Tag: heritage house

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

Kangaroo Point’s Iconic Silverwells South Changes Hands Again

The heritage-listed Silverwells South house in Kangaroo Point has been sold at auction after being listed on the market last month.

Read: Kangaroo Point’s Lamb House Close to Being Fully Restored to its Former Glory

The iconic duplex, dubbed as possibly the oldest residential building remaining at Kangaroo Point, was purchased for an undisclosed price after previously being listed in 2020 for $5.5 million.

With around 170 years of history behind it, Silverwells South is considered a prized real estate gem. The property, located at 267 Main Street, was handled by Place Estate Agents and described in the listing as “a true icon in the heart of the city.”

Photo credit: eplace.com.au

Renovations have honoured the home’s heritage whilst upgrading amenities. Kauri pine floors, 4-metre high ceilings, and crystal chandeliers reflect the grace of a bygone era. A wine cellar, glass-enclosed atrium, and spacious open-plan interior represent contemporary style and function.

Photo credit: eplace.com.au

The new owners acquire both a piece of Brisbane history and a luxurious inner-city residence. Place Estate Agents said buyer interest was strong for the rare opportunity to own “the perfect house alternative” at Silverwells South. Its alluring blend of old and new is sure to capture the imagination of future residents.

About Silverwells South

Photo credit: Queensland Heritage Register

Although the precise construction date is unknown, records indicate Silverwells South was likely built sometime between the 1860s and 1870s for Joseph Thompson, a prominent Sydney merchant who acquired multiple properties in Kangaroo Point. It is one of just two Georgian-style homes believed to be commissioned by Thompson in the area during this period.

As a rare Brisbane example of semi-detached brick housing in Georgian fashion, Silverwells South stands out from Queensland’s architectural norms of that era, when such duplexes were more prevalent in Sydney. The home is prominently featured in a photograph of Kangaroo Point from the mid-1870s, narrowing down its completion to sometime prior.

Ownership stayed in the Thompson family until 1902, when it passed to William Mann Thompson. He later subdivided the land, with the southern Silverwells house converted to a rental property from the 1930s to 1950s. The home was officially heritage listed in 1992 as an exemplar of Queensland’s historical development.

Read: 40 Years of Patience Pays Off as Brisbane Woman Puts Kangaroo Point Apartment Block Up For Sale

Major renovations were undertaken in 2008 to incorporate modern amenities whilst retaining the original 19th century structure. This synthesis of old and new continues the property’s enduring legacy.

Published 19-September-2023