Costco is preparing for a major expansion in Queensland with plans for a new warehouse at Brisbane Airport, bringing its membership-based retail model directly into one of the city’s fastest-growing commercial areas.
The retailer has committed more than A$145 million to the development, which will occupy approximately 6.7 hectares within a much larger 51-hectare mixed-use precinct being developed by Brisbane Airport. The new warehouse is expected to open in late 2029 and will become Costco’s first location in Brisbane itself and its fourth warehouse in Queensland.
The scale of the project reflects Costco’s distinctive warehouse format. The planned facility will cover approximately 15,600 square metres and will include a fuel station with 34 bowsers, around 870 parking spaces and employment for approximately 250 full-time workers once operational.
Location will be one of the major attractions. The warehouse will sit directly opposite Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal, giving it an unusually prominent position within the emerging precinct. While Costco traditionally operates large-format warehouses in locations with substantial surrounding land and road access, the Brisbane Airport development gives the retailer access to a major transport hub and a large metropolitan catchment.
For shoppers, the warehouse is expected to offer Costco’s familiar combination of bulk groceries, fresh food, electronics, apparel and other household merchandise. The site is also planned to include services such as an optical centre, hearing aid centre, tyre centre and food court, extending the proposition beyond a conventional grocery shopping trip.
The fuel station could become another important attraction. With 34 fuel pumps planned, the development will allow Costco members to combine shopping with refuelling, reinforcing the warehouse operator’s strategy of creating destinations where customers can complete several purchases during one visit.
The project also represents an important development for Brisbane’s retail landscape. Costco already operates three warehouses elsewhere in Queensland, but the new airport location will bring the brand considerably closer to customers in Brisbane and surrounding suburbs. The company’s expansion comes as Australian consumers continue to look for ways to reduce household costs, with bulk purchasing and membership-based discounts providing an alternative to traditional supermarket shopping.
Brisbane Airport is positioning Costco as the first major tenant in a much larger development. The 51-hectare precinct is expected to accommodate additional businesses, meaning the warehouse could ultimately become an anchor for a new retail and commercial destination rather than operating as a standalone store. Costco itself will occupy only about 12 per cent of the broader development site.
The timing is significant. Costco’s Australian expansion has accelerated as the retailer continues to add warehouses in different states. New locations planned elsewhere in Australia are also expected to strengthen its national footprint, giving the company greater scale in purchasing, logistics and membership growth.
For Brisbane shoppers, however, the most important development will be the change in accessibility. Costco’s large warehouse format can encourage customers to make fewer but larger shopping trips, particularly for packaged groceries, household products and other bulk purchases. The combination of a major warehouse, fuel station and extensive parking could make the Brisbane Airport site a significant destination for value-conscious households.
The project also sends a wider message to Australia’s retail sector. Costco is continuing to invest heavily in physical stores at a time when supermarkets and general retailers are increasingly balancing traditional shops with online shopping. Its model demonstrates that large-format retail can remain attractive when stores offer scale, competitive pricing and a shopping experience that customers cannot easily replicate online.
When the Brisbane warehouse opens in late 2029, it will represent far more than another Costco store. It is set to become a major anchor for Brisbane Airport’s expanding commercial precinct and another sign that Costco sees substantial long-term potential in the Australian market.