Brisbane’s first branded residence restores the heritage-listed Shafston House on the banks of the Brisbane River, pairing contemporary architecture with Capella’s signature touch across just 41 residences
True exclusivity is rarely a matter of price alone. It lies in rarity: an address that cannot be replicated, a setting steeped in history, and a calibre of service few residences anywhere can match. Capella Residences Brisbane promises all three. As the city’s very first branded residence of any kind, it offers a distinction no future development can claim, and with only a handful of homes set within a heritage-listed riverside estate, the circle of those who will call it home is intimate by design. That it carries the Capella name only adds to the allure.
Few names in hospitality have made a calling of reviving historical sites quite like Capella. Singaporeans need only look to Sentosa, where Capella gave a pair of 1800s colonial buildings a graceful second life. And in Sydney, the group transformed a 1912 sandstone government building into the award-winning Capella Sydney, before turning its attention to the 1876 Lands Department Building for The Lands by Capella. Each property, by the brand’s own philosophy, is a custodian of heritage first, and luxury address second.
And now, in Brisbane, Capella has found a location worthy of that role.
Shafston House has stood on the Kangaroo Point riverfront for 175 years; it began life in 1851 as a single-storey cottage named Ravenscott. Now, Brisbane-based developer Verso Projects is writing its next chapter, restoring the estate and reimagining it as Capella Residences Brisbane in partnership with Capella Hotel Group. Residences are now available to purchase, with those fortunate enough to secure one set to move in from 2029. When complete, it will be only the third stand-alone Capella Residences in the world, following Seoul and Bangkok.
A riverside renaissance
The timing could hardly be better; buoyed by strong population growth, transformative infrastructure development, and the global spotlight of the 2032 Olympic Games, Brisbane is emerging as one of Australia’s most compelling luxury property markets. Capella Residences looks to set a new benchmark in integrated residential living in Queensland, and has assembled a formidable team to do so.
Architecture comes courtesy of Kerry Hill Architects, the practice behind some of Asia’s most celebrated resorts and a name with deep roots in Singapore, while London studio 1508 London has been entrusted with bespoke interiors. Around them, the award-winning PWP Landscape Architecture (whose portfolio includes the National September 11 Memorial in New York and Jewel Changi Airport) has designed expansive gardens and six pools, three of which are shared by residents.
Exclusivity is built into the numbers. The estate will comprise just 41 residences, spanning 39 half-floor and full-floor residences within the tower, as well as two River Homes set into the embankment, complemented by a private marina for those who prefer to arrive by water.
What truly sets this development apart is the scale of its amenities. More than 5,000 sq m of amenities will serve those 41 households, which works out to around 100 sq m of shared space per residence. At the heart of it all sits Shafston House itself, restored as a private club where the estate’s history becomes the backdrop to residents’ evenings.
Within its walls is the Capella Living Room, the brand’s signature residential-style lounge, where the Capella service team and a dedicated Culturist are on hand. The latter, a hallmark of Capella’s hotels, curates experiences that connect guests to the culture and character of their destination; here, that means unlocking the best of Brisbane for those who call the estate home.
Wellness, meanwhile, is treated as a cornerstone of daily life, with three floors given over to it. The Wellness Centre occupies the Wards Building, a structure retained from the estate’s past and reserved entirely for residents. Behind umber travertine walls and dark timber screens lie a riverfront gym, a reformer Pilates and yoga studio, a mineral-infused pool, a cold plunge, a bathhouse and traditional sauna, and private treatment rooms for massages and facials. Wellbeing continues on the Leisure Deck on level two of the tower, where a 25-metre lap pool, a spa, a red light therapy bed, and a movement studio come with sweeping outlooks across the estate.
The result is a residence that delivers the privacy of a home with the polish of a world-class hotel, set within a heritage estate that no new development could replicate.
For Singapore-based buyers looking to relocate or invest, Brisbane is under eight hours by direct flight, and the opportunity is closer still. JLL Residential Australia will host exclusive private previews of Capella Residences Brisbane in Singapore from 18 to 21 November, by advance registration only. For those who have long admired Capella’s stewardship at home, this is a rare chance to secure a place at Brisbane’s most storied address, just as the city steps onto the world stage.
Enquiries: contact Darien Bradshaw, Head of International Residential, JLL Australia – [email protected]
Shafston Estate
23 Castlebar Street
Kangaroo Point
QLD 4169
