Spinnaker, Rock building demolished in Bundaberg

It was one of the region’s top social hubs, hosting everyone from families on Father’s Day to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Now, The Spinnaker, later known as The Rock, has been demolished. Here’s why.

If walls could talk, those in the Spinnaker building would tell tales of weddings, family events, race days, political campaign launches and many a business brunch.

Countless major events in the community revolved around the riverside restaurant, which would also go on to be known as The Rock Bar and Grill.

But works to bring down the grand old building, which has been empty for years, have gotten underway in recent days, with just rubble remaining at the iconic riverside location.

In 2018, Bundaberg Regional Council bought the land for $680,000 after it was on the market for 963 days.

Inside the downstairs bar area of the Spinnaker.

At the time of the sale, then planning portfolio spokesman Ross Sommerfeld told the Bundaberg NewsMail the site was identified as “strategic land holding”.

Mr Sommerfeld said the acquisition would enable initiatives in the council’s newly announced riverside masterplan to progress, giving the council control of the riverside strip from Rowers on the River to River Cruz Cafe.

Plans for a revitalised riverside area released in 2015 revealed the area had been earmarked for greening, part of an exercise and activity trail and a “get onto the river” point for boarding watercraft.

On Monday, a council spokesperson explained the decision to bulldoze the Spinnaker building had more to do with structural integrity than the riverside redevelopment.

“An independent structural engineering assessment identified that the integrity of the building at 1A Quay St had been compromised,” they said.

Dinners loved the riverside views from the building’s deck.

“The most serious of concerns identified in the report included sloping and sagging floors, deterioration of structural timbers and lack of connection to load bearing supports.

“Given the high cost of repair, which would have included asbestos removal, council made the decision to remove the building in the interests of public safety.”

Kevin Wood and Darryl Hampson at the Spinnaker Restaurant during the 1971 floods.

The spokesperson said there were no immediate plans to start work on that section of the riverside redevelopment.

“While council recognises the strategic importance of the riverside in activating the CBD, our current focus remains on the redevelopment of the Anzac Park precinct,” they said.

Former Spinnaker Bar and Restaurant owner Brett Jensen had to make a tough call after his restaurant was flooded twice.

Over the years, the Spinnaker building, as it had affectionately become known, had its fair share of flooding events to contend with.

It was hit multiple times, the most recent occasions being during the 2011 and 2013 Bundaberg flood events.

Former owner Brett Jensen saw floodwaters tear through the property in 2011, reopening after extensive works.

Many gourmet meals were served at the Spinnaker and the Rock.

But in 2013, following Bundaberg’s record flood event, Mr Jensen announced he was closing as it was simply too hard to rebuild after his refurbished restaurant was destroyed once again.

At the time, he told the NewsMail the restaurant had been standing for 30-odd years without flooding, but unfortunately, it had been hit twice in his ownership.

Nigel Jensen, Bruce Dalton and Brett Jensen share a beer at the Spinnaker Bar and Restaurant during the floods. Photo: Contributed.

The building was renovated and rebranded as The Rock Bar and Grill in 2016, opening in July that year.

But by June 2019, owners Steve and Courtney Evans had announced they had decided not to renew the lease and would be closing.

The venue lives on in the memories of those who spent many a night out enjoying stunning views of the Burnett River.

Sadly, the building was prone to flooding.