A large scale residential and lifestyle precinct is being proposed for Brisbane’s Hamilton riverside, with Sydney based developer Wentworth Equities planning a three tower mixed use development within the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area.
The project, known as Hamilton Grove, is proposed for a 7,637 square metre site at 19 Hercules Street and would comprise three residential towers alongside a publicly accessible street level precinct incorporating retail, dining and leisure uses.
According to Wentworth Equities executive chairman Sameh Ibrahim, the project reflects a long held vision for the site that is now aligned with the area’s growth and maturity.
“When we first purchased this property in 2014, I had a very clear vision in my mind for this precinct but ultimately, it wasn’t the right time – Hamilton was still very much an emerging precinct,” Ibrahim said.
“Since then, Hamilton and surrounding suburbs like Ascot and Albion have significantly grown and matured into a precinct that aligns with our vision for Hamilton Grove.”
Plans for the first stage include 61 waterfront residences and skyhomes ranging from two to five bedrooms, with future stages to deliver additional residential towers and a premium hotel.
Ibrahim said the intent was to create a precinct that appeals not only to residents, but also to the broader Brisbane community.
“Hamilton is already one of Brisbane’s most sought after riverside suburbs and for good reason,” he said.
“Where else in the world can you walk out of your front door and have everything you could possibly need at your fingertips? The city is just around the corner, the airport is only ten minutes away, you have the river and green spaces right there and premium retail and dining on your doorstep.”
The project team includes planner Urbis and architect Fuse Architects, with Ibrahim noting the development had been shaped through a collaborative design process.
“We’ve worked carefully with our planner, Urbis and our architects, Fuse Architects to ensure that this is a thoughtfully designed, world class precinct that adds value and vibrancy to the community,” he said.
Ibrahim also positioned Hamilton Grove as a consolidated lifestyle destination, rather than a single use residential development.
“Brisbane as a whole has so much to offer in the way of lifestyle appeal, but as it stands it is so widespread – you go to Howard Smith Wharves for fine dining, you go to James Street for shopping, you go to West End to walk along the river – but what if you could go to Hamilton Grove for everything?” he said.
“Our vision is a precinct that brings together the best of Brisbane into one central space – a place that a lucky few will get to call home, but the rest of Brisbane still get to explore and experience at their leisure.”
Early works contractor Mainland Civil has been appointed to the project, with construction of Tower One scheduled to commence in early 2026, subject to approvals. Completion of the first tower is expected in late 2028.
This plan superseded a previous schedule for the site back in 2021.
Hamilton Grove is expected to officially launch in March 2026.
Why are developers so obsessed with marking everything as premium accomodation or premium retail locations? This is a genuine question because I know often this is to try and gain appeal so people will actually go there any they earn their money back but how often has this strategy actually worked? I don’t know too many people who would hear another ‘premium’ location is opening and feel the need to visit. Shouldn’t we be looking at more affordable attractions – especially if we want things to be usable by the whole city – or is this another case where we’ve just build a suburb where everyone who lives there can already afford it..
I reckon around 98% of developers aren’t interested in creating social value through the projects they build. Instead, the focus is on extracting value from underutilised land by turning it into high-end infrastructure aimed at higher-income demographics — investors and already-privileged buyers — while banking on a tourism market that, in Brisbane’s case, is pretty insignificant anyway.
It’s a real shame that large property developers in Brisbane aren’t being pushed — or properly incentivised — by local and state governments to deliver more rent-to-buy or genuinely affordable housing developments in areas like this. These locations have huge potential to become vibrant, well-designed neighbourhoods that new home buyers and young families, both local and interstate, could actually afford.
There’s still a massive portion of Hamilton sitting empty and waiting. Hopefully someone in the political space eventually pulls their finger out and puts forward a sensible solution that prioritises helping people secure a home, rather than just maximising returns.
“Hopefully someone in the political space eventually pulls their finger out and puts forward a sensible solution that prioritises helping people secure a home, rather than just maximising returns”
Perhaps that solution could include disincentivising those who see fit to accumulate and speculate on proprieties in the name of investment rather than seeing them as homes? Or is that asking too much of a cultural change?