Ipswich is set to welcome a major new hotel development, with Hilton and Ipswich Hotel Group Pty Ltd confirming plans to bring the Hilton Garden Inn brand to the city centre.
The 160‑room, seven‑storey hotel will rise on council‑owned land in Ellenborough Street, adjacent to the award‑winning Nicholas Street Precinct, marking a $53 million investment that will generate 150 construction jobs from late 2026.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the project was a landmark step in the city’s urban renewal ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“With seven storeys and 160 rooms, the Hilton Garden Inn Ipswich will take our reputation as a must‑visit destination for great experiences to the next level,” Mayor Harding said.
“This hotel is a game‑changer for the city.”
The development agreement between Ipswich City Council and Ipswich Hotel Group marks the culmination of the council’s Hotel and Short‑Term Accommodation Action Plan, designed to tackle a shortage in hotel capacity before the 2032 Games.
Mayor Harding said the project would deliver long‑term benefits well beyond the construction phase.
“This $53 million investment will bring a further 50 permanent jobs on completion,” said Mayor Harding.
“Those permanent jobs will bring $2.7 million into the city’s economy each year, based on productivity data from Economy.id.”
She added: “The accommodation and food services sector is worth $337 million to the city — and today’s announcement will boost that significantly, with permanent jobs, and business opportunities for industry suppliers.”
Design work will focus on bright, contemporary spaces that reflect Hilton Garden Inn’s distinctive “Brighthearted” hospitality.
The hotel will include guest rooms, modern meeting facilities, a full‑service restaurant, and landscaped outdoor areas taking advantage of views across the jacaranda‑lined Timothy Moloney Park and the heritage‑listed St Mary’s Catholic Church.
Mayor Harding said: “A recent audit identified 515 short‑term accommodation rooms in Ipswich – about 310 less than will be required for the Games and beyond.
“This signing more than halves that gap.”
The project, she added, would “supercharge Ipswich’s tourism sector, ramping up the number of overnight stays by visitors drawn to the Hilton brand”.
Tushar Raniga, Director Development Australasia, Hilton, said: “Ipswich is emerging as one of South East Queensland’s most dynamic cities, and Hilton Garden Inn Ipswich is ideally suited to support its continued evolution.”
He added: “The Hilton Garden Inn Ipswich is designed to deliver high‑quality, efficient accommodation that strengthens local room supply, supports tourism and business travel, and creates lasting benefits for growing communities.”
The Hilton Garden Inn Ipswich is scheduled for completion in late 2028.
