BRISBANE TOPS ASIA-PACIFIC FOR PRIME OFFICE RENTAL GROWTH
Knight Frank reports 14.1% annual increase as demand for high-grade space surges.
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Brisbane has recorded the highest prime office rental growth in the Asia-Pacific region, with a year-on-year increase of 14.1%, according to new data from Knight Frank’s Q2 2025 Office Highlights report.
The report shows Brisbane’s growth outpaced all 23 tracked cities, ahead of Seoul (8.2%) and Bengaluru (7.9%). Quarterly, Brisbane rents rose 3.2%, trailing only Mumbai (3.5%) and Bengaluru (3.2%).
Knight Frank Partner Research and Consulting Jennelle Wilson said a lack of supply would continue to underpin prime rental growth in Brisbane’s CBD.
“The two new buildings entering the market this year will leave backfill space for lease, but little new space remains available, and no additional new supply is expected before late 2028,” Wilson said.
“Refreshed stock such as 140 Elizabeth St (9,908sqm) and 70 Eagle St (11,467sqm, 50% committed) will be available from mid-year.”
Wilson said no refurbishment projects would complete in 2026, with 450 Queen St (17,265sqm), a full building refurbishment, expected back online in H1 2027.
“The five-year forecast effective annual growth rate for Brisbane rents is 6.5%,” she said.
Knight Frank Head of Office Leasing Queensland Mark McCann noted a potential uplift in tenant movement.
“In Q2, lease volumes for tenant relocations remained low, with the exception being the sub 500sqm band, where tenants still have a large range of new and recycled fitted options to consider,” he said.
“However, we expect renewed focus from large corporate occupiers considering pre-commitments to new developments over the next six months as occupiers contemplate their new workplace environments and future needs from 2028 onwards.”
Knight Frank also forecast that Brisbane, Perth and Sydney would see further rental increases over the next year, while Melbourne rents were expected to remain stable.
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4 min
Toorak’s reputation has been built on grand estates, tightly held boulevards and some of Melbourne’s most valuable residential land. Yet one of its rarest attributes is largely hidden from the street: direct frontage to the Yarra River.
Although the river traces much of Toorak’s northern boundary, just over 20 homes in the blue-chip suburb are believed to border the water—and fewer still provide genuine river access. There is no definitive public register of Toorak homes with private jetties, but prestige agents have consistently described them as only a handful.
It is rare, then, for a property offering both river frontage and direct water access to become available in Melbourne’s so-called billionaire’s playground. The newly built Solara on Orrong Road presents precisely that opportunity.
Set on approximately 1,129sqm, the five-bedroom residence descends towards the river, culminating in a private, double-tiered jetty. Here, the Yarra is more than a distant outlook: it becomes part of daily life, offering a place to launch a boat, relax beside the water or travel towards the city from home.
That distinction is significant in Toorak. Many of the suburb’s finest properties offer scale, security and architectural pedigree, but very few combine all three with direct access to the river.
Architecture shaped by the site
Designed by Melbourne studio Alta and constructed by EASTON, Solara has been conceived as a series of interconnected levels descending towards the Yarra.
Rather than presenting as a single imposing volume, the house responds to its sloping site through stepped terraces, landscaped outdoor areas and large expanses of glazing. The architecture gradually reveals the water, drawing the eye through the interior and towards the river below.
The design has earned Solara a nomination in the 2026 Master Builders Excellence in Housing Awards.
Inside, a restrained material palette allows texture, proportion and natural light to carry the design. Stone, timber, glass and finely detailed joinery establish a sense of permanence without overwhelming the river setting.
The principal living area is arranged beneath a dramatic double-height ceiling, giving the room the scale expected of a major Toorak residence while maintaining a strong connection to the garden and water.
Full-height glazing opens the house to its outlook, while multiple living and entertaining spaces allow the property to transition between intimate family use and larger gatherings.
A private resort beside the Yarra
Solara’s principal living spaces open onto an expansive river-facing terrace containing a swimming pool and spa.
The outdoor area has been positioned to take advantage of both the northern light and the relative seclusion of the riverbank. Mature landscaping provides another layer of privacy, softening the architecture and creating the atmosphere of a private resort.
Below, the grounds continue towards the double-tiered jetty.
The residence also incorporates a dedicated wellness area and gym, reinforcing the sense that the home has been designed to provide a complete lifestyle within its boundaries.
Its accommodation includes five bedrooms and six bathrooms, with the principal suite occupying a private domain of its own. The house also provides garaging for four cars—an important consideration in a property of this scale.
Across the residence, the emphasis is less on overt decoration than on volume, outlook and craftsmanship. Sightlines have been carefully managed so that the river is encountered repeatedly, rather than being confined to a single formal room.
A different expression of Toorak prestige
Toorak’s luxury market is often associated with historic mansions and large European-inspired estates. Solara represents a more contemporary interpretation of the suburb: architecturally ambitious, highly private and organised around lifestyle rather than formality.
Its position also places it within a particularly scarce segment of the market.
Riverfront homes have previously appeared along addresses including St Georges Road and Edzell Avenue, although they tend to remain in the same ownership for long periods. Even among these properties, private jetties and convenient access to the water are not universal.
That scarcity separates Solara from other prestige homes that may offer river views without actually reaching the river.
For buyers operating at the upper end of Melbourne’s residential market, the value proposition is therefore not simply the size of the house or its list of amenities. It is the combination of new architecture, substantial land, resort facilities and an attribute that cannot readily be recreated: private access to the Yarra from Toorak.
Solara is being marketed with a guide of $16.8 million to $18.3 million through Jamie Mi of Kay & Burton.
Property snapshot
Address: 803 Orrong Road, Toorak, Victoria
Guide: $16.8 million–$18.3 million
Agent: Kay & Burton agent Jamie Mi
Land: Approximately 1,129sqm
Accommodation: Five bedrooms, six bathrooms and four-car accommodation
Design: Alta
Builder: EASTON
Key features: Private jetty, direct river access, gym, indoor spa and double-height living volume
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