Hamilton Archives - Page 9 of 13

Unique Residential Building Proposed For Former Quarry Site In Hamilton

A residential building featuring a unique, cascading design may be built at a former quarry site in Hamilton.

Read: Why Toorak on Annie St is a House of Prominence in Hamilton

A development application has been submitted for 336 Kingsford Smith Drive in Hamilton, in what was once the site of a historic quarry. The site was sold for $5.5 million in 2019.

Designed by Plus Architecture, the proposed building will feature a step-down design which is quite unique, compared to the properties in the neighbourhood.

“The architectural design has responded to the site topography by nestling the proposed building into the escarpment of the site and terracing the building with the rise in Quarry Street,” planners stated in a report.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Plus Architecture

“As a result, the building has a two-storey interface to Kingsford-Smith Drive to the south and two-storey interface to the north of the site (the existing ground level of Quarry Street) with building height transitioning in between.”

The six-storey residential building will consist of five two-bedroom apartments, seven three-bedroom apartments, and three four-bedroom apartments, all ranging between 65 sqm and 125 sqm in size.

With its river and city views, Hamilton is considered by the developer as one of the premier locations in Brisbane. A number of good developers are doing off their plans in Hamilton, where there’s a consistent market for luxury homes.

“The proposal provides a high-quality and contemporary architectural design outcome that responds to the continually developing and diverse character of Kingsford Smith Drive and Quarry Street while remaining respectful of the materiality and architectural themes of the remaining pre-1947 character in Quarry Street,” the assessment report reads.

hamilton bne — Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Plus Architecture

In terms of public transport, the developer included Council’s Gold CityGlider bus service in its proposal, which aims to “provide further increased high-frequency public transport for the site and locality.”

The new proposed City Glider would connect Hamilton to Woolloongabba, via Fortitude Valley, Eagle Street, and Mary Street.

Locals’ Feedback

hamilton building — Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Plus Architecture

The development application (A006047163) requires an impact assessment under the City Plan, which means it will undergo public notification prior to Council making a decision.

It received a few submissions from residents, who opposed the development mainly because of its built form, which is described as “not consistent with the character and intensity of the surrounding streetscape.”

With regard to the design, the applicant explained in the planning documents that the proposed built form has been deliberately designed to respond to this historic land use and the resulting landform.

Brisbane, 1954: The First of Many Visits of Queen Elizabeth II

Few can draw a local crowd like the Queen can and fewer still can make the entire world pause briefly in remembrance. Here is a look back on the historic days in 1954, when Queen Elizabeth II, the only reigning British monarch to have come to Australia, came to Brisbane and motored down Kingsford Smith Drive, Queens St, George St, and Coronation Drive to the delight of the waiting crowd.

On 8 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully in Balmoral Castle. With her passing comes the end of a lifelong dedication to duty and service.

The Royal Visits

Since 1867, Australia has had more than fifty Royal tours. Only six of these visits happened before 1954, the year Queen Elizabeth II first came to visit in a gruelling Royal Tour that lasted nearly two months.

She visited every state in the country and two of the mainland territories.

She would return 15 more times since that first visit but 1954 will go down in history as the first and most memorable.

Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

During their first Royal Tour in QLD, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh toured the state for nine days and spent seven of those days in Brisbane, where people showed up in large numbers to welcome them.

Traffic arrangements for the 1954 visit to Brisbane was a particularly daunting task, magnificently handled by the Commissioner of the Police.

*Brisbane Route of Royal Progress, Day of Arrival 9 March 1954. Royal Visit to Queensland 1954: Working Programme (QPM Collection) Photo Credit:* *My Police QLD*

All About the People

Presenting flowers to the Queen outside Brisbane City Hall.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Referring to the massive undertaking that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh assumed on their trip, Giselle Bastin, Associate Professor of English at Flinders University, writes:

“During the tour, the queen greeted over 70,000 ex-servicemen and women; drove in cavalcades that took in massive crowds; attended numerous civic receptions; and opened the Australian Parliament in Canberra. The tour saw Elizabeth travel 10,000 miles by air and 2,000 miles by road – including 207 trips by car and by appointed royal trains.”

“It is estimated as much as 75% of the population saw the Queen and Prince Philip during this tour. No Australian prime minister has ever had a reception on this scale or exposure to so many of the country’s citizens.”

