Opening date for Queen’s Wharf locked in
Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf development is expected to open to the public in weeks, with the first venues and attractions revealed.
QLD News
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Brisbane’s shining Queen’s Wharf crown will open on August 29 in a watershed moment for the River City.
After delays in construction totalling almost two years - and turbulence engulfing operator Star Entertainment Group, the first stage of the $3.6 billion game changer will officially open in less than two months, heralding a new era for the future Olympic city.
The Sunday Mail can exclusively reveal the Queen’s Wharf venues set to open in August, along with others due to follow suit over a “progressive” opening schedule which will ultimately deliver more than 1000 hotel rooms, up to 2000 residential apartments, more than 50 bars and restaurants and an estimated 1.4 million additional visitors to Brisbane.
The signature Star Grand hotel, the first of four world-class hotels earmarked for the precinct, will be among the attractions to open on day one, along with the Sky Deck viewing platform perched 100 metres above the Brisbane River, the main casino gaming floor, the Neville Bonnor Bridge and an events centre boasting the city’s largest ballroom.
A sprawling sports bar, a Fat Noodle restaurant by celebrity chef Luke Nguyen, Japanese stand-out Sokyo and cocktail lounge Cherry will all open from August 29 while other dining and drinking venues will come online throughout September.
Future stages, which will deliver Dorsett and Rosewood hotel towers, a Velo Café and luxury retail destinations, will have opening dates announced in the months ahead.
Confirmed almost nine years ago after a winning tender from Destination Brisbane Consortium, a joint venture comprising of Star, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium, Queen’s Wharf was trumpeted as a shining beacon for the CBD foreshore of the Brisbane River set to generate more than 2000 jobs during construction and about 8000 positions once fully operational.
It was originally expected to open in late 2022, but the challenges of the Covid years pushed that date back to 2023, then to April this year and finally to August, before confirmation on Sunday of an August 29 launch.
The Star Brisbane CEO Daniel Finch said Sunday’s announcement was the first of many locking in opening dates for a plethora of Queen’s Wharf attractions.
“Like the rest of Brisbane, I am excited for this game-changing development to invigorate the CBD, including our night time economy and we will soon announce more exact dates for the diary,” he said.
Mr Finch said the initial opening period would be staggered over many weeks and in numerous stages.
“We want to ensure our team members are prepared, our facilities have been tested, our processes are right and importantly that our guests have an exceptional experience that they will talk about and come back to experience again,” he said.
He did not shy away from the controversy which has dogged Star in recent times, culminating in the exit of several high-ranking executives and a bruised reputation after an independent inquiry revealed “major failings” within the company including an inability to prevent money laundering and organised crime links.
Star’s Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos were last year handed 90-day suspensions to their gambling licences, but those suspensions have been deferred until at least December 20.
But the appointment this week of former Crown boss Steve McCann as Star Entertainment Group CEO has been seen as a reset for the brand.
Mr Finch said he was also focused on The Star’s plan to transform its culture, governance, technology and operations.
“We are subject to regulatory and government approvals and as such our remediation is crucial and will ensure we deliver the best possible outcomes,” he said.
“We have a responsibility to our community, our guests and our team members to be better and provide the safest environment possible across the entire business.”
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