Plans for 450-lot redevelopment of part of Gainsborough Lodge submitted to council

In the 1970s it was built into Queensland’s premier horse stud. Now as Toowoomba encroaches on what was once quiet country side, the owners have lodged plans to redevelop.

Plans to redevelop a portion of one of Queensland’s premier horse studs into a 450-lot residential estate have been lodged with Toowoomba Regional Council.

The residential development will be located on land to the east of the existing Gainsborough Lodge horse stud, which has been in the hands of the Richards family since it was bought by the late Col Richards in 1990.

The application is for land located inside Toowoomba Regional Council’s Priority Infrastructure Area.

The land at Gainsborough Lodge which will be redeveloped.

The PIA has proved a sticking point for council and developers in recent years, most notably with the mothballed Fernleigh development, which was proposed on land at Westbrook outside the PIA.

Richards Group managing director and Col Richards’ daughter Melinda Richards said the vision for the development was to create a community the Toowoomba region was proud of, which at the same time respected the history of the place.

She also said the application “works towards addressing Toowoomba’s potential land shortage”, with the proposal aiming to provide a mix of housing products.

While the final details are still to be determined, Richards Group general manager Craig Wallace said lot sizes would range in size from 400 sq m, up to 1100 or 1200 sq m.

Ms Richards said she felt “emotional” about the project, which will eventually transform her family’s property for good.

BIG PLANS: Richards Group managing director Melinda Richards has announced plans to redevelop a portion of Gainsborough Lodge Horse Stud. Pictures: Bev Lacey.

“It’s been a very tough decision, but in the end the Toowoomba region is growing and there is a shortage of land and there are land developments encroaching on the stud farm and that makes it fairly untenable to keep an operating stud going into the future, because horses and urban environments don’t really mix well,” she said.

Gainsborough Lodge has been a part of the Toowoomba landscape for close to 50 years.

Originally a dairy farm, Gainsborough Lodge was developed by Alfred Grant into Queensland’s premier horse stud, beginning operations in 1973.

Aerial of Gainsborough Lodge, Wellcamp in 1975. Picture: Contributed

By 1974 it was largest and possibly best-equipped stud in the southern hemisphere, with an airstrip, horse hospital, and all-weather training track alongside breeding barns and training stables.

The property was sold in 1977 with two more owners until it was acquired by the Richards family in 1990.

The development application lodged with the council is for a preliminary approval to vary the planning scheme and to reconfigure the lot, with the first proposed stage being 57 lots, and up to 450 lots proposed in the master plan.

On a tour of the development site this week are (from left) Richards Group’s Craig Wallace, Colliers International Toowoomba’s Dominic Ryan, Richards Group’s Melinda Richards, Colliers’ Brad Lipp and RMA Engineers’ David Waldock. Picture: Bev Lacey

“This proposal will deliver a vibrant and connected community adhering to sustainable development principles whilst retaining some of its rich history by preserving infrastructure that abounds the site,” Ms Richards said.

She said the long-term goal was “to intrinsically integrate the historical assets of Gainsborough Lodge to not only provide greater future value but also create a central community focus”.

The lodgement of the application marks years of work by the design team, which includes local Toowoomba engineering firm RMA Engineers, and others.

Master plan for Gainsborough Lodge redevelopment.

Originally published as Plans for 450-lot redevelopment of part of Gainsborough Lodge submitted to council