POA to bring new life to vacant building in Townsville’s CBD

The company will use the building at 221-229 Sturt Street as its Townsville headquarters after purchasing it for $2.3 million plus GST from interstate investor SJL Developments Pty Ltd.

Knight Frank agents Dan Place and Mark Fitzgerald negotiated the off-market sale.

The Sturt Street property was formerly occupied by Safety Culture, which closed their Townsville office in 2024.

With 975sq m of building space on a 1,012sq m site, the building includes polished concrete floors, exposed ceilings, an indoor half-court basketball court, a 70-seat auditorium, a full kitchen and secure onsite parking for four vehicles.

POA CEO & Managing Director Mitch James said the purchase of the prime inner-city building was a strategic investment for the company.

“The site is a key point of entry to the city and reflects POA’s business ethos, which is about generating a high-profile brand presence for us and our customers,” he said.

“We think people will be blown away with the building revamp. It’s delivered a state of the art, New York-style workspace for our people, with amenities and perks that support creativity and wellbeing.

“By creating a unique and truly collaborative workplace, POA is positioning ourselves to attract and retain top talent.”

Mr Place said the sale was a fantastic outcome for Townsville’s CBD.

“The activation of a previously vacant building by POA marks a significant step in the city’s revitalisation,” he said.

“Their decision to establish headquarters in the CBD will bring more than 40 professionals back into the heart of the city, creating flow-on benefits for local businesses and strengthening the overall vibrancy of the City Centre.”

Mr Fitzgerald said: “Owner-occupier activity continues to outperform expectations across all markets, largely due to escalating construction costs and the ongoing shortage of premium-quality stock.

“This key drawcards of this property were its core CBD location with proximity to an array of amenity, and its functionality and features.”