Kingsford Smith Drive Archives

Proposed New Short-Term Accommodation Development on Kingsford Smith Drive Goes on Public Notice

Did you know that there could soon be a state-of-the-art, short-term accommodation to be developed on Kingsford Smith Drive in Hamilton?

Slated for construction at 502 Kingsford Smith Drive, if approved, the development (DA A006335435) lodged in August 2023, is open for submissions from 25 Oct to 17 Nov 2023.

“Once a development application has been publicly notified, interested parties are invited to make submissions within a 20 business day public notification period. Following the 20 business day timeframe, the opportunity for submissions closes and the application is further assessed taking into consideration comments made by submitters,” per Economic Development Queensland.

Innovative Design and Amenities

Designed by the esteemed Myers Ellyett Architects, the proposal envisions a 5-storey residential tower with 44 high-density units, offering an array of amenities and communal spaces. The development is set to encompass levels 2 to 5, with an impressive communal rooftop space. Levels 2 and 3 will house 12 rooms each, whilst Level 4 boasts 2 landscaped terraces and 10 rooms.

The Kingsford Hamilton — Photo Credit: DA A006335435

The rooftop level, a truly standout feature, includes a café, yoga lawn, seating zone, function zone, and a garden edge. Furthermore, the ground level will feature a lobby, a convenient pick-up/drop-off area, three staff car parks, a loading/servicing zone, and lush planting and landscaping.

The project places a strong emphasis on aesthetics and community engagement, with screening and vegetation enhancing the building’s façade along Kingsford Smith Drive, affording residents private terraces and balconies. The rooftop area will provide a communal open space with outdoor landscaped spaces, a café, and a function area, all thoughtfully designed to complement the short-term accommodation use.

Promoting Streetscape Activation

Mewing Town Planning, the planners overseeing the project, are keen to ensure that the development aligns with the neighbourhood’s character and encourages street-level activation.

“At ground level, the development proposes the lobby and landscaped courtyard within proximity of the street frontage, consistent with the outcomes of the Neighbourhood Plan, which will encourage the activation and overlooking of the street,” the planner stated. “The landscaping within the frontage will soften the presence of the development and contribute to the character and amenity of the streetscape.”

The project includes a setback of 5.5 meters from the front boundary to prevent the development from overwhelming the streetscape. This setback, combined with an intricately designed façade, vertical batten screening, landscaping, and a central recessed form, ensures that the new addition to Hamilton integrates seamlessly with its surroundings.

Parking and Accessibility

A total of 22 car parking spaces are part of the plan, comprising 19 guest spaces, including three drop-off bays, and three staff spaces. Vehicle and pedestrian access will be facilitated via a shared driveway and a pedestrian entrance lobby. To accommodate environmentally conscious visitors, the proposal also includes 64 bicycle parking spaces, promoting sustainable transportation options.

The proposed development spans 1,281 square metres of gross floor area (GFA) with a site cover of 60 per cent. The development is set to invigorate the area and cater to the short-term accommodation needs of visitors and locals, creating a new landmark within the charming suburb of Hamilton.

Head to the BCC Development site to make a submission for DA A006335435.

Published 24-Oct-2023

Hamilton Could Soon Have a Sky Forest on Kingsford Smith Drive

A ‘sky forest’ is poised to redefine Hamilton’s skyline, as architecture firm Myers Ellyett reveals plans for a groundbreaking apartment building on Kingsford Smith Drive.

The firm describes the planned 14-level tower at 92 Kingsford Smith Drive as a gateway project that offers a “unique approach to urban living.” The development application (DA A006311523) was filed in July 2023.

sky forest kingsford smith drive — Photo Credit: DA A006311523

The proposed site sits at the junction of the Brisbane River and Breakfast Creek, affording unobstructed panoramic views.

The architectural wonder will comprise 62 apartments, encompassing an array of 20 two-bedroom units and 42 spacious three-bedroom apartments.

Each of the 62 apartments will feature entry through sky gardens, providing open-air passages and private green havens.

The crowning glory of the structure will be a sprawling rooftop oasis spanning 1,048 sqm, adorned with a swimming pool, spa, gym with sauna, yoga lawn, private dining area, wine room, and barbecue space.

On the other hand, the lower levels will accommodate 148 car spaces, 78 bicycle spaces, and commercial tenancies, creating a holistic living experience.

