Middenbury House Archives

The heritage-listed 150-year-old Middenbury House is set for restoration under Consolidated Properties Group’s $450 million project called Monarch Residences, which will also deliver 224 apartments across two buildings, once completed.

Consolidated Properties Group, a prominent Australian property development company, acquired 600 Coronation Drive for $43.5 million from Sunland in March 2021, and the development application was approved in July of the same year.

The project is a joint venture with funding partner Qualitas and will comprise two 15-level towers, featuring 224 apartments ranging from 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom units, including penthouses.

Reviving History: Monarch Residences to Bring New Life to Middenbury House with 224 Luxurious Apartments — Photo credit: Monarch Residences / monarchresidences.com.au

“Monarch Residences is a contemporary and luxury addition to a place of heritage. The history of this prominent riverfront land should be celebrated and thus termed; Monarch. True to everything that embodies a sense of place, this unique location combines heritage, prime absolute river frontage and gorgeous city and mountain views all within an expansive garden setting.” — Monarch Residences

Built in 1865 as a private residence, the heritage-listed Middenbury House will be carefully restored, conserved, and transformed into a riverfront restaurant and café. It will be situated on 1.2 hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens, which will also include the proposed landing area for the new green pedestrian bridge connecting Toowong to the West End.

With over 3,000m2 of open space, the project’s riverside area provides an excellent opportunity for the community to enjoy the stunning river views. The residences are also carefully designed to maximise the unbeatable river and city views, along with natural light and outdoor space.

The rooftop amenities of the Monarch Residences are exceptional, featuring a heated infinity pool, private dining area, relaxed lounge, sauna, ‘Winter Den,’ and several private BBQ seating areas.

Construction of the Monarch Residences began in March and is expected to take approximately two and a half years, with Hutchinson Builders overseeing the project.

Published 18-April-2023

Once the exclusive site for many social gatherings in Brisbane — including a party for Edward, the Prince of Wales, in the 1920s — the heritage-listed Middenbury House may be set for a revival as a public venue for recreation or dining, or even with residential towers on the property.

Consolidated Properties Group (CPG), which bought 600 Coronation Drive several years ago, has now filed DA A005881543, seeking to develop Middenbury House and its grounds.

The heritage-listed house will be reused and re-established, alongside plans to build three 15-storey residential towers on the property. Though the decision on its final use has not been finalised, ideas like a cafe or bar, as well as a wellness center, have been floated during the discussions about the redevelopment.

James McGinley, the CPG Head of Residential, said that they got ideas from the local community who was receptive to their plans to turn the derelict site for public use.

Apart from the residential towers and the old house’s revival, plans for this Coronation Drive site will also include bikeways and a large parkland, which will be managed by Brisbane City Council. There will also be an area prepared for the landing site of the upcoming Toowong-West End green bridge.

Access to the house and the beautiful riverbank frontage as a social venue was withdrawn in the late 1950s when the Commonwealth of Australia bought the property for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Middenbury House then became part of the studio operations, while additional buildings were erected around it.

For the most part, however, the over-150-year-old house’s structure and architectural features remained intact. Its refurbishment, on the other hand, will have minimal alterations since it is a heritage-listed property.

“The proposed development has been architecturally designed to merge seamlessly within the surrounding built form, through the use of a variation of materials and breaks in the façade,” the developers stated in the application. “The site primarily faces Coronation Drive, which features street tree plantings along its entire frontage as well as two large heritage-listed fig trees near the western boundary.

“The state heritage listed Middenbury House can be seen from the Archer Street frontage. This development will enhance the view of Middenbury House by incorporating open space between the building and the street frontage. Deep planting along Archer Street will improve the streetscape by softening the view between Middenbury House and the existing streetscape.”

DA A005881543 was filed in November 2021 and is still under assessment as of press time.

Tag: Middenbury House

Reviving History: Monarch Residences to Bring New Life to Middenbury House with 224 Luxurious Apartments

Heritage-Listed Middenbury House in Toowong May Be Up for Mixed Development