diff --git a/src/core/stac/qgsstaccontroller.cpp b/src/core/stac/qgsstaccontroller.cpp
index 1a246fc47c7..0bd7718cd36 100644
--- a/src/core/stac/qgsstaccontroller.cpp
+++ b/src/core/stac/qgsstaccontroller.cpp
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ void QgsStacController::handleStacObjectReply()
   parser.setData( data );
   parser.setBaseUrl( reply->url() );
 
-  QgsStacObject *object = nullptr;
+  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > object;
   switch ( parser.type() )
   {
     case QgsStacObject::Type::Catalog:
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void QgsStacController::handleStacObjectReply()
       object = nullptr;
       break;
   }
-  mFetchedStacObjects.insert( requestId, object );
+  mFetchedStacObjects.insert( requestId, object.release() );
   emit finishedStacObjectRequest( requestId, parser.error() );
   reply->deleteLater();
   mReplies.removeOne( reply );
@@ -148,18 +148,29 @@ void QgsStacController::handleItemCollectionReply()
   parser.setData( data );
   parser.setBaseUrl( reply->url() );
 
-  QgsStacItemCollection *fc = parser.itemCollection();
-  mFetchedItemCollections.insert( requestId, fc );
+  std::unique_ptr<QgsStacItemCollection> fc = parser.itemCollection();
+  mFetchedItemCollections.insert( requestId, fc.release() );
   emit finishedItemCollectionRequest( requestId, parser.error() );
   reply->deleteLater();
   mReplies.removeOne( reply );
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > QgsStacController::takeStacObject( int requestId )
+template<class T>
+std::unique_ptr<T> QgsStacController::takeStacObject( int requestId )
 {
   std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > obj( mFetchedStacObjects.take( requestId ) );
-  return obj;
+
+  if ( T *downCastObj = dynamic_cast< T * >( obj.get() ) )
+  {
+    ( void )obj.release();
+    return std::unique_ptr< T >( downCastObj );
+  }
+
+  return nullptr;
 }
+template CORE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItem > QgsStacController::takeStacObject<QgsStacItem>( int requestId );
+template CORE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCatalog > QgsStacController::takeStacObject<QgsStacCatalog>( int requestId );
+template CORE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > QgsStacController::takeStacObject<QgsStacObject>( int requestId );
 
 std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItemCollection > QgsStacController::takeItemCollection( int requestId )
 {
@@ -167,45 +178,6 @@ std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItemCollection > QgsStacController::takeItemCollection(
   return col;
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > QgsStacController::fetchStacObject( const QUrl &url, QString *error )
-{
-  QgsNetworkReplyContent content = fetchBlocking( url );
-
-  if ( content.error() != QNetworkReply::NoError )
-  {
-    if ( error )
-      *error = content.errorString();
-
-    return nullptr;
-  }
-
-  const QByteArray data = content.content();
-
-  QgsStacParser parser;
-  parser.setData( data );
-  parser.setBaseUrl( url );
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > object;
-  switch ( parser.type() )
-  {
-    case QgsStacObject::Type::Catalog:
-      object.reset( parser.catalog() );
-      break;
-    case QgsStacObject::Type::Collection:
-      object.reset( parser.collection() );
-      break;
-    case QgsStacObject::Type::Item:
-      object.reset( parser.item() );
-      break;
-    case QgsStacObject::Type::Unknown:
-      break;
-  }
-
-  if ( error )
-    *error = parser.error();
-
-  return object;
-}
-
 std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItemCollection > QgsStacController::fetchItemCollection( const QUrl &url, QString *error )
 {
   QgsNetworkReplyContent content = fetchBlocking( url );
@@ -283,7 +255,7 @@ void QgsStacController::setAuthCfg( const QString &authCfg )
   mAuthCfg = authCfg;
 }
 
-QgsStacCatalog *QgsStacController::openLocalCatalog( const QString &fileName ) const
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacCatalog> QgsStacController::openLocalCatalog( const QString &fileName ) const
 {
   QFile file( fileName );
   const bool ok = file.open( QIODevice::ReadOnly );
@@ -300,7 +272,7 @@ QgsStacCatalog *QgsStacController::openLocalCatalog( const QString &fileName ) c
 }
 
