Neighbours object to former Origin player neighbour’s mansion

Residents of a wealthy Brisbane enclave have formally objected to their former State of Origin player-turned McDonald’s store owner neighbour’s plan to knock down and replace his family’s home.

Former State of Origin player Gary Coyne and his wife Gail at one of his nine McDonald's restaurants. Picture: Peter Wallis

Residents of a wealthy Brisbane enclave have formally objected to their former State of Origin player neighbour’s plan to knock down and replace his family’s home with a trendy four-storey abode.

Locals who live on Dickson Tce in Hamilton have told the council that the approved plans for the proposed house owned by Gail Coyne, wife of ex-league player Gary Coyne, is too big and will hinder their views and reduce sunlight.

Plans for a five-bedroom home with a lift, designed by architect Joe Adsett, were approved by Brisbane City Council on August 2 last year.

The current house is being demolished and sits on a steep sloping block with impressive views of the city and the river and sits in an area with a traditional building character overlay.

The new home, named Conico, is set to include parking for five cars in the basement, which also has a gym, and boasts “wraparound sunhood in-lieu of eaves” and sits on a block which is 506sqm, council documents state.

The Coyne house being demolished on Dickson Tce Hamilton, on Tuesday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

On June 28, Joe Adsett architects announced that the Coynes’ old house had been demolished.

“We look forward to sharing site progress photos with you. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Perched over four stories (SIC), on the prestigious Hamilton Hill, Conico commands panoramic views over the Brisbane River to the south,” the architecture firm stated.

The Coyne family made their fortune through their ownership of several McDonald’s franchises around Brisbane’s northern suburbs and in Gympie.

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Architectural renders of 49 Dickson Tce Hamilton.

In 2020 they reportedly owned nine in Queensland with two in Strathpine, three stores in North Lakes as well as restaurants in Kallangur, Deception Bay, Warner and Murrumba Downs.Since council gave the green light last year Mrs Coyne has applied to council again to make some minor changes to the plans, and in the latest correspondence the council wrote to her requesting further information and design changes in relation to a 62cm increase to the overall height of the home.

Neighbour Marie Monsour says in her objection that the plans submitted to council do not explicitly show the exact height of the finished house and “it is not clear by how much the proposed dwelling exceeds the 9.5m height limit”.

Gary Coyne is demolishing his house and building a mansion. Above is an architectural render of the mansion.

“We believe that the proposed height is around 2m above the 9.5m height limit,” Mrs Monsour states.

“The height will impact our views down the river and will destroy our newly established garden which will not get any sun,” Mrs Monsour states.

The mansion would have spaces for five cars in total.

Neighbours Andrea and Jeff Pollock submit in their objection that the Coyne house is up to four storeys high and sits at a height greater than 9.5m.

“Most of the house will extend to 3-4-storeys, with only the very front of the house potentially being 1-2 storeys” the submission from Mr and Mrs Pollock says.

“The height of the proposal clearly exceeds the intention and expressed provisions of the applicable zone code. It is acknowledged that the proposal is on a topographically challenged site and is surrounded by large houses, however a revised design more in keeping with the current height of the existing dwelling would be more appropriate and supportable.”

Gary Coyne’s home being demolished on Tuesday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr and Mrs Pollock state in their submission that the house “would most definitely” overshadow its neighbours.

The Coyne family submitted to council that there were three other houses in Dickson Tce which are taller than 9.5m.

An August 2, 2022 letter from the council giving the green light to the Coynes’ architectural plans states that “this response does not constitute an approval to start building work. A development permit to begin construction of the proposed building work must be obtained from an appropriately licensed building certifier”.