Fortis files Bowen Terrace, New Farm apartment plans
National developer Fortis has submitted a development application for a major residential project on New Farm’s dress circle Bowen Terrace.
Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal includes 74 apartments and four standalone houses, replacing the former Palm Lodge aged care facility on a prime 5,727 sqm site at 424 Bowen Terrace.
The seven-level apartment building will front Moreton Street, while the four individual homes will face Bowen Terrace, positioned to maximise views and enhance the streetscape.
In its submission to Brisbane City Council, DKO stated that the project aims to “create a high-quality residential development which celebrates its location, maximises amenity for future residents, and makes a meaningful contribution to the surrounding community.”
“The architecture draws inspiration from Brisbane’s subtropical character and traditional Queensland housing, incorporating elements such as verandahs, bay windows, deep balconies, and vertical greenery. The apartment building is configured around a U-shaped layout that frames a north-facing courtyard featuring a swimming pool, spa, and wellness zones.”
A Heritage Assessment was undertaken due to the site's proximity to the heritage-listed Fingal House at 3 Moreton Street. The broader heritage context includes several properties along Moreton Street and Bowen Terrace that fall within Brisbane’s Heritage Overlay.
In its Heritage Impact Statement, Urbis noted that “the proposed works are not considered to have a detrimental impact on the adjoining Local Heritage Place.”
The report stated that the proposed building massing, material palette, and setbacks have been carefully designed to reflect and respect the surrounding architectural character.
The application follows three rounds of pre-lodgement consultation with Brisbane City Council and early engagement with local residents, including two letterbox drops and nine meetings with neighbours. Community feedback led to several design refinements, including increased setbacks, additional deep planting, and noise mitigation through improved waste collection strategies.
The New Farm proposal follows Fortis’ entry into the Brisbane residential market with River House at Kangaroo Point, currently under construction. The developer also controls a prime Newstead site earmarked for 65 apartments.
Fortis is the development arm of real estate investment group Pallas Group and has a substantial pipeline of projects in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, as well as in Richmond and St Kilda in Melbourne.
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Apartments.com.au, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country’s most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the off the plan property market. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia’s evolving development landscape.
He holds a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, and has developed a particular expertise in off the plan apartment space. Joel’s editorial lens spans the full lifecycle of a project—from site acquisition and planning approvals through to new launches, construction completions, and final sell-out—delivering trusted, buyer-focused content that supports informed decision-making across the property journey
