First published 14 Nov 2026, 4:00am
Tim and Steph McKellar with Lily, Scarlett and Oliver at their Hendra home. Picture: Richard Walker
Buyers now have the upper hand in Brisbane’s blue-chip Hendra.
The former booming inner suburb where a typical house costs $2.3m has cooled into a buyer-friendly Neutral zone, losing nine points on the Hotspotting Thermometer over the past year.
With unsold stock rising and buyers suddenly holding the power, developers have been forced to build exactly what the market wants or risk their product languishing on the market.
For Brisbane developer Tim McKellar, that meant obsessing over the two metrics Place Advisory’s recent survey identified as non-negotiables for today’s buyers: location and layout.
The McKellars designed the property to suit the needs of modern families. Picture: Richard Walker
“We researched the areas extensively, spoke with agents and compared their feedback with the homes people were actually purchasing,” Mr McKellar said.
“We focus on established neighbourhoods with good amenities. At Hendra, we saw an opportunity to build a new family home close to schools, shops and the city, in a street with predominantly local traffic.”
Targeting equity-rich upgraders as the demographic propping up Brisbane’s prestige market, Mr McKellar’s latest project at 31 Chermside St was designed for a busy family wanting luxury space without the maintenance of a large block.
31 Chermside Street, Hendra is going under the hammer
The newly completed home is located in a tightly held character-zoned pocket
“Walking through [completed] homes meant we could assess the layouts in person,” he said.
“We could see how the spaces connected, where the natural light came in and how the outdoor entertaining area worked as part of the house.
“With [wife] Steph and our children, I understand why families want both shared spaces and somewhere to spread out.
“We also wanted a manageable yard, so the family living here could spend more time enjoying the home and less time maintaining a large garden.”
High ceilings and a spacious floorplan through open-plan living zones
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Place Ascot selling agent Patrick McKinnon said the cooling conditions meant buyers at this price point were taking their time and refusing to settle for flawed floorplans.
“Buyers currently have more choice and can be more selective about finding a home that suits their family,” Mr McKinnon said.
“They want to feel confident the home will work for them now and as their children grow.”
The property at 31 Chermside St, Hendra goes to auction on November 21.
The luxury home has five bedrooms and three bathrooms
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