 
-QgsStacCollection *QgsStacController::openLocalCollection( const QString &fileName ) const
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacCollection> QgsStacController::openLocalCollection( const QString &fileName ) const
 {
   QFile file( fileName );
   const bool ok = file.open( QIODevice::ReadOnly );
@@ -316,7 +288,7 @@ QgsStacCollection *QgsStacController::openLocalCollection( const QString &fileNa
   return parser.collection();
 }
 
-QgsStacItem *QgsStacController::openLocalItem( const QString &fileName ) const
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacItem> QgsStacController::openLocalItem( const QString &fileName ) const
 {
   QFile file( fileName );
   const bool ok = file.open( QIODevice::ReadOnly );
@@ -331,3 +303,58 @@ QgsStacItem *QgsStacController::openLocalItem( const QString &fileName ) const
   parser.setBaseUrl( fileName );
   return parser.item();
 }
+
+template<class T>
+std::unique_ptr<T> QgsStacController::fetchStacObject( const QUrl &url, QString *error )
+{
+  QgsNetworkReplyContent content = fetchBlocking( url );
+
+  if ( content.error() != QNetworkReply::NoError )
+  {
+    if ( error )
+      *error = content.errorString();
+
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+
+  const QByteArray data = content.content();
+
+  QgsStacParser parser;
+  parser.setData( data );
+  parser.setBaseUrl( url );
+  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > object;
+  switch ( parser.type() )
+  {
+    case QgsStacObject::Type::Catalog:
+      object = parser.catalog();
+      break;
+    case QgsStacObject::Type::Collection:
+      object = parser.collection();
+      break;
+    case QgsStacObject::Type::Item:
+      object = parser.item();
+      break;
+    case QgsStacObject::Type::Unknown:
+      break;
+  }
+
+  std::unique_ptr< T > res;
+  if ( T *castObject = dynamic_cast< T * >( object.get() ) )
+  {
+    ( void )object.release();
+    res.reset( castObject );
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    QgsDebugError( "Retrieved STAC object could not be cast to expected type" );
+  }
+
+  if ( error )
+    *error = parser.error();
+
+  return res;
+}
+
+template CORE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItem > QgsStacController::fetchStacObject<QgsStacItem>( const QUrl &url, QString *error );
+template CORE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCollection > QgsStacController::fetchStacObject<QgsStacCollection>( const QUrl &url, QString *error );
+template CORE_EXPORT std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCatalog > QgsStacController::fetchStacObject<QgsStacCatalog>( const QUrl &url, QString *error );
diff --git a/src/core/stac/qgsstaccontroller.h b/src/core/stac/qgsstaccontroller.h
index dbde72c4cd0..71c9048aea0 100644
--- a/src/core/stac/qgsstaccontroller.h
+++ b/src/core/stac/qgsstaccontroller.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "qgis_core.h"
 #include "qgshttpheaders.h"
 #include "qgsnetworkreply.h"
+#include "qgsstacobject.h"
 
 class QgsStacObject;
 class QgsStacCatalog;
@@ -56,26 +57,26 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsStacController : public QObject
      *  Returns a STAC Catalog by parsing a local file
      *  The caller takes ownership of the returned catalog
      */
-    QgsStacCatalog *openLocalCatalog( const QString &fileName ) const;
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCatalog > openLocalCatalog( const QString &fileName ) const;
 
     /**
      *  Returns a STAC Collection by parsing a local file
      *  The caller takes ownership of the returned collection
      */
-    QgsStacCollection *openLocalCollection( const QString &fileName ) const;
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCollection > openLocalCollection( const QString &fileName ) const;
 
     /**
      *  Returns a STAC Item by parsing a local file
      *  The caller takes ownership of the returned item
      */
-    QgsStacItem *openLocalItem( const QString &fileName ) const;
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItem > openLocalItem( const QString &fileName ) const;
 
     /**
      * Fetches a STAC object from \a url using a blocking network request.
      * An optional \a error parameter will be populated with any network error information.
      * The caller takes ownership of the returned object
      */
-    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > fetchStacObject( const QUrl &url, QString *error = nullptr );
+    template<class T> std::unique_ptr< T > fetchStacObject( const QUrl &url, QString *error = nullptr );
 
     /**
      * Fetches a feature collection from \a url using a blocking network request.
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsStacController : public QObject
      * \see fetchStacObjectAsync
      * \see finishedStacObjectRequest
      */
-    QgsStacObject *takeStacObject( int requestId );
+    template<class T> std::unique_ptr< T > takeStacObject( int requestId );
 