The firm’s design philosophy draws inspiration from the subtropical surroundings of Brisbane, where indoor and outdoor living merge seamlessly. The edifice, soaring 14 levels above ground, has been conceptualized as two distinctive entities: the “trunk” and the “treehouses.”

The apartment building’s design reflects the fusion of indoor and outdoor living that is characteristic of homes in subtropical Brisbane , fostering a lifestyle surrounded by greenery and gardens.

The visionary behind the project is Industry Corp, with local entrepreneur Dennis Tomasel at the helm.

Mewing Planning Consultants, in their Town Planning Assessment, commended the project’s alignment with Brisbane’s subtropical ethos. They described the development as an embodiment of urban consolidation, catering to the demand for high-density residential spaces in a central location.

“92 Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton, embraces the region’s climate and leverages the site’s exceptional amenity and vistas. It exhibits a scale that complements and distinguishes itself from the surrounding urban landscape,” stated the consultants.

Wild Studio, renowned for landscaping, will shape the lush surroundings. Their vision entails creating a thriving forest that harks back to the site’s original landscape, offering residents enchanting outdoor spaces that celebrate the healing power of nature.

Supporting the city’s “Buildings That Breathe” initiative, the project sets out to establish new standards for eco-conscious urban living, infused with native greenery.

Published 29-Aug-2023

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.”

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.

Kingsford Smith Drive Officially Opens, Tax Rebates Expected in 2021

The five-year Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade in Hamilton and Albion is finally done following the official reopening of the busy arterial road on Tuesday, the 27th of Oct 2020.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Councillor David McLachlan celebrated the upgrade’s completion with the installation of the speed limit sign from 40km/h to 60km/h for over 70,000 vehicles travelling through this road.

Mr Schrinner also announced that the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade’s completion was under budget for $15 million. As a result, ratepayers will receive a $30 rebate beginning 1 Jan 2021.

“Kingsford Smith Drive is officially complete and delivered under budget, with Brisbane ratepayers to pocket $15 million in savings from this transformational road project – that’s a rates rebate of almost $30 for all Brisbane ratepayers this January which will see the average residential rates bill go down for the first time in living memory,” Team Schrinner stated on Facebook.

Dubbed the “largest and most complex road projects” of the Brisbane City Council, the upgrade will deliver the following benefits:

33% increase in traffic carrying capacity
5,000 jobs supported
New Lores Bonney Riverwalk
7km of new & improved paths
8 intersections upgraded to improve safety
Upgraded public parks & spaces
134,000 plants & trees put in
Indented bus stop bays to improve traffic flow

This is welcome news for many residents and business owners in Hamilton who were severely impacted by the road closures. Originally aimed for a 2019 opening, geotechnical and engineering issues delayed the completion of the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrades for nearly a year.

Bretts Wharf Plaza Officially Opens in Kingsford Smith Drive

The much-awaited completion of Bretts Wharf Plaza is finally done. The new multi-function park area and public event space officially opened at the end of November 2019 with a special celebration attended by locals and VIPs.

As part of the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade, Bretts Wharf Plaza will connect to the Racecourse Road entertainment precinct, Hamilton Park, and the Lores Bonney Riverwalk. The latter is a modern heritage trail that tells the history of the precinct.

Bretts Wharf Plaza, located just a few metres off the new Brett Wharf terminal built last 2015, will also link with the Portside and Northshore Hamilton.

“The opening of Bretts Wharf Plaza and a new park area is an exciting milestone for the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade, adding to the already opened Lores Bonney Riverwalk and paying tribute to our past with a new heritage trail exploring the history of the local area,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said during the opening ceremonies.

The park may now be enjoyed by locals who would like to take advantage of the spacious green area.

*Photo Credit: Cr David McLachlan/Facebook*

*Photo Credit: Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner/Facebook*

Brief History of Brett’s Wharf

Bretts Wharf was established in 1928 to ferry locals from Hamilton to Bulimba. During the Pacific War, the facility was exclusively used by the U.S. Army to load and ship equipment. After the war, the wharf was also used by commercial shippers until 1993.

In late 1998, Bretts Wharf ceased ferry operations until it was restored and re-opened in 2007. In 2011, the wharf had minor damages due to the catastrophic Brisbane floods and required extensive repairs.

