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The Chester & Ella Apartments are a new development located on the corner of Chester Street and Ella Street, Newstead; just two kilometres from the Brisbane CBD. As well as being close to the Brisbane Emporium, Chester & Ella is also walking distance to the Gasworks and James Street precinct, making this development perfect for all foodies.
There are 320 apartments across two 18-storey buildings. This includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments.
Chester & Ella apartments private terrace
Chester & Ella apartments also include hotel-style shared amenities. This includes around-the-clock concierge, a health and wellness centre, private dining room, indoor and outdoor cinema, rooftop pool and shared outdoor kitchen areas. Although most of the amenities are located within both Chester and Ella, residents of each will have access to the facilities of both buildings. Chester is the more angular and ‘masculine’ of the two buildings, whilst Ella has more flow and is more ‘feminine’.
Construction is almost complete on Chester & Ella apartments, with the completion of both buildings expected early 2020. The dual-development is great news for residents, as not only will there be no further construction once they move in, but they’ll have access to both sets of facilities from day dot.
While the price of the two and three-bedroom apartments likely puts them out of reach for most first home buyers, it’s fairly standard for the Newstead area which is quickly becoming a Mecca for Brisbane’s most up-market new developments. The whole “vibe” of Chester & Ella apartments really fits with the current market in Newstead, where health and wellness orientated foodies reign supreme. The whole complex is pet-friendly too, which is another big drawcard for the area.
The shape of both buildings is said to be inspired by the Brisbane River, with jagged edges all the way around the building providing each balcony with a unique design. Both buildings have wonderful (and currently unobstructed) views of the CBD and the river.
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DECEMBER 2019: Construction at Chester & Ella is nearly complete.
As the name suggests, Chester & Ella will be located on the corner of Chester Street and Ella Street in Newstead. Only 250m from the illustrious The Valley Emporium, 500m from the fashionable James Street and 800m from the booming Gasworks Precinct, Chester & Ella apartments really are in the middle of the action. Off to the side of Ann Street, the driveby traffic isn’t too bad, however, the parking around the area is not ample at all.
For commuters, the congestion isn’t too bad in Newstead, with Breakfast Creek Road causing the majority of the issues. The Inner City Bypass is easily accessible from the neighbouring suburb of Bowen Hills, providing access in and out of Brisbane without having to navigate through CBD traffic.
Schools local to Newstead include Newstead Primary School, New Farm State School and Holy Spirit Catholic school in New Farm. For those at university, UQ and QUT campuses are easy to get to thanks to the CityCat. There is a bus stop just at the end of Chester Street as well which can get you to the city within 15 minutes. Check out our Suburb Profile for more information on the education offerings, median property prices and lifestyle in Newstead.
Chester & Ella apartments include an underground secure car park underneath both buildings which will include 16 visitor parks. The bottom level of the building will be leased as a retail space, likely to be a cafeand restaurant although that is yet to be confirmed. On Level 3, you’ll find the gym and Level 4 will feature a beautifully landscaped outdoor terrace (with firepit, BBQs and table tennis) and an opulent private dining room. One level up, you’ll find communal pool tables, karaoke room and an indoor cinema. The rooftop of both buildings includes a virtual putting green, a pool, spa, outdoor cinema and outdoor dining area. The outdoor dining area is complete with an outdoor kitchen and BBQ, making it genuinely functional and more than just another “luxe” offering you’d never actually use.
There will be onsite management with concierge hours from 7am–8pm weekdays and 9am–5pm on Saturday and Sunday. The concierge can book everything from dog walking, transport, dry-cleaning and, of course, the private dining room.
Chester & Ella apartments are designed by Hayball architects. The shape of the buildings is inspired by the Brisbane River, with chiselled white balconies and a very bold, geometric feel. Ella, while similar is the slightly softer and more feminine looking of the two buildings. Metallic finishes and bronze balustrades around the exterior of the building throw the light, making quite a statement when the sun hits the building. The ceilings are 2.7m throughout. There are light and dark colour palette options in both buildings.
The layout of the apartments are great for owners, however, the hotel-like nature of the facilities and inner-city location will undoubtedly be a drawcard for investors.
A typical two-bedroom has 77 square metres of internal space, plus an 18m² balcony. The main bedroom has an ensuite and balcony access and the kitchen features a breakfast bar.
The penthouses are expansive, with a 224m² indoor area, separate arrival foyer, walk-in pantry and two balconies. The back balcony includes a private pool as well, with the external space coming to a total of 205 square metres.
The air-conditioning is a reverse cycle, with the condenser situated on the balcony of each apartment which is not ideal. The living spaces and kitchen are finished with wooden flooring, with carpets in all bedrooms. For an extra touch of luxury, the bathroom contains a stunning free-standing bath and floor-to-ceiling feature tiles.
Buying off-the-plan at Chester & Ella means owners are able to add quite an extensive level of customisation to their apartment, selecting between flooring options and other finishes, however now that the building is nearing completion this is no longer possible.
The kitchen comes standard with marble bench tops and Miele appliances.
Low vacancy rates, strong rental yield and consistent capital growth make Newstead a great suburb for investors. Combining this with the inner-city location, easy access to a myriad of lifestyle amenities, restaurants and entertainment and Newstead is the perfect suburb for investors looking to attract young professionals as renters. The median apartment price in Newstead is $750,000 and with 64% of Newstead residents on annual incomes of over $80,000, it’s clearly heading in the same direction as neighbouring Teneriffe (Brisbane’s first $3 million suburb).
The body corporate fees of both Chester and Ella are expected to be between $71 and $96 per week, depending on the size and style of the apartment you purchase.
The developer of these buildings, Kokoda Property, is based in Melbourne. Chester & Ella is their first foray into the Brisbane scene alongside Obsidian in Milton which is also under construction.
To organise an inspection at Chester & Ella please complete the contact form and our local suburb expert for Newstead will be in touch.
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