Mirvac and Suncorp join Brisbane City Council to unveil Brisbane CBD’s first sport courts

Transformed as an extension of Mirvac and M&G Real Estate’s Heritage Lanes precinct at 80 Ann Street, head office to Suncorp and KPMG, HL Court was officially opened this morning by Brisbane Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, and features a shaded, fenced multi-court space for a range of ball sports, as well as seating, a drinking fountain, artworks and landscaping.

Mirvac’s Group General Manager, Commercial and Mixed Use Development Simon Healy said the project is a result of a close partnership with Brisbane City Council and Suncorp to transform an underutilised space into something that everyone can enjoy.

“We have worked closely with Brisbane City Council over a number of years to bring our world-class Heritage Lanes building and precinct to fruition. HL Court is something we are really proud of – delivering a unique community facility to the CBD, in a space that was otherwise somewhat disused and aesthetically unappealing,” said Mr Healy.

“Our vision was to restore a significant piece of Queensland history at the site, the former Brisbane Fruit & Produce Exchange building on Turbot Street, and the HL Court is the final piece of this transformation. The ground plane has become a modern-day open marketplace, designed to encourage workers, locals, and tourists to mingle from day through to the evenings, creating a real sense of community in the city.

“From the outset we wanted to make Heritage Lanes a vibrant and inclusive place to visit – a destination, not just an office. Funding and delivering HL Court with Suncorp and M&G Real Estate completes that vision,” he said.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the court is an exciting new urban renewal project that will help residents and visitors be active and have fun.

“Brisbane has an incredible outdoor lifestyle and we want to create more spaces to help residents stay active and healthy,” he said.

“This hidden pocket that was previously boring concrete has been transformed into an active haven with a fenced and shaded court, bleacher style seating, and public art for the community to enjoy.

“Whether you’re looking for something to do on your lunch break or taking a break from study, we hope that this new space will help even more residents get active in Brisbane,” he said.

Suncorp’s Head of Real Estate Maurice Gallagher said Suncorp was proud to support the project in partnership with Mirvac and it is great to see the vision come to fruition.

“Given the underpass is so close to Suncorp’s headquarters in Brisbane, this was a great opportunity to provide more facilities nearby that would encourage and support health and wellbeing for our people and the wider community,” he said.

Richard van den Berg, Fund Manager of M&G Real Estate’s flagship core Asia Pacific property strategy said the M&G Real Estate team is thrilled to be part of the collaborative effort to bring HL Court to life.

“It is gratifying to witness the ongoing transformation of the precinct, turning an underutilised area into a vibrant urban oasis.

“As co-owners of the precinct, this initiative aligns seamlessly with our commitment to fostering sustainable and community-centric urban developments. HL Court exemplifies our shared vision to fostering a dynamic and inclusive community space that encourages social interaction in the heart of the city, while enhancing the overall urban experience in Brisbane. It stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability as we strive to bring high-quality living environments and create positive social impact,” he said.

Suitable for basketball, soccer, handball, pickleball and more, the space also features art by two of Queensland’s most renowned indigenous artists.

Delvene Cockatoo-Collins’s work An Afternoon Low Tide was inspired by the theme ‘Current and Continuity’ and compliments the existing Judy Watson artwork Freshwater Lens.  An Afternoon Low Tide speaks to freshwater meeting saltwater. Patterns of water are incorporated into the design as is small uneven boxes to indicate bubbles in the water as well as Delvene’s grandmother’s handwriting. HL Court is available free for the general public to enjoy and can be booked via the Mirvac app for Heritage Lanes: https://www.mirvac.com/mirvac-app