The revival of retail hub Post Office Square is underway with a multimillion dollar facelift

Post Office Square may look a Brisbane CBD eyesore now but with a multimillion dollar reset and 17 new tenants, the retail icon is set for a comeback. SEE THE PICTURES

One Brisbane CBD’s major retail eyesores is undergoing a multimillion dollar makeover.

On of one the busiest thoroughfares in the city and part of Brisbane’s retail fabric since opening in 1984, Post Office Square is undergoing a facelift and refurbishment.

LaSalle Investment Management managing director, Development (Australia) Simon Juniper said they were taking this opportunity to “completely reset the centre with a major investment”.

“Post Office Square is the commercial centre of Brisbane with a direct link to Central train station, and located centrally to more than 100,000 CBD workers,” he said.

“Couple this with a strong recovery in the CBD office attendance and we are confident that now is the time to invest heavily to completely reposition the asset.”

An artist's impression inside the renovated Post Office Square.

Seventeen new and existing tenants have already agreed to enter into new leases at the centre confirming LaSalle’s confidence in the location and the strong growth in the Brisbane CBD.

Boasting a wider mall with improvements to the layout, refurbished finishes, new entries, an accessible glass lift and a new tenancy mix, the multimillion-dollar redevelopment will see the thoroughfare between Queen and Adelaide streets re-energised to become a true food hotspot supported by service retailers.

An artist's impression of the renovated Post Office Square.

A feature of the design is the central biophilic oculus – otherwise known as the open, central column of light which characterises Post Office Square – filled with lush subtropical plants, creating the feel of spaciousness and connection with the outdoors.

Seating inside the lower level retail space will triple including fixed seating and loose furniture so patrons can create their own configurations, while the walkways between the shops have been widened to improve access throughout the space.

Ryan Andersen, managing director of Retail Development specialists DMA Partners who have been working with LaSalle, said the support and commitment of existing tenants was such a positive for the centre.

“The project team spent 2023 working with our existing tenants and locking in the key operators that wanted to stay in the refurbished centre,” he said.

“We were blown away with the support and a number of existing tenants who have now signed new leases and will relocate into new shops with brand new fit outs and improved food offers. We are creating a service retail precinct on Adelaide Street and the food precinct will run from the central Oculus all the way through to Queen St.”

An artist's impression inside the renovated Post Office Square.

Mr Anderson said originally the centre was designed in the mid-80s as a fashion mall with lower floor to floor heights and limited services for food operators.

“We saw this as a significant barrier for redevelopment so while we can’t change the levels

and configuration of the structure, we identified the opportunity to improve the services by

adding new services risers on the Queen Street frontage,” he said.

“Having secured a Development Approval for these and a new lift in 2023, we are paving the way for the biggest refurbishment the centre has seen since its original incarnation. This has been the catalyst for improving the food mix and we can now introduce food and beverage opportunities all the way to Queen St, which previously wasn’t possible”.