Toombul Shopping Centre Is Returning, Here’s Everything You Need To Know

If you grew up on Brisbane/Meanjin’s north side, chances are Toombul Shopping Centre was a firm fixture in your weekly routine. For decades, it was Nundah’s go-to destination for weekend shopping, late-night Kmart runs, movie nights and family fun at the circus-themed arcade bar Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq.  

But that all changed in early 2022, when record-breaking rainfall flooded Toombul and caused widespread structural and electrical damage. With the centre deemed unsafe to reopen, leases were cancelled (displacing around 130 retailers) and demolition moved ahead in 2023. By early 2025, the site had been completely cleared, marking the end of an era.

Now, after years of uncertainty, Toombul is officially making a comeback—and its return is shaping up to be one of Brisbane’s biggest north side developments. The new owner, Irvine Property Group, is steering the revival and has confirmed plans for a retail-led, mixed-use precinct designed to bring the iconic shopping centre back to life. 

So what will Toombul 2.0 actually look like? Early details point to a brand-new contemporary shopping centre, pairing retail outlets with lifestyle and dining. Surrounding that will be residential buildings, improved pedestrian walkways and more open-air space. Of course, flood resilience is top of mind, with elevated site levels, smart stormwater management and generous green buffer zones to protect the precinct from future severe weather.

While we’re still waiting on official renders and a detailed tenancy mix, you might have noticed Irvine has already started activating the area with a temporary pocket park along Widdop Street. The developer is also preparing to lodge its development application, which means the next wave of updates—think timelines, architecture, and which retailers might return (we’re waiting with bated breath on that one)—is coming soon.

You can even have your say via the Toombul Renewal engagement hub, where locals’ feedback is helping shape everything from transport connections to what kind of food, fashion and entertainment the new centre should host. 

So, here’s what we know so far: Toombul is officially on its way back—not as an exact replica of the 1967 original, but as a modern, future-proofed precinct designed for the next generation of Nundah shoppers. And if the plans deliver on their promise, Toombul could easily become our go-to north side hangout once again. 

Main image credit: Toombul Shopping Centre | Facebook