Bulimba bar gets green light after brothers dial back grand plans for four-storey commercial space
Two brothers who lost their bid to build a massive four-storey commercial space next to a heritage-listed Brisbane ferry terminal have had its replacement approved, much to the annoyance of locals.
A pair of entrepreneurial brothers who lost their bid to build a hotel in a massive four-storey commercial building next to Bulimba ferry terminal, will instead open an alfresco cafe and bar out of an old house they planned to knock down.
Drew Robert Haupt, 40, from New Farm and Brodie Kevin Haupt, 39, from Hamilton, have renovated the retro two-storey brick and tile home next to the heritage-listed 1880s ferry terminal to create the new riverside venue called Oxford Quays.
In May, the state’s Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) granted Oxford Quays a commercial on-premises liquor licence allowing trading seven days a week at the
Oxford St site between 10am and 10pm.
Diners will be seated outdoors by the river or next to the existing pool to enjoy views of the city skyline and New Farm as there is no current indoor seating.
Seven neighbours in the exclusive riverfront enclave lodged public objections to the bar on the 1134 sqm block with the OLGR, citing noise, traffic, long trading hours and lack of parking in an already congested area.
They also told the OLGR that existing “loutish behaviour” around the City Cat terminal could be exacerbated by another drinking hole.
Drew Haupt told The Courier-Mail the new palm tree-fringed venue would open with a “soft launch” early next year to serve hungry ferry commuters and locals who wanted to enjoy the river and city views.
“We are excited to share our beautiful riverside setting with locals,” he said.
The licence bans the use of entertainers or amplified noise in any outdoor areas but the council and Queensland Police Service did not object to the granting of the licence.
Brisbane City Council issued an exemption certificate to the brothers’ company 11 Ludlow Pty Ltd (11 Ludlow) last year to operate a food and drink outlet next to the ferry terminal.
It has been eight years in the making, with the Haupt brothers – who are founders and owners of online nest egg manager WLTH – buying the site through 11 Ludlow from retired surgeon Chris O’Connor for $5.3 million in October 2017.
They were originally granted council approval to bulldoze O’Connor’s two-storey brick house and replace it with a bustling 100-seat restaurant with a rooftop deck in a four-storey building.
The pair originally proposed to build a 12-room boutique hotel with 20 underground carparks but later scrapped this from their plan, instead seeking the green light for a restaurant or cafe and office space.
The Brothers took the council to the Planning and Environment Court in a bid to get approval for their bold plan, but in October 2022 their appeal was dismissed by Judge Amanda McDonnell.
Earlier, neighbour and hotelier David Wheldon, took the brothers to court to try to overturn the Brisbane City Council’s original approval, but his case was dismissed in October 2020.
Wheldon’s company Glamston Pty Ltd spent $13.9m buying two adjacent houses on Quay St neighbouring the Oxford Quays bar, which is home to multimillion-dollar riverfront homes including an investment property owned by Liam Talbot, son of the late Ken Talbot.
The Haupt brothers were in court in March last year where, together with their company, they were hit with a combined $4500 fine for chopping down five protected trees on the site.
The protected trees were four weeping cabbage palm trees and one royal poinciana.
The Magistrate described their actions as “a misunderstanding or oversight” over whether further approval was required.
They also agreed to pay the BCC $17,000 to fund the planting of trees on another site.
Online restaurant reservations platform OpenTable has listed Oxford Quays as “coming soon”.
Originally published as Bulimba bar gets green light after brothers dial back grand plans for four-storey commercial space
