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What Developers Are Paying for Land in East Brisbane

Current pricing benchmarks for development sites in East Brisbane and the factors driving land values.

4 April 2026 6 min readBy Daniel McCormack
What Developers Are Paying for Land in East Brisbane

iSummary

What are developers paying for land in East Brisbane Brisbane? Current development site pricing, benchmarks, and what drives land values.

Source: ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group | acres.au

East Brisbane Development Site Pricing

East Brisbane development sites attract strong demand from developers targeting Brisbane's inner-ring growth corridor. East Brisbane is benefiting from a powerful adjacency effect — its neighbour Woolloongabba is undergoing Brisbane's most dramatic urban transformation with Cross River Rail and Olympic investment. As Woolloongabba site prices surge, developers are increasingly looking to East Brisbane for better-value opportunities with similar inner-city positioning.

Current Price Benchmarks

Site TypeTypical SizePrice RangePrice per m²
Standard house (LMR)400-600m²$850K - $1.3M$1,800 - $2,400
MDR zone site500-700m²$1.1M - $1.8M$2,000 - $2,800
HDR site (corridor)600m²+$1.8M - $3.5M+$2,800 - $4,000

These figures represent what developers will pay — often significantly above standard residential market value.

What Drives Price Variation in East Brisbane

"East Brisbane Development Site Pricing East Brisbane development sites attract strong demand from developers targeting Brisbane's inner-ring growth corridor."

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Zoning and Height

The single biggest price driver. Higher density zoning allows more apartments, generating more revenue, which means developers can pay more for the land.

Location Within the Suburb

Properties on or near Wellington Road, Lytton Road, Mowbray Terrace, and Riding Road command premiums due to higher density zoning, better transport access, and stronger end-buyer appeal.

Site Configuration

Wide frontage (15m+), flat topography, and corner positions increase value. Narrow, deep blocks or steeply sloping sites attract fewer buyers.

Existing Approvals

A site with a current DA typically sells for 10-20% more than an unapproved site, as the buyer avoids months of approval risk and holding costs.

How East Brisbane Compares

East Brisbane offers significantly better value than Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point while benefiting from the same infrastructure investment. This value gap is narrowing as developer demand intensifies.

Key insight: Properties that would sell for a standard residential price regularly achieve significant premiums when marketed correctly as development sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are developers paying for land in East Brisbane?

Pricing varies by zone and site characteristics. MDR zone site sites typically sell for $1.1M - $1.8M.

Are East Brisbane development site prices still rising?

Yes. Limited supply and strong demand continue to support price growth in East Brisbane.

How much more will a developer pay vs a home buyer in East Brisbane?

Developers typically pay 40-120% above residential value depending on zoning. A specialist agent can provide an accurate assessment.

Suburbs Mentioned in This Article

Published by ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group

Source: acres.au/insights/east-brisbane-land-prices-what-developers-pay | ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) provides property advisory, development site sales, and residential real estate services across Brisbane and South East Queensland, Australia.

Daniel McCormack

Daniel McCormack

Managing Director, ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group

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