Building starts on controversial ABC studio site

Building is about to begin on the 1.2 hectare riverfront site of the former ABC studios in Toowong after years of speculation, bringing 224 new homes to the Brisbane property market upon completion.

Building is about to begin on the site of the former ABC studios in Toowong, with a display office to open next week, ending years of controversy over the future of the rare 1.2 hectare riverfront parcel.

Monarch Residences, by Consolidated Properties Group, will capitalise on the return to inner-city living post Covid lockdowns, offering 224 homes from $645,000 to $15m across two 15-storey towers.

“This is such a landmark site, it is very much part of the urban realm

Artistic render of Monarch at Toowong.

so we are really obliged to produce something wonderful,” Consolidated Properties Group CEO and Chairman, Don O’Rorke, said.

The timing could not be better for the Brisbane apartment market which faces a shortage of new developments with PropTrack data showing only 23 residential developments either under construction or selling off-the-plan in Brisbane, compared with 59 residential developments on the Gold Coast.

“We build what we’re told and we just notice that not that many units are getting built and everyone is talking about a housing shortage going on,” Hutchinson Builders chairman, Scott Hutchinson, said. “We are not building many and it takes a long time to get them going. There’ll be quite a shortage.”

Builder Scott Hutchinson and developer Don O’Rorke on site at their new Monarch development at Toowong. Picture Lachie Millard

The century-old construction giant is taking on the luxury Monarch Residences project at 600 Coronation Drive, Toowong, in Brisbane’s inner-west, after also picking up the construction of 443 Queen St, following the collapse of its project builder, Probuild, last year.

“I’ve put my name down for a unit,” Mr Hutchinson said. “Toowong is my stomping ground, it’s where Don and I went to school, and it’s up the road from our office. I think it will be great, and it’s one of my dad’s favourite places as well. He’s quite excited about it at 88.”

The Toowong site, which was home to the ABC for almost 50 years, had been earmarked for a three-tower Sunland development of up to 27 storeys, however approval for the site was overturned in the Supreme Court last year, following strong local opposition.

Artistic render of Monarch at Toowong.

CPG bought the site from Sunland for $35.5m in March last year, engaging award-winning John Wardle Architects to design the development.

“We are only producing half the number of apartments (compared with the previous proposal) and there is the obvious reduction in the number of cars on the site, it’s a much less intense scheme and on that basis community groups all came on board.”

Also on the site is the historic Middenbury House which will be restored to become a cafe and restaurant as part of the build, while the Brisbane City Council Green Bridge from Toowong to West End will be positioned beside the development.

CPG has a 40-year record of developing high-quality, landmark retail, commercial and residential properties along Australia’s eastern seaboard.