Newstead apartment boom continues with Longland Street tower plans
A new 28-storey residential tower is set to rise on Longland Street in Newstead, marking another chapter in the suburb’s rapid transformation. Bottletree Holdings has lodged a development application for the project at 9 Longland Street, a site that recently set a benchmark land rate for the area.
The proposal, submitted by an entity linked to Stanbroke Managing Director Brendan Menegazzo, aims to replace an existing two-storey commercial building with a mixed-use tower designed by Bureau Proberts. According to planning documents lodged with the Brisbane City Council, the development would comprise 76 apartments, ground-floor retail, office space, and extensive resident wellness amenities.
Premium residences and industrial heritage
The tower will feature a mix of 36 two-bedroom, 24 three-bedroom, and 16 four-bedroom residences, positioning the project firmly at the premium end of the market. The apartments would sit above a podium containing retail and commercial space, with three levels of communal recreation facilities spread throughout the tower.
Bureau Proberts has drawn heavily on Newstead’s industrial heritage in developing the architectural response. “Occupying a prominent corner in the heart of Newstead, the proposal draws from the area’s industrial lineage of robust brick warehouses to deliver a distinctly contemporary response,” the architects said in the design statement.
The design seeks to reinterpret the traditional Queensland vernacular through wraparound verandahs, deep shading elements, and permeable facades that respond to Brisbane’s subtropical climate. Planning documents describe the building as embodying the principles of “buildings that breathe”, a design approach increasingly favoured in Brisbane’s apartment market as developers focus on natural ventilation and outdoor living spaces.
Land value and precinct growth
Bottletree paid $22 million for the 1,510 sqm development site, equating to more than $14,500 per sqm. This figure reflects the strong demand for development opportunities in Newstead, a suburb that continues to attract both developers and buyers.
The application notes that more than 54 per cent of the site would be dedicated to landscaping and deep planting, while approximately 1,750 sqm of communal recreation space would be delivered across multiple levels. At ground level, fine-grain retail tenancies would activate Longland Street, Wyandra Street, and the existing Wyatt Street laneway, further extending the pedestrian network that has become a hallmark of the Gasworks precinct.
Brisbane City Council’s Sustainable Growth Strategy and Inner City Strategy both identify Newstead as a priority growth precinct capable of accommodating additional housing density due to its proximity to employment hubs, public transport, and lifestyle infrastructure.
Competing developments in the pipeline
The proposed tower joins a growing pipeline of high-end apartment developments in the suburb. Fortis recently launched Crest & Walker, a 65-apartment owner-occupier-focused development on Kyabra Street, while Consolidated Properties Group is preparing to launch Castile, a 227-apartment waterfront project on Skyring Terrace.
Meanwhile, builder-developer BPG is planning its own Newstead project on Maud Street, comprising just over 100 apartments and more than 1,380 sqm of dedicated wellness and resident amenity spaces. This highlights the shift towards lifestyle-driven apartment developments in Brisbane’s inner-city market.
The development application is currently with the Brisbane City Council for assessment. Residents and local businesses can expect to see the proposal undergo a public consultation period before a final decision is made.
