Howard's end: Wharf work nears completion

Howard Smith Wharves’ restaurants and bars are almost ready.

Close, but not quite open.

They are still a week or two away. Work crews are now swarming over them like ants.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk talks with Howard Smith Wharves chief executive Luke Fraser (right) and director Adam Flaskas( centre).Credit: Tony Moore

Apparently they open November 23, several workers said.

But the first public event will be held on Tuesday night at the restored Howard Smith Wharves under Brisbane's Story Bridge.

A group of aviation industry delegates will become the first guests to use the River Shed event space.

Inside the River Shed at Howard Smith Wharves.Credit: Tony Moore

The plans for a hotel, event centre and public green space under the Story Bridge date back to former lord mayor Campbell Newman’s days in 2011.

More than seven years later, the plan to turn 3.4 hectares of old wharf lands into parklands becomes a reality.

Finishing touches were still being applied to the River Shed on Tuesday.

“It has been a long time in the making, but it will be a worthwhile wait,” lord mayor Graham Quirk said on Tuesday as he spoke about a first stage in a “progressive” opening.

The Rivershed at Howard Smith Wharves.

“Ultimately what is being produced here is something that will add to the Brisbane experience."

The $110 million redevelopment means two new large event centres - the River Shed and Howard's Hall - an old-world-style riverside bar called Mr Percival’s and a run of bars and restaurants inside the old timber wharf buildings.

The hip new five-star hotel, which looks a little like a bedazzled deck of playing cards arranged under the Story Bridge, is not due to open until March 2019.

Two small buildings against the walls of the cliffs will also become event centres. They open in early 2019.

New five-star hotel looks like a deck of playing cards under the Story Bridge. It opens in March 2019.Credit: Tony Moore

The first of two glass-walled lifts going up to the top of the New Farm cliffs is now open. They each carry 21 people or you can use the stairs and the view over the city is great.

Howard Smith Wharves chief executive Luke Fraser said bookings for the site has been made through to 2021.

“I can genuinely say Christmas time, these rooms are really, really full,” Mr Fraser said.

“It will be the first time that the Howard Smith Wharves will be publicly available like this.”

Howard Smith Wharves is a mix of corporate and wedding event venues with public bars, eateries and restaurants.

Much of the old timber from the old wharf areas is used in the buildings.

Restaurants and bars will open progressively in the lead-up to Christmas, Mr Fraser said.

“The brewery, Felons Brewing Co, will be opening shortly. Mr Percival’s and some of the restaurants will be opening very soon,” he said.

“Just prior to Christmas the majority of the precinct will be open with the hotel set to open by March 2019."

Cr Quirk said Howard Smith Wharves was destined to become a must-visit location in the city for visitors.

“Two years ago we have 7 million visitors to our city, both internationally and domestically,” he said.

“Today that figure is around 8.4 million per year.”

Cr Quirk said Brisbane was emerging as a tourism and business drawcard.

“We have had 14 four- and five-star hotels open in the city and in spite of those numbers the occupancy rate here is five per cent higher than the national average.”