Economic Development Queensland Archives

Work Starts on $1.2 Billion Hamilton Riverfront Precinct

A $1.2 billion riverfront precinct with 292 apartments, a 196-room five-star hotel and a public precinct is now under construction in Hamilton.

What is Going Up on Hercules Street

Hamilton Grove is led by Sydney-based Wentworth Equities and sits at 19 Hercules Street. The plan covers three towers, the hotel, 3,000 square metres of retail space and open public areas. The developer calls the project Los Angeles-inspired. Its executive chairman, Sameh Ibrahim, says the apartments are designed to give buyers the room and comfort usually found in a suburban house, and that the sky homes will be the centrepiece. He believes Brisbane hasn’t seen that level of luxury before. That is the developer’s own view, not an independent market assessment.

More than a Place to Live

Not everyone who visits will need to live there. Earlier coverage reported Mr. Ibrahim saying a lucky few will call the precinct home, while the rest of Brisbane can still explore it. What the public space will include has not been detailed, so neighbours will have to wait to see the finished design.

Who is On Site

Mainland Civil is the contractor working on the project. Its Brisbane credits include Queens Wharf, 300 George Street, Infinity Tower and 1 William Street, which will matter to local subcontractors and suppliers looking for work. A sod-turning ceremony was scheduled for Wednesday, 21 October, according to realestate.com.au. Clayfield MP Tim Nicholls and Hamilton Ward councillor Julia Dixon were due to attend.

Who Makes the Planning Calls

Many residents assume Brisbane City Council decides what gets built nearby. Here, it doesn’t. Hamilton Grove sits inside the 304-hectare Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area, where Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) is the planning authority. Any later stages, or changes to the scheme, go through that agency.

The wider area is also attracting public money. The state is spending $154 million on enabling infrastructure works at Northshore Hamilton, and EDQ says the precinct is set to contribute more than $14 billion to Queensland’s economy. Both figures cover the whole area, not Hamilton Grove’s budget. EDQ has also named partners for five other sites in the area, with nearly 2,200 homes planned.

What Comes Next

Hamilton Grove launched to buyers earlier this year, and realestate.com.au reported that apartments in the first towers have been selling since. No sales figures have been released. There is also no public construction timetable, completion date or settlement date. Planning is under way for future stages and the hotel, but neither has a published start date.

Published Date 22-October-2026

Northshore Hamilton’s Housing Push Moves Into Delivery Phase as Infrastructure Works Gather Pace

Photo Credit: EDQ

The conversation around Northshore Hamilton is no longer just about plans on paper. Across the riverfront precinct, the focus is shifting toward the roads, services and flood-resilient infrastructure needed to support one of Brisbane’s biggest urban renewal projects.

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) and engineering firms involved in the precinct say the project has now entered a critical transition point, with major groundwork underway ahead of large-scale vertical development.

Five riverfront development sites released earlier this year are expected to eventually deliver around 3,000 homes across six hectares along MacArthur Avenue. The sites sit inside the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area, a 304-hectare precinct earmarked for long-term mixed-use growth.

Recent updates from EDQ and project partners highlight the scale of infrastructure now being rolled out behind the scenes.

Engineering firm ADG Engineers said its work has focused on climate-resilient roads, streetscapes and digital infrastructure capable of supporting future mixed-use development across the precinct.

The company said the project has involved working through difficult ground conditions, existing trunk services and sustainability targets while preparing the area for future residential growth.

According to project material released by EDQ, Northshore Hamilton stretches 2.5 kilometres along the Brisbane River and is planned to accommodate more than 14,000 homes and around 24,500 residents over the coming decade.

The development sites released to market earlier this year include parcels along MacArthur Avenue, roughly six kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD and eight kilometres from Brisbane Airport.

EDQ has promoted the sites as a rare opportunity for large-scale riverfront development close to Portside Wharf, with panoramic city and river views forming a key part of the pitch to developers.

The precinct’s planning framework has also been reshaped in recent months through amendments to the Northshore Hamilton PDA Development Scheme, which the state says will help accelerate housing delivery and reduce planning delays.

The revised scheme is intended to support faster approvals and coordinated infrastructure delivery across the PDA, with the government arguing the changes could help unlock up to 10,000 homes more quickly.

The housing pipeline forms part of Queensland’s broader push to increase supply ahead of continued population growth and the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At ground level, however, much of the visible activity remains focused on preparing the precinct itself.

Works already underway at the western end of Northshore Hamilton are helping create development-ready lots for future residential construction. Preparatory works tied to the MacArthur Avenue upgrade are also progressing, including the removal of ageing wharf structures and temporary road connections to maintain local access during construction.

EDQ says flood resilience remains a major part of the project, with future road upgrades designed to improve how the precinct performs during major weather events.

The broader vision extends well beyond housing alone. Plans for the precinct include retail, hospitality, riverfront parklands and public spaces intended to turn the former industrial waterfront into a high-density riverside community.

Future riverfront parklands tied to the development are expected to follow in 2029.

Published 1-May- 2026

Artists and Innovators Invited to Share Creative Vision With Northshore Hamilton

Are you an artist or an innovator who would like to see your creative vision included in Hamilton’s Northshore precinct, the largest waterfront urban renewal project in Queensland?

Read: Portside Wharf IGA to Go Upmarket With Its Planned Expansion

Whether you’re an Individual or an organisation, you can now register your expressions of interest at Economic Development Queensland to help establish and operate immersive experiences at Northshore Brisbane.

The expressions of interest sought will be for Northshore Dock C, which features a 2,500-sqm site with 50 metres of Brisbane River frontage.

Whilst Northshore is already a haven for arts-curious audiences, due to the likes of Cirque du Soleil and Brisbane Festival, there is still plenty of space for new ventures that will create new experiences and opportunities.

Economic Development Queensland will prioritise ideas that will give people immersive experiences and lifestyle activations for this remaining space, across all times of day and week.

northshore hamilton — Photo credit: Northshore Brisbane

In the past, Northshore has invited the likes of Flipside Circus, which is the largest youth organisation in Queensland, but this time, they are interested in a medium-term proposition.

At present, Northshore is locally known to host a range of large placemaking events including the internationally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil, Van Gogh Alive, Disney+ drive-ins and The Winter Village.

The precinct is also home of the Brisbane Festival Art Boat, and a proud host of the Brisbane International Film Festival, Anywhere Festival performances and the world-wide social and culinary event, Diner en Blanc.

Those who want to register their interest are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the five key areas located across the Dock C location. Those who want to send their EOI can register until 14 April 2022 by completing a form on Northshore Brisbane’s website.