A retirement village is set to rise on one of inner Brisbane’s most storied properties, after Brisbane approved a development application for Bishopsview Milton, a boutique, 75-apartment community on the heritage-listed grounds of Old Bishopsbourne.
Read: Retirement Village Proposed for Historic Milton College Grounds
The 3.8-hectare site, tucked near the XXXX Brewery on Milton Road, has been home to Brisbane’s Anglican community since 1868, when the residence was built for the city’s first Anglican Archbishop. It currently houses St Francis Theological College, which will continue to operate on the grounds under the ownership of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland (ACSQ).
The approval marks a significant milestone for developer Aura Holdings, which was selected by ACSQ following a series of public information sessions to help fund the preservation of the heritage-listed Old Bishopsbourne and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit — both buildings requiring significant investment to maintain.
Aura Holdings CEO Sean Graham welcomed the decision. “Securing development approval for Bishopsview Milton is a significant milestone for Aura,” he said.
“This project is a unique retirement living option that responds to a gap in the market providing future residents the opportunity to downsize to a purpose-built home in a rare, untouched inner-city location.”
Designed by Cox Architecture, the three residential buildings will be delivered in a single stage and surrounded by landscaped gardens. Residents will have access to a pool, gym, yoga area, library, billiards room, and outdoor entertaining spaces. Construction is expected to wrap up in 2028, making Bishopsview Milton Aura’s eighth village across South-East Queensland.
ACSQ said the approval was an important step forward for the long-term future of the site, and was clear that the Church is not selling the land. The organisation said it would retain ownership of both the site and the College, which will continue to operate and offer theological education.
Locals’ concerns
A community lobby group, Concerned Residents Against Milton’s Excessive Development (CRAMED), had fought the proposal for years, arguing the site’s lush grounds, which CRAMED claimed were home to as many as 155 mature trees, some more than a century old, amounted to a “secret garden” worth saving.
CRAMED raised concerns that parts of the development exceeded allowable height limits by more than two storeys, that heritage-listed structures on the site could be damaged, and that interference with overland water flow paths could affect neighbouring properties.
One Milton resident, who lodged a submission to BCC, said: “While I understand the need for aged care and retirement living options, I believe this particular development poses significant risks to the heritage character, traffic conditions, and liveability of the surrounding area.”
Residents had also called on BCC or the state to step in and help preserve the vegetated grounds as public open space.
Aura’s development application addressed many of those objections, stating that water flow could be managed through engineering controls, tree loss would be kept to a minimum, and heritage areas would be protected.
Read: Milton Streets Come Alive with Vibrant Artworks on Signal Boxes
For Aura, the project responds to what the company describes as a gap in the market for quality retirement options in inner-city locations. The village’s proximity to cafés, public transport, river walks, shopping, and medical services was highlighted as a key drawcard for future residents hoping to downsize without leaving the neighbourhood they know.
Whether the end result honours that balance is something Milton residents will be watching closely as construction gets underway.
Published 28-February-2026
