After more than 20 years of plans, delays, and false starts, the ACT Government has released land for the first stage of the Kingston Arts Precinct.
The first step in delivering Canberra’s long-promised visual arts precinct will be housing, commercial space, and parking.
The Kingston Quarter — a mixed-use development at Section 49 Kingston, beside the Powerhouse, the Former Transport Depot, and the Fitters Workshop — is expected to deliver up to 250 new homes and more than 21,000 square metres of residential, hotel, hospitality, retail and commercial space. It will also include a public car park, end-of-trip facilities, and artist housing.
The Kingston Quarter is being sold by Design Based Tender. Interested developers will need to respond to the Kingston Arts Precinct Place Brief, which was informed by community consultation in 2022. The successful tenderer will be required to undertake further community engagement.
The Kingston Arts Precinct has been discussed for more than two decades. The ACT Government identified the Kingston Foreshore as a possible major arts precinct in 2003, and funded artsACT in 2010 to develop a Kingston Arts Precinct Strategy.
Geocon won the government tender for the $78 million precinct in 2017, and signed a contract in July 2019. Construction was meant to begin that year.
In 2021, the government ended its contract with Geocon, and its Suburban Land Agency took over the project.
In 2022, future resident arts organisations released a new ten-year Founding Strategy for the Kingston Arts Precinct.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the Kingston Quarter was the first stage of the precinct and an important step in the transformation of the Foreshore.
“It will create a place where Canberrans and visitors can live, stay, work and enjoy one of our city’s most recognisable destinations,” Mr Barr said.
He said the government’s priority was to deliver housing and commercial activity first, to support the long-term success of the arts precinct.
“This is about getting the sequencing right,” Mr Barr said. “We are delivering the infrastructure first, protecting access during construction, and creating the foundations for an arts and cultural destination that will serve Canberra for decades to come.”
He said replacement parking would be delivered early to maintain access for businesses, residents, workers, and visitors during construction.
Master Builders ACT welcomed the announcement, saying the project would support housing supply, urban renewal, and work for Canberra’s construction industry.
Master Builders ACT had been disappointed the broader Kingston Arts Precinct had been delayed in this year’s Budget, but described the land release as “a welcome display of confidence that the ACT Government still plans to deliver the project”.
CEO Anna Neelagama said the Kingston Quarter would “help bring more homes to a well-connected part of the city, support new commercial and hospitality activity, and contribute to the long-term success of the Kingston Arts Precinct.
“Projects like the Kingston Quarter also matter because they create a pipeline of work for builders, subcontractors, suppliers and apprentices across the ACT construction industry.”
Ms Neelagama said local contractors should have a fair opportunity to compete for the work as the tender process proceeds.
“Canberra has highly skilled builders and trades ready to help deliver high-quality housing and the infrastructure needed to support a vibrant mixed-use precinct,” Ms Neelagama said.
“Ensuring local industry can participate fairly will help keep investment in the ACT economy, support local jobs, and strengthen the capability of the construction sector.”
