Frasers Property Australia has submitted a revised development application for its Chester & Morse site in Newstead, proposing a significant design evolution from the previously approved scheme.
The new proposal introduces two 15-storey residential towers in place of a single 17-storey building, while reducing the total number of dwellings and improving architectural articulation and public realm integration.
The revised design by Rothelowman adopts a pavilion-style tower concept known as “Fernhouse Pavilions”. Each apartment is positioned to a corner, maximising cross-ventilation, privacy, and expansive views toward Newstead, New Farm and the CBD. The towers are intentionally offset to open up view corridors and reduce overshadowing, delivering a more slender and legible form that integrates more comfortably into the neighbourhood.
The proposal also includes a fully open-to-sky public plaza along Morse Street, supported by deep planting zones to accommodate mature canopy trees. The podium levels are activated with resident amenities such as a gym, wellness space and lounge areas which directly overlook the plaza. On Chester Street, a smaller semi-private resident park offers communal outdoor space as a quieter counterpart to the more active Morse Street frontage.
Rooftop terraces crown both towers, each featuring pools, BBQ areas, lawns, and shaded dining pavilions. These elevated communal zones aim to foster a sense of community while taking advantage of Brisbane’s subtropical climate and panoramic outlooks.
The project draws on design cues from the evolving architectural identity of the James Street precinct, with materiality and form inspired by the subtropical minimalism popularised by The Calile Hotel, including arched structures, warm-toned finishes, and layered green edges.
Project Rundown
| Development Parameter | Proposed Development |
|---|---|
| Address: | 20 Morse Street and 19 Chester Street, Newstead |
| Development Type: | Residential |
| Site Area: | 4,476m² |
| Gross Floor Area (GFA): | 20,724m² |
| Height: | 15 storeys / approximately RL62.4m |
| Apartments: | 73 dwellings total (11 x 2 bed, 42 x 3 bed, 17 x 4 bed, 3 x terrace homes) |
| Elevators: | 4 lifts across 2 towers (lift-to-unit ratio 1:18.25) |
| Communal Space: | Rooftop terraces with pools, BBQ areas, dining pavilions, lawns; podium-level wellness spaces and lounges |
| Retail: | A 98.4 m² corner retail tenancy planned |
| Car Parking: | 130 resident spaces, 4 visitor spaces |
| Bike Parking: | 73 bicycle parks, 20 visitor spaces |
| Developer: | Frasers |
| Architect: | Rothelowman |
| Landscape Design: | Subtropic Design |
| Town Planner: | Urbis |
| Sustainability: | – Rooftop Solar: No proposed solar on plans for communal building energy consumption – Recycling: According to the application a recycling chute has been mentioned, however plans don’t directly indicate a separate recycling chute or bin diverter – Energy Efficiency: Passive design, facade shading – Water Conservation: Stormwater treatment tank below ground – Green Landscaping: Deep planting zone with canopy trees, podium greenery – Active Transport Facilities: 93 bicycle parks including visitor spaces |
| Date Submitted: | 04/07/2025 |
| Assessment Level: | Code assessable |
| DA Application Link: | A006807435 |
| Previous Application | Article here |
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Key Design Changes: Approved vs Proposed
Resident’s Garden vs Civic Space Suggestion
Many councils across Australia promote the delivery of shared community spaces and accessible green areas that contribute to the broader public realm. In this proposal, the resident’s garden is designed as a gated space, accessible only via resident swipe or code, effectively functioning as a private laneway. While well landscaped, its enclosed nature raises the risk that the space remains underutilised, serving a limited number of people despite its prominent interface with the street.
To achieve greater community benefit and stronger urban integration, this area could be reconsidered as a publicly accessible civic space. A relevant precedent is Izett Street Park in Prahran, Melbourne, completed by the City of Stonnington in August 2024, which successfully converted a similar edge condition into a shared open space accessible to both residents and the wider community.
The proposed change application now includes two separate stages. One tower and the basement are part of stage one and the second tower forms part of stage two. A staging plan is provided as part of the architectural drawings.
Frasers Property Australia is the developer behind the proposal and has a long-standing presence in Brisbane’s residential development market. Their past projects in the city include the riverfront Hamilton Reach precinct and a range of mid and high-rise buildings across the eastern seaboard.
The Chester & Morse project aims to bridge two of Brisbane’s most established lifestyle precincts, James Street and Gasworks, via a centralised plaza and activated ground plane that enhances walkability and public connection across the site.
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– Rooftop Solar: No proposed solar on plans for communal building energy consumption
– Recycling: No recycling chute or diverter proposed meaning any recycling would need to be taken by hand down to the basement discouraging resident recycling
Kind of insane that no solar or separate recycling chute on a brand new tower in 2025/26. Doesn’t really align with a clean, green, sustainable Brisbane.
I’m curious what prompted the design change?