Nehemiah Bartley: Who was the Man Who Owned ‘Bartley’s Folly’ in Hamilton?

Did you know that an elegant house once stood at the highest point of Bartley’s Hill Reserve? Bartley’s Folly was constructed in 1860 for Nehemiah Bartley, a merchant and author, as a gift to his wife, Sarah Sophia Barton who sadly, refused to live there.

After arriving in Brisbane, Nehemiah Bartley wanted his family to live at the highest point of Hamilton so they could enjoy unrivaled views of the area. He had Bartley’s Hill built. However, his wife Sarah could not love the place as it was isolated from people and surrounded by dense bushland. She feared they would be attacked by Aboriginals so she refused to live in it.

Thus, the home was nicknamed Bartley’s Folly, and the name stuck even after Mr Bartley sold the property. Mr Bartley highly objected to the term “folly” as he felt it stressed his misjudgements. However, as he expressed in a piece of news daily in 1879, he actually made a £400 profit on the sale of the property.

Who was Nehemiah Bartley?

Nehemiah Bartley was born in 1830 in New Cross, London, and was raised by an aunt as he lost both his parents as a young boy. In 1849, he sailed to Tasmania and settled in Hobart, where he became a gold trader.

Mr Bartley then lived in New South Wales from 1851 to 1853, as he wanted to gain experience on a sheep station. He also worked in a bakery, a store, and as a teller in the Bank of New South Wales in Sydney.

He moved to Queensland in 1854 because he loved its outdoor life and called Brisbane the “prettiest country town.” Mr Bartley had a very active life in Queensland and traveled the area extensively.

In 1858, he married Ms Barton, a stockbroker’s daughter and the sister of the first Prime Minister of Australia, Edmund Barton. The couple had two sons and three daughters.

In his travels, Mr Bartley collected enough materials to write a book, “Opals and Agates,” which provided the backgrounds and stories of the people he met and the events he witnessed.

Nehemiah Bartley book — *Photo Credit: University of Queensland Library*

Mr Bartley was preparing another book, “Australian Pioneers and Reminiscences,” when he died so suddenly. He was living in Sydney at that time. According to his obituary, he suffered internal pain in his stomach which he blamed on a scone but the cause of his death was heart failure. He died in his home in Domain, now part of Sydney’s central business district.

Mr Bartley’s other book was published posthumously.

Nehemiah Bartley Obituary — Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

What happened to Bartley’s Folly?

In 1920, Bartley’s Folly was demolished to make way for a water reservoir to improve the water supply in the area as the population of North Brisbane expanded. The Brisbane Board of Waterworks bought the property.

With the formation of the very first Brisbane City Council in 1925, considerations were raised to acquire Bartley’s Hill to maintain its natural beauty.

During World War II, it’s believed that the reservoir was converted into a temporary wartime shelter given its proximity to the encampments at the racecourse.

Today, Bartley’s Hill is a heritage-listed site.

Eldernell Hill: From 19th Century Aboriginal Camp to Blue-Chip Hamilton Location

Residents of the Eldernell Hill estate in Hamilton enjoy a great location with an enviable view of Moreton Bay. Established in 1890, this subdivision consists of Grays Road, Mullens Street, Prospect Terrace, Hanlon Terrace (now Eldernell Terrace), Markwell Street, Perry Street, and Windermere Road.

There were two aboriginal camps in this Hamilton location. One was found on the hilltop whilst the other was situated on the northern side of the estate. The camps, however, were repeatedly destroyed by the police who conducted raids when the Aborigines attacked the settlers.

William Hemmant, a British-Australian politician who served the Legislative Assembly and was also assigned as Queensland Treasurer, owned the estate that became Eldernell Hill. The land comprised more than four acres, stretching over to what is now known as Kingsford Smith Drive.

During this time, there were only a few residents in Hamilton, which was still considered semi-rural. However, the location already had some of the finest homes in Queensland.

Eldernell, the Mansion

In 1869, Mr Hemmant had the heritage-listed Eldernell mansion constructed on the crest of the hill that overlooks the rest of Hamilton. It was designed by Brisbane architect James Cowlishaw for when Mr Hemmant’s family from Cambridgeshire, England moved to Brisbane. He named the home Eldernell for his wife Lucy’s hometown in England.

