Big shake-up coming to Bulimba’s Oxford St

A gourmet supermarket giant is set to join rooftop dining and drinking establishments in a new precinct anticipated to breathe new life into one of Brisbane’s most famous eat streets.

Oxford St, Bulimba new retail, office and dining precinct by Cielo Property Group.

A gourmet supermarket giant and rooftop dining and drinking establishments are set to breathe new life into one of Brisbane’s most famous eat streets.

Cielo Property Group has secured up-market providore Harris Farm for their highly anticipated new food, retail and office development at the east end of Oxford St, Bulimba.

Justin O'Donnell, director of Cielo Property Group, and Milton Zietsman of Z Architects at Harris Farm – Picture: Claudia Baxter

The new three-storey, 3081sq m construction site will see the demolition of cult bookshop Riverbend Books, popular eateries La Quinta Mexican and Amante Tapas & Vino, and a host of neighbouring operators.

“There’s been almost nothing happen in the last 40 years … and as a local I’m proud of the area and it needs something new – it needs a drawcard,” said Cielo Property Group director Justin O’Donnell.

The developer is hoping the new precinct will invigorate Oxford St like The Calile Hotel did for Fortitude Valley’s James St, with the inner-city area now a hotspot for the rich and famous.

“If you build it they will come and now everyone around James St is thriving and we need that in Bulimba,” he said.

Mr O’Donnell said securing Harris Farm was a massive win for the complex, with the national up-market grocer, known for its gourmet meats, cheeses, fruit and veg, tipped to make the Bulimba store its Australian flagship.

“They have been looking in the area for 15 years for a site and couldn’t find anything so they’re going to put everything into it and so will we,” he said.

Harris Farm will take up about 90 per cent of the ground floor of the building, leaving room for a cafe next door, while there will be 250 carparks and two levels of office space.

Oxford St, Bulimba new retail, office and dining precinct by Cielo Property Group.

Cielo Property Group will also be applying for DA approval next week to build two restaurants and a bar on the rooftop of the development, which Mr O’Donnell believes will be a game-changer for the suburb and drive people into the area.

Demolition of the existing building is tipped to start at the end of the month, with the entire precinct due to open in early 2025.