1 William Street, Brisbane

Skyscraper in Brisbane, Queensland, housing the Queensland Government

1 William Street

1 William Street

General information
Status| Completed
Type| Government office tower
Architectural style| Modernist
Location| Brisbane CBD
Town or city| Brisbane
Country| Australia
Coordinates| 27°28′30″S 153°01′33″E﻿ / ﻿27.47512°S 153.0258°E﻿ / -27.47512; 153.0258
Current tenants| Queensland Government[1]
Construction started| 4 March 2013 (2013-03-04)
Completed| October 2016 (2016-10)[2]
Cost| A$650 million[4]
Client| Cbus[5]
Owner|

* Cbus Property (50%)[2]
* ISPT Super Property (50%)[2]

Management| JLL[6]
Height
Antenna spire| 259.8 m (852 ft)[3]
Top floor| 179.1 m (588 ft)
Technical details
Floor count| 49[2]
Floor area| 76,022 m2 (818,290 sq ft)(lettable)[2] 119,977 m2 (1,291,420 sq ft)(gross)
Lifts/elevators| 24
Design and construction
Architect(s)| Woods Bagot[5]
Developer| Cbus[5]
Structural engineer| Hyder Consulting[5]
Services engineer| EMF Griffiths[5]
Main contractor| Brookfield Multiplex[5]
Other information
Parking| 318 spaces[2]
Website
1williamstreet.com

1 William Street (colloquially known as the Tower of Power and One Big Willy)[7][8] is a skyscraper in William Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. At 259.8 metres (852 ft), it is the third-tallest building in the city and 12th-tallest building in Australia as of 2022.[9] The modernist office building is located in the Brisbane CBD, and in close proximity to the neighbouring Parliament House. The building was developed for the Queensland Government as part of its plan for a renewed Government Administrative Precinct and to meet accommodation demands. It was completed in October 2016 with over 5,000 government staff moving in over six weekends.[3][10]

## History of the site

[edit]

The site was formerly bisected by Short Street and comprised a number of different allotments and uses. Buildings occupied the area as early as 1854 and it was used for a variety of functions including; manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, housing, and electricity generation.[11]

The Queensland Government began purchasing the properties in the 1960s as part of their Government Precinct development scheme and began demolishing the existing buildings, some dating to the 1850s. The demolition of the adjacent Bellevue Hotel and construction of 80 George Street saw the spoil from there dumped on the 1 William Street site.

In 1974, the site was allocated for future government offices.[12]

1 William Street is a 6,778-square-metre (72,960 sq ft) site, owned by the Queensland Government, and from 1982 until 2013 it was used as a government car park. The site encompasses a whole city block between William, Alice and Margaret streets and Riverside Expressway.[citation needed]

## Cultural heritage significance

[edit]

The site has archaeological potential of possible cultural heritage significance. Remnants of 1850s buildings are visible above the current ground level and it is likely that significant sub-surface fabric survives.[citation needed]

## Development

[edit]

In August 2012, Expressions of Interest were called for from experienced organisations interested in bidding for the project. It was proposed that the site would be available to the successful party under a long-term lease arrangement and that the Queensland Government would take a long-term lease over approximately 75,000 m2 (810,000 sq ft) of the office space in the development.[13]

In September 2012, six developers were shortlisted to develop proposals for a new high-rise tower. The shortlisted companies were Cbus, Lendlease, Brookfield, Westfield, Leighton Properties and Grocon.[14][15]

In December 2012, Cbus was announced as the developer for 1 William Street.[16] The developer was granted a 99-year lease over the site and a guaranteed 15-year government lease for 60,000 m2 (650,000 sq ft) of office space.[17]

## Design

[edit]

1 William Street has a gross floor area of 119,977 m2 (1,291,420 sq ft) and a net lettable area of 74,853 m2 (805,710 sq ft) of office space, excluding retail which covers 1,169 m2 (12,580 sq ft). The design includes 318 car bays.[18]

