5 Luxury Brisbane Apartments

1201/25 Shafston Avenue, Kangaroo Point, QLD

Penthouses like 1201 are a rare find. Offering 4-bedrooms, 4-bathrooms and 4-car parking the expansive residence spans 362sqm of the Lume development.

Through a cleverly designed floor plan, ultra-high ceilings and the abundant use of floor to ceiling glazing this beautiful residence is able to offer sweeping views of the river and Brisbane city skyline.

A focal point of the residence is the chef’s standard kitchen complete with Liebherr integrated fridge/freezer, high-end Miele appliances, stone top benches, stools and an inbuilt wine fridge. Elsewhere a large butler’s pantry with a large wine fridge is found.

Floor to ceiling stacker doors open the living area onto a 32sqm balcony, bringing more panoramic vistas.

Further, the second living space is ideal for entertaining with inbuilt cabinetry and three build in bar fridges.

The master suite boasts an enormous ensuite complete with free-standing bathtub and double vanity and is fitted with a walk-in robe and feature LED lighting.

The remaining bedrooms are all generous in size.

The listing is with Total Property Group, POA; lume.com.au

4702/443 Queen Street, Brisbane City, QLD

The only remaining penthouse in Cbus Property’s 443 Queen St development. Here, penthouse 4702 sees a grand stone-lined foyer, views of the river, story bridge, and Kangaroo Point cliffs.

The 399sqm residence comprises four bedrooms – each with a private ensuite, a powder room three separate living areas, here separate balconies a butler’s kitchen, laundry room, drying court and four secure car spaces.

Elsewhere, the kitchen is centrally located to service each of the dining spaces, as well as the spacious lounge area all of which are adorned in a heady combination of stone and custom joinery.

Designed by the best in subtropical architecture, internationally acclaimed WOHA and Architectus, 443 Queen St is a true visionary masterpiece bringing ‘Queenslander’ breathability to luxury penthouse living.

The residence is also privy to arrival gardens on each level and the development’s full-floor recreation deck with a 25-metre riverside infinity pool, gym, dining room, cabana lounges and barbeque areas

Entertainment is at one’s doorstep with the very popular Howard Smith Wharves nearby, replete with an array of restaurants, bars and entertainment.

The listing is managed by CBRE, POA; 443queenst.com

462/30 Macrossan Street, Brisbane City, QLD

Penthouse 462 has been meticulously crafted over several years making it arguably one of the finest apartments in the Brisbane CBD.

Located on the 46^th floor arrives this tri-level penthouse offers 5-bedrooms, 4-bathrooms and 3-car parking with views that stretch from the Story Bridge across the river to Kangaroo Point and beyond.

Boasting 4.8-metre ceilings, custom timber and leather panelling and book matched marble flooring – it is evident that details were at the forefront of design.

Elsewhere, the spacious living and dining areas flow seamlessly to the northeast facing alfresco terrace, serviced by a European entertainer’s kitchen – complete with Gaggenau appliances and butler’s pantry – with integrated smart home technology.

Further, an impeccable wine cellar and wet bar – with room for 300 bottles and three wine fridges finds its home in the penthouse.

Accommodation includes four impressive ensuites bedrooms and a dedicated study/ fifth bedroom. The master suite offering generous walk-in robes, custom cabinetry, and luxurious ensuite bathroom with an attached gym on the upper-level master.

Additional amenities include access to a tennis court, swimming pool. Spa another gym, steam room, barbecue area and private lifts within the residence.

The listing is with Ray White Bulimba, offers over $5.5 million; raywhiteeastbrisbane.com.au

18/80 Oxlade Drive New Farm

Sprawling over 390sqm and offering an impressive 16 metres of unrivalled river frontage, this 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom, 5-garage residence is the pinnacle of indulgence.

Within, a bespoke kitchen and generous butler’s pantry, appointed with Sub Zero and Wolf appliances is an inviting place to entertain and opens out towards the oversized dining and entertaining spaces.

The entry – accessed via direct lift – sees soaring ceiling, use of natural stone and herringbone timber flooring.

