Richlister’s $600m plan to turn old car yard into urban village

One of Queensland’s wealthiest property tycoons has plans to transform an old Brisbane car yard site into a $600 million urban village.

Property tycoon Kevin Seymour has plans for a $600m village which he says will be the last major piece of the Urban Renewal “puzzle“ in Newstead in Brisbane’s inner east.

The Seymour Group is proposing to transform the soon to be vacant 2ha AP Eagers car yard at 99 Breakfast Creek Rd into Newstead Green — a cutting edge retail, small craft industries, services and residential village.

With AP Eagers set to leave the site in 2023, Mr Seymour said it was a chance to transform the “missing link” between Kingsford Smith Drive and the Gasworks.

They will submit preliminary plans to the Brisbane City Council by early next week.

“We have listened to the community and are confident our proposal will be something not just the locals will enjoy, but a vibrant precinct Brisbane will be proud to have on the gateway to our Olympic City,” Mr Seymour said.

The Seymour Group bought the site in 2019 for $61m from AP Eagers which is currently Newstead North’s largest remaining light industry occupier. They will be relocating to the BNE AutoMall at the Brisbane Airport.

An artist's impression of Newstead Green from Byres St.

Mr Seymour said Brisbane has a proud history of renewing tired and redundant industrial land.

He said since the Urban Renewal Taskforce was created 30 years ago, Brisbane has seen a Coca Cola factory evolve into James St and the Brisbane Powerhouse, Woolstores and Gasworks all see their own award-winning transformations.

“It’s time for us to revitalise Breakfast Creek R as an international gateway to our city. Newstead Green is the last major piece of the Urban Renewal puzzle for Newstead and New Farm,” he said.

“The wharves left Newstead for the Port in the `90s. With AP Eagers leaving for greener pastures in 2023, more Brisbane people will soon be able to enjoy the lifestyle the Brisbane River provides.

“The community has told us they want more retail amenity and parking. Our proposal will provide for this and give a much needed shot in the arm to nearby businesses and clubs that are crying out for it.”

An aerial of 99 Breakfast Creek Rd, which will become Newstead Green.

Mr Seymour said he saw Newstead Green as a vibrant and thriving mix of creative maker industries, service, specialty and convenience retail with residential — an average potential height of 15 storeys — fronting boulevard streets and an abundance of vertical greenery.

The proposal includes an active pedestrian arcade that will provide enhanced connections between Gasworks and Newstead Park with building heights and form similar to the neighbouring Newstead Series development which was also originally occupied by AP Eagers.

The project is expected to create up to 2000 jobs.

“It’s extremely rare to find sites this large so close to the city. It provides an opportunity to create something special you can’t do with small sites. Just look at the success of James St and West Village as an example,” Mr Seymour said.