It’s taken a long time for Brisbane to emerge from the shadow of its elder (and much larger) siblings Melbourne and Sydney but if there was ever a time for the Sunshine State capital to prove its worth it would be now. Following the establishment of GOMA as a key player in Australia’s cultural landscape, news of a burgeoning food scene thanks to the addition of the Howard Smith Wharves, come the arrival of a growing number of new design-savvy hotels. Joining the W Hotel in the neighbouring CBD is The Johnson.

The Johnson is a part of the country’s growing Art Series Hotel Group, and sibling to Melbourne’s The Cullen, and The Olsen. Following in the footsteps of its equally stylish predecessors, The Johnson is inspired by a leading Australian artist; in this case abstract artist Michael Johnson. Settled in the suburb Spring Hill, the Brisbane accommodation option is a vibrantly decorated stay conveniently situated within walking distance of Brisbane CBD and Fortitude Valley.

The Johnson isn’t a hotel as such but a collection of 96 self-contained, open plan suites, including two penthouses. This means you have the best of both worlds; a mini bar alongside a fully functioning kitchenette for those midnight snack runs. The building is one of Brisbane’s most iconic, a heritage-listed, Karl Langer-designed establishment that was formerly the home of Queensland’s Main Roads department. Now of course the space has a new lease on life and has taken inspiration from artist Michael Johnson in its interiors. While largely industrial in design, the space has accented its muted palette with vibrant splashes of colour and an impressive collection of his artwork.

The Johnson has ample facilities for any stay. The hotel boasts an outdoor 50metre pool (equipped with sundeck for soaking up those Queensland rays), as well as a gymnasium, and conference and events facilities. While Spring Hill has ample pubs and cafes to choose from (as too does neighbouring Fortitude Valley), The Johnson also hots an onsite restaurant and bar, Tumbling Stone, for the convenience of guests.

The Johnson is not only strong in its design, but equally impressive when it comes to its offerings of added comfort for guests. The hotel provides ample convenience of place thanks to its location bordering the CBD, but perhaps most importantly fulfils the ‘home away from home’ demands of those who like to spend a little longer in their hotels rooms, thanks to its passion for a mod con, and comfortable furnishings within its range of self-contained apartments.

The Johnson sits at 477 Boundary Street in Spring Hill, a historic neighbourhood nestled on Brisbane CBD’s fringe. It’s within both walking distance and a short drive of Brisbane’s main drag Queen Street Mall, and near to public gardens the Roma Street Parklands. You can learn more about the hotel and book online via artserieshotels.com.au/johnson/