About 60,000 m2 (650,000 sq ft) has been allocated for government space, leaving around 15,000 m2 (160,000 sq ft) to be subleased by the private sector.[18] It is intended to receive a 5-star NABERS office energy rating and a 3-star NABERS office water rating. The building is the first new commercial office building developed for government in the Brisbane CBD since the completion of the government office building at 33 Charlotte Street in 2004.[19]

The theme and colour scheme for each floor has been dedicated to a Queensland icon or natural phenomenon.[20]

Level | Themes

|

G to 2 | base palette (neutral cream, brown and grey tones)
3 to 5 | Barramundi
6 to 8 | Moreton Bay Fig
9 to 11 | Saltwater Crocodile
12 to 14 | Coloured Sands
16 to 18 | Purple Fan Coral
19 to 21 | Cassowary
22 to 24 | Green Tree Frog
25 to 27 | Pineapple
28 to 30 | Orange Pore Fungi
31 to 33 | Outback Sands
34 to 36 | Sapphire
37 to 39 | Sugar Cane
40 to 41 | Water Dragon

## Construction

[edit]

The construction, which was undertaken by Multiplex, commenced in early 2013 and was completed in 2016.[21] The groundbreaking of the site, attended by Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney, was held on 4 March 2013.[22]

From 1 October 2016, nine full departments and agencies, all state government ministers, most Directors-General and more than 5,000 public servants moved to 1 William Street.[23] Some sections from 11 other departments also shifted to 1 William Street, while other sections of these departments will move to other buildings in the inner-city. Three buildings were demolished: the Executive Building at 100 George Street, the Executive Annex at 80 George Street and the Neville Bonner Building at 75 William Street.[citation needed]

## Tenants

[edit]

Entrance, 2018 View from South Bank, 2021

The building houses between 5,000 and 6,000 public servants.[24] The entirety of the 1 William Street building is occupied by various departments in the Queensland Government:[25]

* Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts[10]
* Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (also 41 George Street)[10]
* Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (plus 111 George Street)[10]
* Department of Education (plus 54 Mary Street)[10]
* Department of Energy and Climate[10]
* Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (plus 400 George Street)[10]
* Queensland Health (plus 33 Charlotte Street, Basin Pocket QLD 4305 & 100 & 108 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006)[10]
* Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works (plus 41 George Street and 60 Albert Street)[10]
* Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning[10]
* Department of Justice and Attorney-General (plus 400 George Street)[10]
* Department of the Premier and Cabinet (plus 400 George Street)[10]
* Department of Resources[10]
* Department of Employment, Small Business and Training[10]
* Public Sector Commission[10]
* Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (plus 140 Creek Street)[10]
* Department of State Development, Infrastructure, and Planning[10]
* Department of Transport and Main Roads (plus 61 Mary Street, 313 Adelaide Street)[10]
* Trade and Investment Queensland[10]
* Queensland Treasury[10]
* Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games (plus 140 Creek Street)[10]
* Queensland Corrective Services
* Queensland Fire Department
* Queensland Ambulance Service
* Queensland Police Service

## See also

[edit]

