Brisbane has cemented its position as one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, with the release of the 2025 State of the City Report revealing the local economy has surged past the $200 billion milestone for the first time.

According to the report, Brisbane’s economy reached $201 billion in 2024, marking a 16% increase since 2020 and adding $28 billion of new economic activity in just four years.

A Job Market on the Rise

The city’s workforce is also expanding rapidly. Since 2020, Brisbane has created 274,000 new jobs — a 22% increase— with growth strongest in the health, construction, logistics, and tourism sectors.

This surge in employment reflects Brisbane’s evolving position as not only a hub for innovation and trade, but also a lifestyle destination that continues to attract both talent and investment.

Health Industry Leads the Charge

Among the city’s economic drivers, **healthcare has emerged as a powerhouse**. In 2024 alone, the sector contributed **\$22 billion** to the economy, having doubled in size since 2010. Growing at around **6% annually**, it remains the fastest-growing health industry in the nation.

Exports are playing a major role in this expansion, with **medical and pharmaceutical exports up 114% since 2013** — three times the national average.

The Experience Economy

Tourism, culture, and hospitality are also proving to be key growth engines. Brisbane’s so-called “experience economy” reached new heights in 2024, with visitor spending hitting $13.7 billion, the highest on record.

Hospitality in particular is thriving, expanding by 30% since 2020 — the fastest growth of any Australian capital city. With Brisbane’s reputation on the rise internationally, the city is well-positioned to capitalise on this momentum in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Investment Pipeline Fuelling Growth

Fueling this transformation is an extraordinary **infrastructure pipeline exceeding $100 billion. More than $11 billion is earmarked for the experience economy, with projects including new entertainment venues, sporting facilities, and the Mt Coot-tha Masterplan.

This wave of investment is reshaping the city’s landscape, ensuring Brisbane can meet the demands of a rapidly growing population while maintaining its liveability and global competitiveness.

Looking Ahead

Forecasts from Deloitte Access Economics paint a confident picture of Brisbane’s future, with significant growth projected across key industries over the next decade:

Property and construction: +41%

Advanced manufacturing: +29%

Transport and logistics: +43%

Knowledge economy: +50%

By 2041, Brisbane’s economy is expected to reach $275 billion, a 68% increase from today, underpinned by the fastest-growing working-age population in the country.

A City on the World Stage

Brisbane’s growth story is also gaining international recognition. The city recently debuted at 37th on Time Out’s “World’s Best Cities” list for 2025**, praised for its balance of green space, culture, and lifestyle.

With its economy booming, global visibility rising, and investment pipeline accelerating, Brisbane is firmly establishing itself as a city of opportunity — one that is not only thriving today but strategically positioning for long-term success.

Brisbane’s inner-city apartment market is entering a defining decade. With the countdown to the 2032 Olympic Games already reshaping the city, Newstead has emerged as one of the most tightly held and desirable precincts in the country.

Investor Confidence Surging

Since Brisbane was named Olympic host in 2021, investor interest has accelerated. Queensland has recorded a 47% uplift in property investment transactions, with demand pouring in from Sydney, Melbourne, and beyond. For many, inner-city suburbs like Newstead are the prize — combining strong rental returns with the capital growth potential of a market undergoing transformation.

A Suburb Where Demand Outpaces Supply

The fundamentals are striking. Urbis projects Newstead’s population will climb by more than 13,500 new residents between 2021 and 2046, requiring around 310 new dwellings a year just to keep pace. In reality, the past five years have seen only 187 dwellings delivered annually, well below demand. The imbalance is already driving price escalation, and with stock levels at historic lows, competition for quality apartments is fierce.

Escalating Prices and Premium Product

Apartment prices across Inner Brisbane have surged, with weighted averages rising from $591,000 in 2015 to more than $2 million in 2025. In Newstead, the escalation is sharper. Weighted average values for three-bedroom apartments now exceed $7.9 million, with penthouses recording price growth close to 300% over five years. Buyers are paying a premium for space, views, and design quality, and the data shows a widening gap between new product and the broader market.

