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New plans for a luxury development on the controversial Shafston House site in Brisbane’s east – including a private marina and six pools – have been unveiled.
Singapore-based Capella Hotel Group and Brisbane-based developer Verso Projects are helming the Kangaroo Point project, a 27-storey tower set to open in 2029.
Shafston House was built by the Reverend Robert Creyke in 1851 as a single-storey cottage, with several subsequent owners, and was placed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 2005.
The historic home will become a communal space for residents akin to a members club, BLACK Communications’ Melissa Dive said, offering residents wellness and culinary experiences.
The development will also have two riverfront residences in front of the tower, and six pools – three of which will be accessible to all residents.
The public will not be able to access the historic grounds, but a communal walkway will be created.
Dive said the Verso team “want to make sure that it’s really sensitively transformed. It’s a such an icon for them. So it’s very special”.
The project is Capella’s first in Brisbane, and the company said the city was one of Australia’s most compelling luxury markets in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic Games.
“Brisbane is a city on the cusp of something remarkable – and Capella Residences is our commitment to being part of that story,” Capella Hotel Group president Roland Fasel said.
Verso Projects chief executive Steve Laffey said he was honoured to be restoring Shafston Estate “to its former glory”.
“By partnering with Capella – globally recognised for its refined approach to luxury hospitality and deep respect for cultural and historical context – we will elevate this project beyond a residential offering into a world-class destination.”
A smaller redevelopment of the site was initially approved in 2023, despite local opposition.
Several submissions were made to the council against the smaller, 15-storey plans.
“We believe that the government and council have an obligation to the people of Queensland to ensure that nothing modern is ever built on this heritage site and this Brisbane river treasure is preserved,” one anonymous submitter wrote.
Another submission called for a more radical intervention.
“I would support BCC and/or the state government buying back this entire property and putting it back in the hands of the public,” they said.
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