve consistency and reliability of bus services - your bus journey will always take about the same time, as services are not influenced by traffic congestion
• feature an underground turn facility, which will increase efficiency of bus operations
• improve integration with the Transit Centre and the Roma Street Rail Station
• feature a modern underground station in King George Square
• increase capacity for growth of future bus services in the city centre.

Boulevarding of George Street & Alice Street & beyond:

The George & Alice Street boulevarding project recognises the key quality of this location as the termination of Brisbane’s primary civic axis. The most important government and institutional buildings are located along the length of George Street, with Parliament House sited at this river end. The existing drop-off and plaza area acts as a public forecourt to the parliament, providing the primary connection to the top end of the Botanic Gardens and becomes the main gateway to QUT Gardens Point campus.

The project presents an integrative vision of contemporary subtropical urban design that greatly enhances the civic experiential value of this multi-tasking open space.

Through the formal interventions of new landscape, built elements and re-made ground surface, the project seeks to celebrate and better coordinate the relationship between the city street network, the key urban elements of Parliament House, QUT and the Gardens as well as significantly improve spatial quality and legibility.

Boulevarding of Albert Street, George Street & beyond:

The link between King George Square and Queen Street Mall Extend the territory of King George Square to envelop Adelaide street and opposing footpath.

The design philosophy is to create a public and pedestrian visual and physical connection as priority. Vehicular access controlled and integrated into a shared zone.

The proposal is to roll out the carpet of public domain over Adelaide Street and opposing footpath. Readdress the existing pedestrian and vehicular hierarchy.

Introduce an urban scaled public art piece to operate in series with a number of other urban markets along public promenade generated between the green precincts of Roma Street Parklands and Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Qualify the cross axis of pedestrian promenade and ceremonial walk which links Brisbane Square and Anzac Square via Adelaide Street.

Roma Street Objectives:

This project emphasizes the impact of the connecting network of the city, streets, public open spaces, public transport and bridges, Additionally, benefits to the public domain arising through an integrates approach to infrastructure provision including public transport are highlighted.

The new busway corridor generates opportunities for the creation of new and vibrant public spaces, enhanced pedestrian connections and increased city legibility. This in turn allows for a review of the functions of Roma Street and its transformation in to impressive western entry to the CBD along a subtropical boulevard leading to the civic heart of the city at King George Square.

1. Create a subtropical boulevard along Roma Street as the city’s major western entry.
2. Integrate Roma Street Parklands and King George Square, with new public spaces and road networks in conjunction with the busway link from the City Heart.
3. Provide strong connections between the South Brisbane cultural precinct and Roma Street Parklands via a new Tank Street bridge.
4. Develop a market theme that builds upon the tourism role of the western quarter of the CBD.

The strategy to develop a subtropical boulevard along Roma Street and creation of new green and public spaces as part of the Inner Northern busway, provide opportunities to reinforce the green spine link along Albert Street and better connect Roma Street Parklands and King George Square.

Roma Street Rail Station:

Already a key plank in Brisbane’s transport network, CBD train services will only become more important as the city continues its growth.

The Roma Street Rail Yards locality will provide important links between the western CBD, Spring Hill, Normanby and Petrie Terrace. Development will extend the pubic domain to overcome existing physical barriers. The area is open to a range of uses according to market demand and public investment decisions.

Roma Street Parklands:

The $72million redevelopment of the Roma Street rail yards has created the world’s largest sub tropical garden in a city centre. In the first 12 months of opening, more than 60,000 people visited the Parkland. With the Parkland’s unique rooms. Major outdoor events and attractive forest features it continues to entice Brisbane’s community and tourists.

The world's largest sub-tropical garden in a city heart is the latest triumph for the Department of Public Works which had responsibility for its creation from design right through to the landscaped plantings.

Some 435,000 work-hours and $72 million transformed the old Roma Street rail yard into Brisbane's 16-hectare green space, incorporating Albert Park. Roma Street Parkland includes a one-hectare lake, waterfalls, playground, a variety of gardens, walkways and bridges.

