One of Brisbane’s most recognisable landmarks is about to begin a new chapter. The Treasury Building Brisbane — a sandstone icon that has watched over the CBD for well over a century — is being transformed into a university campus, with Griffith University set to open its doors there in 2027.
The project brings together COX Architecture, builder FDC Construction and Fitout, and heritage specialists Lovell Chen, working alongside Griffith University to deliver what will become the heart of a new cross-river Brisbane City campus. When combined with the university’s existing creative and performing arts precinct at South Bank, the two locations will form a connected campus straddling the river.
The new campus will cater to undergraduate and postgraduate students in business, IT, and law, and is expected to accommodate around 6,000 students and 200 staff by 2028.
The building itself carries a layered history. Constructed in stages between 1886 and 1928, it originally served as home to various government departments. The site holds deeper significance still — situated along the banks of the Meanjin, it was once a gathering place for First Nations communities and an important river crossing. In 1995, the building was converted into the Treasury Casino, a process that involved enclosing the central courtyard and opening up other interior spaces.
The university’s redevelopment seeks to undo some of those later changes and return the building closer to its original design intent. Salvaged heritage features that have been held in storage will be reinstated, and the centrepiece of the project will be a restored central courtyard — an open, flexible space designed for everything from day-to-day student activity to major events such as graduation ceremonies.
Three large skylights will be added to reconnect the courtyard with the sky above, drawing natural light deep into the building. The design approach, led by COX, treats the building itself as the starting point — its character, proportions, and materials informing how modern learning spaces have been configured within it. Adaptable furniture systems will allow rooms to be easily reconfigured to support different teaching styles and group sizes.
Public access will also be restored. Entry via Elizabeth Street at ground level and through the main Queen Street entrance at the first floor will be reinstated, with a new lift discreetly integrated into the Queen Street façade to ensure equitable access to the heritage entry. Restored heritage rooms will be opened for public tours, keeping the building connected to the broader community rather than becoming a purely private academic space.
The project is significant not just for the university but for the ongoing story of Brisbane’s city centre. The Treasury Building has long been a civic touchstone, and its return to a more publicly engaged use — as a place of learning and community activity — continues that tradition while giving it fresh purpose.
The Treasury Building campus is scheduled to open in 2027. For more information on Griffith University’s Brisbane City campus plans, visit griffith.edu.au.
Published 14-April-2026
