Kangaroo Point’s Transformation Accelerates as Construction Industry Rebounds

Australia’s construction industry is gaining momentum in 2025, with a series of high-profile projects set to redefine Brisbane’s urban landscape. Kangaroo Point, one of the city’s most sought-after riverfront precincts, is at the heart of this transformation.


Read: Kangaroo Point’s Skye by Pikos Nears Completion for 2025


Three major developments—Skye Residences at 8 River Terrace, a controversial tower proposal at Castlebar Street, and a luxury high-rise with the suburb’s first supermarket at Ferry Street—are poised to bring new levels of sophistication and convenience to the area.

8 River Terrace

Construction Industry
Photo credit: Skye by Pikos

Pikos Group’s Skye Residences (A006599922) is already taking shape, with construction well underway and completion expected by late 2025. The ultra-luxurious 69-apartment tower boasts the highest residential rooftop in Brisbane, featuring a breathtaking infinity pool and a private dining space with uninterrupted city views.

Construction Industry
Photo credit: Google Street View

The high-end residences, priced between $4 million and $5 million each, offer open-plan layouts designed to maximise the spectacular vistas. Interiors are fitted with top-tier Swiss V-ZUG appliances, elevating the standard for luxury living in the city. With its commanding position above the Kangaroo Point cliffs, Skye Residences is set to become a defining landmark on Brisbane’s skyline.

23 Castlebar Street

Photo credit: KHA/ Brisbane PD Online

Just a short distance away, a proposed 28-storey tower  (25 residential levels) at Castlebar Street has sparked community opposition, with nearly 100 formal objections lodged and protests held against the project. If approved, Verso Developments’ plan (A006656931) would see the construction of 51 luxury apartments and communal spaces over two stages.

Photo credit: CC0/Shiftchange/Wikimedia Commons

A major point of contention is the site’s proximity to Shafston House, a 172-year-old colonial-era mansion with deep historical significance. Once owned by a shipping magnate who famously installed two cannons on its waterfront lawn, the grand residence is now the focus of heritage concerns. 

The state heritage regulator has requested more details on how Verso intends to “adaptively reuse” the historic home, ensuring that the development integrates with the site’s storied past.

25 Ferry Street

Photo credit: Cottee Parker Architects/Brisbane PD Online

Meanwhile, at Ferry Street, Mosaic Property Group is moving forward with a long-anticipated project on a site that has remained vacant for 30 years. The $210 million development (A006632355) has already secured substantial presales and will deliver 128 luxury apartments alongside Kangaroo Point’s first-ever Woolworths supermarket.

Designed by Cottee Parker Architects, the 15-storey tower will feature panoramic views of the CBD, Brisbane River, and Bay Islands. Residents will enjoy high-end amenities, including an infinity pool, gym, and BBQ area. The apartments, ranging from two-bedroom residences to penthouse-style “sky homes,” cater to Brisbane’s growing demand for premium inner-city living.

Construction is expected to begin this year, with completion scheduled for 2027.


Read: Residents Voice Concerns Over Proposal to Restore and Reuse Shafston House


A New Era for Kangaroo Point

These three projects mark a significant shift for Kangaroo Point, elevating its status as a premier residential destination. While the construction industry has faced challenges in recent years, the scale and ambition of these developments highlight renewed confidence in Brisbane’s property market.

As the city gears up for the 2032 Olympics, Kangaroo Point is set to become a focal point of high-end urban living. With luxury residences, enhanced public spaces, and improved retail options, the suburb’s transformation is well underway—promising a vibrant and modern future for one of Brisbane’s most iconic riverside precincts.

Published 3-February-2025

Development Plans Envision 28-Storey Tower Beside Shafston House

A proposed residential tower could transform the Kangaroo Point skyline, potentially overshadowing the historic Shafston House on Castlebar Street.


Read: Approved: 15-Storey Apartment Tower Next to Heritage-Listed Shafston House


The new proposal represents a substantial increase from a previously approved 15-storey development, pushing the potential building height from 73.6 metres to 117.6 metres—an additional 44 metres that would fundamentally reshape the site’s architectural profile.

Shafston
Proposed perspective for 23 Castlebar Street in Kangaroo Point (Photo credit: KHA/ Brisbane PD Online)

Originally, the site’s landowner, Burgundy Group, had received approval in March 2023 for a 15-storey tower. Now, a Hendra-based development group has submitted plans for an even more substantial 28-storey residential tower.

Shafston
Photo credit: KHA/ Brisbane PD Online

Architectural firm Kerry Hill Architects has designed the new proposed tower, which would include 48 residential units, two river homes, a guesthouse, a private marina, and a new section of public riverwalk.

The development team argues the project represents an opportunity to preserve and maintain the heritage site, with plans to share maintenance costs across property owners and protect existing historical structures.

The Story of Shafston House

Photo credit: CC0/Shiftchange/Wikimedia Commons

In 1851, Reverend Robert Creyke built a simple, single-storey cottage that would become one of Brisbane’s most important historic buildings. What started as a humble home has grown to represent the city’s early colonial history.

The building underwent multiple transformations over the decades, with successive owners adding to and modifying the original structure. Following its time as a private home, it became an Anzac Hostel from 1919 to 1969, then served as Royal Australian Air Force accommodation from 1969 to 1987, before ultimately being redeveloped as Shafston International College in the mid-1990s.

Photo credit: National Library of Australia

In 2005, Shafston House achieved a milestone when it was formally placed on the Queensland Heritage Register. Today, Shafston House stands as a quiet reminder of Brisbane’s early days, its walls holding memories of a time when the city was just beginning to take shape.

The proposal is currently under review by BCC, with community feedback likely to play a crucial role in the decision-making process. Previous submissions regarding earlier development plans suggest potential local opposition to significant changes at the site.

While the development application for Shafston House does not require formal public notification due to being code assessable, local residents and heritage enthusiasts—including members of the Kangaroo Point and Districts Historical Society—submitted comments and feedback about the first proposed project.


Read: Shafston House Could Be Restored To Its Former Glory As Residential Dwelling


“While I understand there is a severe lack of housing options available, I would hope that the BCC would consider the historic value of the Shaftston House grounds when eventually granting Approval,” one resident wrote.

“There has already been so much colonial history lost in Brisbane. A smaller residential tower and maintenance of the green space of the grounds – as opposed to the riverside homes construction – would surely be appreciated by the city’s constituency.”

As the city continues to evolve, the proposal highlights ongoing tensions between urban development and heritage preservation in Brisbane’s rapidly changing landscape.

Published 21-November-2024