Elsewhere an opulent master suite provides a sense of space and intimacy with its ensuites and luxurious ‘his’ and ‘hers’ dressing rooms.

Further accommodations include three large ensuite bedrooms, a media room, a home office and a library.

A casual stroll along Oxlade Drive can lead you to Brisbane Power House, New Farm Park or Howard Smith Wharves.

The listing is with Place Estate Agents, POA; eplace.com.au

5/128 River Terrace, Kangaroo Point, QLD

Set in an elevated position above the Kangaroo Point cliffs comes this 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 2-garage penthouse apparent moments from Bribsane’s CBD.

Bookended by Story Bridge and South Bank Parklands, the residence spans over 260sqm and boasts stunning uninterrupted views.

An open plan living, kitchen and dining area integrates with the covered outdoor balcony, framed by floor-to-ceiling glass and high ceilings.

The kitchen is finished in natural stone and arrives with a butler’s pantry and premium Miele appliances. Further, you’ll find an oversized master retreat boasting a generous walk-in robe and dressing room alongside an ensuite with travertine flooring, an open shower and a freestanding bath.

The listing is with Place Property Agents, POA; eplace.com

Build-to-rent (BTR) residential property has emerged as one of the key sectors of interest among institutional and private high-net-worth investors across the Asia-Pacific region, according to a new report from CBRE. In a survey of 500 investors, BTR recorded the strongest uptick in interest, particularly among investors targeting value-added strategies to achieve double-digit returns.

CBRE said the residential investment sector is set to attract more capital this year, with investors in Japan, Australia and mainland China the primary markets of focus for BTR development. BTR is different from regular apartment developments because the developer or investor–owner retains the entire building for long-term rental income. Knight Frank forecasts that by 2030, about 55,000 dedicated BTR apartments will have been completed in Australia.

Knight Frank says BTR is a proven model in overseas markets and Australia is now following suit.

“Investors are gravitating toward the residential sector because of the perception that it offers the ability to adjust rental income streams more quickly than other sectors in response to high inflation,” Knight Frank explained in a BTR report published in September 2023.

The report shows Melbourne has the most BTR apartments under construction, followed by Sydney. Most of them are one and two-bedroom apartments. The BTR sector is also growing in Canberra and Perth where land costs less and apartment rental yields are among the highest in the country at 5.1 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively, according to the latest CoreLogic data.

In BTR developments, there is typically a strong lifestyle emphasis to encourage renters to stay as long as possible. Developments often have proactive maintenance programs, concierges, add-on cleaning services for tenants, and amenities such as a gym, pool, yoga room, cinema, communal working spaces and outdoor barbecue and dining areas.

Some blocks allow tenants to switch apartments as their space needs change, many are pet-friendly and some even run social events for residents. However, such amenities and services can result in BTR properties being expensive to rent. Some developers and investors have been given subsidies to reserve a portion of BTR apartments as ‘affordable homes’ for local essential services workers.

Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee says Australian BTR is a long way behind the United States, where five percent of the country’s rental supply is owned by large companies. She says BTR is Australia’s “best bet” to raise rental supply amid today’s chronic shortage that has seen vacancy rates drop below 1% nationwide and rents skyrocket 40% over the past four years.

Nerida Conisbee says the BTR market is Australia’s ‘best bet’ for addressing the housing crisis.

Ms Conisbee says 84 percent of Australian rental homes are owned by private landlords, typically mum and dad investors, and nine percent are owned by governments. “With Australia currently in the midst of a rental crisis, the question of who provides rental properties needs to be considered,” Ms Conisbee said. “We have relied heavily on private landlords for almost all our rental properties but we may not be able to so readily in the future.” She points out that large companies can access and manage debt more easily than private landlords when interest rates are high.

The CBRE report shows that Asia-Pacific investors are also interested in other types of residential properties. These include student accommodation, particularly in high migration markets like Australia, and retirement communities in markets with ageing populations, such as Japan and Korea. Most Asia Pacific investors said they intended to increase or keep their real estate allocations the same this year, with more than 50 percent of Australian respondents intending to invest more.