Beef Empire Behind 28-Storey Tower Plans for Brisbane’s Newstead

Could it be too beefy for Brisbane’s inner-city Newstead? Well, not according to the documents that have revealed the rich-lister family behind the 200,000-head Stanbroke cattle empire has opened the gate on a diversification from its sprawling outback paddocks to making its mark on the Queensland capital’s skyline. The highrise side hustle before the Brisbane City Council is for a 28-storey mixed-use tower in Newstead’s Gasworks precinct. Lodged by Bottletree Holdings, an entity linked to Stanbroke managing director Brendan Menegazzo, the tower proposal is pitched as a vertical “subtropical sanctuary” that pays homage to the area’s rich industrial past, including its heritage woolstores. Earmarked for a 1510sq m site on the corner of Longland and Wyandra streets that changed hands last year for $22 million, it would comprise 76 luxury apartments with wellness and recreational amenities spread across three levels. “The proposal responds to the unique opportunity presented by this key corner site in inner-city Newstead by delivering a landmark mixed-use development,” a planning report prepared by Town Planning Alliance said. Although the proposed tower exceeds the site’s 10-storey height limit under the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront Neighbourhood Plan, the report argued it aligned with the “emerging urban context” of nearby approvals ranging from 20 to 33 storeys, and met “the growing community need for increased housing supply”. ▲ A rendering of the Bureau Proberts-designed mixed-use tower scheme for 9 Longland Street, Newstead. It also acknowledged that the proposed tower exceeded the acceptable numerical benchmarks for a building over 10 storeys, which prescribe a maximum horizontal dimension of 40m and a maximum site cover of 40 per cent. But even with planned dimensions of about 50m (east-west) by 30m (north-south) and a site cover ranging between 69 oper cent and 71 per cent, it deemed the proposal “does not present as an excessively bulky built form”. “Rather, the development contributes positively to the emerging urban character of the precinct and achieves the outcome sought… for taller buildings to adopt a slender tower form that minimises the appearance of building bulk,” the report said. Under the plans, a mix of 36 two-bedroom, 24 three-bedroom, and 16 four-bedroom apartments would occupy levels 7 to 28, sitting above five podium and three basement levels. The scheme’s 1750sq m of communal open space on levels, 20, 27 and 28 would feature swimming pools, plunge pools, spas, gyms, a yoga lawn and wellness areas, a sun lounge terrace, city dining room and bar, barbecue and kitchen facilities, multipurpose room and entertainment spaces. On the ground level, retail tenancies spanning a combined 383sq m would activate the interface with the existing Wyatt Street pedestrian laneway and the streetscape to Longland and Wyandra streets. ▲ Renderings of the 28-storey mixed-use tower scheme for 9 Longland Street, Newstead. Directly above the tower podium on level 6, a total of 742sq m of commercial office space is planned “contributing to employment opportunities within the precinct”. Parking spaces for 198 vehicles would be provided across the basement and four podium levels. The tower scheme designed by Bureau Proberts is deeply rooted in its immediate urban and historical context, according to a submitted architectural statement. “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,” it said. “It is conceived as a subtropical sanctuary and elevated private retreat embedded within one of Brisbane’s most vibrant lifestyle precincts. “The built form reinterprets the Queensland vernacular through generous perimeter verandahs and finely detailed lightweight metal balustrades that wrap the residential levels. “A sculptural superstructure crowns the building, providing layered screening, shade, and enclosure to the mid-level and rooftop courtyards while giving the architecture a strong civic identity.” ▲ A rendering of the tower proposal comprising 76 luxury apartments at Newstead. In May, Pikos Group signalled Newstead’s transformation into one of the city’s most densely populated urban precincts was far from over, unveiling its plans for a $400-million residential tower comprising 161 apartments. The 30-storey proposal with ground-level retail/commercial and wellness uses is slated for a 1389sq m parcel at 78-82 Doggett Street—acquired as part of a $60-million splurge across the inner-city pocket by the Brisbane-based developer. Meanwhile, ground has been broken on the first stage of Panettiere Property Group’s nearby $1.5-billion triple-tower Little Italy project. It will deliver a 31-storey tower with 197 of the 700 apartments planned for the 7440sq m site bordered by Longland, Stratton and Kyabra streets, as well as a cobblestoned piazza with a cafe, authentic Italian restaurant, pizzeria, artisan gelateria and laneway. The Menegazzo family owns and manages about 1.2 million hectares of pastoral land in Queensland and New South Wales through its vertically integrated beef business. It previously held a larger footprint but in recent years has streamlined its operations.

Apartments
Phil Bartsch
Tue 23 Jun 26

Beef Empire Behind 28-Storey Tower Plans for Brisbane’s Newstead

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