- The acquisition provides 20 two-bedroom units and 32 studio units.
- It is the latest purchase among several other hotel, motel, and retirement village acquisitions in recent times.
- Householdes are anticipated to move in over the coming months.
Another inner-city Brisbane hotel has been acquired by the Queensland Government in order to provide homes for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
“Since 2015, we have delivered thousands and thousands of homes with our Big Housing Build to deliver many more,” said Housing Minister, Meaghan Scanlon.
“But while we get on with our Big Build, we’ve also been buying and leasing motels, hotels and former retirement villages to help more Queenslanders into a home sooner.”
The latest acquisition will be transformed to provide 20 two-bedroom units and 32 studio units, with the aim of providing homes for families and pregnant women.
“In particular, this place will have a huge impact for families – a number of whom may have been staying in emergency accommodation while we have been working to find them a long-term housing solution,” said Minister Scanlon.
“We will now modify the hotel, ensuring that all the suites are converted into self-contained units and appropriate supports are made available on site for those families that’ll soon be calling it home.”
The property is within walking distance of the South Bank Parklands, and close to public transport and essential services.
Work on the modifications will commence soon, with the first households expected to move in over the coming months.
Prior acquisitions
The latest purchase of the South Brisbane hotel follows several other acquisitions in recent times. These purchases include two inner city hotels, and former retirement villages and aged care facilities in Clayfield, Toowoomba, Redlands and Rothwell.
In November last year, Minister Scanlon announced the acquisition of the 84 room former Park Hotel in Spring Hill, also with the aim of providing housing to people at risk of homelessness.
The Spring Hill property had been leased by the Government since April 2021, with the November 2023 purchase securing the long-term future of the property.
St Vincent de Paul continued to manage the property and provided support services to tenants.
Earlier in 2023, the Government also acquired a 23 room hotel and leased a Hamilton motor inn.
The vacant motor inn was transformed to provide temporary supported accommodation for young people between 16 and 24.