Rental Market at Breaking Point

For renters, the story is just as dramatic. Vacancy in Newstead sits at 0.9% — among the lowest in the country— and rents are climbing rapidly.

• One-bedroom apartments now command about $840 per week, up 10% over the past year.
• Two-bedroom apartments are averaging $1,100 per week, up 7%.
• Three-bedroom apartments are achieving $1,400 per week, with rents surging 21% year-on-year.

With only 13% of new stock since 2023 comprising three or more bedrooms, larger apartments are particularly scarce — and commanding a premium.

The Olympic Catalyst

The pipeline of infrastructure is only adding fuel. The 63,000-seat Victoria Park Olympic Stadium, alongside city-shaping projects such as Cross River Rail and Waterfront Brisbane, will redefine connectivity and amenity across the inner city. History provides a clear precedent: in the seven years leading up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, unit prices grew by 8% annually, with growth momentum continuing well after the Games.

Outlook: A Market Set to Run

Strong population growth, low unemployment at 3.8%, and more than $10 billion in infrastructure investment are reinforcing Brisbane’s fundamentals. For Newstead, the convergence of undersupply, rising rents, and Olympic-driven confidence paints a compelling outlook: apartment values and rents are set to rise sharply through to 2032 and beyond.

Get ready, Brisbane—next week, the Anyday Group is poised to unveil its most ambitious project yet: Golden Avenue, a brand-new Middle Eastern‑inspired eatery rising at 67 Edward Street, right in the heart of the CBD.

A Garden-Inspired Escape

Golden Avenue promises to transport diners to a verdant, garden‑inspired terrace, lush with greenery and atmosphere. Designed as an open‑armed haven, it will pair smoky charcoal cooking, woodfired breads, and a vibrant Levantine spirit—all under Brisbane’s city skyline.

Masterful Middle Eastern Flavours

The menu will be crafted by Anyday co‑owner and chef Ben Williamson alongside Group Head Chef Adam Wolfers (formerly of Gerard’s Bistro). Expect a modern approach to Levantine cuisine, featuring hot and cold mezze, flatbreads, charcoal‑grilled meats, seafood, and more

First Glimpse of an Expanding Culinary Empire

Golden Avenue is the first brick in Anyday’s bold CBD expansion. Following its debut, attention will shift to the historic Coal Board House at 169 Mary Street, where the group will open two new restaurants and a cocktail bar—though details remain delightfully under wraps.

Why It Matters

For Brisbane’s dining scene, Golden Avenue is more than just a new restaurant. It’s a verdant gathering spot where bold Middle Eastern flavours meet atmospheric terrace vibes—a beautiful twist among the city’s evolving hospitality offerings. And with an exciting precinct planned next door, Anyday is helping pave the way for a vibrant new dining corridor in the CBD.

Stay tuned—as the cloche lifts later this year, Golden Avenue is set to become Brisbane’s next can’t-miss destination.

Brisbane’s most anticipated region champagne destination – transporting you to region Champagne, no passport required.

This Saturday August 2, Winnifred’s will officially open to the public. A decade in the making, this groundbreaking new venue is celebrating the diversity, terroir and craftsmanship of Champagne’s independent growers.

Housed in a stunning, multi-level space designed with meticulous detail and sustainability in mind, Winnifred’s offers a 14,000-bottle cellar, five distinct areas (including a bistro, bar and two event spaces) and a curated selection of champagnes with bottles sourced from all corners of the storied region.

From ultra-rare bottles to effervescent party starters that beg to be uncorked immediately – Winnifred’s selection is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Matched by an elegant bistro-style menu of classic French dishes, Winnifred’s is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable openings to arrive on the scene in some time.

Address: 34 Arthur Street, Fortitude Valley

Source: https://www.indailyqld.com.au/theweekendedition-brisbane/food-drink/2025/06/11/winnifreds-on-arthur-fortitude-valley

Source: https://www.indailyqld.com.au/theweekendedition-brisbane/directory/winnifreds-fortitude-valley