Chippendale Warehouse Transformed into Architectural Masterpiece
A century-old warehouse reborn as a $19 million inner-city sanctuary, The Pigeon Shed blends gallery-scale drama with family living in a bold architectural reinvention.
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Behind an unassuming brick façade in Chippendale, The Pigeon Shed is a Sydney warehouse that rewrites the rulebook on inner-city renovation. Part gallery, part residential sanctuary, the former atelier that earned its nickname thanks to a colony of wild birds that once called it home is today an architectural anomaly.
Owned by creative director Beau Neilson, the daughter of billionaire arts patron Judith Neilson and fund manager Kerr, the transformed 1914 industrial shell has been an artistic labour of love for the owner of The Vanguard in Newtown, reimagined alongside the team at MCK Architects.
Purchased in 2012 for $3.1 million, Neilson transformed the one-time dilapidated shell over a decade.
Since then, the five-bedroom, four-bathroom Chippendale property has appeared in several architectural publications, such as Habitus, Architizer and The Design Files, celebrated for its unique blend of steel, timber, marble and concrete surfaces coupled with its intelligent use of space.
The savvy reinvention of the compact 324sq m corner block footprint has resulted in 735 sq m of internal and external living space across three levels.
Although selling agent Shannan Whitney of BresicWhitney is not publicly commenting on the price guide, the home is reportedly being shopped around for about $19 million.
The one-time soap factory is being traded in by Neilson for a $20 million waterfront estate she recently bought in Double Bay, according to news reports.
The contemporary home features gallery-sized entertainment zones with dramatic high ceilings, vertical gardens and landscaped courtyards that allow for oodles of natural light and private gatherings inside and out.
The main living level houses a vast gourmet kitchen featuring a dramatically long island bench, a hidden butler’s pantry and an internal courtyard that flows seamlessly to an indoor pool. On the same level, a family room also adjoins a second internal terrace.
A unique copper-clad elevator joins all three floors, including a lower-level lounge room, a library with a secret door to a guest bedroom suite, and a separate study.
The top-level layout has three more bedrooms incorporating the upper-floor primary wing with a full-width street-facing terrace, a designer ensuite and dressing room. Each of the two remaining bedrooms has its own en-suites and shares a grand landscaped side terrace.
Additional features include a built-in solar system, hydronic heating, exposed beams and original brickwork.
Located within a short walk to UTS, Broadway, and Newtown cafes and restaurants and the CBD.
The Pigeon Shed at 42-44 Pine St, Chippendale, interest campaign with Shannan Whitney of BresicWhitney.
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A landmark Hamilton Hill residence owned by a prominent Brisbane publican is hitting the market after nearly 13 years, offering sweeping river views, grand entertaining spaces, and timeless Spanish Mission elegance.
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A prominent Brisbane publican is calling last drinks on his long-held Hamilton Hill residence.
James Power, of The Norman Hotel in Woolloongabba, owns the sprawling estate at 33 Markwell Street.
After nearly 13 years, the towering residence is due to welcome its next custodians. Now empty nesters, Power and his wife, Jennifer, are moving on from their substantial six to seven-bedroom pile on 1376sqm.
While the pub baron might be downsizing, Power is reportedly upsizing his hospitality portfolio as he prepares to open The Norman Northside at Enoggera.
“We did a lot of entertaining at Markwell St,” Power said.
“The guest wing means it’s really set up for it, but we are basically empty nesters now, and it’s time for another family to enjoy it.”
The c.1930s Spanish Mission residence last changed hands in 2013 when the Powers bought it for $5.05 million. Fast-forward to 2026, and the period property is on the market via an expressions-of-interest campaign with Matt Lancashire of Ray White Collective Luxury. In keeping with Queensland legislation, no price guide can be published.
Lancashire said Hamilton is widely regarded as one of the capital’s premier suburbs, often ranked among the most expensive addresses in the city.
“Known for its elevated position, river views, and luxury homes, Hamilton is a top choice for affluent buyers,” he said.
High on Hamilton Hill, the historic house has sweeping views across the Brisbane River, Gateway Bridge and out to Moreton Bay.
Designed for the avid entertainer, the Brisbane house has a stately entry foyer and gallery, multiple formal and casual living zones with period fireplaces and French doors to several terraces, courtyards and balconies.
The interiors blend original character with sympathetic updates undertaken during a significant renovation in the early 2000s. There are high coffered 3.1m ceilings, wrought iron balustrades, arched openings, stucco finishes, Mediterranean-inspired terracotta tones, imported doors, and statement chandeliers. Modern touches include the kitchen with Miele appliances, a wine cellar, private gym, and steam room.
Outdoors, the resort-style pool is framed by a covered patio and pool house with a wellness centre, as well as established gardens producing citrus, herbs and chillies.
The ground floor is home to two bedrooms, a study and a bathroom, while upstairs the footprint features four bedrooms and a palatial main suite with a private balcony, a dressing room, and a marble ensuite featuring a double shower and a spa bath.
Down on the lower floor, an expansive rumpus room is the ideal teenager hangout, sitting next to the pool patio, plus an adjoining office or guest bedroom.
Extra bonuses of the Brisbane compound include a six-car garage, ducted air-conditioning, and a dumbwaiter servicing all three levels.
The famed shopping and dining precinct at Racecourse Rd and Portside Wharf is close by, as well as the riverfront and parklands. Ascot State School, St Rita’s and St Margaret’s are within easy reach.
The Hamilton home at 33 Markwell St, Hamilton, QLD, is offered via an expressions of interest campaign, closing on May 8 at 5 pm.
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