Looming high rise puts classic Brisbane pub up the Creek

The iconic 1889-built Brekky Creek Hotel is under threat from developers, with an “overbearing” 199-unit residential tower feared to “impact the viability” of the Brisbane landmark.

Breakfast Creek Hotel staff members Henry Wallis and Iagan Kiszely concerned by the proposed high-rise development next door. Picture: Liam Kidston

The historic Brekky Creek Hotel is under threat from developers, with an “overbearing” 17-storey residential tower feared to “impact the viability” of the Brisbane landmark.

Owners of the heritage-listed Albion venue are vehemently opposing the 199-unit development, as are multiple other businesses including the acclaimed Mica Brasserie in the multimillion-dollar Mercedes Benz complex.

The proposed high-rise, at 4 Higgs Street and 11 Sandgate Road, will significantly exceed the 10-storey limit in the Albion Neighbourhood Plan.

The developer, DRJ Investments Pty Ltd, engaged Sydney architects Jackson Teece to design the tower, which will have a rooftop pool, ground-floor restaurant, five levels of basement car parking for 247 vehicles and a public plaza connecting it with the pub.

But Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, which owns the 1889-built Brekky Creek, has slammed the development as “highly unsuitable”.

In its opposition statement lodged with Brisbane City Council this month, Troy Sanders, from ALH’s parent company Endeavour Group, said the tower would cast “extreme shading of the patron seating area and beer garden during the afternoon period, the hotel’s busiest time of day”.

“This will degrade the aesthetic and experience for customers, ultimately having social impacts as well as economic impacts on the hotel.”

Mr Sanders said as well as “the inevitable impact to the prosperity and viability of the Breakfast Creek Hotel” the “overshadowing and overlooking will deprecate the reputation and usability of this precinct”.

The iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel is fighting a huge new residential development by architecture firm Jackson Teece. Source: Brisbane City Council.

4 Higgs Street, Albion, for sale, Breakfast Creek Hotel are concerned about developers building high rise apartment overshadowing the hotel

4 Higgs Street, Albion, for sale, Breakfast Creek Hotel are concerned about developers building high rise apartment overshadowing the hotel

The likelihood of noise complaints was high, leading to reduced trading hours.

“We note that similar residential developments that adjoin the Royal Exchange in Toowong and nearby to the Regatta Hotel at Toowong have had noise complaints drawn against heritage pubs, with ultimately the trade hours having to be restricted to improve residential amenity,” he said.

Also lodging an objection, Queensland Hotels Association’s Bernie Hogan said noise attenuation had led to the closure of other inner city venues with significant heritage value.

Award-winning chef Shannon Kellam and wife Clare said their business, incorporating Mica Brasserie, “could not afford any more setbacks” after Covid and the 2022 floods.

They said the tower would “immediately deter” customers and “a small decrease (in trade) will be the tipping point for our business to close”.

ALH managing director Paul Walton told the Sunday Mail: “The Breakfast Creek Hotel has withstood a raft of challenges and setbacks throughout its history, including major flooding events, world wars and a pandemic.

“We are focused on preserving the amenity of this heritage-listed, iconic Brisbane landmark so future generations can enjoy it as we do today.”

The Sunday Mail approached DRJ Investments via the contact on its BCC development application – Jonathan See from Place Design Group in Brisbane – but did not receive a reply.