Brickworks Park: A case study in urban renewal

Urban renewal is often discussed in terms of housing supply, density and redevelopment. At its best, however, it is about creating places that respond to their history, respect their surroundings and deliver lasting value for future communities.

Brickworks Park in Alderley is an example of that approach in practice.

The masterplanned residential community has transformed the former Newmarket Brickworks site into a new neighbourhood that balances heritage preservation, contemporary living and community connection, just five kilometres from the Brisbane CBD.

Building on history

Rather than treating the site’s industrial past as something to be removed or hidden, Brickworks Park was designed to embrace it.

An image of the Newmarket Brickworks Chimney taken in 1912.

At the heart of the development is the heritage-listed Newmarket Brickworks Chimney, also known as the Hoffman Stack. Constructed in 1912, the 55-metre landmark was once integral to the brickmaking process that helped supply materials for Brisbane’s growth throughout the twentieth century.

The chimney remains a defining feature of the community today. Roads, pathways and public spaces were deliberately positioned to maintain visual connections to the structure, ensuring the site’s history remains part of the everyday experience of residents and visitors.

The heritage-listed chimney is a wayfinding pillar in the Brickworks Park community.

This commitment to the site’s heritage extends throughout the development. Rare bricks manufactured on site almost a century ago were rediscovered and incorporated into the entry statement, while architectural references to the materiality and distinctive arches associated with the former brickworks can be found throughout the community.

Responding to place

The site’s unique physical characteristics also played an important role in shaping the masterplan.

Apartment buildings were carefully embedded into the dramatic quarried cliff faces to minimise visual impact and respond sensitively to the surrounding neighbourhood. The built form transitions to a domestic scale through the centre of the site, while townhomes address Mina Parade in a way that reflects the rhythm of the established streetscape.

Designed by Rothelowman, the project sought to combine the amenity and convenience of urban living with Brisbane’s established suburban character. Landscape, outdoor lifestyle and social connection were prioritised throughout the development, creating a neighbourhood that feels connected to both its setting and community.

One of the project’s most distinctive features is the primary recreation precinct, where the lagoon-style pool and wellness facilities engage directly with the quarry landscape, transforming a former industrial landform into a key residential amenity.

Delivering more than housing

Brickworks Park demonstrates how urban renewal can deliver more than additional housing.

The community comprises 107 apartments and 51 townhomes across Stages 1 and 2, supported by a broad range of resident amenities including a clubhouse, gym, activities building, communal veggie garden, dog park, BBQ facilities and landscaped gathering spaces.

More than 10,000 plants have been introduced across the site, helping create a biodiverse environment that supports urban cooling, ecological restoration and improved resident amenity.

The project also highlights CDL Australia’s commitment to sustainability with a range of initiatives, including passive design principles, cross-ventilated dwellings, EV charging infrastructure, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient lighting and water-saving measures.

Transforming challenges into opportunities

Like many urban renewal projects, Brickworks Park presented significant delivery challenges.

During civil works, extensive buried brick material and remnants of former industrial structures were uncovered beneath the site, requiring additional remediation works beyond those anticipated through pre-construction investigations. Civil works were further complicated by challenging weather conditions and broader construction market pressures.

Despite these complexities, the project was delivered without compromising the design vision or community outcomes.

A lasting legacy

Brickworks Park reflects CDL Australia’s belief that successful urban renewal is about more than redeveloping land.

By respecting the site’s history, responding to its physical context and creating spaces that encourage connection, the project has transformed a former industrial site into a new residential neighbourhood with a strong sense of identity and place.

It is a project that demonstrates how thoughtful design, heritage preservation and long-term planning can work together to create communities that endure well beyond construction.

To learn more about Brickworks Park, click here.