By 1890, Hemmant decided to subdivide his estate thus reducing the size of Eldernell’s land. However, it still has one of the most sizeable lots in Hamilton even today. It is a constant reminder of the status of Hamilton as an elite suburb.

Eldernell, the mansion, was renamed Bishopbourne in 1964 when it became the residence of Anglican Archbishop Philip Strong, who built the Chapel of the Good Shepherd on the grounds.

Public Auction of Eldernell Hill

Some 61 allotments were publicly auctioned for Eldernell Hill and most of the lots sold for an average of £175.

The advertisement for the public auction positioned Eldernell Hill as the “centre of the most fashionable and attractive suburb of Brisbane.” Even then, Hamilton was already a highly regarded place to live, with allotments costing two or three times more than the blocks of other suburbs nearby.

Eldernell Hill Hamilton — Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

Today, more than 95 per cent of residents in the Eldernell Hill section are owner-occupiers with half of the residents living in the area for over 10 years.

Get to Know Katana, a Hamilton Landmark Since the 19th Century

Katana, a Colonial-style timber and tin house on Langside Road in Hamilton, was constructed in 1884 for James Robert Dickson Jr and his wife, Cordelia. It is one of the most historically significant properties on a street that exhibits the residential development of the suburb in the late 19th century.

Oliver Jonker Recently in History Katana

William Weekes and John Cooksley, both land speculators, used to own the land where Katana stood, until Mr Dickson Jr bought a parcel of the allotments when it was offered for development.

During this time, Hamilton was already characterised by large estates and beautiful homes but there were still plenty of lands that were still underdeveloped.

The vacant lands slowly turned into a precinct with some of the finest estates in Brisbane. Hamilton and its neighbouring suburb, Ascot, were slowly emerging as elite residential sites populated by the city’s prominent, moneyed families.

Who was James Dickson Jr?

The original owner of Katana, Mr James Dickson Jr, was one of six sons of the Honourable James Robert Dickson, a prominent businessman and politician.

The older Dickson, who originally hailed from Glasgow before moving to Queensland in 1862, briefly served as the 13th Queensland Premier. He also had the Toorak House built along Annie Street in Hamilton.

The younger Dickson worked in his father’s auction house on Queens Street and eventually took over the business when his father retired and travelled around Europe from 1888 to 1892.

It was believed that the Dicksons moved out of Katana around 1905 and sold the property to the next private owners. By the 1920s, the land was further subdivided and reduced but the house has remained intact all these years.

Photo Credit: Trove/National Library of Australia

Katana: Truly Special

Aside from being the home of a prominent Queensland family, Katana’s location offers many advantages that last up to today. It has a lovely view of the city and aside from the panoramic view, the home enjoys cooling breezes from the river. The house is also close to the city and its amenities.

Katana views — Photo Credit: Ray White Listing

The architecture of Katana is historically significant because it is a fine example of the type of construction of homes belonging to the upper-class and moneyed middle class in the Hamilton and Ascot area during the late 19th century, a time when both suburbs started to acquire their elite status.

The tin and timber residence was constructed in the Colonial style. The central feature of the house frontage is the front door and there is an arched frontispiece in the verandah roof right above the main entry.

The house has a symmetrical frontage and a separately roofed verandah encircling the structure.

Corrugated iron makes up both roofs, whilst the exterior walls are timber .

The main roof has a steep pitch and a short ridge. There is a brick chimney in the back. The underside of the gutter of the main roof has a decorative apron and the concave verandah roof is enclosed with a row of casement windows.

Katana indoors — *Photo Credit: Ray White Listing*

Katana currently has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. It was sold for $2.2 million in 2008 and then sold again for $2.52 million in 2020, after only 22 days on market.

Savvy Buyers Continue to Bet on the Hamilton Property Market

In 2021, Hamilton property values soared, with the median house price ending up just shy of the $2-million mark, as savvy buyers snapped up prime buys in this blue-chip suburb.

Hamilton Property Values: Houses

Figures from Property Market Updates revealed that Hamilton property values got even stronger, as the median house price increased by 18.03 per cent from January 2021 to December 2021. The median house price has gone up to $1,947,500 from $1,650,000 in the previous year.

