McGees‑Style Weekly Wrap-Up – Queensland

Week Ending 1 August 2025

Market Overview

Queensland’s commercial property market remains active, with transactions occurring in retail fuel, regional office, and development sites. Investors are particularly drawn to long-leased, income-producing assets in high-growth corridors like Ipswich and Caloundra. At the same time, political, regulatory, and reputational developments are shaping the risk landscape across construction, investment access, and corporate governance.

This Week’s Highlights

Retail & Convenience

2 Binnies Road, Ripley Central (Ipswich)

• Buyer: Investor linked to the Limbada family

• Sale Price: $8.15 million

• Details:
  Newly developed fuel and convenience centre anchored by 7-Eleven (12-year lease), Subway, and Starbucks on a 3723 m² corner site. Achieved a 5.63% yield with 146 inquiries and 8 offers, highlighting demand in fuel and fast-service retail (Herde, 2025a).

Regional Office Lease

45 Victoria Street, Mackay

• Tenant: Baguley Build

• Lease: 3-year term at $585/m² gross + GST

• Details:
  Spec suite leased pre-completion at Mackay Corporate Offices. The construction company secured high-spec fit-out space ahead of market listing, relocating from a smaller site in Gordon Street (Herde, 2025a).

Land & Development

9 Onslow Street, Golden Beach (Caloundra)

• Buyer: Cube Developments

• Sale Price: $10.775 million

• Details:
  1.12ha site, 100m from the beach. Development application lodged for 60 residential units. Zoned for 18m height. Strong demand (111 enquiries) confirms Caloundra’s growing appeal amid tight coastal land supply (Herde, 2025b).

General News

CFMEU Underworld Probe Expands

Queensland has broadened its royal commission into the CFMEU to investigate organised crime links, with allegations involving gangland figures negotiating with developers (Marin-Guzman, 2025; AFR, 2025b).
Impact: Raises compliance risks for construction-backed property deals and may lead to tighter oversight of unions and subcontractors.

Star’s Queen’s Wharf Deal Near Collapse

Star Entertainment may miss the July 31 deadline to finalise the sale of its 50% stake in Queen’s Wharf Brisbane to Hong Kong partners. Could trigger repayment of over $36 million and jeopardise the $3.6 billion development.
Impact: Adds financial instability to a flagship tourism asset in Brisbane (Skene, 2025).

Bowen Coking Enters Administration

Bowen Coking Coal appointed administrators, risking operations at the Burton Mine in the Bowen Basin. Royalty deferment was denied by the Queensland Revenue Office.
Impact: Signals growing financial stress in mining and could undermine regional employment and investment (Skene, 2025).

Proposed Wholesale Investor Clampdown – Explained

ASIC wants to raise the bar for who qualifies as a wholesale investor, arguing too many people qualify and may not fully understand the risks.

But:

• Most failed investments ASIC references were retail, not wholesale.

• The change would block successful everyday Australians—like doctors, engineers, and small business owners—from investing in commercial property syndicates, startups, or private credit funds.

• It could hurt Queensland’s commercial property sector, particularly in places like Townsville, Mackay, or the Gold Coast, where small-scale syndicates rely on wholesale investor capital.

In plain terms: This could stop many locals from investing directly in shopping centres, office towers, or development projects, forcing them into large institutional funds instead (Newman, 2025).

Brisbane Agent Scandal Shows Digital Pitfalls

Allegations surfaced of fake testimonials posted online by a top real estate agent’s marketing team in Toowong, misleading potential clients and misrepresenting rivals.
Impact: Highlights reputational risks in digital real estate marketing; regulatory inquiries underway (AFR, 2025c).

Final Take

Investor interest in Queensland remains healthy, especially for well-located, long-leased assets. However, broader developments—from proposed financial reforms to union investigations and stalled mega-projects—highlight how political and regulatory factors are influencing commercial real estate strategy. Investors, developers, and agents must navigate these shifts while leveraging opportunities in a competitive and fast-moving environment.

References (APA Style)

AFR. (2025b, July 25). CFMEU administrator calls for action as the rot spreads north. The Australian Financial Review, p. 8.
AFR. (2025c, July 30). Fake testimonials rock Brisbane realtors. The Australian Financial Review.
Herde, C. (2025a, July 25). Investors get pumped over service centre opportunity. The Courier-Mail, p. 58.
Herde, C. (2025b, July 25). Golden future arrives. The Courier-Mail, p. 57.
Marin-Guzman, D. (2025, July 25). Queensland CFMEU probe to investigate underworld. The Australian Financial Review.
Newman, C. (2025, July 25). Investment is being choked in the name of protection. The Australian, p. 21.
Skene, K. (2025, July 25). Queen’s Wharf deal is on brink. The Courier-Mail, p. 3.

For a complete list of weekly commercial transactions in Queensland, visit McGees Wrap Up | McGees Property Brisbane

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the completeness or timeliness of the content. Always seek independent advice before making any financial or real estate decisions. We are not liable for any loss or damages arising from your reliance on the information provided.

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