Huge Waterloo Bay Hotel upgrade, first highrise planned for Wynnum

After years of hard times, with shops boarded up and a cinema chain pulling out, a swag of glitzy new projects are set to get a Bayside suburb buzzing. But some are worried about their village.

Renders of the upgraded Waterloo Bay Hotel and (top right) One West Avenue highrise.

A gigantic expansion of 136-year-old landmark the Waterloo Bay Hotel, Wynnum’s first highrise and plans for the Wynnum Creek Fish Market site are just some of the exciting changes set to lift the Bayside suburb out of five years of hard times.

Council is also poised to deliver a long-awaited renewal plan next year to jazz up the foreshore, as far as Lota and Manly, and build better cycle and footpath connections to the Bay.

There could also be new laneways between existing streets. But many were hoping for Edith St to be pedestrianised and for Clara and Charlotte streets to be made one-way to deliver more on-street parking.

Wynnum’s “everywhere man’’, upbeat developer Justin Ham, last week revealed tantalising images of the biggest changes to come to the Waterloo since it was built in 1889 on busy Berrima St.

Detailed plans were yet to be submitted to council, but heritage elements would be protected with a major expansion of the existing hotel accommodation and a mix of units including affordable dwellings.

How the rooftop entertain deck deck at the revamped Waterloo Bay Hotel could look if approved. Image: Archipelago

Artist’s impression of the proposal. Image: Archipelago

If approved, it would all be topped with a fifth-floor rooftop terrace bar area, covering 300sqm, with sweeping views of Moreton Bay.

Mr Ham has been the man behind a swag of transformative projects in the CBD area.

His development group Hambros Pty Ltd also stepped in last year to save the suburb’s only cinema, which faced closure only four years after opening when operator Majestic Cinemas entered voluntary administration.

“The focus has to be on the Wynnum CBD area as that is the heart of Wynnum and, currently, it’s in need of some life support,’’ Mr Ham said.

“Brisbane City Council’s upgrade to the Wynnum CBD area is something that stakeholders, landowners and council are working together to deliver in 2026.

“We applaud council here. We have advocated for many years that this area needs attention and we are all excited to enter the next phase.

The existing site which fronts busy Berrima St.

The expansion would include more hotel accommodation and affordable dwellings. Image: Archipelago

“The focus has to be on the CBD, where business and landowners are struggling due to the lack of population to support them — they can’t trade full days and hours.

“Population is required in this area, together with the likes of Mick Powers’ BMD headquarters, to bring workers during the day to support the businesses.’’

Two local families were meanwhile hoping to develop the suburb’s first highrise, One West Avenue, next to the train line on a site abandoned for two decades following the collapse of the former owner during the Global Financial Crisis.

At 17 storeys, it has raised eyebrows in a suburb where the prospect of even five to eight levels under council’s CBD renewal plans has attracted concerns.

Another 11-level unit tower was recently approved on Bay Tce and a 10-level unit project was being considered by council at Bride St.

Artist's impressions of One West Avenue, which would be Wynnum's first highrise tower if approved.

Views were mixed among the 85 locals who turned up to an information session a fortnight ago at the Wynnum Golf Club, with about a third backing the proposal, one-third against and the rest unsure.

One attendee said the suburb she had lived in for 50 years needed rejuvenation, but the site already was busy with traffic from families using the junior rugby league club.

The new developers said the location was ideally suited for extra density to help meet the area’s housing and commercial space needs and could include a medical hub.

A spokeswoman for one of the two families which had owned the site for 20 years, said the time was right.

“We see this as a legacy project for the community. We want people to stay local, live local and spend local,’’ she said. 

“This will benefit existing businesses and encourage more to stay and enjoy the many offerings that Wynnum provides for our community,” she said.

“The Wynnum masterplan created 20 years ago has not delivered the desired investment in Wynnum.

“We have seven buildings on 2ha, with almost 1ha of the site as open space — we believe

One West Avenue is size-appropriate.’’

Local LNP councillor, Alex Givney, also announced this week that a development application had been lodged for the Wynnum Creek Fish Market site, bought last year by a Bayside family.

The plans included a fish and chip shop, restaurant and rooftop entertainment area with sweeping Bay views.

Council separately was currently upgrading the boat ramp carpark.

Render of the Wynnum Fish Market proposal.

Former Wynnum Labor councillor, Peter Cumming, said there had only been “basic’’ public consultation so far, other than for property owners.

He said while the precinct plan called for heights to taper down from five levels around Bay Tce towards the esplanade, with eight levels further back, there already were plans for higher buildings.

“If 17 levels was approved just west of the railway line it will set a precedent and be a very big change for Wynnum,’’ he said.

Developer Justin Ham at the site of the Wynnum cinema development in Berrima St in 2019. He took over operating it when Majestic Cinemas went into administration. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

“Tall buildings are likely to create shadowing and unless well designed could worsen on-street parking.’’

Council’s City Planning chair, Adam Allan, said their plan would unlock “opportunities for more homes, better connections to transport and greater support for local business’’.

“The people who live and work here know the great potential and we look forward to working with the community to improve the way we live and work in Wynnum,’’ he said.

A draft precinct plan was due out for public consultation later this year.

HOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE PRECINCT PLAN

No proposals for one-way streets or pedestrian-only thoroughfares were currently being prepared.

Views were split on the council precinct plan and the Waterloo Bay Hotel and One West Avenue projects, with many saying they would all help kickstart the suburb.

“Closing Bay Tce to traffic for a pedestrian mall is a fabulous idea, however we would need more accessible parking for locals and visitors,’’ one local commented on a council information post on Facebook last month.

“Close off Edith St to traffic, make Clara and Charlotte one-way, more underground parking. Trees, trees, trees,’’ another posted.

Others called for a “statement’’ footbridge to connect the western side of the railway line to the CBD, including public green space near the train station.

Some were concerned about the possibility of highrise along the foreshore in future years, worsening already heavy traffic on Bay Tce and Berrima St.

“Let Manly have all the tourists and traffic. Keep Wynnum for the locals,’’ one resident quipped.

Many Waterloo Bay Hotel patrons said they were excited by the plans, as long as there was adequate underground parking, noise abatement and screening of the rooftop terrace from neighbouring units.

“Now all we need is a South Bank (style) swimming pool like Redcliffe and a CityCat stop at Fort Lytton with a shuttle bus to Wynnum,’’ Craig posted.

“An upgrade did wonders for the Belvedere (Hotel) in Woody Point,’’ Braeh pointed out.

Fragarama summed up the feeling of those who liked what they saw: “Wynnum just got even better.’’

Originally published as Huge Waterloo Bay Hotel upgrade, first highrise planned for Wynnum