Some 129 houses were sold for this period at an average of 65 days on market, with a fourth of the buyers coveting four-bedroom family homes.

Hamilton House Price Growth — Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

In October 2021, a vacant, run-down two-bedroom brick and tile house, standing in the middle of a big chunk of land at 1,138 square metres, sold within 72 hours for an astounding $4.6 million.

The house, completed in the early 1950s, has been eyed by investors for years due to its prestige location next to rows of beautiful mansions. The new owner of the sought-after site plans to knock down the old house and build two new modern homes.

Hamilton Property Values: Units

Hamilton’s unit market had a busy year with 462 properties sold within an average of 70 days on market. The median unit price grew to $555,000 from $500,000 in the previous year, ushering an 11 per cent growth from January 2021 to December 2021.

Hamilton Unit Price Growth — Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

Many first home buyers are snapping up real estate in Hamilton, especially at the rows of new apartment builds in the Portside and Northshore precincts to get their foot at the door of this blue-chip suburb.

Two-bedroom units attracted most buyers who are young professionals with some money to save to invest in a property. However, downsizers whose kids have settled in a home of their own are also moving into the Hamilton property market.

About Hamilton

Hamilton is an old-money suburb that has undergone a much-needed revamp in the last decade with the upgrades at Portside Wharf and Northshore. The revitalised precincts provide upscale residential opportunities, cafe and restaurant offerings, as well as an eclectic mix of retail shops.

The suburb keeps growing due to its fantastic location and good planning. Hamilton is both close to the CBD and to the airport, thus it’s an ideal place to live for many executives, high-level people in business, and professionals or specialists in high-profile industries.

Over the years, Hamilton has become a liveable cosmopolitan precinct but its potential to grow still hasn’t peaked. By 2023 the suburb is primed for a major transformation with the opening of the Athletes’ Village for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Post-Olympics, this precinct will be high in demand for the residential offering, retirement living, affordable housing, or build-to-rent and market accommodation.

“Hamilton is perfect for social people. Kingsford Smith Drive is a major road connecting the airport and the City. There are so many things to love about this busy road if you live on it as I do. It is easy to get to the city and the airport, Racecourse Road is close by for shopping and dining out, a hop skip and jump to the Portside Wharf for great bars and cinema and the river.”
Garry

“It’s all here on your doorstep! My car only comes out to go to work. Cycle and pedestrian paths along the river all the way to Powerhouse passing beautiful parks where you can relax and enjoy the views. Eat Street markets have reopened and thriving. There’s even a beach up near Hamilton reach where I take my dog for a run in the sand. Life is good at Hamilton on the river.”
Deborah

How Northshore Hamilton Evolved from 19th-Century Fishing Ground to Premier Waterfront Precinct

Some of the best places in the world stand out because it’s ever-evolving to keep pace with the needs of their inhabitants and Northshore Hamilton exemplifies this evolution very well.

Northshore Hamilton is currently a premier mixed-use urban renewal precinct with a first-rate waterfront neighbourhood.

Centuries ago, this site was the fishing and camping ground of the First Nations people given its location near the mouth of the river and proximity to Breakfast Creek, with its abundance of fish and wildlife.

A decade from now, it will become the site of the Athlete’s Village for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Busy Camping Ground of Yerrol

The First Nations called Northshore “Yerrol,” which refers to strong vines used as ropes. In the 1830s, Northshore was already a busy area as the site was a dense riverine rainforest pocket, offering different food sources for both humans and animals. Historians said that the First Nations people often caught large quantities of fish from this area to supply Brisbane’s fishing trade from the 1830s to the 1860s.

The Northshore-Breakfast Creek site was once a large Aboriginal campsite with different groups settling down to hunt and interact with other groups. This was the home to thousands, especially during hunting season.

After the 1860s, horse-drawn wagons filled the streets, establishing a travel route between Hamilton Hotel to Breakfast Creek. In fact, Hamilton was one of the first places in Queensland to have its own horse trams.

Yet moving by water was still the quickest way for the Aboriginal people with Northshore as an important crossing point. Access to waterways was located at the area where Brett’s Wharf stands, a corner between Bulimba and Newstead, and a section in the east that has the Gateway Bridge today. These access points had shallow water, making it easier to wade across destinations.