Western Gateway:

To create a clear entry to the CBD and Southbank from the west and to reinforce connections between the CBD and the western suburbs and infrastructure such as Suncorp Stadium.

The existing rail Yards present an opportunity to connect the green spaces of the city centre with surrounding places, including the old Police Barracks, Petrie Terrace and the northern suburbs.

The Western gateway project connects the planning for the CBD with that in that City West and South Bank area.

Brisbane River Walk/Bike Way:

Brisbane's RiverWalk connects more than 20 km of pathways, roads, bridges and riverside parks along the Brisbane River.

You can travel along RiverWalk on the north bank of the Brisbane River between the University of Queensland Campus at St Lucia and Teneriffe.

RiverWalk connects to Brisbane's network of bikeways. In some instances, cyclists and pedestrians share paths.

At key locations, RiverWalk provides access to wharves, jetties and other maritime features as part of the river experience.

Retail and Commercial Updates

Millennium Arts Project:

The $322.5million Millennium Arts Project is the most exciting arts infrastructure development in Queensland in more than 20 years. It is the largest modern art gallery in Australia and a world class State Library delivered at the end 2006.

The Gallery of Modern Art has five levels, with two levels of galleries (levels 1 and 3) separated by a mezzanine level servicing the cinema.

The new State Library has become a contemporary cultural destination - a relaxed leisure and learning centre with a state-of-the-art reference section and space to showcase unique heritage collections.

The architectural team Donvan Hill + Peddle Thorp proposed a building that is characterised by timeless design and provides a complementary form to the previous Library structure. 

The redevelopment doubled the size of the building and includes a new five-level addition linked to the existing building by the Knowledge Walk, with a new roof encasing the entire structure.

The Brisbane River features significantly in the new design with the River Stairs linking the State Library to the river for the first time and the River Room also overlooking it.

The Barracks Redevelopment:

Property Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd development of the former Police Barracks site at Petrie Terrace is to commence this year.

The $120 million mixed-use development includes commercial offices, supermarket, cinema, specialty retail and underground car parking.

The Barracks site is pivotal to improving the attractiveness and liveability of the City West area and is supported by both the State Government and Council.

The development will revitalise the Barracks Precinct through the redevelopment of the derelict buildings and the construction of new commercial and entertainment facilities that will harmonise with the existing commercial and entertainment character of the precinct.

The development also provides improved pedestrian connectivity between the precinct and the Brisbane CBD through the development of a pedestrian walkway from Caxton St to Roma St.

The construction of this walkway is the final link in providing the community infrastructure associated with the Suncorp Stadium Redevelopment and provides a much needed pedestrian connection between the CBD and the Stadium.

The redevelopment of the Barracks site coincided with the construction, by the Inner Northern Busway Alliance, of part of the Caxton Street to Roma Street pedestrian walkway.

Engineering firm Hatch Associates have emerged the winner in the battle to snare future office space in the city, with the group confirming a move into the redeveloped former police barracks on Petrie Terrace. Hatch has signed up for 9,055sq m of office.

Caxton Street Entertainment Precinct:

Caxton Street has an entertainment and local business focus with potentials for youth leisure and recreation services.

The Caxton Street project applies to Caxton Street, the commercial parts of Petrie Terrace and the proposed Caxton St extension through the former Police Barracks.

Caxton Street Project aims to support Caxton Street/Petrie Terrace’s local economy in conjunction with public domain extensions, improvements & encourage investment to provide services to local residents, business & visitors and economically and social integrate Petire Terrace and the Barracks.

Suncorp Stadium:

Suncorp Stadium has been redeveloped to create a world-class 52,500 seat sports stadium suitable for a range of uses including rugby league, rugby union, soccer and gridiron.

Multiplex Constructions and Watpac Australia worked together to complete this $280million major redevelopment in May 2003.

