Ranbury Assists Council to Bring the CBD Back to Life

Ranbury is currently engaged by Ipswich City Council for project management, contract administration, development management and leasing and tenancy delivery services for the world class transformation and revitalisation of the Ipswich CBD.  Once completed, the $250M Ipswich CBD redevelopment will act as the catalyst for Ipswich City to cement itself as one of the most exciting urban and economic growth zones in Australia.

Ranbury’s engagement with the project commenced in 2016, when we worked with Council to masterplan the CBD to create an activated public civic plaza, community and cultural hub, retail and commercial precinct.

When completed, the integrated project team will have delivered the following impressive list of achievements:

• New 9-level (16,000 NLA) office building plus 3-level carpark to accommodate the Ipswich City Council
• The first public dedicated children’s library in Australia
• An additional free-standing community library of 3,500m2
• Tulmur Place, a new 12,000m2 civic & entertainment space
• Demolition of the 1980’s City Mall and development of a revitalised main streetscape and public event space
• Refurbishment of existing 1,000-space multilevel carpark
• Stabilisation and reconstruction of the heritage-significant Commonwealth Hotel
• A refurbished retail precinct of 20,000m2 across 4 assets

These mixed-use anchors are delivering a new city heart that is changing local and regional perceptions of the city centre, creating a sense of place that is driving visitation and dwell time. The precinct is now acting as a catalyst for a new investment phase for the city, delivering on Council’s strategic objectives.

Council Administration Building, Children’s Library and Civic Square

The precinct is now home to a new purpose designed and built Council administration building and chambers. Completed in 2021, the building has an integrated environmentally rated fit-out of 5 Star Green Star and 5 Star NABERS.

In addition to office accommodation, the facility also boasts several public spaces, including Australia’s first public library designed specifically for children.

Surrounding this building are new activated public spaces including water play areas, a piazza and extensive underground carparking.

The Nicholas Street Retail Precinct

Set the challenge of bringing to life a retail precinct that was predominantly vacant, Ranbury, together with a specialist team of consultants, assisted Council to develop the strategy and vision for the re-imaging of 20,000m2+ of retail space across five Council owned assets in Nicholas Street.

As Development Managers, Ranbury led the consultant team in determining vision and strategy, including the development of a new Nicholas Street brand, then successfully executed by providing leasing, tenancy delivery, project management and ongoing development management services.

This new urban heart of a revitalised Ipswich is coming alive with bustling bars, restaurants, and cafes; a cinema and other entertainment offerings, urban laneways and a purpose designed pocket square, anchoring the city centre as Ipswich’s leading leisure destination.

Commonwealth Hotel

A key part of the Council’s CBD redevelopment, the Commonwealth Hotel, also known as Murphy’s Town Pub, was built in 1910 and is one of the last remaining early 20th century buildings in Ipswich.

In considerable disrepair, the renowned Ipswich watering hole is set to return to its former glory, following a major makeover.

Since 2016, Ranbury has project managed its restoration, with the building being carefully deconstructed, stabilised and then painstakingly put back together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

In addition to providing project management services, our expert property team has managed the development management and lease negotiations. The pub is set to reopen under new operators, AusHotels in 2023.