Former Mort Estate Hotel, current Mort and Co headquarters in Toowoomba City to be expanded by FKG Group

An ambitious plan to further transform a heritage-listed ex-CBD pub into a contemporary office space has been put forward by its owners. Check out the designs here:

A former Toowoomba pub’s transformation into a contemporary CBD office space has continued, with a top company lodging plans to further expand it.

Toowoomba firm FKG Group has put forward a proposal for an extension to the heritage-listed Bellevue Hotel on the corner of Bridge and Mort Streets in Toowoomba City.

The site, which was already transformed from a pub into the headquarters for livestock company Mort and Co back in 2018, will now expand into the neighbouring lot currently used as a parking lot.

According to the planning report by Property Projects Australia, the new extension would be based over three stories and connect to the existing property.

PROPOSED: Toowoomba company FKG has put forward plans for a massive expansion of the Mort and Co offices on Mort Street in Toowoomba City.

“Broadly, the proposal involves an extension to the existing office building located at 91 Mort Street, which will include the provision of overflow ancillary carparking areas on the land located at 98 Mort Street and 168 Bridge Street,” the report said.

“The key components (include) a new building extension above the existing carparking area at 91 Mort Street, which faces Mort Street and is provided to the south of the heritage building.

“The ground floor undercover parking area will be reconfigured to include landscaping along the street frontage and a new staircase, lift, amenities and cold room.

“The first floor is proposed to be internally reconfigured to provide additional office space.

“The second floor will include approximately 215.8 sqm and include a new lunchroom, training room, and staff amenities.”

Extra carparking has been slated for a different lot opposite the current site.

The application includes a heritage impact report by architect Stephanie Keays, who concluded the extension would not affect the cultural significance of the Bellevue Hotel.

“Alternative options for the expansion have been explored or reviewed with the design architect, Open Architecture Studio, and changes were made to the design as a result of the detailed analysis of the significance of the place and TRC feedback,” her report said.

“Furthermore, the design options have been examined within the broad context of the site location on Mort Street and within the Mort Estate.

“Generally, the proposed extensions are supported by this deeper analysis which indicates that the changes do not impact on the cultural heritage significance of the place, not on the wider context of its setting within Mort Street.”

PROPOSED: Toowoomba company FKG has put forward plans for a massive expansion of the Mort and Co offices on Mort Street in Toowoomba City.

The Bellevue Hotel’s history dates back to 1903, with the site remaining a pub until it closed in 2016.

It was believed to be one of the largest sellers of liquor in Queensland in 1993.

Mort and Co, for which the Mort Estate was named after, was established by Sydney businessman Thomas Mort in 1843 until 1888 when it merged with another company to become Goldbrough Mort and Co.

In 1962, the company merged with another entity to form what would become real estate firm Elders today.

Mr Mort’s statue stands in Sydney’s Macquarie Place due to his contributions to business.

His great-great-great nephew Charlie Mort re-established Mort and Co in 1997 as a livestock company.