The Suncorp Stadium opened in June 2003 on budget and on time, after just over two years of construction. The first game of rugby league was played on 1 June 2003.

Northbridge 37 Tank Street:

37 Tank Street is a development consisting of a 34,000m² (NLA) A-Grade office building over 35 levels with floor plates of approximately 1,100m² net.

Construction commenced in March 2007 with completion programmed early 2009.

The area is very well serviced by all levels of amenities including hotels, pubs, retail recreation, child care centers, green spaces and public transport. These amenities are easily accessed both within the CBD and at Southbank via the Tank Street Bridge.

400 George Street:

A 32-level office building incorporating 41,000sqm of commercial and retail space.

Strategically located in the commercial hub of Brisbane's City West precinct, the building will set a new benchmark for Prime Grade office accommodation in the Queensland market.

It's truly visionary design promotes creativity, flexibility, efficiency, connectivity and collaboration through clever design and maximisation of views and natural light.

414 George Street:

The former McDonnell & East building has undergone a $35million refurbishment, which has seen it turn into a state of the art landmark commercial building in the heart of the re-emerging George Street precinct. It provides high quality office accommodation to suit the corporate tenant of today within a historic facade.

The building also accommodate a sections of retail space on the ground floor as well as office accommodation together with two upper floor office tenancies of approx 1650m2. Basement parking will be provided by way of a newly constructed basement with access from Tank St.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has leased the office space and a number of the ground floor retail space has also been leased.

420 George Street:

A 14 level building comprising of ground floor retail and 13 upper levels of office space offering city and river views with floor plates of 466m² on each level, totaling 6,442m².

The building also comprises two basements levels of car parks (24 cars) and four (4) passenger lifts service the building.

The property’s general outlook is over the Roma Street Parklands and the Brisbane River, public accessibility, undercover car parking, and building services specification and performance, would enable a Grade Classification of ‘B’ according to the Property Council of Australia.

The building undertook a complete refurbishment (06/07) and is 100% lease to the Queensland State Government, Department of Transport.

179 North Quay:

Citimark Properties $15 million contemporary makeover of Brisbane's former Magistrate's Court Building.

The overall upgrade delivered a new glazed façade, complete internal finish refit and upgrade of services.

The building is leased to major tenants including the Queensland State Government, AML Consultants and CB Richards Ellis.

Brisbane Watch house and Roma Street Courts:

The $28.9 million Brisbane Watch house and Roma Street Courts complex is the biggest and busiest in the state.

The facility features a full suite of the latest electronic surveillance and emergency response equipment, which meets the highest standards of detainee control, human rights and operational functionality.

Magistrates Court Complex (Cnr George & Turbot Sts):

$135million Brisbane Magistrates Court Complex built for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, consolidating the area as Brisbane's legal precinct was completed in late 2004.

The building combines 31,650m² over 14 levels of modern environmental technologies with smart design, making it a valuable investment in environmental protection as well as Queensland's legal system. Designed by architects Ainsley Bell and Murchison in joint partnership with Cox Rayner.

The new Brisbane Magistrates Court includes 25 hearing rooms (21 Magistrates Courtrooms and four Small Claims Courtrooms), day detention facilities, prisoner transfer, plant and car parking. There's the capacity for a further 14 courtrooms to be added later.

Environmentally Sustainable Design underpins the reuse and recycle design principles of the building and making best use of natural environment conditions, the new courthouse is a model for environmental sustainability and incorporates approximately $1.7 million worth of public artworks.

New Supreme Court and District Court Complex:

A new Supreme Court and District Courts complex is to be built next to the existing Magistrates Court at the corner of George and Turbot Streets.

The State is putting aside $6.3million for the planning and design of the courthouse complex, including preparation of detailed design briefs, the competition and development of the schematic scheme. It is anticipates that the design will reflect the latest technology and facilities to meet the growing need of Queensland’s Supreme and District Courts.

