Bid to expand offerings at former US navy base site at New Farm

A business that operates a wedding and corporate events business at an historic riverside venue on one of Brisbane’s most exclusive streets is ready to expand.

The Officers' Mess at 50 Oxlade Drive wants to expand into a bar and cafe. Picture: Supplied

An events company which runs weddings and corporate events inside an historic drinking hole and officers’ mess which is the only remnant of Brisbane’s US Navy submarine base has applied to council for permission to expand its offering.

50 Oxlade Drive Pty Ltd, a company owned by hospitality veteran Declan Martschinke, 53, and developer William Griffin, 36, who is a director of the River Road Tavern in Beenleigh, applied for approval to open a food and drink outlet beyond its existing functions and special events business in the inner-city suburb of New Farm.

The Officers' Mess at 50 Oxlade Dr New Farm (in red square) Picture Supplied

The pair who trade as ‘Events on Oxlade’ already have existing approval for a function room and club at the building, which was built in 1943 for one of the largest US Navy bases of the Pacific War – Base 134 Brisbane.

The site was chosen by General Douglas MacArthur and became the 7th Fleet’s Officer’s Mess for its New Farm submarine base, according to a planning report submitted to council this month.

A month ago they reopened a bakery, casual dining and bar trading as The Officers’ Mess, after a renovation of the River Room of the club.

The chefs are Andrew and Amelie Gunn, ex Calille Hotel.

Mr Griffin told The Courier-Mail his company had a seven-year lease remaining with council and the venue was a family-friendly location popular with locals wanting laid-back gatherings on the lawn.

“But if we had a longer lease we would invest more money in it,” he said.

They plan to operate a cafe seven days a week from 6am to 2pm with casual dining with bar from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 10pm.

It is next to multimillion-dollar riverfront homes to the north, and to the Merthyr Bowls Club, to the south, a popular dining and entertainment venue.

The Brisbane City Council is the owner of the land and has given its consent to the development application being made.

The club was entered onto council’s city plan heritage register in 2010.

The town planning report submitted by 50 Oxlade Drive Pty Ltd states that the uncovered casual dining space and adjacent lawn area along the river edge will “help to activate its prime location along the Brisbane River and promote a range of passive and active outdoor recreation activities”.