Telstra seeks ‘information’ for a new Brisbane CBD office between 7000 sqm and 9000 sqm

Telco giant Telstra has put the feelers out for a new Brisbane CBD office, which will be much smaller that what it signed up for in 2017.

Telstra has put the feelers out for a new and smaller office in the Brisbane CBD.

Things have certainly changed in the Brisbane office leasing market.

In 2017 Telstra secured the largest office leasing deal in Brisbane that year when it signed a long-term agreement with fund manager Charter Hall and Singapore’s Keppel REIT for up to 30,000 sqm across two properties – 275 George St and 69 Ann St in the CBD.

Fast forward seven years and we hear the national telco has put out a “request for information” for a new site for its new Brisbane base. However, it is after less than a third of what it signed up for in 2017 – between 7000 sqm and 9000 sqm in the CBD.

We hear Telstra is after a 10-year deal and wants to be able to move into an A-grade tower by the first half of 2029.

The background is that Telstra has been disposing of space around the country since the Covid-19 pandemic when most staff were working from home.

Unlike other businesses, even with the end of the pandemic, Telstra had kept a similar Covid-19 model, allowing, when suitable, for staff to work from home.

We hear that Telstra currently has about 15,000 sqm in the CBD and the telco has surrendered many floors to the state government over the past few years.

New job

Property industry stalwart Mia Bannister – who boasts a phone full of contacts – has a new job as the Homes for Homes’ Queensland partnerships manager.

Homes for Homes was established by The Big Issue, an independent not-for-profit social enterprise that provides sustainable solutions to assist Australians experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

Bannister has more than 25 years in the sector working for top architects and building contractors, including Cottee Parker Architects and Kane Constructions, as well as serving on five Property Council committees.

Mia Bannister has been appointed the Homes for Homes’ Queensland Partnerships Manager.

She reckons she’ll be tapping into her network to help Homes for Homes expand into Queensland and do its bit to solve the homelessness crisis.

Homes for Homes operates on a simple premise. When a home sells, 0.1 per cent of the sale price is donated by the vendor to create social and affordable housing for those in need. This represents a $750 tax-deductible donation on a $750,000 property sale, disbursed as part of the settlement process.

Homes for Homes pools these donations and, through a strict governance process, grants funds to experienced organisations to increase social and affordable housing — importantly, in the state or territory where the donations were sourced.

Watch out. Mia is on her way.

Sponsorship

Ray White Queensland has begun a three-year partnership with the Brisbane Lions AFL team, becoming its official real estate partner.

This collaboration is a strategic move aimed at expanding Australia’s largest real estate brand’s presence in Queensland, leveraging the AFL’s massive audience of 11.7 million people a year.

Ray White Queensland chief executive Jason Andrew says the company is thrilled to join forces with the Brisbane Lions.

“This partnership enhances our visibility and engagement in Queensland, leveraging off our group’s successful strategies in South Australia with Port Adelaide and at the MCG in Melbourne,” he says.

There’s also more to celebrate.

It’s been a 100 years since Ray White moved from, Crows Nest, just north of Toowoomba Crows Nest to Queen St in the Brisbane CBD.

“We don’t just sell houses, we sell homes and we have been doing it in Brisbane for 100 years,” Andrew says. “It also marks eight years until Brisbane hosts the 2032 Olympics and we know our best years are ahead of us.”

Ray White is celebrating 100 years in Brisbane and has begun a sponsorship deal with the Brisbane Lions.