Bowen Wharf to get $50 million jetty makeover

One of Queensland’s oldest landmarks has been saved from the wrecking ball with a $50 million makeover fund. Find out what’s in store for Bowen’s beloved jetty.

The Bowen Wharf is one of ​the town’s oldest landmarks. Credit: Contributed

The Bowen Wharf needs an upgrade and it “would be a shame” to lose one of the town’s oldest landmarks.

Thankfully, a project to revitalise the 450m-long jetty has been engaged with owner North Queensland Bulk Ports and should kick off by the middle of next year.

It comes after the state government announced $50 million from coal royalties would go into repairing the wharf in its 2023-2024 budget.

The Bowen Wharf is one of the town’s oldest landmarks. Credit: Contributed

The wharf, which is currently used for the mooring of tug vessels, as well as a public amenity where people have gone on walks or fishing for decades, is “nearing the end of its economical service life,” a NQPB report stated.

Bowen resident Mick Boyce said the jetty’s structure was disintegrating, with parts that cannot support more than 200 kgs at a time.

He said because the jetty’s structure, which is made of timber, had been constructed too low, the tides and the alternating “wet and dry” had accelerated the ageing process.

NQBP said it was looking for consultants to get involved in the project as soon as possible to produce a concept design by November this year.

Collinsville lads, Trent Crouther, 12 (front) and Aaron Crouther, 13 (rear) on the jetty. Picture: Scott Radford, Bowen, Wet Weekend Fishing Classic and Entertainment.

The Bowen jetty, constructed in 1867, is registered on the Whitsunday local heritage list as Bowen was the first port established in North Queensland.

Mr Boyce said the jetty had been there for such a long time, “ it’d be a shame to put it down”.

He said the jetty repairs should focus on developing its touristic attraction, creating a space that would allow people to go on a walk and enjoy the landscape.

“If the guys want to take out the girls, … they should put lighting underneath to make it a bit more romantic” he said.

In 2021, $3.6 million of works was carried out on the jetty where parts of the aged timber structure were repaired or replaced.

The works at the time were seemingly only a short-term solution, and Mr Boyce said he could not see what actually got repaired.

“You wonder where it (the money) actually went,” he said.

NQBP is required to obtain government endorsement on the Project Delivery Plan by June 2024, with improvements carried out on the jetty due to start in less than 12 months.