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The Queensland government has abandoned plans to turn West End’s old police station into a health and community services hub, claiming the Labor-appointed deal did not have adequate funding and the building was not fit for purpose.
The former Labor government had planned to hand over the site on Boundary Street to the sector in 2023 to allow service provider Micah Projects to help transform it into a community centre for health, housing and legal services.
The building – a Queenslander built in 1884 – had been vacant since police moved to new premises on Vulture Street in 2021, and was transferred from the Queensland police to the housing department in early 2022.
Ahead of the federal election in May last year, the Albanese government pledged $10 million towards the project, contingent on finalising the land-transfer agreement with the Queensland government.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the funding would go towards the capital costs of establishing the new health and housing clinic, and would leverage Micah Projects’ existing $6.1 million investment towards the project.
Despite hopes the plans for community services would be honoured by the incoming LNP government, the 1113-square-metre site was put up for sale by commercial property agents and sold earlier this year.
Queensland’s Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services, Amanda Camm, said Labor had not adequately funded the deal made in 2023.
“The former Labor government had intended to sign over the parcel of land on a peppercorn deal without any state funding allocated for either the capital works, or the operational costs relating to the proposed development of the property,” Camm said.
“When evaluating the future use of public assets, the government must consider all associated costs.”
A spokesperson for the Queensland Police Service said ownership of the site was transferred back to QPS in 2025 after the property was “deemed not fit for purpose”.
“To ensure a fair, equitable and transparent process was undertaken for the sale of the property, the QPS has engaged an independent real estate agent to market the property,” QPS said in April.
“The ongoing discussions around the sale of the property remains commercial-in-confidence and the QPS is unable to comment further around the aspects of the sale.”
Further information on which aspects of the property were deemed not fit for purpose for community services hub, and evidence showing how such determinations were made, were not provided by QPS or Camm’s office.
The sale listing by commercial property agents C Property QLD pitched “multiple development outcomes” for the site, including mixed-use, residential, medical, office, retail or showroom.
Agents also described “numerous value-add opportunities including raising, building beneath and developing a new building to the rear of the site (standalone or connected)”.
“Highly sought after, and very rarely available to purchase – 96 Boundary Street West End is an opportunity of a lifetime,” C Property wrote.
“Strategically located in the heart of West End diagonally opposite the $1.2 billion West Village precinct and close by to Fish Lane, the asset is well suited to owner occupiers, developers and investors.
“We encourage your genuine interest – we have clear instructions to sell.”
C Property QLD managing director and listed selling agent Carl Charalambous declined to provide comment on the sale, citing commercial in confidence.
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