A development application has been lodged seeking approval for refurbishment works to the Mollison Street mall entry of The Soda Factory West End. The proposal seeks approval for the demolition, upgrade, and extension of centre activities within the established district centre.
Read: How Boundary St Building Evolved From Tristram Soft Drink Factory To West End Shopping Centre
The subject site is located at 79 Boundary Street and covers a total area of approximately 10,030 square metres. The site is zoned DC1 District Centre under the South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan.
According to planning documents prepared by Sinclair Planning, the mall is located in a separate building annexed to the Tristram’s Soft Drink Factory building — a Local Heritage Place — with an internal interface at the northern end of the mall. No works are proposed to the heritage-listed structure.
Proposed Refurbishment Works
The proposed refurbishment works include both external and internal modifications, as detailed in the planning documents.
On the exterior, works include partial demolition and upgrade to the Mollison Street façade, with a focus on replacing the existing awning over the entry stairs and accessibility lift, and enhancing overall façade finishes. The existing pedestrian ramp at the entry is proposed to be replaced with an accessibility lift, with the layout of the entry stairs also to be reconfigured.
Landscape planters are proposed along the Mollison Street building elevation, with the planning documents stating the intent is to positively contribute to the public domain and accentuate the mall entry point. Existing pedestrian seating will be retained and bicycle parking facilities are also to be retained.
Internally, modifications to existing tenancies are proposed to regularise shopfronts to the mall and to reduce the floor area of the existing mall kiosk. These internal changes result in the creation of new gross floor area, with the refurbishment yielding a net increase in tenancy GFA of approximately 37 square metres. Glazed automatic doors are also proposed near the northern end of the mall to maintain an air-conditioned internal environment. Modifications to the levels of the mall footway are proposed to remove the existing sloping gradient.
No changes are proposed to the centre’s current hours of operation, site access and servicing arrangements, refuse storage and collection, or ancillary on-site car parking. The Mollison Street footpath and road reserve will also remain unchanged.
Staged Delivery
The works are proposed to be delivered in stages. The initial stage involves the refurbishment of the western side of the Mollison Street mall, allowing continued public access and tenant operation during construction. The succeeding stage will address the eastern side of the mall following completion of the initial works.
Read: See The Stunning Mural At Soda Factory In West End
The application is listed under application reference A006923662. The full application documents are publicly available via the Brisbane development portal at developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au.
Published 23-February-2026
