‘Bunya Flats’ to be refurbished as part of 135-metre, dual tower proposal

A Brisbane home recognised as a rare example of the city’s ‘quiet and rural’ past will become part of a dual-tower proposal soaring more than 30 storeys above one of the city’s busiest roads.

THE last grand 19th Century residence in Brisbane’s CBD would be refurbished and incorporated into two high-rise towers, in a new proposed development on one of Brisbane’s busiest roads.

Plans submitted to council for 57 Coronation Dr, Brisbane show two towers of 35 and 30 storeys each.

The taller of the two towers would reach 135 metres into the sky, with penthouses and a ‘resident’s club’ on the upper storeys.

New ‘Silicon Valley’ revealed for Petrie, with 6,000 jobs and $1b economic boost

Century-old house moved for towering development over heritage Lutwyche home

An existing heritage building currently occupied by a backpackers hotel would be ‘refurbished’ as part of the plans, with renders showing it nestled right beside the podiums of both towers.

Renders of the proposed residential towers on Coronation Drive show the heritage listed home nestled at their base. Picture: PD Online.

The residence, known as ‘Bunya Flats,’ was built in 1868 and is described by planning documents as a rare reminder of Brisbane’s “quiet and rural” past.

“It is a rare 1860s building and the last nineteenth century grand residence remaining within the boundaries of the CBD,” Brisbane City Council’s heritage citation states.

Trains crossing the Merivale Bridge will run right past the new towers on their way to Roma Street and the City. Picture: PD Online.

Bunya Flats is pictured here in between the base of the two towers, which will reach 35 and 30 storeys into the sky and have 423 apartments between them. Picture: PD Online.

Floorplans refer to the building as being ‘refurbished’ as part of the development.

The podium levels of the new towers comprise of commercial, food and retail space.

Renders show the new apartments towering over the nearby Merivale Railway Bridge.

The proposed development is strikingly similar to a project proposed dual-tower project on St Pauls Tce in Fortitude Valley, which also preserved heritage listed buildings at its base.

Renders of the proposed residential towers on Coronation Drive show the heritage listed home nestled at their base, with the rail line connecting the City and South Brisbane running right past. Picture: PD Online.

Jeff Brown, principal of Rothelowman, the company that designed the towers, said the project had been developed to give greater spotlight to the heritage home.

“The design has been structured to allow the heritage building to take a prominent position between the buildings, importantly maintaining its original location and setting,” he said.

“This ensures it is the focal point for the whole site and allows it to reclaim its original connection to the river.”

He said the project was “inspired by Brisbane’s sub-tropical lifestyle.”

The development application for 57 Coronation Dr also includes five storeys of parking and publicly-accessible pedestrian links between Coronation Dr and Quay St.

There will be 2,147 sqm of office space across the project and 168 serviced apartments in tower 1.