Brisbane benefits from Build to Rent development WeAreLiving Brunswick

Aware Super and Barings today officially opened WeAreLiving Brunswick, a 366-apartment build-to-rent (BTR) development in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, with the Hon Sam O'Connor MP, Minister for Housing and Public Works, attending the launch.

Aware Super and Barings, through their WeAreLiving property operating platform, recently completed the acquisition of the development from Frasers Property Australia.

WeAreLiving Brunswick is part of the Queensland Government's Build-to-Rent Pilot Project, with approximately 40 per cent of homes available at a discounted rent supported by a Queensland Government subsidy.

Market rents range from $645 per week for an unfurnished studio to $1,050 per week for an unfurnished two-bedroom apartment, with discounted rents starting from $480 per week.

The development was built by Hutchinson, designed by Cox Architecture, and developed by Frasers Property Australia.

"Institutional capital has a genuine role to play in addressing Australia's housing supply challenge and this development demonstrates what's possible when government, investors, and developers work together.

“We're proud to be expanding into Queensland with a project that sets a new benchmark for renters in Brisbane."

The Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works The Hon Sam O'Connor MP said: "This development is another prime example of government collaborating with industry to ease housing pressures by creating new homes and housing choices for Queenslanders, including our key workers, in great places they want to live in. By working with industry we are increasing supply, giving more options for renters, and delivering more homes in the places people want to live."

Barings Real Estate Australia Head of Residential Warwick Dowler said: "High-quality, resident-focused build-to-rent developments have a huge role to play in meeting the housing supply challenge not only in Brisbane but across Australia. WeAreLiving Brunswick represents the gold standard as to what's possible in this growing sector — a convenient, connected, cosmopolitan location with everything people need for a great lifestyle."

Frasers Property Australia CEO Australia Cameron Leggatt said:  "Frasers Property is proud to have developed the Brunswick Street BTR development in collaboration with the Queensland Government, introducing a new quality lifestyle standard for renters in this vibrant part of Brisbane. Frasers Property has been delivering housing diversity to the Australian market for more than 100 years, and we continue to seek new opportunities to partner with governments to deliver new housing choices, including in the BTR space."

Located on Brunswick Street, two kilometres from Brisbane's CBD and adjacent to the $500 million Valley Metro redevelopment, WeAreLiving Brunswick delivers 27 storeys of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments alongside 1,800 square metres of resident-only amenity.

The all-electric building carries a 7.5-star NatHERS energy rating and includes on-site management, flexible lease terms of up to three years, furnished options, and a program of resident social events.

WeAreLiving Brunswick is the latest addition to the WeAreLiving property operating platform — a partnership between Aware Super and Barings to own and operate high-quality, multi-amenity BTR developments close to public transport, employment, and education.

The total WeAreLiving pipeline now comprises more than 2,000 homes across New South Wales, Queensland, the ACT, and Victoria.

The opening follows the launch of:

• WeAreLiving Preston in Melbourne, and with
• WeAreLiving Zetland with 135 apartments, Sydney's inner south and
• WeAreLiving Queens with 433 apartments, Albert Park, Melbourne

Aware Super's investment in build-to-rent reflects the fund's broader living sector strategy, which combines the delivery of long-term, inflation-linked income streams for members with a direct contribution to housing supply in high-demand Australian markets.