First look exclusive: Frasers plans revealed for Keperra Quarry site

National masterplan developer Frasers has revealed their plans for the former Keppera Quarry in Brisbane's north-west.

There are two residential precincts planned, as well as one sport and recreational precinct and one conservation zone precinct. They were approved in 2017, well before Frasers bought the site for $31 million in 2019. It had provisional approval for 700 dwellings, a mix of apartments and townhouses.

The recent plans reveal Rothelowman's designs for the first precinct, 91 townhouses which will be delivered over six stages. They will be spread across 5,043 sqm, a small section of the overall 18.9 hectare residential site. 

The larger Keperra Quarry site adjoins the Enoggera Barracks (also known as Gallipoli Barracks) in the east which is heavily vegetated land utilised for military operations, such as live firing practice and other training purposes.

Rothelowman says in the architectural report submitted to the Brisbane City Council that the masterplan is designed to prioritise pedestrians and create meaningful and deliberate interfaces between public and private realms.

"Vehicular access to townhouses and private vehicle parking is provided via minor roads, allowing living spaces and outdoor rooms to address the boulevard and public open spaces," the renowned architecture firm noted.

"The removal of crossovers from the boulevard allows for significant landscaping to this corridor, resulting in a landscape-rich public realm and a layered interface between private and public spaces.

"This layering of streetscape creates an idyllic suburban street filled with life, colour and texture."

There's a generous mix of nine townhouse configurations proposed. They will have three or four bedrooms across two or three levels, with a minimum gross floor area of 140 sqm. Each townhouse provides a minimum of area of 35 sqm. dedicated to private open space. There will be 67 three-bed townhouses, and 24 four-bedrooms, which will be serviced by 182 resident car spaces and 77 visitor spaces.

The collections are dubbed The Garden House, The Pavilion House, and The Sunset Houses.

Frasers has frequently been tinkering the plans as the design process evolves, tweaking boundaries for the precincts. 

There was a pre-lodgement meeting late last year which discussed some key issues and opportunities in the plans, namely the communal facilities, the landscape designs, and the use of some of the extensive large open spaces throughout the first stage which have no proposed use other than tree planting.

There are extensive facilities planned for the first precinct, including two swimming pools, which will be flanked by a recreation centre on one side and a gym on the other. Next to the rec centre will be a large lawn area. The facilities will be located in the middle of the precinct.

Rothelowman's design statement for each collection

The Garden House

The conventional laneway townhouse has two primary facades - one dedicated to vehicular entry and the other to pedestrian entry. Landscaping and access to natural ventilation and daylight is isolated to one facade. The introduction of a courtyard allows for landscape, light and ventilation to permeate further into the dwelling, and provides an additional layer of privacy - a secondary outdoor space pulled away from the street edge.

The landscape-focused townhouse takes the concept a step further, introducing a single garage and flexible carport space. The resulting outdoor space and landscape stretches from front to rear boundary, providing excellent access to light, ventilation and outdoor living.

The Pavilion House

The Pavilion House is designed to absorb a one-storey level change in the topography of the site and allow the living space to be located as an elevated “pavilion” accessed by pedestrians from street level. An outdoor room at either end of the dwelling allows the living spaces to open completely for access to daylight and cross-ventilation. The primary outdoor space engages with the boulevard, however is offered privacy through a combination of elevation and landscaping.

The Sunset Houses

A collection of robust forms hold the edge of the neighbourhood, inspired by the unique landforms of the quarry Their form reads clear and consistent from afar, defining the edge of the precinct.