How Brisbane can Celebrate its Past While Embracing the Future

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Walking through the beautiful streets of sub-tropical Brisbane, it’s easy to see why people are drawn to live here.

The city was designed to embrace the environment: historic Queenslanders with their wide verandahs abound many streets, and the city has thoughtfully created outdoor spaces such as parks and river walks to take advantage of the climate.

It’s a world-class city that is growing rapidly. But while there is a need for new, centrally-located housing, it is crucial that new developments retain a ‘Queensland’ feel, so keeping what makes Brisbane special.

One development that will set a new benchmark for celebrating the city’s history and embracing the environment is The Abbotsford.

Centrally located in Bowen Hills, the low-density development will thoughtfully preserve and restore the 152-year-old Abbotsford house, while creating light and airy new housing.

The company behind the new development, Cintra Property, has had a laser-sharp focus on their mission of combining history with developing new, climate-friendly homes since they started working on The Abbotsford.

Cintra Property director Peter Tan said he is excited to see the project take shape.

“It’s very rare to find a heritage house within the context that we’re developing now,” he said. “Rather than treat the heritage component as separate, it is being integrated into the resident amenity.”

He explained the heritage home will be fully restored, and will be exclusively used by the future residents of The Abbotsford. Included will be a lounge, a private dining room that can be booked out, and even a space for children’s parties to be held.

Situated on an acre of inner-city land, The Abbotsford will feature 122 two and three bedroom residences, each with large balconies that retain the indoor-outdoor feel so important to the Brisbane climate.

The land around the home has also been left open to ensure residents can all enjoy the gardens.

“We’ve deliberately kept that sort of balance – we didn’t want to build too close to the heritage home,” Mr Tan said. “And surrounding that we will have two very well-designed contemporary buildings with a lot of amenities. So we are embracing the past by keeping the heritage house, but we aren’t just doing that for nostalgic purposes. We are restoring it, and making it useful for the residents.

Position Property director Richard Lawrence, who is leading the sales and marketing of The Abbotsford, said he is thrilled to be involved in such a landmark project for Brisbane’s future.

“We really wanted to create the feeling that we have embraced the past, but we have our own identity in (modern) Brisbane,” Mr Lawrence said.

“We’ve been fortunate with the size of the site, we’ve had the ability to maximise corner apartments, cross-flow ventilation, large internal floor space flowing out to larger balconies. We’ve got this seamless indoor-outdoor connection. 

“They’re the principles we love in Queenslanders, and we really tried to focus that back into these apartments.”

He said one big point of difference in this development is the size of the apartments – with many three bedrooms big enough for families.

“We wanted to cater to families as well as downsizers,” Mr Lawrence said. “We’re seeing younger families move into the inner city, and you have to have the amenities to support them as they grow.”

The central location is within walking distance of lifestyle precincts such as Gasworks, James Street and the King Street Precinct, but is also very convenient for everyday life – with Bowen Hill station across the street, and schools and the CBD close by.

“Brisbane is moving really quickly. In the next five years we will see Brisbane’s landscape completely changing. And this project is really aligning with that city growth in that we’re design led and lifestyle-focused.”

He said while other developments have attracted investors, The Abbotsford is getting a broader interest from buyers.

“We’re catering for the owner-occupier. There’s a broad market for people who want to live in this convenient location.”

With The Abbotsford’s lowest basement level nearly finished, Mr Lawrence said today’s buyers can be reassured there is a clear timeline to completion.

“We’re giving people confidence about moving into their new home,” he said.

For Mr Tan, watching the development reach completion, and showing people how new homes can be built for Brisbane residents – while celebrating the city’s past – is a real thrill. 

“If you go into the Brisbane suburbs you see Queenslanders being knocked down to make way for modern buildings. But (as The Abbotsford shows) retaining our history – wherever possible – is important,” he said.

The Abbotsford is a landmark luxury Brisbane development in the heart of the city. Register your interest in this unique project here.