A development application has been approved for the expansion of the existing short-term accommodation (Novotel Brisbane), located at 70 Merivale Street and 38-40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane.

70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (14) 70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (6)

Designed by Bates Smart Architects, the proposal seeks a new 18 storey hotel tower containing 144 rooms on the 3,646sqm Novotel site. The proposal will include a wellness floor, rooftop restaurant and ground-floor food and drink outlet. The project forms an extension to the existing Novotel Brisbane South Bank, which is operated by Accor. The ground floor would contain the hotel lobby, a food and drink outlet, back-of-house areas and the continuation of the existing laneway connection between Merivale and Cordelia Streets.

The proposal has been designed to continue the architectural character of the existing approved hotel development.  The design incorporates an activated arcade and a laneway that would continue through the site, connecting Merivale Street and Cordelia Street. The design also includes an expressive architectural screen and awning along Merivale Street.

70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (5) 70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (4) 70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (3)

 

 

70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (8)

Development Details

3,646sqm site
18-storey tower
Extension to existing Novotel Brisbane South Bank
144 additional hotel rooms

95 King Rooms – 27sqm
11 King ZIP Rooms – 29sqm
7 Accessible Rooms – 29sqm
19 Deluxe King Rooms – 28-29sqm
4 Junior Suites – 37sqm
6 Superior Suites – 49-58sqm
1 Premium Suite – 81sqm
1 Presidential Suite – 145sqm

Approximately 7,514sqm GFA
12 additional car parking spaces
79% site cover
330 sqm of landscaping
Wellness floor

Gym
Steam rooms
Sauna rooms
Plunge pools
Outdoor infinity-edge pool

Rooftop restaurant

Indoor and outdoor dining, including covered outdoor seating overlooking the pool.

Ground-floor food and drink outlet
Public laneway/arcade connection
Existing vehicle access from Cordelia Street

70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (13) 70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (9) 70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (19)

The planners at Town Planning Alliance state, “The development continues to create a unique but recognisable identity. The podium levels of the building incorporate an expressive architectural screen adding variation and texture to the façade, referencing the rhythms of the cultural precinct that is South Bank. This expressive screen is echoed through the walkway awning fronting Merivale Street and wrapping around the southern side of the building along the arcade
walk, creating and encouraging an activated experience. The activated arcade is a key feature, benefiting both hotel guests and the general public. Ground floor and rooftop food and drink outlets invite community engagement, improving pedestrian connectivity between Cordelia and Merivale Streets and enriching the public realm”.

“Whilst the proposal has been designed as an independent tower with elements typing back to the existing Novotel tower fronting Cordelia Street, the operation of the site is intertwined with the existing Novotel as they are owned and operated by the same entity. This enables the proposal to utilise the Cordelia Street access for vehicles creating a superior pedestrian prioritised frontage to Merivale Street. Additionally, other required services such as pad mount transformers can be removed from the Merivale Street frontage and existing services can be contained with the lot fronting Cordelia Street“.

70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (10) 70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (18)

 

70 Merivale Street and 38 40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane (16)

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The Application Information and References

Date Lodged: 20 July 2026
Council Reference: A007072785
Address: 70 Merivale Street and 38-40 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane.
Zone: Mixed use (Inner city)
TLPI: Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct
Neighbourhood Plan: South Brisbane Riverside
Architect: Bates Smart Architects
Landscape Design: Arcadia
Town Planner: Town Planning Alliance
Interactive Image: Google Aerial and Street View

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