Mackay’s Red Dog Brewery to open second outlet at Bluewater Quay

Residents will soon have the option to enjoy a locally brewed tipple while relaxing by the sparkling blue Pioneer River, as a new tenant is revealed for a prime waterfront spot that has sat vacant for years.

In a lift for tourism and liveability across Mackay, beer company Red Dog Brewery will open a second outlet at Bluewater Quay.

The Mackay business already has a presence on Chain Street close to Queens Park and the new spot overlooking the sparkling blue Pioneer River will serve as the company’s primary retail hub with a bar, restaurant and microbrewery on-site.

Its Chain St location will serve as the company’s primary production hub.

Red Dog won the licence for the site, which formally housed the Ashtart Lebanese restaurant, following a competitive tender process.

The space has been vacant for more than three years, after Mackay dentist Wael Assaf made the hard decision to close his passion project Ashtart in early 2020 because of family and the cyclic battle of finding and training staff.

Bluewater Quay forms part of Mackay’s priority waterfront zone, which the council hopes to redevelop to make Mackay a river-facing city.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson (left) with Red Dog Brewery co-owner Jason Egan at Bluewater Quay. Picture: Contributed

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said Red Dog would help activate the area.

“This is an excellent outcome for Bluewater Quay, and the City Centre more generally, to create new activation opportunities, with a business that already has local support and recognition,” he said.

“Red Dog will be a great addition to this key location between the City Centre and the newly established River Wharves in River Street.”

Red Dog co-owners Jason Egan and Jamie Woods said they hoped to open up to the public by late June.

Redevelopment of the waterfront continues apace.

An aerial view of the Pioneer River in Mackay, including the CBD (to the left), the Forgan Bridge and North Mackay (to the right). Picture: Nadine Tass

In January 2022, Woollam Constructions nabbed a $5.5m tender for the Riverside revitalisation project, which finished up late last year.

Improvements include a 4m shared path to replace the River St Service Rd, a pavilion stretching more than 50m to house seating pods and stage platforms, green open spaces, landscaping architecture and a new toilet block.

In February this year, the council released a $2m tender for a contractor to renovate and refurbish 8 River St.

The building, held up on pillars over the Pioneer River, formally housed Don Daniels on the River and Maria’s Donkey.

The council has deemed the structure of the building unsafe.