Albert Street Archives - Fortitude Valley News

Albert Street Pedestrian Upgrade Advances in Brisbane CBD

The planned expansion of Queen Street Mall is moving ahead in the Brisbane CBD, extending pedestrian-only access along Albert Street as part of broader works linked to the new Albert Street station.

Background and Earlier Upgrades in the Brisbane CBD

Queen Street Mall is undergoing its first major expansion in 15 years, with works extending the pedestrian precinct along Albert Street from Elizabeth Street to Mary Street. The project aligns with long-term plans outlined in the Brisbane City Centre Master Plan, which identified Albert Street as a future green spine linking Roma Street Parkland to the City Botanic Gardens.

The mall, originally opened in 1982 and later upgraded in 1999 and 2007, continues to record strong foot traffic, with October figures averaging more than 220,000 pedestrians each day and July reaching above 248,000.

station precinct — *Photo Credit: Cross RIver Rail*

Staged Expansion Across Albert Street

The renewal will be delivered in phases. The first section is scheduled to open next month, introducing new outdoor dining space between Elizabeth Street and partway to Charlotte Street. The remaining works between Elizabeth and Charlotte streets will follow early next year, with the final stage from Charlotte to Mary streets scheduled to begin late next year. A further stage is set for late 2026.

The staged openings integrate with the construction of a new public plaza above the future Albert Street underground station, featuring tree-lined areas and new seating. The station structure includes a 153-tonne canopy, with escalator installation already completed underground.

Queen Street Mall — *Photo Credit: Cross RIver Rail*

Retail Shifts and Precinct Challenges

The expansion comes at a time of significant change within the Brisbane CBD retail landscape. Several major tenancies have exited the precinct, including the closure of a multi-level international retailer on Queen Street Mall. Other sites, such as the Wintergarden complex, remain in transition as redevelopment plans continue to progress slowly.

The former Myer Centre, now operating as Uptown, is undergoing repositioning after Myer’s departure in 2023. Although Myer has indicated an interest in returning in a smaller format, no confirmed tenancy has been announced. Operators in the precinct have observed that many pedestrian movements through the mall are pass-through rather than destination visits, contributing to shorter dwell times.

Brisbane CBD mall expansion — *Photo Credit: Cross RIver Rail*

Complementary Projects Shaping the Brisbane CBD

The upgrade is supported by a pipeline of surrounding developments, including Griffith University’s conversion of the former Treasury Building into a new CBD campus and the rebranding of the Hilton Brisbane as an InterContinental hotel. Other nearby projects include ISPT’s planned redevelopment of the Wintergarden, Charter Hall’s proposal for the former St George Bank corner site, and ongoing revitalisation at Uptown.

Transport Improvements and Broader Network Changes

New travel patterns across the Brisbane CBD are emerging alongside the project. According to recent data, travel times between Queen Street and South Bank bus stations have become more than 40 per cent faster following network changes and the opening of the Adelaide Street tunnel, which reduced congestion on Victoria Bridge by 30 per cent. TransLink reports more than 23 million trips on the city’s new bus network since June.

Community Sentiment and Precinct Activity

Community and business interest remains centred on how the expanded mall will influence retail behaviour in the area. While the council highlights increasing pedestrian activity and lifestyle precinct growth, operators note that strong foot movement does not always translate into retail engagement.

The staged program, including new dining and activation areas, aims to encourage longer stays and support the public-realm transition around the future station plaza.

Next Steps

The Queen Street Mall expansion marks a significant phase in reshaping the Brisbane CBD. As construction continues into 2025 and further into 2026, the long-term performance of the precinct will depend on how future retail, hospitality and development projects fill emerging gaps and support ongoing activation.

The completed works are expected to strengthen the pedestrian link between Roma Street Parkland and the City Botanic Gardens once the Albert Street station opens.

Published 19-Nov-2025

New Train Station to Remain ‘Albert Street’ After Community Consultation

Photo Credit: Cross River Rail

The new Albert Street train station, the first constructed in Brisbane CBD in over a century, will retain its current name. This decision follows a public consultation period where residents were invited to offer suggestions for the station’s name.

The Cross River Rail website hosted a dedicated page presenting four potential names that adhered to Transport & Main Roads’ stringent criteria. The public also had the opportunity to propose alternative names.

While the initial four options garnered support, many submissions passionately advocated for a name incorporating “Meanjin,” a term acknowledging Brisbane’s Aboriginal heritage.

