The projects shaping Brisbane into a world-class city

Brisbane has long been known as ‘Brisvegas’, a place where flamboyant retirees migrate for warmer weather, but that’s all been challenged over the last decade as it readies itself to step up as Australia’s next ‘world city’. With several world class buildings already calling Brisbane home and many more on the horizon, we took a closer look at what this vibrant city has in the pipeline to get it a world class status by 2022.

Queen’s Wharf

Designed to reconnect the activity of Brisbane’s biggest assets, like the Botanic Gardens, Queen Street Mall, the Cultural Precinct and South Bank, the Queens Wharf will be home to five hotels, three residential towers, a new department store, moonlight cinema and even a new TAFE campus. It’s likely to draw over a million tourists into the area each year.

Northshore Hamilton

Hamilton has been an up and coming suburb for quite some time and is home to the very popular Eat Street Markets, so it’s well overdue for a revamp that will ramp up the desirability of the suburb. The former industrial precinct will be transformed, with housing for up to 15,000 residents and a new employment hub in the form of retail and office parks and a riverfront that incorporates parkland and community spaces.

Brisbane Airport’s redevelopment

While the airport itself is world class, the runway has a lot of catching up to do and the $3.8 billion New Parallel Runway Project is going to make that happen. It will turn 360 hectares of marshland into a 3.3km long runway due to be completed by 2020.

Brisbane Metro

While Brisbane trains aren’t exactly the worst in Australia (we’re looking at you Adelaide), they definitely leave a lot to be desired, so Brisbane City Council has committed to providing a reliable, high-frequency transport system to reduce bus congestion and cut travel times, while also improving services in the suburbs.

Brisbane Live

The city has been begging for a world class entertainment arena for the longest time and finally Brisbane Live will deliver. It will host international superstar musicians and sporting events, among other things, and will also encompass a 4000-capacity nightclub, a cinema and an amphitheatre for 15,000 people.