Griffith University confirms interest in buying $200m Treasury Casino site in Brisbane CBD

A major tertiary institution has confirmed its interest in the Treasury Casino and Hotel site in the heart of the city, after it was put on the market with a $200m price tag.

Treasury Casino. Picture: Richard Walker

A major university is in talks to turn the Treasury Casino and Hotel in the heart of Brisbane into its new campus.

Star Entertainment put the Treasury site on the market in October with a $200m price tag, ahead of the scheduled opening of its new $3.6b crown jewel, Queen’s Wharf, in August.

The Star is selling the Treasury Casino and Hotel buildings in Brisbane

Griffith University has been searching for a Brisbane CBD site for a new campus for at least four years and is now in talks with Star to purchase the Treasury site.

“We are actively participating in an Expression of Interest for the Treasury Building in

William Street,” a Griffith University spokesman confirmed.

“We have also sought submissions from potential lessors and the process of assessing short-listed responses continues. We aim to conclude this process in the first half of 2024.”

The university was previously interested in potentially moving onto the Cross River Rail site at Roma Street once the construction was finished, but it has since ruled this option out.

Griffith wants to build a new CBD campus that can cater for 7500 students and 400 staff.

“It would accommodate courses including Business, Law as well as Information and Communications Technology,” the university spokesman said.

“It would also support student pathways through programs offered by the Griffith English Language Institute and Griffith College.”

Griffith has campuses in Logan, Mount Gravatt, Nathan, South Bank, and the Gold Coast.