Camping grounds in Hamilton Reach — Photo Credit: Northshore Brisbane

Following the colonisation and settlement, the First Nations people continued to camp in Northshore until the end of the 19th century when their populations were routed out of urban centres. Not far from their camps on Kingsford Smith Drive were several institutions that took in the Aboriginal people. By 1910, the campgrounds disappeared in Northshore.

The Progressive Northshore Port

In the 1870s, the Hamilton Wharf (Portside Wharf) was a growing shipping area and served as the landing site for ferries connecting to Bulimba. As activities in the wharf increased with the development of several estates in Hamilton and Ascot, chief engineer of Harbours and Marine, Ernest Alexander Cullen planned to improve and expand the port with the construction of training walls and more dredging. His idea gave birth to Northshore.

Ships docking at Northshore Hamilton — Photo Credit: Lost Brisbane/Facebook

Mr Cullen also urged the government to capitalise on Northshore for its industrial future. For the next 20 years, active development of the precinct continued. After the First World War, the government built the Cold Stores Wharf for exporting products like butter and cheese to Britain. This ushered the progress of Northshore as the vital export centre of Queensland.

Brett's Wharf construction — Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

In the late 1920s, plans to build Brett’s Wharf were laid out by E A Cullen for commercial shipping. During the Second World War, this area was commissioned by the Allied Forces to stage and load military equipment. Millions were spent to add more facilities as Hamilton became the chief base for naval repairs. The Northshore Port developed rapidly during this period.

Naval ship leaving Northshore Hamilton — Photo Credit: Queensland Maritime Museum/Facebook

After the war, Northshore remained the hive of activities for shipping industries exporting wheat, sugar, and livestock to other countries, especially in war-torn areas of Britain. By the 1970s, the Port of Brisbane Strategic Plan was established to erect a new container port for more commercial endeavours.

Northshore Hamilton: Ambitious Urban Renewal

After Brett’s Wharf was closed to commercial shipping in the early 1990s, Northshore’s urban renewal was hatched. The focus of the redevelopment was to turn the precinct into a mixed-use public site with high-rise units, restaurants, retail outlets, supermarkets, cinema, and a public plaza.

In 2007, the State Government approved the Urban Development Authority Act to tackle housing issues. This served as the catalyst for what Northshore Hamilton provides today.

More than 64 hectares of land in Northshore were set for infrastructure projects that delivered a residential and commercial precinct with new parks and cycleways. The old ports and wharves were also repurposed into riverfront public sites like Eat Street Northshore.

Northshore Hamilton urban development plans — Photo Credit: Queensland Government

Northshore Hamilton present-day — Photo Credit: Northshore Brisbane

In the next 10 years, Northshore Hamilton through Economic Development Queensland will see through the development of training venues that will host more than 15,000 world-class athletes for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. After this monumental event, Northshore Hamilton has been earmarked for more residential accommodation, aged care facilities, and hotels.

Hamilton Hotel: An Iconic Landmark for More Than 150 Years

Since the arrival of the early European settlers in Brisbane, Hamilton and its environs have always been regarded as a highly desirable area to reside. One local landmark that has stood the test of time for over 150 years is Hamilton Hotel, a place that history also credits for giving the suburb its name.

Early Beginnings

Gustav Hamilton, a prominent solicitor from Toowoomba, opened the Hamilton Hotel in 1865 for horse racing patrons. Gustav, a prominent landowner in the Eagle Farm district, built the hotel which still stands on the same site today.

Located at the corner of Kingsford Smith Drive (formerly Hamilton Road) and Racecourse Road, the hotel first catered to horse-drawn wagons travelling from Breakfast Creek. Because of its strategic location, the hotel was part of a major travel route in Brisbane.

Hamilton Hotel, Hamilton Reach, Racecourse Road — The white building is possibly the Hamilton Hotel on the corner of Racecourse road.
Photo Credit: Lost Brisbane/Facebook

Hamilton Hotel was a large wooden structure, similar to a huge homestead, set by the banks of the Brisbane River.

Frequent guests fondly referred to the hotel as “The Hamilton,” which became the main reference point of the district, especially since there were not a lot of busy and prominent establishments in the area. It wasn’t long until “Hamilton” came to informally refer to the entire area, not just the hotel.

