Approval given for $650 million mixed use ICON development at Northshore Hamilton

ONE of Australia’s largest waterfront urban renewal projects Northshore Hamilton is set to welcome a $650 million development that reshape the gateway to Brisbane

A concept image of Wentworth Equities $650m ICON development at Northshore Hamilton

ONE of Australia’s largest waterfront urban renewal projects is set to welcome a $650 million development which will reshape Brisbane’s Northshore Hamilton precinct.

Australian private property trust Wentworth Equities has been granted approval by Economic

Development Queensland to develop the mixed-use ICON on a 7637sq m site at 19 Hercules St, Hamilton.

The project features four towers which will have 567 apartments and a 5-star 227-room hotel with conference, function and recreational facilities and a connective sky-bridge.

It will also have 5000sq m of podium-level open-air public realm featuring boutique

shopping, alfresco dining and childcare facilities, as well as landscaping, subtropical

planting and water features.

Wentworth Equities executive chairman Sameh Ibrahim said the time was right for significant

investment in Brisbane which he believed was growing into a new world city and gaining an international reputation as a city to live, work, invest and visit.

“Brisbane’s diverse economy, growing population base, great employment opportunities, excellent

relative housing affordability and availability, climate and natural attributes really make it the place to be,” he said.

“The recent G20 Leaders Summit further enhanced Brisbane’s international profile and we see only good things for the city’s future.

“As part of Northshore Hamilton, the gateway to Brisbane CBD, ICON will be the jewel in the crown of Australia’s largest waterfront urban renewal project.”

Australasian design firm, Custance’s ICON design concept was selected after a national design competition.

A concept image of Wentworth Equities $650m ICON development at Northshore Hamilton

Custance design director Craig Shelsher said the design was based on four key principles — water, people, place and connectivity.

“ICON’s proximity to the Brisbane River and wharf district are central to its design, shaping the

towers’ fluid forms and shimmering facade,” he said.

“Our objective was to create a place that enabled people to thrive and the architecture to embrace the river. Designed to create a visual link to the water, ICON will connect the Brisbane River to Hercules Street park and onwards to Kingsford Smith Drive, enhancing accessibility to neighbouring developments and throughout the Hamilton Northshore precinct.”

ICON is expected to create almost 2000 full-time jobs during construction and more than 1500

additional ongoing full-time jobs.

Development manager Property Development Systems Australia led and coordinated ICON’s planning submission, with a team including Urbis, Custance, EM Griffiths, ttm, Bornhorst + Ward, Certis and Bennett + Bennett.