A new development application has been lodged within the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area (PDA) proposing the full restoration of the state-heritage-listed Broadway Hotel alongside two contemporary residential towers.
Submitted by Broadway Projects QLD Pty Ltd, the proposal would transform the long-vacant site into a mixed-use precinct comprising 282 apartments, hotel, bar, function facilities and food & drink outlets.
Built in 1889–1890 and designed by John Hall & Sons, the Broadway Hotel is a key example of late-Victorian architecture in Brisbane. Following fires in 2010 and 2018, the building remains roofless and structurally fragile.
The redevelopment proposes a full conservation program including reinstatement of original windows, tuck-pointed brickwork, interior joinery and staircases in line with Ivan McDonald Architects’ Conservation Management Plan. The hotel will once again operate as a public bar, restaurant and function venue, reconnecting with Logan Road through open verandahs and new courtyard spaces.
Architectural rendering of the external built form of the proposed Broadway Hotel redevelopment project.
Architectural rendering of the external built form of the proposed Broadway Hotel redevelopment project.
According to Red Door Architecture, the new development juxtaposes the restored heritage building with a three-wing, sculptural residential tower that “breathes” via operable façades and landscaped terraces. The curving glass-and-concrete form introduces a distinctive profile to the Woolloongabba skyline while maintaining visual separation from the historic hotel.
The design draws inspiration from the curved geometry and detailing of the original Broadway Hotel, reinterpreting its ornate craftsmanship in a contemporary architectural language.
Project Rundown
Development ParameterProposed DevelopmentAddress:44 Balaclava Street & 93 Logan Road, WoolloongabbaDevelopment Type:Mixed Use Development – Multiple Dwellings (282 Units), Hotel, Bar, Function Facility & Food & Drink Outlets on a Heritage PlaceSite Area:2,507 m² (total of Lot 76 & Lot 50)Gross Floor Area (GFA):Not specified – subject to PDA assessmentHeight:24 storeys / approximately 80 metresApartments:1-bedroom: 84
2-bedroom: 170
3-bedroom: 28
x282 dwellings totalElevators:4 across two towers (lift-to-unit ratio 1:70.5)Communal Space:Level 7 pool and recreation deck with spa, gym, games room, cinema and private dining rooms; rooftop terrace with wellness areas and outdoor diningRetail:Ground-floor laneway precinct including café, bar and casual dining tenancies integrated with the restored hotel buildingCar Parking:Basement levels with resident and visitor parking (access from Balaclava Street)Bike Parking:Resident and visitor bike spaces provided within basement and podium levelsDeveloper:Broadway Projects QLD Pty LtdArchitect:Red Door ArchitectureLandscape Design:Red Door Architecture – Landscape teamTown Planner:Planning Initiatives Pty LtdSustainability:Rooftop Solar: No proposed solar on plans for communal building energy consumption
Energy Efficiency: Passive design principles with façade shading and natural ventilation
Waste Management: Dedicated refuse room with compactor and baler. A dual recycling and general waste chute would be provided to all habitable levels of the building.
Water Conservation: Stormwater treatment and reuse system below ground
Green Landscaping: Podium and rooftop planting with integrated planters and laneway courtyard trees
Active Transport Facilities: Bicycle and pedestrian connectivity through activated laneway and Balaclava Street frontageDate Submitted:17 September 2025Assessment Level:Woolloongabba Priority Development Area – Development Permit (EDQ Assessment)DA Application Link:EDQ Ref 1717
Diagram massing of the external built form of the proposed Broadway Hotel redevelopment project.
Architectural rendering of the external built form of the proposed Broadway Hotel redevelopment project.
The restored Broadway Hotel is planned to re-emerge as the social heart of the development, reinstating its original public bar on the corner of Logan Road and Balaclava Street, complemented by new dining and function spaces across multiple levels. The ground floor of the heritage building will include a large public bar, a café tenancy opening onto the new internal laneway, and a restaurant space that extends into a landscaped rear courtyard.
The upper floors will feature restored dining rooms and flexible event areas accessed via the reinstated grand staircase, showcasing original brickwork, timber joinery and arched openings that have been carefully reconstructed.
In total, five retail and hospitality tenancies are proposed across the site. Three are located within the heritage hotel itself and two are positioned within the adjoining mixed-use podium, both designed for food and beverage operators with frontage to the internal laneway.
These new venues will provide a continuous sequence of activated spaces from Logan Road through to Balaclava Street, encouraging outdoor dining and pedestrian flow while blending the hotel’s late nineteenth-century character with the contemporary form of the new towers.
Current and proposed
Material choices such as neutral-toned concrete, glass, and metallic screening have been selected to complement the restored red-brick façade without imitation. Vertical greenery and layered planters on the podium and terraces soften the tower’s scale and integrate the structure into the surrounding streetscape.
Red Door Architecture describes the development as embodying the “Buildings that Breathe” principles, maximising natural light, cross-ventilation, and subtropical outdoor living, while symbolising Brisbane’s evolution toward a denser, more connected inner city that respects its historic character.
The level 7 communal deck incorporates a landscaped pool area, spa, games room, gym, private dining rooms, cinema and sauna. The upper rooftop level contains wellness terraces and open-air lounges framed by greenery.
Architectural rendering of the rooftop recreation deck of the proposed Manning Street Residences project, featuring a pool, BBQ areas and landscaped seating zones on Level 30.
In 2021, Broadway Projects bought the derelict Broadway Hotel from its then‐owner, Malcolm Nyst, for $8.8 million, after the property had survived two devastating fires and years of neglect. Broadway Projects QLD Pty Ltd, established in 2021, is a development shell company.
Plans