Goldfields big believer in future of Brisbane office market

GOLDFIELDS is backing the Brisbane commercial property market, lodging a development application for an A-Grade office building in Brisbane’s James Street precinct.

Injecting around 16,000sqm of new commercial office space into the precinct, the site at 88 Robertson Street will include end-of-trip facilities, a rooftop restaurant, ground floor café, winter rooms, plus street level landscaping.

“Our vision for this prime site is to create Brisbane’s best commercial office building outside the CBD. 88 Robertson St will deliver the last piece of the James St puzzle by combining a premium professional address with an exceptional food and beverage offering within walking distance of one of Australia’s most prominent retail and lifestyle precincts,” said Lachlan Thompson, CEO at Goldfields.

“Goldfields is a big believer in the future of the Brisbane office market and our investment in the James St precinct will help ease the current pressure on vacancy rates by breathing new life into the undersupplied CBD fringe.”

In the Brisbane CBD, the prime vacancy rate has fallen below 10% for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest research from JLL.

The Robertson Street building was designed by Cox Architecture and marks the second collaboration between the two groups, following Goldfields House on Melbourne’s Chapel Street.

“88 Robertson St will feature integrated gardens and 360-degree views complete with a café-focused laneway inspired ground plane, and a city-view dining experience,” said Brendan Gaffney, director at Cox Architecture.

“Once complete, 88 Robertson St will set a new standard for the commercial office experience in Brisbane.”

Additionally, the building will be built to a 5-star Green Star and 5.5-star NABERS energy rating and is designed to be powered entirely by renewable electricity.

Sitting less than out from the CBD, the project will benefit from the precinct’s walkability and proximity to public transport hubs and is also just 50m walk from Valley Metro station, 500m walk from Howard Smith Wharves and a 250m walk to James St.

“As with all Goldfields developments, our approach to 88 Robertson St is based on maximising the amenity for precinct users and strong, local partnerships,” added Thompson.

“Our Queensland-based development team has been working hard to ensure a positive outcome for tenants, surrounding residents, local commuters, and pedestrians.

Goldfields also recently announced it is officially entering Australia’s nascent build-to-rent sector, with construction underway on its $350 million complex in Windsor.

Construction on 88 Robertson St is scheduled to commence in September 2025, with practical completion anticipated for October 2027.