Verso Upgrades Kangaroo Point Project to 25 Storeys

Brisbane developer Verso Developments has upscaled its Kangaroo Point plans to 25 storeys and detailed its adaptive reuse proposals for historic Shafston House. 

The plans lodged this week with the Brisbane City Council propose chamges to the approved plans to redevelop the prime 10,070 sq m riverfront site in the Brisbane CBD.

Verso’s original proposals for 23 Castlebar Street allowed for the demolition and preparation of the site as well as the establishment of a 15-storey apartment building with 39 apartments. They were approved in March last year.

However, after identifying a “significant opportunity to revisit the approved design by approaching the project through a ‘whole of site’ master planning lens,” Verso has now submitted new plans for its Shafston Estate project. 

According to the current planning report by Urbis, Verso wants to expand the project to 48 apartments with two “low-scale river homes”. 

The Kerry Hill Architects-designed plans detail 25 residential levels and 5130sq m of open space, as well as six private berth marinas. 

Verso Developments chief executive Steve Laffey said the revised scheme offered “a significantly improved design.” 

“Kangaroo Point is well placed to accommodate new projects and high density, particularly with Council’s new ‘green bridge’ investment,” he said in a statement.

The proposals also detail the adaptive reuse of heritage building Shafston House on site to provide recreation facilities and amenities for residents on site. 

Shafston House and its grounds, comprised of freehold land owned by Burgundy Group Property Development Pty Ltd, are among Brisbane’s most well-recognised heritage places.

Built in several stages between 1851 and 1904, the estate has a varied history. Originally built as a private residence called Ravenscott, it has been a Commonwealth repatriation hospital, an institutional facility for the Royal Australian Air Force, and, more recently, an international college.

 It was designed by prolific New-Zealand-born architect Robin Dods, whose works have been recognised as shaping Brisbane.

Verso’s proposal repurposes the heritage buildings as function rooms, and health and wellness spaces for residents. 

▲ Shafston Estate on the bank of the river includes three heritage buildings.

The plans also propose that the development of more of the Kangaroo Point section of the river walk, which currently ends at Dockside Apartments, be brought forward.

The walk has been identified in Brisbane City Council’s infrastructure plan as an important link to Mowbray Park.

The new designs in the plans include 105 basement car parking spaces, and reinstating vehicular access for visitors and drop-off via Castlebar Street through the original historic entry. 

Brisbane developer Verso has previously delivered affordable homes at Rochedale and Ripley.  

Also at Kangaroo Point, a project proposed for 51 Darragh Street is seeking a hight increase, from 15 to 22 storeys, under plans filed in August, while Aria is planning a mixed-use tower in the area to rival South Brisbane’s Fish Lane.