Approved 26-Storey Build-to-Rent Development Site Listed in Toowong

A vacant site in central Toowong with existing approval for a 26-storey build-to-rent tower has been brought to market, presenting an opportunity for developers in one of Brisbane’s most established inner suburbs.


Read: Proposed Toowong Tower Gets Upsized and Reimagined for Build-To-Rent Development


The 1,571 square metre landholding at 58 High Street is being offered by CDL Australia Holdings through Knight Frank via Registrations of Interest. The freehold property features dual street frontage to High Street and Ebor Street.

The site comes with development approval already secured for a 326-apartment, 26-storey residential tower. While the Major Centre zoning permits buildings up to 20 storeys, the existing approval extends beyond this base allowance, positioning the site as construction-ready for potential developers.

Build-to-Rent Model

Artist’s impression of approved development at 58 High Street (Photo credit: Knight Frank)

The approved scheme is designed as a build-to-rent development. Build-to-rent developments differ from traditional apartment buildings in that all units are retained by a single owner and operated as rental properties rather than being sold to individual buyers.

According to the listing agents, the location and transport connectivity suggest strong potential for tenant demand in a build-to-rent model. They point to what they describe as limited supply of rental apartments across inner Brisbane, which could support such a development in the area.

Site Location and Amenity

The High Street site sits within walking distance of Toowong Village shopping centre, Toowong Train Station, and the Regatta Hotel. The Brisbane River foreshore is nearby, while the CBD is located approximately four kilometres to the east. The University of Queensland campus is also accessible from the location.

Transport connections include rail, bus, and ferry services, along with major road networks. The site’s position within Toowong’s commercial and retail precinct provides access to established local amenity.

According to the listing information, the development would offer potential for views across the Brisbane River and CBD skyline, though this would depend on the final design and construction.

Alternative Development Options

Photo credit: Knight Frank

While the current approval is for a build-to-rent scheme, the listing indicates that the site could potentially accommodate other residential models. These alternatives include purpose-built student accommodation, co-living developments, build-to-sell apartments, short-term accommodation, or office space, though such options would require fresh applications to Brisbane City Council.

The proximity to the University of Queensland has been noted as a factor that could make the site suitable for student accommodation or co-living concepts, should a purchaser choose to pursue a different development path.

Surrounding Development Activity

Toowong has experienced notable development activity in recent years. The Monarch residential project has reached completion, with most apartments reported to have been pre-sold. The Arc development is scheduled for completion this year, with agents reporting strong demand for remaining stock in these projects.


Read: Toowong Women’s Homelessness Service Creates an Equitable Future for Rebuilding Individuals


Directly across from the High Street site, a significant mixed-use development known as Toowong Central has been proposed. That project, valued at approximately $1 billion, would span a 14,126 square metre site with frontages to High Street, Sherwood Road, and Jephson Street. The development is planned to include retail, office, and communal recreation spaces.

The listing agents have described Toowong as a high-growth precinct with several major projects in the pipeline, suggesting ongoing transformation of the suburb over coming years.

Published 11-February-2026

Proposed Toowong Tower Gets Upsized and Reimagined for Build-To-Rent Development

Plans for a residential tower site on High Street in Toowong have been given a strategic redesign, with the proposal now aimed at the booming build-to-rent market. The project will see an increase in height and the number of apartments, as well as design changes to accommodate the new scheme.



An approved tower site in Brisbane’s inner-west is set to undergo a redesign and expansion of its proposed plans that is now geared towards a build-to-rent development. The 1571sq m site located at 60 High Street, Toowong, will now feature a 25-storey tower, a significant increase from its originally approved 20-storey height, and an expanded apartment count of 326 units, up from 125 under the revised plans.

Proposed Toowong Tower Gets Upsized and Reimagined for Build-To-Rent Development
Photo credit:  Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

The project which features a ground-floor lobby, commercial tenancies, a two-level podium, three basement levels, and a rooftop recreation area across a 20-story residential tower had already received approval.

Changes are now being proposed in response to the adoption of a Build to Rent scheme, where units will be collectively rented out for long-term rentals and managed on-site. The removal of the podium car park is a significant design change that will enhance the building’s aesthetic appeal, particularly along High & Ebor Streets. 

The new design includes units on all podium levels except for the ground level, a revamped residential lobby with an expanded mail room and reception area, and minor alterations to the tower elevations and rooftop recreational area.

Proposed Toowong Tower Gets Upsized and Reimagined for Build-To-Rent Development
Photo credit:  Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

It will also see the two-level podium scrapped, and the basement levels increased to four. Whilst car parking spaces would be cut from 184 to 156, bike spaces will increase from 163 to 408.

Moreover, the design changes will include minor changes to the podium and tower floor plates, and the provision of internal common recreational areas on Levels 2 and 25. Other minor changes include the internal design of the basement car park and changes to servicing arrangements at the lower ground level.



Build-to-rent (BTR) is a model where an entire apartment complex is built with the sole purpose of leasing out all its dwellings, a well-established concept in the US and UK but still in its early stages in Australia.

As the rental housing shortage in Australia worsens, experts see BTR as a potential solution to address the growing demand for rental accommodation and the need for a more secure and stable lease.

With the forecasted population growth in Australia over the next decade, experts suggest that BTR developments could play a crucial role in boosting housing supply and affordability.

Published 24-April-2023