Recognising the enduring nature of a train station name, authorities sought advice from Traditional Owner groups. This consultation revealed differing perspectives on the spelling, origins, and pronunciation of any Indigenous name for Brisbane.

Until a consensus can be reached, authorities have decided to defer any changes, meaning the station will remain as “Albert Street.” However, the consultation process highlighted considerable support for renaming Central Station, with “Anzac Square” emerging as a popular choice.

Preliminary discussions have been held with the veteran community regarding this proposal. Further dialogue with Queensland veterans and federal approval for using the term “Anzac” would be necessary before any action is taken.

The Transport and Main Roads Minister acknowledged the community’s input and emphasised the importance of careful consideration regarding Indigenous names. He also expressed interest in potentially renaming Central Station and indicated that this would be explored further.

Published Date 02-October-2024

New Inner City Brisbane Train Station Needs a Name

Queenslanders are invited to participate in naming the first new train station in Brisbane CBD in over a century. Situated on Albert Street, the new train station is part of the transformative Cross River Rail project.

The Albert Street facility promises enhanced rail travel across South East Queensland and improved access to the southern CBD, setting a significant milestone in Brisbane’s public transport development.

Historically, public transport stations have been named after their geographic locations, such as nearby suburbs, significant streets, or landmarks, ensuring ease of navigation for users.

Albert Street New Station — *Photo Credit: Cross River Rail*

Four proposed names have, so far, been proposed: “Albert Street,” “Brisbane City,” “City Botanic Gardens,” and “Frog’s Hollow,” each reflecting distinctive aspects of the local area. However, residents are also encouraged to propose alternative names, reflecting a broad opportunity for public engagement.

The naming of the station holds cultural importance as well, with the potential name “Frog’s Hollow” reflecting an historical Brisbane neighbourhood known for its natural low-lying geography. This option, among others, illustrates the effort to tie the new station to Brisbane’s rich historical tapestry. The discussion also includes names significant to the Aboriginal community, such as “Meanjin,” which denotes the central Brisbane area in the Turrbal language, highlighting a growing recognition of indigenous heritage and its integral role in public spaces.

The selection of the station’s name is crucial for user orientation and the station’s integration into the existing Translink network. The aim is to select a name that resonates with both historical significance and practical orientation. A name accurately reflecting the station’s location can facilitate transit use and community connection.

Residents wishing to influence the station name are encouraged to visit the Cross River Rail project’s website and submit their feedback or suggest new names.

SUGGEST A NAME

Following the public consultation, the collected feedback will be reviewed, and a recommendation will be made to the minister, who will make the final decision on the station’s name.

Published 10-Sept-2024

Fascinating Finds from 1880s Unearthed at the Cross River Rail Project

Archeologists digging for possible artefacts in Albert Street, the site of the city’s Cross River Rail project, have unearthed some fascinating finds from the 1880s that once belonged to Chinese traders.

In the lower part of the area near the botanical gardens, diggers have discovered key items that supported the existence of The Nine Holes, allegedly Brisbane’s first Chinatown.

Found among the artefacts were ceramics, late 1800s coins, horseshoes, pairs of intact leather boots and cut-offs, bottles and crockery, old books, perfume containers, and beautifully decorated opium pipes.

Also among the discoveries was a part of a cellar with a concrete floor that had a set of puppy or small dog paw print.

In his interview with ABC Radio Brisbane, the heritage consultant for the Cross River Rail project, Dr Kevin Rains of the Niche Environment and Heritage, said that the discovery showed the “very ethnically diverse population” where The Nine Holes stood. There were regular people doing their ordinary, domestic, day-to-day activities in a neighborhood that actually had a bad reputation.

The Nine Holes was a row of eateries, leather goods stores, grocers and hotels in Frog’s Hollow, the district named after the abundance of frogs that lived in the low-lying swampland. Mostly occupied by Chinese immigrants, the building with nine “holes” were actually shops-cum-houses combined for the working class.

Frog’s Hollow was also known for its opium and gambling dens, sly grog shops, and prostitution. It was the red light district at that time and was regarded as the “poorest and dilapidated” neighborhood in Brisbane.

Dr Rains is in the midst of analysing the artefacts and preparing the report for the state government. The discoveries could eventually be housed at the Queensland Museum.

Meanwhile, the Cross River Rail project will see a new rail line below the Brisbane River to ease congestion and improve accessibility. The Albert Street station will be able to service 67,000 passengers every day when the project is completed.