$650 million ICON development to reshape Northshore Hamilton

A new $650 million international-standard luxury mixed-use development – ICON – is set to reshape the Northshore Hamilton precinct in Brisbane’s inner north.

Australian private property trust Wentworth Equities has been granted approval by Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) to develop ICON on a 7,637 square metre site at 19 Hercules Street, Hamilton (view proposed DA here).

ICON will become the centrepiece of Northshore Hamilton and set a new benchmark in architectural excellence. The design concept was selected after a national design competition. The winning concept, by Australasian design firm, Custance, features four distinctive towers and a connective sky-bridge, anchored by a world-class public realm that establishes a new gateway and better connectivity to the Brisbane River.

The project features 567 residential apartments; an international-standard five-star 227-room hotel with premium conference, function and recreational facilities; high quality retail and restaurant precinct; childcare facilities and open-air public realm and community civic plaza ‘Hamilton Place’.

Wentworth Equities Executive Chairman Mr Sameh Ibrahim said the time was right for significant investment in Brisbane, as the city is now growing into a well recognisable new world city, and receiving increasing attention as a desirable place to live, work, invest and visit.

“Brisbane’s diverse economy, growing population base, great employment opportunities, excellent relative housing affordability and availability, climate and natural attributes really make it the place to be,” said Mr Ibrahim.

“The recent G20 Leaders Summit further enhanced Brisbane’s international profile and we see only good things for the city’s future. Leveraging this global spotlight, ICON will set a new architectural, lifestyle and economic benchmark for Brisbane, supporting its ongoing transformation into a sophisticated, world-class city.

“As part of Northshore Hamilton, the gateway to Brisbane CBD, ICON will be the jewel in the crown of Australia’s largest waterfront urban renewal project and Brisbane’s premier riverfront precinct, representing a unique lifestyle opportunity for astute buyers looking for style and sophistication.”

The five-star hotel and conference facilities will further boost Brisbane’s tourism and event credentials – located just seven kilometres from Brisbane Airport and 100 metres from where more than 350,000 people are expected to dock this year at the Brisbane Cruise Ship Terminal.

Custance design director Craig Shelsher said ICON’s design was based on four key principles – water, people, place and connectivity.

“ICON’s proximity to the Brisbane River and wharf district are central to its design, shaping the towers’ fluid forms and shimmering façade,” Mr Shelsher said.

“Our objective was to create a place that enabled people to thrive and the architecture to embrace the river.

“Designed to create a visual link to the water, ICON will connect the Brisbane River to Hercules Street Park and onwards to Kingsford Smith Drive, enhancing accessibility to neighbouring developments and throughout the Hamilton Northshore precinct.

“ICON will be an asset, which will provide new amenities for neighbouring areas like Ascot, New Farm and Clayfield to enjoy.

“All residences – from studio and one bedroom apartments, through to three bedroom luxury villas – will provide views of the river, park or Hamilton Place, which will feature boutique shopping, alfresco dining, a lawn area, subtropical planting and water features.”

ICON is expected to create almost 2,000 fulltime jobs during construction and more than 1,500 additional ongoing fulltime jobs. Development manager Property Development Systems Australia led and coordinated ICON’s planning submission, with a team including Urbis, Custance, EM Griffiths, ttm, Bornhorst + Ward, Certis and Bennett + Bennett.

Key features:

• 7,637 square metre site at 19 Hercules Street, Hamilton (part of Economic Development Queensland’s 304 hectare master planned community Northshore Hamilton).
• 567 premium apartments, including multiple studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom configurations and luxury penthouses, across four architecturally distinctive towers.
• A connective sky-bridge housing luxury apartments.
• Residential facilities including a swimming pool, gymnasium and rooftop recreational spaces.
• Northshore Hamilton’s first hotel – a luxury five-star, 227-room international-standard hotel, with swimming pool, gymnasium, executive lounge, meeting and conference facilities.
• Approximately 5,000 square metres of podium-level open-air public realm featuring boutique shopping, alfresco dining and childcare facilities, as well as exquisite landscaping, subtropical planting and water features.
• Seven levels of underground parking, with designated spaces for residents, hotel and retail visitors.