In 2015, the original wharf was completely demolished and was replaced by a new structure 200 metres east of its original location near Kingsford Smith Drive.

Kenji Uranishi: Get to Know the Artist Behind Kingsford Smith Drive’s Public Artwork

If you’ve been to the revitalised Kingsford Smith Drive riverside in Hamilton, you might have seen a number of brightly coloured public artwork around the area. These are the art beacons created by Nundah artist Kenji Uranishi, who was commissioned by the Council to beautify one of Brisbane’s most significant routes.

Who Is Kenji Uranishi?

Mr Uranishi was born in Japan and trained as an artist using stoneware clay as a medium at the Nara College of Fine Arts. He moved to Australia in 2004 and expanded his practice to porcelain.

The artist eventually established himself in the Australian art world by holding a series of workshops and exhibits in universities and galleries, not just in Brisbane but also in Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Adelaide, Victoria, England, Sweden, New York and Japan.

“In some ways, moving to Australia represented a fresh phase in my life that provided me with the energy to explore new materials, without cultural expectations,” Mr Uranishi said.

He has other public artworks on display at the Ipswich Courthouse and at 400 George Street.

Magnificent Flying Machines

In mid-2017, the Council tapped Uranishi to prepare his concept designs for the beacons, alongside another artist, for public consultation.

Mr Uranishi dubbed his creation as the “Magnificent Flying Machines,” which consists of 10 sculptured beacons that also double as a lightning path for Kingsford Smith Drive at night. Two of these beacons have been installed at Cameron Rocks Reserve in April 2019, whilst the rest will be located at Bretts Wharf and the Riverwalk.

These beacons were inspired by Hamilton aviators Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, the first pilot to fly trans-Pacific from Australia to the United States, and Maude “Lores” Bonney, the first female Australian aviator to fly solo from Australia to England.

Featured with an aerodynamic design, the intertwining curves of the beacons represent the pioneering spirit of these aviators, which also resembles the wings of an orchard swallowtail butterfly, the most common butterfly species in Brisbane.

“The art beacons are designed to maximise public access to the river and create way-finding markers to encourage exploration and make it easier for visitors to move around the local area,” the Council press release stated.

Lendlease manufactured the beacons made of 3mm aluminium. Mr Uranishi hand-decorated every piece with 300 white polyethylene discs and added white LED lights at the base.

Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade Developer Faces Shareholder Class Action

A shareholder class action against the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade developer, Lendlease Group (LLC), has been filed in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

The class action alleges that LLC failed to adequately disclose a long-running problem that has been troubling its Engineering and Services Business; resulting in a single-day trading loss of 18 percent.

It was also reported that in the year ending June 30, the Engineering and Services division lost $218 million, driven mainly by its three engineering projects — NorthConnex in Sydney, Kingsford Smith Drive, and Gateway Upgrade North, both in Brisbane.

Construction issues such as weather delays, inability to access ready-planned work, and defective design that required rework were among the reasons cited for costs blow out.

Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade | Video Credit: Brisbane City Council / YouTube

On 9 November 2018, LLC revealed to the market that it had “identified ‘further underperformance’ in its Engineering and Services Business, which it considered was likely to necessitate a provision of approximately $350 million after tax,” prompting the company to review its Engineering and Services Business.

LLC’s share price considerably declined that day, resulting in a single-day trading loss of more than 18 percent. On 25 February 2019, share prices tumbled further after half-year results showed pre-tax loss amounting to $500 million due to its Engineering and Services Business’ underperformance.

LLC also announced that its Engineering and Services Business is ‘no longer a required part of the Group’s strategy” and is looking at an estimated restructuring cost of $450-$550 million before tax. The following days saw LLC’s share price suffering from further declines.

The shareholder class action filed by legal firm Maurice Blackburn, on behalf of Lendlease investors, alleges that LLC “failed to comply with its continuous disclosure obligations under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the ASX Listing Rules and engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in respect of the performance of its Engineering and Services Business.”

Maurice Blackburn encourages Lendlease investors who acquired an interest in Lendlease shares and/or American Depositary Receipts between 17 November 2017 and 8 November 2018 (inclusive) to register by COB 17 May, 2019.

“We will allege that investors who acquired securities in this period paid an inflated price and should be entitled to recover some of their losses through our shareholder class action,” Maurice Blackburn said.