     /**
      * Returns the feature collection fetched with the specified \a requestId
diff --git a/src/core/stac/qgsstacdataitems.cpp b/src/core/stac/qgsstacdataitems.cpp
index f36c23b6adc..f3b661ecdd1 100644
--- a/src/core/stac/qgsstacdataitems.cpp
+++ b/src/core/stac/qgsstacdataitems.cpp
@@ -69,8 +69,7 @@ QVector<QgsDataItem *> QgsStacItemItem::createChildren()
 {
   QgsStacController *controller = stacController();
   QString error;
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > obj = controller->fetchStacObject( mPath, &error );
-  setStacItem( obj );
+  setStacItem( controller->fetchStacObject<QgsStacItem>( mPath, &error ) );
 
   if ( !mStacItem )
     return { new QgsErrorItem( this, error, path() + QStringLiteral( "/error" ) ) };
@@ -177,16 +176,9 @@ QgsStacController *QgsStacItemItem::stacController()
   return nullptr;
 }
 
-void QgsStacItemItem::setStacItem( std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > &object )
+void QgsStacItemItem::setStacItem( std::unique_ptr<QgsStacItem> item )
 {
-  QgsStacItem *item = dynamic_cast<QgsStacItem *>( object.get() );
-  if ( item )
-  {
-    // release object, mStacItem will take ownership of the successfully cast item
-    ( void )object.release();
-  }
-
-  mStacItem.reset( item );
+  mStacItem = std::move( item );
   updateToolTip();
 }
 
@@ -198,8 +190,8 @@ QgsStacItem *QgsStacItemItem::stacItem() const
 void QgsStacItemItem::itemRequestFinished( int requestId, QString error )
 {
   QgsStacController *controller = stacController();
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > object = controller->takeStacObject( requestId );
-  setStacItem( object );
+  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItem > object = controller->takeStacObject< QgsStacItem >( requestId );
+  setStacItem( std::move( object ) );
   if ( mStacItem )
   {
     mIconName = QStringLiteral( "mActionPropertiesWidget.svg" );
@@ -327,8 +319,7 @@ QVector<QgsDataItem *> QgsStacCatalogItem::createChildren()
 
   QgsStacController *controller = stacController();
   QString error;
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > obj = controller->fetchStacObject( mPath, &error );
-  setStacCatalog( obj );
+  setStacCatalog( controller->fetchStacObject< QgsStacCatalog >( mPath, &error ) );
 
   if ( !mStacCatalog )
     return { new QgsErrorItem( this, error, path() + QStringLiteral( "/error" ) ) };
@@ -460,16 +451,9 @@ void QgsStacCatalogItem::updateToolTip()
   }
 }
 
-void QgsStacCatalogItem::setStacCatalog( std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > &object )
+void QgsStacCatalogItem::setStacCatalog( std::unique_ptr<QgsStacCatalog> catalog )
 {
-  QgsStacCatalog *catalog = dynamic_cast<QgsStacCatalog *>( object.get() );
-  if ( catalog )
-  {
-    // release object, mStacCatalog will take ownership of the successfully cast catalog
-    ( void )object.release();
-  }
-
-  mStacCatalog.reset( catalog );
+  mStacCatalog = std::move( catalog );
   if ( mStacCatalog )
   {
     if ( mName.isEmpty() && !mStacCatalog->title().isEmpty() )
@@ -498,12 +482,12 @@ QVector< QgsDataItem * > QgsStacCatalogItem::createItems( const QVector<QgsStacI
     if ( !item )
       continue;
 
-    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > object( item );
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItem > object( item );
 
     const QString name = item->properties().value( QStringLiteral( "title" ), item->id() ).toString();
 
     QgsStacItemItem *i = new QgsStacItemItem( this, name, item->url() );
-    i->setStacItem( object );
+    i->setStacItem( std::move( object ) );
     i->setState( Qgis::BrowserItemState::Populated );
     contents.append( i );
   }
@@ -519,12 +503,12 @@ QVector<QgsDataItem *> QgsStacCatalogItem::createCollections( const QVector<QgsS
     if ( !col )
       continue;
 
-    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > object( col );
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCollection > object( col );
 
     const QString name = col->title().isEmpty() ? col->id() : col->title();
 