State & Local Government Users
within the Western Precinct:

Qld City Community Health Centre – 2,757m²
Qld Police Head Quarters – 53,000m²
Qld Police Union – 968m²
Qld Tourism Queensland – 13,918m²
Qld Legal Aid – 4,619m²
Residential Tenancies Authority - 2,300m²
179 North Quay - 6,840m²
Qld Transport /Translink – 6,163m²
Commonwealth Law Courts - 32,000m²
State Law Building - 25,842m²
Law Courts (29 court rooms)
City Hall
Approx. Total Area 148,407m²

Barristers Chambers

With the construction of the new Supreme and District Courts next door to the existing Magistrates Courts Complex and adjacent to the Federal Courts Complex, a large proportion of the Barrister Bar who currently have their Chambers at 239 George Street are intending to relocate closer to the new Courts precinct.

There is a current requirement for 6,500m↓3 of new Chambers.

The Brisbane Administration Centre (BAC) and City Plaza Retail Complex Redevelopment - 69 Ann Street:

The Brisbane Administration Centre is a 22 level office tower, which had previously accommodated a majority of the Brisbane City Council’s CBD office requirement. The tower has a net lettable area of 26,600 m².

The Brisbane City Council have vacated the tower and the Indigo Group have commenced refurbishment works. Stage one involves the refurbishment to an A-Grade standard of this 26,000m² commercial building with ancillary retail due for completion late 2007.

Telstra will vacate the Transit Centre in 2009 and relocate to the BAC building 69 Ann Street after completion of the refurbishment

The Property also consists of a 1,100m² retail facility at ground level, which is known as City Plaza. The Retail precinct of the site was originally constructed with footings enabling a second tower to be constructed at a future date.

This property provides the Indigo Group with a strategic 7,073m² site within the Brisbane CBD.

The Transit Centre:

GPT and Australian Prime Property Fund plans to redevelop the Brisbane Transit Centre and increase its current six by 70,000m² twin tower commercial office space and ground floor retail.

A DA is before the Brisbane City Council and existing Transit Centre will be renamed The Q Centre.

Hotels within the Western Precinct:

North Quay Oaks Hotel – 129 suites
Abbey Apartments – 89 suites
Transcontinental Hotel -
Tin Billy Travelers backpackers hostel – 38 rooms
Holiday Inn Brisbane - 191 rooms
Hotel Ibis - 218 rooms
Mercure Hotel - 191 rooms
Grosvenor on George
Hotel George Williams - 42 rooms
Carlton Crest Hotel - 232 rooms
Approx. Total Suites/Rooms 1,130

Residential Updates

Evolution - 175 North Quay

Evolution is Citimark's latest CBD high rise development.

Released in October 2004, the $120-million, 37-level development is located in the heart of the North Quarter CBD precinct on the corner of Tank Street and North Quay. Eighty-five per cent of all units will have sweeping, panoramic river and city views.

Lavish facilities include a heated lap pool, spa, gym, media/conference room, library/lounge, garden deck and BBQs as well as Brisbane's first residents' Sky Lounge on Level 36 — an area that offers spectacular uninterrupted views of the river and city skyline.

178 luxurious 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments on 37 levels, including sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Parklands Residential:

The Pradella Group development consists of five buildings ranging from a block of six two level townhouses and four towers of 10 to 14 levels - total of 401 apartments within two sites fronting onto the Parkland Boulevard at the edge of Roma Street Parkland.

Set on 1.35 hectare site in the Roma Street Parkland, there are aapproximately 401 private-sector owned units completed in a staged development.

The precinct faces north east over the largest subtropical gardens in the world and is just 500 metres by newly created land bridges from the CBD.

Tank Street Apartments 30 Tank Street:

A $20million 18 storey residential building completed in early 2003.

The 60 metre building contains a café at street level, topped by 60 two bedroom plus study/homes office (96m²) and three bedroom (107.6m²) residential apartments featuring cable TC/internet connections.

Podium facilities for residents include a heated pool, gym and BBQ. The apartments in Tank Tower were for sale in January 202 from the developer.