* Queensland portal

* List of tallest buildings in Brisbane
* List of tallest buildings in Australia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Tenant Directory". 1 William Street. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
2. ^ a b c d e f "1 William Street". ISPT Super Property. Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
3. ^ a b "1 William Street, Brisbane: Look inside the tower of power before 5000 public servants move in". Brisbane Times. 21 October 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
4. ^ "A Look Inside 1 William Street". CBUS Property. 21 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
5. ^ a b c d e f "1 William Street, Brisbane". Brookfield Multiplex. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
6. ^ "Contact". 1 William Street. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
7. ^ 1 William Street: High winds, rain delay completion of Brisbane's 'Tower of Power', Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 22 August 2016 Archived 31 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ Atfield, Cameron (2 February 2017). "Brisbane office vacancy rates improve, despite addition of 1 William Street". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
9. ^ 1 William Street – The Skyscraper Center Archived 16 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "A Look Inside 1 William Street". Brisbane Development. 21 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
11. ^ Communications, c=AU; o=The State of Queensland; ou=Department of Environment and Science; ou=Corporate (9 June 2015). "Early Streets of Brisbane | Environment, land and water". apps.des.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 18 July 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
12. ^ Sarah Vogler (21 December 2012). "State Government announces successful bid for development of high-rise administrative complex at 1 William Street". The Courier-Mail. News Queensland. Archived from the original on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
13. ^ "1 William Street". Queensland Treasury. The State of Queensland. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
14. ^ Urbanalyst Staff (2 October 2012). "Six developers shortlisted for development at 1 William Street, Brisbane". urbanalyst. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
15. ^ Carter, Bridget (13 December 2012). "Giants in battle for $1 billion precinct". The Australian. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
16. ^ "William Street transformation a step closer to reality". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
17. ^ Sarah Vogler (21 December 2012). "State announces CBD tower developer". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
18. ^ a b Daniel Hurst (21 December 2012). "Green light for CBD skyscraper". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
19. ^ Plans for 1 William Street Unveiled Archived 14 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Brisbane Development.com
20. ^ The people who built 1 William Street Archived 16 July 2022 at the Wayback Machine, The Urban Developer
21. ^ "1 William Street: Moving day arrives for public servants in Brisbane". ABC. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
22. ^ Amy Remeikis (4 March 2013). "Brisbane Live at Work: Monday March 4". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
23. ^ Hinchcliffe, Jessica (21 October 2016). "Print Email Facebook Twitter More 1 William Street: Moving day arrives for public servants in Brisbane". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
24. ^ "A Look Inside 1 William Street". Brisbane Development. 21 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
25. ^ "Tenant Directory". 1 William Street. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to 1 William Street, Brisbane at Wikimedia Commons

* Building at the Queensland Treasury website
* Building at the Woods Bagot website Archived 28 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine
* Building at the designbuild-network website
* Building at The Skyscraper Center database
* 1 William Street at Bennett and Bennett

* v
* t
* e

Skyscrapers in Brisbane over 150 metres in height

Completed

| Over 200 m|

* Brisbane Skytower (269.6 m, 2019)
* The One (264 m, 2021)
* 1 William Street (259.8 m, 2016)
* Infinity (249 m, 2014)
* Soleil (243 m, 2012)
* Aurora Tower (207 m, 2006)
* Riparian Plaza (200 m, 2005)

|

150–199 m|

* One One One Eagle Street (194.7 m, 2012)
* 443 Queen Street (183.7 m, 2020)
* 300 George Street (182.2 m, 2019)
* Central Plaza 1 (174 m, 1988)
* 275 George Street (171 m, 2009)
* Waterfront Place (162 m, 1989)
* 480 Queen Street (153 m, 2016)
* 180 Brisbane (152 m, 2015)
* Brisbane Square (151 m, 2006)
* Skyline Apartments (150 m, 2007)

Brisbane skyline in 2013

Under construction

* Queen's Wharf Tower 4 (231.1 m, 2022)
* Queen's Wharf Tower 1 (190 m, 2022)
* 205 North Quay (172.1 m, 2025)

Approved

* No. 1 Brisbane (274.3 m, TBA)
* 30 Albert Street (270 m, TBA)
* 171 Edward Street (265 m, TBA)
* 195-199 Elizabeth Street (196.2 m, TBA)

* Full list of approved projects

Proposed

* Queen's Tower ( 545 Queen Street) (250 m, TBA)
* 500 George Street (191 m, TBA)
* Brisbane Square Tower 2 (170.7 m, TBA)
* Regent Towers (158 m, TBA)
* Full list of proposed projects

* Buildings listed in order of height and with year of completion
* Building data source: Skyscraper Center

* See also: List of tallest buildings in Brisbane
* Category:Buildings and structures in Brisbane
* Category:Skyscrapers in Brisbane

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