Queen’s Wharf Brisbane: Time capsule a treasure trove of state history

A treasure trove of Queensland history will be buried inside one of the first areas of the new Queen’s Wharf development to open to the public.

NRL legend Johnathan Thurston, boxer Jeff Horn and Queensland Ballet director Li Cunxin at the Queen's Wharf time capsule ceremony. Picture: Adam Head

A treasure trove of Queensland history will be buried inside one of the first areas of the new Queen’s Wharf development to open to the public.

The site of the $3.6 billion integrated resort alongside the Brisbane River is still undergoing excavation work and isn’t due to open for more than three years.

A workforce of 2000 will be employed during the construction phase, while the hotels, retail spaces, restaurants and bars will generate an estimated 8000 jobs once open in 2022.

A who’s who of Queensland business, sporting, political and arts identities gathered inside the development zone on Friday to witness the closing of a time capsule.

The capsule will be buried in Waterline Park, behind 1 William St, and won’t be dug up until 2049. The park is due to open at the end of this year as a public green space and exercise area.

The Star Entertainment Group – part of the Destination Brisbane Consortium building Queen’s Wharf – is behind the time capsule project, and sourced items from a range of prominent Queensland figures.

Education Minister Grace Grace, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Johnathan Thurston, Jeff Horn, Li Cunxin and Tourism Minister Kate Jones at the ceremony. Picture: Adam Head

But it was an eleventh hour approach from Queensland sporting royalty that caught organisers by surprise.

While collating items, they received an offer of support from tennis legend Rod Laver, who read about the project in The Courier-Mail last month.

The ‘Rockhampton Rocket’ – named Queensland’s greatest ever sportsperson last year – said it was a “wonderful opportunity to be part of this city’s history”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, sporting legends Johnathan Thurston, Susie O’Neill, Laura Geitz and Jeff Horn, musician Amy Shark, and ballet icon Li Cunxin, were among a long list of notable Queenslanders to contribute items.

Rod Laver’s photo frame. Picture John Tall

The time capsule. Picture: Adam Head

US-based Laver, who couldn’t make Friday’s ceremony, donated a signed photo frame celebrating his Grand Slam titles in 1962 and 1969.

“When I had the honour of playing at Milton and winning the Australian Open in 1969, Queensland had a population of only 1.8 million people,” Laver said.

“Bill Lawry was the Test cricket captain and we were still watching black and white television. No one had heard of mobile phones or personal computers let alone the internet.

“So I can only wonder what this city and state will be like in 30 years’ time when the Queen’s Wharf time capsule is opened in 2049.”

Laver quipped that Roger Federer might still be playing in 30 years, and will have “well and truly surpassed my record of 200 singles titles”.

The Courier-Mail subscriber Paul Whitty who put his Commonwealth Games volunteers outfit in. Picture: Adam Head

Thurston added a piece of headgear he wore for the Indigenous All-Stars, Horn a set of boxing gloves, and Cunxin a pair of ballet shoes.

The Courier-Mail subscriber and time capsule competition prize winner Paul Whitty donated one of his volunteer shirts from the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.