Iconic yacht club’s upgrade under new management at Pier 33, Mooloolaba

A $500k renovation of an iconic Sunshine Coast watering hole has taken place at the hands of new owners who are also behind exclusive Brisbane fine-dining venues.

Pier 33 at Mooloolaba. Picture - file.

An historical yacht club turned iconic Sunshine Coast waterside venue has been transformed into a major dining, events and entertainment destination by new owners also behind SEQ venues such as Brisbane’s Madam Wu and Chu the Phat.

Pier 33, in Mooloolaba, has undergone a massive transformation by long-term hospitality identities the Williams family.

Venue manager Max Williams said the former Mooloolaba Yacht Club, which was established in 1967, had undergone a significant revamp to ensure its label as the local “place to be seen” for events, wedding and dining.

Pier 33 is perched on the water at Mooloolaba. Picture: File.

“Our family has interests in many hospitality venues including the award-winning Madam Wu and Chu the Phat in Brisbane as well as a host of pubs and bars across South East Queensland,” Mr Williams said.

“We’ve been keeping our eye on this venue for quite some time now and when the opportunity arose we jumped at it.

The new team at Pier 33. Picture: Contributed.

“It’s a premium site and we could see a significant opportunity to create an iconic destination for amazing waterfront weddings and events as well a place where people can enjoy stunning food in our restaurant or some cool drinks and casual food while overlooking the water.

“Our theme is ‘bringing it, local’, which means not only is the venue under local ownership but we will employ locals and where possible, our chef will source the finest ingredients and produce to showcase in our menu daily.”

Pier 33 has been transformed into a major dining, events and entertainment destination under the stewardship of its new owners. Picture: Contributed.

The Williams family has spent more than $500,000 to upgrade the venue which included a significant internal refurbishment to provide a stunning entry statement and state of the art acoustics for live music and events.

“The yacht club has a long history of people celebrating their wedding day along with other major milestones such as school graduations and corporate events and our goal is to bring that back in a big way,” Mr Williams said.

Dishes at Pier 33 at Mooloolaba. Picture: Contributed

“We’ve also created one of the largest wine cellars on the Sunshine Coast where we will stock a range of popular as well as hard to get national and international wines.

“It’s also the place where families and friends can get together on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon and enjoy a more casual dining experience on the lawn overlooking the stunning waterfront and drink in our great sunsets.”

Pier 33 at Mooloolaba from the back deck overlooking the marina. Picture: File.

Experienced chef Murray Paterson joins the Pier 33 team as group executive chef following a stellar career working in major national and international hospitality venues across China, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea and Singapore.

“Murray is an exciting addition to our team, his experience working with major brands such as Sofitel, Novotel, Sheraton and The Four Seasons was exactly what we wanted at Pier 33 to ensure our food offer was at the cutting edge of national and international trends,” Mr Williams said.

“We are really excited to see what he can create for our guests using the finest local ingredients.”

Pier33 chef Murray Paterson. Picture: Contributed.

The launch of Pier 33 coincides with the launch of a ferry service to make life easier for diners wanting a more luxurious way to access everything Mooloolaba has to offer.

Mooloolaba Ferry has been launched by the owners of Coastal Cruises to have a seven-day service operating between Kawana Waters Hotel, the Mooloolaba Wharf and Pier 33.

Co-owner Darren Smith said he saw the need for a quick water-based transport service to enable patrons easy access in and out of the region’s major dining and entertainment precinct.

The new ferry service. Picture: Contributed.

“We know how busy it gets during school holidays and Christmas but we firmly believe there will be year-round demand for our ferry service,” Mr Smith said.

“We purchased the Lucinda, which is an ex-Brisbane River ferry which holds up to 50 people seated and we’ve spent the past year fixing it up and getting our approvals in place so we can commence operating in October this year.

“We love the new look Pier 33, it’s an important destination for our business and it’s sure to become one of these ‘must visit’ experiences for locals and tourists alike.”

Pier 33 at Mooloolaba. Picture: File.