Wealthy Enclave. Destination Location.

It was Hamilton Hotel that launched the suburb as a destination location as its patronage increased and the suburb’s residents grew. The hotel promoted the scenic surrounds of the locale and provided the community and guests with both convenience and socio-cultural enrichment.

From the 1860s to the 1880s, the suburb of Hamilton also became known as the “gentlemen’s estates” as settlers built their large villas and mansions here, spurring a boom for the residential sector.

Even then, the subdivision allotments that went up for sale in Hamilton were priced two or three times more than the blocks in nearby suburbs, such as Mitchelton.

Hamilton subdivision allotments — Photo Credit: Lost Brisbane/Facebook

Hamilton attracted old wealth and everyone regarded the suburb as an ideal place to live because of its premier location. The elevated lands gave residents a sweeping view of the beautiful river scenery, the central business district, and the surrounding suburbs.

View of reach — Photo Credit: Queensland Places

When Gustav retired to Toowoomba, he sold Hamilton Hotel to Sam Hamilton who made the most out of the famous family name and sustained the venue’s popularity.

In 1904, Hamilton was officially recognised as a town and the owners of Hamilton Hotel changed hands a number of times. Among its previous operators were J.R. Ahern and his wife, and E.J. Stewart of the Stewart Hotels.

Modern Transformation

By the 1960s, then-owner Castlemaine Perkins Ltd completely rebuilt the hotel as a modern two-storey brick building, with a concreted car parking facility that could accommodate more than 200 cars. The hotel also had a bar and lounge that could accommodate hundreds of guests at a time.

Tom Wilson, the managing director of Castlemaine Perkins Ltd, planned the rebuild of the hotel carefully into two sections to improve the efficiency of the hotel’s operations.

The new Hamilton Hotel introduced an unusual ventilating system that eliminated cigarette smoke indoors. Its design also took advantage of the natural light for the public bar facing Kingsford Smith Drive, whilst a private bar for 200 guests fronted Racecourse Road.

Hamilton Hotel, 1960s rebuild. — Photo Credit: Hamilton Hotel

Hamilton Hotel became known as luxury accommodation with an upstairs and downstairs dining room, as well as a food dispensary that provided guests with choices of quick snacks and a wide-ranging menu that could satisfy the most discerning taste.

Eight cold rooms were built at the back and three rooms with walls that can be dismantled were added for other uses. This made it easier for the hotel staff to serve bar guests refreshing drinks and good food.

All the self-contained rooms on the second floor had their own toilet and bath, Hallstrom refrigerator, television, and telephone. There was also a built-in table in each room so that traveling businessmen can make their quarters their temporary office.

In the 1970s, another renovation added venues like the Pioneer Grill Room, the Tally Ho Bar, and the River Rooms fine dining area to the hotel, allowing it to accommodate more events such as business seminars, birthday parties, and wedding celebrations.

Hamilton Hotel Today

The ALH Group, under Bruce Mathieson, took ownership of the hotel as its expanded its business in Queensland in 2000. In 2015, Hamilton Hotel commemorated its 150th birthday and has remained a popular and trendy social venue for both locals and tourists.

Today, Hamilton Hotel is pegged to benefit from the upcoming multi-stage development of Northshore Hamilton, the massive event space and recreational centre, prior to the 2023 Brisbane Olympics. Stage 1 of this development is underway.

Hamilton Posts 25% Median House Price Growth

The Hamilton property market delivered yet another strong showing for the period October 2020 to September 2021 with a median house price of $1.94 million, up 25 per cent from the previous period.

Highlights

The Hamilton housing market remained strong, with a median house price growth of 24.84 per cent from October 2020 to September 2021, pulling the median house price to just under two million.
For the same period, Hamilton’s unit market stayed relatively flat at $525,000, growing by 2.94 per cent.

Hamilton Median House Price Growth

With a 24.84 per cent house price growth for the 12-month period ending September 2021, Hamilton investors saw substantial gains in their property investment. Per figures from Property Market Updates, the median house price for this suburb nearly hit the two-million mark at $1,947,500. That’s a significant gain from the $1,560,000 median in 2020.

There were 119 houses sold in Hamilton from October 2020 to September 2021, with properties spending an average of 74 days on market. More than half of the transactions that attracted buyers were for four-bedroom homes.

