Queen Street Mall Is Getting A Major Glow-Up—And Stage One Lands This Summer

Brisbane/Meanjin’s busiest shopping strip is levelling up. For the first time in 15 years, Queen Street Mall is officially expanding—and it’s set to become the CBD’s go-to social precinct. 

Inspired by our favourite lifestyle hubs, such as Howard Smith Wharves, West Village and South Bank, the mall will soon expand south along Albert Street between Elizabeth and Mary Streets. Expect leafy walkways, alfresco dining, entertainment nooks and more space to stretch out on your lunch break. 

Image: Queen Street Mall | Supplied

Stage one kicks off next month—just in time for summer—as two new footpath dining sections open between Elizabeth and Charlotte streets. From there, the momentum only picks up: new retail, fresh eateries and vibrant activations will continue rolling out all the way to Mary Street.

It’s all part of a wider makeover centred around the new Albert Street underground station, which will debut as part of the $6.3 billion Cross River Rail. A lush public plaza is on the way, complete with a tree-lined walkway, new seating and a direct pedestrian route linking Roma Street Parkland to the City Botanic Gardens (runners rejoice). In other words, the Brisbane CBD is getting a whole lot more walkable.

And the timing couldn’t be better—Queen Street Mall is already booming. In October alone, more than 220,000 people wandered through every day, with July peaking at over 248,000. Add in recent openings like Country Road’s heritage-listed flagship and Wendy’s on Adelaide Street, and it’s clear the city's transformation is already well underway.

Image: Queen Street Mall | Supplied

But there's still more to come. Wintergarden is slated for a redevelopment, the Hilton is transitioning into the luxe new InterContinental Brisbane, Uptown (the former Myer Centre) is getting a makeover and a shiny new tower is taking over the old St George Bank site. What else? We're also being blessed with major artists and sporting events from 2025 onwards. Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga and Lorde all announced Brisbane concerts for 2026, while the Australian PGA Championships, the Ashes and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are set to bring big crowds to the city.

Queen Street Mall is already a major social precinct, but this expansion is set to make Brisbane’s most iconic shopping strip even more of a must-visit. Bring on the new Queen Street Mall era.

Image: Queen Street Mall | Supplied