There’s something special about a place that has lived many lives, and Miss Midgley’s is exactly that. Tucked into Brisbane’s New Farm, this 160-year-old heritage building has transformed from private home to school to boutique stay, all while holding onto a sense of creative spirit.
Named after Annie Midgley, an artist, teacher and creative, the property feels less like a hotel and more like stepping into someone else’s beautifully considered, creative space, it’s impossible not to feel that energy the moment you arrive.
The Stay: The Principal’s Office
For two nights, I checked into the Principal’s Office. A one-bedroom apartment that feels like a love letter to both heritage and design. A dramatic 10-metre stone wall that anchors the space, softened by warm tones and thoughtful details. But what makes it truly special is how it lives. This isn’t a hotel room, it’s a home, and one that’s dog-friendly too.
A folding glass wall opens out onto a private courtyard and deck, blurring the line between indoors and out. Mornings started slowly: making breakfast in the fully equipped kitchen, then sitting outside with coffee, listening to birds filtering through the trees. It’s the kind of quiet you don’t often get in a city stay.
And that’s the beauty of Miss Midgley’s. With just five apartments on site, everything feels calm, considered and personal. Even the pool, set among tropical greenery, felt like our own. More often than not, we had it entirely to ourselves.
Why It Works
There’s a certain rhythm to staying here that feels different to a hotel. Having a kitchen changes everything. You can ease into the day, cook if you feel like it, or simply enjoy the luxury of not relying on room service or cafes for every meal.
It’s ideal for a quick getaway, but equally suited to a work trip, especially if, like me, you need space to think and relax.
The Location: New Farm At Its Best
New Farm is, without question, my favourite pocket of Brisbane. It’s close enough to everything, but still feels like a neighbourhood.
Miss Midgley’s sits on James Street, with Brisbane’s premier shopping and dining precinct within reach, but far enough away that you don’t hear the buzz. It’s the best of both worlds.
Walk one way and you’re in the heart of it all, boutiques, restaurants, design stores. Walk the other, and you’ll find yourself wandering through New Farm Park, coffee in hand, especially beautiful on a Saturday morning when the farmers markets are in full swing.
Take a walk along the New Farm River Walk or for a different perspective, hop on one of Brisbane’s ferries (now just 50 cents). It’s one of the simplest and most scenic ways to see the city.
Where To Eat: Central BNE
Lunch or dinner at Central BNE is a must. The moment you descend below Queen Street into a dimly lit, subterranean space. It’s immersive, atmospheric and unlike anything else in Brisbane. Order the banquet and let the menu unfold.
The oysters arrive first, bright with ginger vinaigrette and herb oil, but it’s the ‘Shandong’ crispy skin chicken that stands out. The skin is rendered until impossibly crisp, almost glass-like, while the meat stays tender and juicy beneath.
And the martini? A full serve, ice-cold, and easily one of the best I’ve had.
What To Do: Art, Always
A visit to Brisbane isn’t complete without time at Gallery of Modern Art, and this year, the Olafur Eliasson: Presence exhibition is unmissable.
Allow one to two hours to properly move through the space. Eliasson’s work is immersive, rooms shift in light, scale and perception, inviting you to slow down and engage. A rare exhibition that feels just as compelling for adults as it does for kids.
The Verdict
Miss Midgley’s sits in that rare category of stays that feel both elevated and effortless. It’s design-led but not overworked, luxurious but still warm.
More than anything, it’s a place that gives you space, physically and mentally.
Whether you’re escaping for a weekend or in Brisbane for work, it offers something a hotel can’t quite replicate: the feeling of being at home, somewhere entirely new.
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