Hamilton Median House Price Growth — Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

Though house prices in Hamilton continue to climb, the property prices in the suburb still give good value compared to other blue-chip suburbs across the country. Industry experts predict that Hamilton’s median house price will continue its upward trajectory as the 2032 Brisbane Olympics draws near, making it a good investment.

Hamilton Median Unit Price Growth

More than 70 percent of dwelling choices in Hamilton are apartment units and there were more unit buyers than house buyers for this period at 391 properties sold with an average of 76 days on market. However, the median unit price growth was relatively flat, with a modest uptick of 2.94 per cent, with the median price ending up at $525,000 compared to $510,000 from the previous year.

It bears noting that Hamilton’s unit market performance follows the same trend as rest of Brisbane’s property market, with houses faring better than apartments, except in markets that are solidly unit-based. However, Brisbane is projected to generally keep outperforming other Australian markets as a result of continued strong interstate migration in 2022.

This momentum will cascade to sought-after suburbs like Hamilton and impact the unit market as well. Buyers locked out of other prestige locations will enter the market by purchasing more affordable apartments.

About Hamilton

Hamilton is regarded as an old, “posh” part of Brisbane bordered by another blue-chip suburb on one side and an industrial precinct on the other side.

The hilly areas of this locale are filled with big character houses from old money. Brisbane’s aristocrats in the early years of its establishment chose to reside in Hamilton.

Meanwhile, the waterfront section, the site of a former cruise ship terminal, has burgeoning modern developments and heaps of apartment buildings suited for small families and young professionals.

This northern Brisbane suburb may deliver a small-town vibe, where locals can shop for handmade pieces at a nearby store on their block. But residents may also go shopping for practical goods at major retail centres after a 20-minute drive. Over time, Hamilton has earned a reputation for its urban lifestyle whilst still offering the simple joys of suburban living.

Hamilton’s original promenade is Racecourse Road, where the public library, post office, retail venues, cafes and restaurants abound. In recent years, however, Portside Wharf, to the southern end, as well as Eat Street Northshore, have become the modern lifestyle venues with more dining and shopping precinct. In a few years, more buildings should be erected in this part of Hamilton, which will likely drive up property prices further.

Hamilton will also be an important location for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, with the planned construction of the Athlete’s Village. The suburb is within the catchment of many reputable schools and has plenty of transport access like buses, the trains in Ascot, and the CityCat ferries that bring residents to the CBD and the Brisbane Airport.

“Great place, close to the city, it’s got everything really… heaps of parks for the kids. Eat street literally down the road. Love it.”
Sk1tza

“The houses are gorgeous, the area has prestige, I felt very safe living here. Fantastic library nearby with wonderful, helpful staff.”
Missy

Northshore Hamilton Prepares to Transform for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics

In a multi-stage development, a section of Northshore Hamilton could first be used as an events space for concerts, a circus space, or a recreational centre before its final transformation into the Games Athletics Village for the 2023 Brisbane Olympics.

A development application (DEV2021/1200) submitted to the State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning is seeking approval to use parts of Northshore Hamilton for different activities for at least six years or until the Olympic Village opens.

Existing buildings in this section could be refurbished and repurposed to accommodate a cinema or drive-in theatre, a party venue for birthdays and weddings, or a flea market that could be held regularly.

The site might also be used for trade shows and exhibits, food or wine festivals, and an assortment of training or workshops. Updates and improvements to the public realms will include landscaping, lighting, and pedestrian access.

Photo Credit: State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

Currently, Stage 1 of the Northshore Hamilton Development Scheme, covering 304 hectares of land between Kingsford Smith Drive and the Brisbane River, is underway.

“The proposal in no way seeks to compromise the development of the site in line with the ultimate intent of the Development Scheme, but rather seeks to activate – through the use of public spaces and repurposing of existing buildings – the waterfront at Northshore with the anticipation that community goodwill will build, prospective investors will gain confidence, and vibrant people places will result,” the developers stated.

Meanwhile, the Games Athletics Village is expected to house more than 10,000 athletes and officials during the 2023 Brisbane Olympics. After the games, facilities in Northshore Hamilton will be offered as a residential site, an aged care facility, a social housing, or a build-to-rent market.