     QgsStacCatalogItem *i = new QgsStacCatalogItem( this, name, col->url() );
-    i->setStacCatalog( object );
+    i->setStacCatalog( std::move( object ) );
     contents.append( i );
   }
   return contents;
diff --git a/src/core/stac/qgsstacdataitems.h b/src/core/stac/qgsstacdataitems.h
index 89f947c48d8..eb525e75b07 100644
--- a/src/core/stac/qgsstacdataitems.h
+++ b/src/core/stac/qgsstacdataitems.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsStacItemItem : public QgsDataItem
     QgsStacController *stacController();
 
     //! takes ownership
-    void setStacItem( std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > &object );
+    void setStacItem( std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItem > item );
 
     //! does not transfer ownership
     QgsStacItem *stacItem() const;
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsStacCatalogItem : public QgsDataCollectionItem
     void updateToolTip();
 
     //! takes ownership
-    void setStacCatalog( std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > &object );
+    void setStacCatalog( std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCatalog > object );
 
     //! does not transfer ownership
     QgsStacCatalog *stacCatalog() const;
diff --git a/src/core/stac/qgsstacparser.cpp b/src/core/stac/qgsstacparser.cpp
index 089adb8c03e..e901bf3cff8 100644
--- a/src/core/stac/qgsstacparser.cpp
+++ b/src/core/stac/qgsstacparser.cpp
@@ -69,12 +69,12 @@ QString QgsStacParser::error() const
   return mError;
 }
 
-QgsStacCatalog *QgsStacParser::catalog()
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacCatalog> QgsStacParser::catalog()
 {
   return parseCatalog( mData );
 }
 
-QgsStacCatalog *QgsStacParser::parseCatalog( const nlohmann::json &data )
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacCatalog> QgsStacParser::parseCatalog( const nlohmann::json &data )
 {
   try
   {
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ QgsStacCatalog *QgsStacParser::parseCatalog( const nlohmann::json &data )
       catalog->setStacExtensions( extensions );
     }
 
-    return catalog.release();
+    return catalog;
   }
   catch ( nlohmann::json::exception &ex )
   {
@@ -128,12 +128,12 @@ QgsStacCatalog *QgsStacParser::parseCatalog( const nlohmann::json &data )
   }
 }
 
-QgsStacCollection *QgsStacParser::collection()
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacCollection> QgsStacParser::collection()
 {
   return parseCollection( mData );
 }
 
-QgsStacCollection *QgsStacParser::parseCollection( const nlohmann::json &data )
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacCollection> QgsStacParser::parseCollection( const nlohmann::json &data )
 {
   try
   {
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ QgsStacCollection *QgsStacParser::parseCollection( const nlohmann::json &data )
       collection->setAssets( assets );
     }
 
-    return collection.release();
+    return collection;
   }
   catch ( nlohmann::json::exception &ex )
   {
@@ -291,12 +291,12 @@ QgsStacCollection *QgsStacParser::parseCollection( const nlohmann::json &data )
   }
 }
 
-QgsStacItem *QgsStacParser::item()
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacItem> QgsStacParser::item()
 {
   return parseItem( mData );
 }
 
-QgsStacItem *QgsStacParser::parseItem( const nlohmann::json &data )
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacItem> QgsStacParser::parseItem( const nlohmann::json &data )
 {
   try
   {
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ QgsStacItem *QgsStacParser::parseItem( const nlohmann::json &data )
     if ( data.contains( "collection" ) )
       item->setCollection( getString( data["collection"] ) );
 
-    return item.release();
+    return item;
   }
   catch ( nlohmann::json::exception &ex )
   {
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ QString QgsStacParser::getString( const nlohmann::json &data )
   return data.is_null() ? QString() : QString::fromStdString( data );
 }
 
-QgsStacItemCollection *QgsStacParser::itemCollection()
+std::unique_ptr<QgsStacItemCollection> QgsStacParser::itemCollection()
 {
   std::vector< std::unique_ptr<QgsStacItem> > items;
   QVector< QgsStacLink > links;
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ QgsStacItemCollection *QgsStacParser::itemCollection()
       rawItems.append( i.release() );
   }
 
-  return new QgsStacItemCollection( rawItems, links, numberMatched );
+  return std::make_unique< QgsStacItemCollection >( rawItems, links, numberMatched );
 }
 
