A network of inner-city locations that feature concentrated economic and employment activity.
Suburbs include:
- Albion
- Newstead
- Bowen Hills
- East Brisbane
- Woolloongabba
- Milton.
Brisbane's central, industrial and retail precincts
Learn about the features of Brisbane’s precincts that support our shops, neighbourhoods and industries.
On this page
Brisbane’s has 3 types of precincts, each with unique identities:
- central precincts
- industrial precincts
- retail precincts.
Central precincts
Council is committed to building a city centre that's welcoming, inclusive and open for business.
Through plans and strategies, such as Brisbane's Inner City Strategy, we aim to elevate the city centre as a vibrant neighbourhood and destination of choice. We also aim to enhance the central precincts as workplaces that are adapting to meet rapidly changing needs.
There are 3 central precincts in Brisbane.
- Brisbane City: Brisbane Economic Development Agency, a wholly owned subsidiary of Brisbane City Council, is responsible for supporting Brisbane City through activation and activities. Find out more about what’s on in Brisbane City.
- South Bank: Located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River in South Brisbane, South Bank is Brisbane’s premier lifestyle and cultural destination. It includes extensive dining experiences, lush parklands and world-class educational facilities.
- Fortitude Valley: Eclectic and cosmopolitan, Fortitude Valley has a vibrant nightlife and restaurant scene. Council's My Valley website provides more information about the precinct, including events and a business directory.
Industrial precincts
Brisbane has a network of industrial precincts that are critical parts of our city.
Key industrial precincts have scalable industrial activity, world-class business environments and global research.
By 2041, industry will contribute more than $22 billion to Brisbane's gross regional product (GRP) and account for 13% of our workforce.
Brisbane: Our Productive City is Council's strategy to remain competitive by improving and adapting key industrial areas.
This strategy combines industry and community feedback with Council’s policy of delivering industrial land to meet demand and enabling industrial precincts to advance, renew and evolve.
Our plan to unlock growth in Brisbane’s industrial economy is based on 4 key principles:
- unlocking opportunity
- creating great places
- culture of innovation
- environment to prosper.
Download the strategy for more information.
Unlocking growth in industrial areas, combined with a supportive infrastructure network and high-quality urban precincts, will provide Brisbane with a globally competitive industrial future.
These areas provide major hubs for industrial activity within the region.
- Australia TradeCoast: A precinct that includes the Port of Brisbane and Brisbane Airport, this is Brisbane’s global import and export hub. It features world-class infrastructure and is managed by mature governance arrangements.
- Northern Industrial Area: This precinct supports a range of businesses that leverage their proximity to the Port of Brisbane and Brisbane Airport. It includes the suburbs of Geebung, Virginia, Northgate, Nudgee and Banyo.
- South West Industrial Gateway: Extending over southwest Brisbane, this precinct is the largest of Brisbane's industrial areas. It’s one of South East Queensland's main freight gateways.
Colmslie Industrial Precinct plan
The Colmslie Industrial Precinct plan aims to create a clear vision for the area’s future. The precinct forms part of the Australia TradeCoast and has been identified for industrial renewal under the Brisbane: Our Productive City strategy.
These industrial areas effectively service businesses and residents. They link the wider network of industrial land use across the city.
- Brisbane Technology Park, Eight Mile Plains: This industrial area is Brisbane’s largest business park. It’s home to biotech, health and medical, mining, communications, electronics and software development businesses.
- Boggo Road Innovation Precinct, Dutton Park: This innovation precinct is a centre for health, research, education and science. It features world-class facilities, including Princess Alexandra Hospital and The University of Queensland.
Retail precincts
There are close to 300 retail precincts across Brisbane, including principal centres, major centres and suburban shopping strips.
Council offers practical advice and information as a resource for all retail precincts through the Growing Precincts Together progam.
Retail precincts in Brisbane generally correlate to centre-zoned land under Brisbane City Plan 2014, which guides the planning intent of the city.
Under the planning scheme, Brisbane’s retail precincts are generally characterised by 4 centre zonings.
The purpose of these centres is to provide for the largest and most diverse mix of uses and activities. This includes concentrations of high-order retail, commercial, employment, residential and health services.
The 6 principal centres are:
- City Centre
- Fortitude Valley
- Spring Hill
- Kurilpa
- Chermside
- Upper Mount Gravatt.
There are 88 district centres located across Brisbane.
They’re intended to service a district catchment, along with visitors, workers and residents in the centre.
District centres are intended to provide for a large variety of uses, including:
- administrative
- business
- community
- cultural
- entertainment
- professional
- residential
- retail.
Our major centres provide for numerous activities and services.
The 7 major centres are:
- Nundah
- Toombul
- Mitchelton
- Toowong
- Indooroopilly
- Wynnum
- Carindale.
Neighbourhood centres are the most prevalent throughout the city and are generally characterised by a small group of shops.
Neighbourhood centres provide for a small variety of uses and activities that service residents.
