source : the age
Plans to revive the former flood-ravaged Toombul Shopping Centre, transforming it into a subtropical mixed-used shopping and housing destination with a raft of new bars, restaurants and retailers, have been released by the site’s developers.
Irvine Group, which owns the Rivermakers development in Morningside and headed the redevelopment of several woolstore buildings into apartments in Teneriffe, bought the site at the end of 2025 from former owners Mirvac.
The development group unveiled its vision for the former shopping centre as “a thriving mixed-use” hub in plans lodged to Brisbane City Council on Tuesday.
The concept includes bars, restaurants, a “renewed retail core”, public green spaces and apartments.
Irvine emphasised it would explore opportunities to improve flood resilience at the precinct and “achieve an appropriate level of development immunity”.
“The site is currently significantly affected by regional flooding during major rainfall events,” Irvine wrote.
“The master plan presents a significant opportunity to not only enhance the site’s long-term flood performance, but also contribute to broader flood storage and mitigation outcomes across the surrounding area.”
Toombul is eight kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD on Sandgate Road in Nundah, adjacent to the Kedron Brook and Toombul Bus Interchange.
Flooding from the nearby brook damaged the site in 2022, with Mirvac deeming it too expensive to repair. Mirvac demolished the centre two years later.
Irvine said it hoped to restore Toombul’s place in the community, leaning on established public transport, while carving out new active transport routes.
A central parkland inspired by the Kedron Brook to accommodate events and everyday use also features in the redevelopment plan, designed by urban consultancy group Urbis.
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