From Double Bay to Hamilton: How Fortis is bringing its placemaking approach to Racecourse Road

National development manager Fortis is looking to replicate the success of its retail and hospitality precincts in S​ydney and Melb​ourne as it prepares to introduce new operators to Brisb​ane's Racecourse Road.

The development manager, which has worked with hospitality operators including Baker Bleu and Suupaa in Melb​ourne's Cremorne and Neil Perry's Margaret in Syd​ney's Double Bay, is turning its attention to Hamilton, where it recently launched its boutique apartment development, Lynsford by Fortis.

The Koichi Takada Architects-designed project at 53 Racecourse Road will comprise just 16 apartments, with three-bedroom residences priced from $3.45 million and four-bedroom apartments also available.

But it is what Fortis is planning at ground level that could have a broader impact on Racecourse Road, one of B​risbane's most established suburban high streets.

Fortis has allocated approximately 528 sqm to retail at the base of Lynsford by Fortis, with the development manager now seeking expressions of interest from hospitality and retail operators to occupy the space.

The approach follows a strategy Fortis has adopted across several of its mixed-use developments, where the selection of ground-floor tenants is considered an important part of the overall development rather than simply a commercial leasing exercise.

Fortis' experience partnering with leading hospitality operators, including Baker Bleu and Suupaa at 65 Dover Street in Cremorne, and Neil Perry's acclaimed restaurants Margaret, Café Margaret, Gran Torino, and Pizzeria Sotto in Double Bay.

They have also secured renowned Italian-Australian restaurateur Guy Grossi as anchor hospitality tenant at Richmond Square. Grossi will deliver two new hospitality concepts across two ground floor tenancies in 2027. 

Fortis is now looking to bring a similar approach to Hamilton.

Fortis' Queensland General Manager, Dan Boman, says its projects are informed by the character of the neighbourhoods in which they are located.

"Every Fortis project is grounded in a deep understanding of Brisbane — its lifestyle, its rhythm, and what makes place truly meaningful here," Boman said.

Racecourse Road has long been one of Hamilton's main retail and hospitality strips, connecting Kingsford Smith Drive with Eagle Farm Racecourse.

The street is home to established restaurants, cafés, boutiques and local institutions including the Hamilton Hotel, with several developers now seeking to capitalise on the precinct's renewed development activity.

At Lynsford by Fortis, the ground-floor tenancies will have direct Racecourse Road frontage, with landscaping by Aspect Studios designed to integrate the retail spaces with the public realm.

The project has been designed by Koichi Takada Architects, which is responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

Koichi Takada, founding principal of the practice, says the design approach is about ensuring new buildings respond to their surroundings.

"The best architecture doesn't announce itself," Takada said.

"It sits quietly within its neighbourhood, considers the way people move through it, and softens the edges between the built world and the natural one."

The architecture draws on Hamilton's established heritage character, with a solid building base, vertical proportions and a material palette incorporating stone, timber and softer natural tones.

Aspect Studios, whose portfolio includes Surry Hills Village in Syd​ney and The Allere Collection in Brisb​ane's West End, has designed the landscape response, including planting intended to soften the transition between the building and the surrounding streetscape.

Above the retail level, Lynsford's 16 residences have been designed primarily for owner-occupiers seeking larger apartment floorplans in an established inner-Brisba​ne neighbourhood.

The apartments feature generous living spaces opening to balconies, natural stone kitchens and integrated joinery, with layouts designed to maximise natural light and outlook.

Residents will also have access to a landscaped rooftop with a swimming pool, plunge pool, gym, timber-lined sauna, lounge and alfresco entertaining spaces overlooking Hamilton towards the Brisb​ane River and city.

For Fortis, Lynsford by Fortis represents more than another addition to its growing Queensland apartment portfolio. With the development manager now pursuing two projects on Racecourse Road, its investment in Hamilton extends well beyond the individual residences to the future retail and hospitality offering of the precinct.