McNab Group has sold close to 60 per cent of its $220 million project The Tannery in West End before public sales open, including a two bedroom apartment that has set a new suburb record at $2.57 million.
Fifty of the 87 apartments are now under contract at the heritage led development on Montague Road, which the developer says reflects demand for larger apartments built around wellbeing and design.
Designed by Cottee Parker with landscape by Aspect Studios and interiors by Tom Mark Henry, The Tannery would deliver two, three and four bedroom residences across 11 levels on a 4,465 square metre site with western and southern views over the Brisbane River, about 10 minutes from the CBD. Construction is under way, with completion expected in the second half of 2027.
The centrepiece of the project is the adaptive reuse of the original Dixon’s Tannery, which has been retained rather than demolished and turned into The Retreat, a residents’ wellness club. It is set to include a sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, an outdoor shower and tropical seating, a large gym with cardio and weights zones, and a Pilates and stretch studio, alongside a private dining room, cinema, library and co working spaces.
At The Tannery, we’ve deliberately invested in creating places where residents can move, unwind, work and connect every day, not just somewhere to live. That’s why we’ve transformed the original Dixon’s Tannery into The Retreat, a dedicated wellness sanctuary that sits at the heart of the community.
Michael McNab, Executive Chairman, McNab Group
Residents would also share a rooftop level with a pool, landscaped gardens, outdoor dining, a sunset lawn and dog friendly zones. The apartments are pitched at buyers wanting the space of a house in the sky, with oversized floorplans and access to a sought after West End school catchment, an offer the selling agent, Motiv, says has drawn both owner occupiers and investors.
Cottee Parker principal Dee Passenger said the design set out to create a dialogue between old and new, keeping the site’s industrial heritage as a defining feature rather than a passing reference.
The easy option would have been to maximise the site’s development potential with additional apartments. Instead, McNab has chosen to preserve the original tannery as a shared wellness retreat, ensuring this important piece of Brisbane’s history remains at the heart of the community.
Dee Passenger, Principal, Cottee Parker
Sustainability runs through that reuse strategy. Working with the studio Five Mile Radius, materials salvaged from the original site are being repurposed through the development, including an original concrete slab that is being reworked into a water feature so the site’s history continues to be felt in the finished building.
Alongside the launch, McNab announced a partnership with Queensland Ballet, whose home at the neighbouring Thomas Dixon Centre shares its origins with the Dixon family. McNab is backing the company’s world premiere production of The Nutcracker as a major partner, a tie up the developer frames as a natural fit between two restored heritage buildings on the same block.
McNab Group executive chairman Michael McNab framed the strong early sales as a sign of confidence in Brisbane’s apartment market ahead of the 2032 Games, in a market shaped by population growth and constrained supply. The project is financed by St George Bank and backed by investor Mitsubishi Estate Asia. Public sales are now open, with prices reflecting the West End location and the wellness led offer.
Project Rundown
| Development Parameter | Proposed Development |
|---|---|
| Project Name | The Tannery |
| Address | 439 Montague Road, West End QLD |
| Developer | McNab Group |
| Development Type | Residential (apartments) |
| Site Area | 4,465 m² |
| Apartments | 87 across 11 levels (two, three and four bedroom) |
| Project Value | $220 million |
| Sales | Nearly 60 per cent sold before public launch (50 of 87), including a $2.57 million suburb record for a two bedroom apartment |
| Architect | Cottee Parker |
| Interior Design | Tom Mark Henry |
| Landscape | Aspect Studios |
| Builder | McNab Group (builder and developer) |
| Financier | St George Bank |
| Amenity | The Retreat wellness club in the restored Dixon’s Tannery, plus a rooftop pool, gardens, sunset lawn, private dining, cinema, library and co working spaces |
| Status | Under construction; completion expected in the second half of 2027 |
| Sustainability | Adaptive Reuse: The original Dixon’s Tannery is retained and repurposed as The Retreat wellness club rather than demolished, keeping the site’s heritage in active use. Salvaged Materials: Working with Five Mile Radius, materials from the original site are salvaged and reused through the development, including an original concrete slab reworked into a water feature. Landscaping: Extensive landscaping by Aspect Studios, with rooftop gardens, a sunset lawn and dog friendly zones. Energy, Water and Solar: These features are not detailed in the launch material. |
Renders and project details are supplied by McNab Group. Sales figures and quotes are from the developer’s launch material. Images are artist’s impressions and subject to change.
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