15-storey apartment block to tower over historic Shafston House

A 15-storey apartment block is set to tower over heritage-listed Shafston House under plans released by the site’s new owner.

Built in stages from 1851 to the 1930s, the riverfront residence on Castlebar Street, Kangaroo Point, is Brisbane’s third-oldest home.

Shafston House was designed by renowned Brisbane architect Robin Dods.

In November 2020, it attracted national and international interest when former owner Keith Lloyd put it on the market and announced the closure of Shafston International College.

Local businessman Kevin Pan, director of Burgundy Group, bought both Shafston House and the college for an undisclosed sum.

In February, Mr Pan released a statement giving a glimpse of his plans for the historic site – Shafston House would be restored, but the college wouldn’t be so lucky.

“Under the restoration plan, Shafston International College’s contemporary campus buildings, constructed in faux-heritage style, are earmarked for demolition, consistent with the Burra Charter and well-accepted heritage restoration principles,” the statement said.

The 15-storey building will comprise 37 three- and four-bedroom apartments.

“The restoration plan also proposes landscaping works to remove a tree that has been found by two independent arborists to be in poor condition due to ground fungal contamination and that may pose a safety risk. New plantings to replace the tree have been propagated from the tree.”

In a further statement released on Tuesday, Burgundy Group said the site was zoned by Brisbane City Council as high-density residential, with a maximum building height of 15 storeys.

“Burgundy Group is proposing a single 15-storey building containing 37 spacious three- and four-bedroom apartments sensitively positioned ... towards Thorn Street,” it said.

“The proposal ensures that significant view lines to the heritage house – to and from the Brisbane River – will be retained. The formal lawn through the middle of the site will be enhanced and the proposal provides an opportunity for a future river walk connection across the site.

An artist’s impression of the apartment block to be built beside Shafston House.

“Burgundy Group has undertaken detailed expert heritage investigations and architectural studies ... [which] have confirmed multiple towers across the site would not be an appropriate outcome.”

Burgundy Group is seeking community feedback on its apartment plans before it lodges a formal development application with Brisbane City Council. Feedback can be provided here.

Shafston House was built by the Reverend Robert Creyke in 1851 as a single-storey cottage called Ravenscott, with several subsequent owners and construction stages. In 2005, it was placed on the Queensland Heritage Register.

Shafston International College, which was established by entrepreneur Keith Lloyd in the 1990s, has educated more than 120,000 students from over 100 countries in the English language and through vocational courses.

The college received various accolades and was rated Australia’s number one English-language school in 2013, 2014 and 2019 by Ryugaku Journal, a Japanese publication specialising in overseas education.