Known mainly for its major shopping centre and hospital precinct, Chermside is now being reimagined as a thriving suburban business and lifestyle hub – a “mini Parramatta” for Brisbane’s north.
Read: Drainage Project Underway in Chermside to Cut Flood Risks
As Brisbane continues to grow faster than any other capital city in Australia, urban planners are turning their focus to suburbs like Chermside as key locations for long-term renewal. With more than 400,000 new residents expected to settle in the city by 2046, the spotlight is shifting away from the inner city towards areas that can support both population and employment growth.
A Suburban Centre with Serious Potential
Chermside already plays an important role in Brisbane’s urban fabric, with a strong base of health services, retail, and public transport. It currently supports around 16,000 jobs, but according to urban renewal advocates, this could grow to 50,000 with thoughtful planning and infrastructure upgrades.
This bold vision was proposed by Suburban Futures, a not-for-profit focused on improving the liveability and productivity of Australia’s suburbs.
“Suburban Futures has identified Chermside as a significant suburban renewal opportunity with the potential to become a ‘mini Paramatta’ and home of thousands of new jobs for the region,” the organisation wrote in the SEQ Regional Plan.
The suburb’s unique advantages lie in its location and layout. It’s well-connected by major roads and public transport, while also bordered by natural green corridors like Marchant Park and Downfall Creek. These areas are being looked at not just as recreational spaces but as active transport links – safe, green corridors that could connect thousands of residents and workers to key employment and service centres.
Rethinking Suburban Living
Rather than expanding the city’s core, planners are advocating for the development of self-contained suburban hubs that blend housing, jobs, services and lifestyle. In Chermside, that means encouraging mixed-use developments that include apartments, office spaces, health services, cafés, and green public spaces – all within walking distance of each other.
This suburban renewal approach is also seen as a response to Brisbane’s broader housing needs. By focusing density around transport-rich areas like Chermside, the city can grow sustainably without encroaching on character suburbs or greenfield land on the fringe.
There’s already momentum. The Westfield shopping precinct, Prince Charles Hospital, and nearby council facilities give Chermside a solid platform for growth. With improved urban design, new residential developments, and enhancements to public space and transport infrastructure, Chermside could emerge as a modern example of how suburbs can evolve into dynamic urban centres.
Learning from Other Cities
The comparison to Parramatta isn’t accidental. Sydney’s second CBD has become a benchmark for how investment in suburban centres can relieve pressure on inner cities while offering a better quality of life closer to home. Like Parramatta, Chermside has the transport links, health infrastructure and land capacity to support a broader transformation.
While plans are still evolving, urban designers and developers – including thought leaders from Suburban Futures – see this as a rare opportunity to shape a future-focused suburb – one that’s not only a place to live and work, but a place people are proud to call home.
Read: What the Hospital Rescue Plan Means for Prince Charles Hospital
Looking Ahead
Chermside’s future will rely on careful planning, smart investment and community engagement. But the ingredients are all there: strong transport, existing jobs, open space, and a growing population.
As Brisbane looks ahead to 2032 and beyond, Chermside may become the blueprint for suburban success – a vibrant, connected, and sustainable community leading the next chapter in the city’s growth story.
Published 27-May-2025