 QgsStacCollections *QgsStacParser::collections()
diff --git a/src/core/stac/qgsstacparser.h b/src/core/stac/qgsstacparser.h
index 137b0f28ae7..93545ba50e6 100644
--- a/src/core/stac/qgsstacparser.h
+++ b/src/core/stac/qgsstacparser.h
@@ -59,28 +59,28 @@ class QgsStacParser
      * If parsing failed, NULLPTR is returned
      * The caller takes ownership of the returned catalog
      */
-    QgsStacCatalog *catalog();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCatalog > catalog();
 
     /**
      * Returns the parsed STAC Collection
      * If parsing failed, NULLPTR is returned
      * The caller takes ownership of the returned collection
      */
-    QgsStacCollection *collection();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCollection > collection();
 
     /**
      * Returns the parsed STAC Item
      * If parsing failed, NULLPTR is returned
      * The caller takes ownership of the returned item
      */
-    QgsStacItem *item();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItem > item();
 
     /**
      * Returns the parsed STAC API Item Collection
      * If parsing failed, NULLPTR is returned
      * The caller takes ownership of the returned item collection
      */
-    QgsStacItemCollection *itemCollection();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItemCollection > itemCollection();
 
     /**
      * Returns the parsed STAC API Collections
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@ class QgsStacParser
     QString error() const;
 
   private:
-    QgsStacItem *parseItem( const nlohmann::json &data );
-    QgsStacCatalog *parseCatalog( const nlohmann::json &data );
-    QgsStacCollection *parseCollection( const nlohmann::json &data );
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItem > parseItem( const nlohmann::json &data );
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCatalog > parseCatalog( const nlohmann::json &data );
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCollection > parseCollection( const nlohmann::json &data );
 
     QVector< QgsStacLink > parseLinks( const nlohmann::json &data );
     QMap< QString, QgsStacAsset > parseAssets( const nlohmann::json &data );
diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsstac.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsstac.cpp
index 342892a0d1e..02b9534f548 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsstac.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsstac.cpp
@@ -75,10 +75,9 @@ void TestQgsStac::testParseLocalCatalog()
 {
   const QUrl url( QStringLiteral( "file://%1%2" ).arg( mDataDir, QStringLiteral( "catalog.json" ) ) );
   QgsStacController c;
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > obj = c.fetchStacObject( url.toString() );
-  QVERIFY( obj );
-  QCOMPARE( obj->type(), QgsStacObject::Type::Catalog );
-  QgsStacCatalog *cat = dynamic_cast<QgsStacCatalog *>( obj.get() );
+  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCatalog > cat = c.fetchStacObject< QgsStacCatalog >( url.toString() );
+  QVERIFY( cat );
+  QCOMPARE( cat->type(), QgsStacObject::Type::Catalog );
 
   QVERIFY( cat );
   QCOMPARE( cat->id(), QLatin1String( "examples" ) );
@@ -103,10 +102,9 @@ void TestQgsStac::testParseLocalCollection()
 {
   const QUrl url( QStringLiteral( "file://%1%2" ).arg( mDataDir, QStringLiteral( "collection.json" ) ) );
   QgsStacController c;
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > obj = c.fetchStacObject( url.toString() );
-  QVERIFY( obj );
-  QCOMPARE( obj->type(), QgsStacObject::Type::Collection );
-  QgsStacCollection *col = dynamic_cast<QgsStacCollection *>( obj.get() );
+  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacCollection > col = c.fetchStacObject< QgsStacCollection >( url.toString() );
+  QVERIFY( col );
+  QCOMPARE( col->type(), QgsStacObject::Type::Collection );
 
   QVERIFY( col );
   QCOMPARE( col->id(), QLatin1String( "simple-collection" ) );
@@ -151,10 +149,9 @@ void TestQgsStac::testParseLocalItem()
 {
   const QUrl url( QStringLiteral( "file://%1%2" ).arg( mDataDir, QStringLiteral( "core-item.json" ) ) );
   QgsStacController c;
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacObject > obj = c.fetchStacObject( url.toString() );
-  QVERIFY( obj );
-  QCOMPARE( obj->type(), QgsStacObject::Type::Item );
-  QgsStacItem *item = dynamic_cast<QgsStacItem *>( obj.get() );
+  std::unique_ptr< QgsStacItem > item = c.fetchStacObject< QgsStacItem >( url.toString() );
+  QVERIFY( item );
+  QCOMPARE( item->type(), QgsStacObject::Type::Item );
 
   QVERIFY( item );
   QCOMPARE( item->id(), QLatin1String( "20201211_223832_CS2" ) );