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Builder-developer McNab has received development approval for The Tannery Residences, a landmark new project in Brisbane’s West End that redefines how heritage preservation and wellness-led design can coexist.
Builder-developer McNab has received development approval for The Tannery Residences, a landmark new project in Brisbane’s West End that redefines how heritage preservation and wellness-led design can coexist.
The project will carefully transform the historic Dixon’s Tannery into a wellness sanctuary at the heart of a new ten-storey residential precinct, while paying homage to Brisbane’s rich industrial past.
At the core of the development is ‘The Retreat’ - a thoughtfully designed wellness space that reimagines the original 19th-century tannery as a place of connection, rejuvenation, and character.
“This isn’t just about building homes. It’s about preserving Brisbane’s past while creating spaces that genuinely support residents’ wellbeing,” said McNab Founder and Executive Chairman, Michael McNab.
“Properties that honour history while delivering modern design have unique appeal. There’s a growing demand for spaces with both character and legacy, and The Tannery sets a new precedent for this in Brisbane.”
Working in collaboration with Cottee Parker Architects, Aspect Studios and Tom Mark Henry, the project introduces 81 premium residences - ranging from two to four bedrooms - across a collection of spacious, light-filled apartments. Every detail of the built form and amenity offering has been considered to promote holistic wellbeing and a sense of retreat.
Reimagining Amenity Through a Wellness Lens
Across more than 1,100sqm of communal amenity, residents will enjoy a host of lifestyle features on the ground floor and rooftop, including a pool, landscaped gardens, sunset lawn, outdoor dining areas, and zones for pets.
At the heart of the heritage tannery building, The Retreat will offer a full spectrum of wellness facilities - including a sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, an outdoor shower, tropical relaxation zones, a commercial-grade gym, and a dedicated Pilates and stretch studio.
Residents will also benefit from an expansive suite of lifestyle amenities, such as a private dining room, cinema, library, and co-working spaces - all designed to encourage social connection while supporting the rituals of everyday living.
Design That Breathes New Life Into Legacy
Jade Nottage from Tom Mark Henry said the design team was inspired by the opportunity to integrate the site’s layered history into a warm, contemporary subtropical context.
“With a site that holds such rich and diverse history, our aim was to create something that feels truly connected to its past. A place that brings back and celebrates traditional crafts, community, nature, and wellbeing,” she said.
“We wanted to create a serene and authentic sanctuary - a place that breathes new life into the old tannery and continues its story.”
McNab also partnered with Five Mile Radius - a Brisbane-based cross-disciplinary studio renowned for its use of salvaged materials - to further elevate the tactile and sustainable sensibility of the project.
As part of the extensive landscape and design planning, a significant and much-loved mature Hoop Pine at the site’s entrance will be retained and protected.
A Legacy of Delivery
The Tannery builds on McNab’s reputation for delivering high-calibre residential communities, following the recent success of White Main Beach - awarded Queensland’s Best Apartment Building over $50 million - and Elements Budds Beach, which is now over 75 per cent sold with construction well underway.
Construction of The Tannery Residences is anticipated to commence in Q3 2025, with completion targeted for late 2027.
