What to expect at Queen’s Wharf and The Star precinct opening this Thursday
It’s arguably Brisbane’s most anticipated development that’s been in the works for nearly a decade, a $3.6bn project that’s set to transform the River City. Here is everything you need to know.
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It’s the $3.6 billion development that has been the subject of admiration, scandal and delay since its announcement eight years ago, and now, the Queens Wharf Precinct is finally ready to open, some of it at least.
The Star Entertainment Group has been clear from the outset that the precinct would have a staggered opening, between August 29 and November, but guests may be surprised to learn what is, and what isn’t, ready to go when the doors are thrown open on Thursday.
While key attractions like the Neville Bonner Bridge, which completed construction in February 2023, and the Star Grand Hotel, are prepped and ready, the development remains largely a construction site.
Only seven of the 50-plus restaurants, bars and cafes will be open to visitors on Thursday, with no real idea of when the remaining will start seating.
Star is only saying that “many” would be open before November.
Don’t expect a shopping spree on day one either.
The many promised dining, shopping and luxury retail spaces throughout the remainder of the precinct remain untenanted.
There is no detail on when that might happen.
The delay comes after luxury retail group DFS launched legal proceedings against the consortium behind the Queens Wharf development in April of this year.
Visitors expecting to enjoy the many renewed heritage sites and promised laneways will also be sorely disappointed.
The former printery, department of primary industry building, the mansions, Land Administration Building, Old State Library, and various other laneway spaces still remain far from their promised final states.
Several of these are home to office spaces for the various entities involved in the development, and others are simply disused, with only “intentions” locking them in.
In the case of the Mansions, redevelopment can’t even be considered until the construction of the Queens Wharf Tower, which has not yet begun, is completed, which given the eight years it has taken for the remainder of the precinct could be some time away yet.
SKYDECK
Taking prime position 100m above the city, the 250m-long SkyDeck is a crowning feature of the development, but visitors will need to wait until late in the day to take in the views.
The SkyDeck and its observation deck, glass viewing platform and rooftop bar Cicada Blu in the middle of the structure will open to the public with access via three public lifts on the southern end of level four from 5pm.
The all-day dining cafe Babblers Casual on the SkyDeck’s southern end and the up-market restaurant Aloria on its northern end will not open until some time before November, with The Star not yet confirming these dates.
While each of the dining venues will have its own operating hours, the SkyDeck will generally be open 24 hours a day.
The first big function on the SkyDeck will be Brisbane Festival’s Riverfire invitation-only event.
The SkyDeck will close to the public at midday on Saturday and will reopen 7am Sunday morning.
NEVILLE BONNER BRIDGE
Linking South Bank with the Queens Wharf development (and through it to William and George Streets), the Neville Bonner Pedestrian Bridge is expected to prove popular – with more than 10,000 people to cross it each day.
The bridge, which will open early on Thursday, leads to on to The Terrace Level (Level 4) of the Queens Wharf precinct – which will eventually be home to most of the precinct’s best restaurants.
These will include Cucina Regina (Italian), Lúc Lắc (southeast Asian), Azteca (Latin American/Asian fusion), a new iteration of Gambaro Group’s Black Hide (steak and seafood), Dark Shepherd (Mediterranean) and Pompette (French and champagne bar)
However, none of these will be open on opening day.
They will open progressively in the coming weeks.
CASINO MAIN GAMING FLOORS AND PREMIUM GAMING ROOMS
From 2pm on Thursday, Brisbane gamblers will once again have access to a 24-hour casino, after the closure of the Treasury Casino last weekend on August 25.
Level 5 will be home to the expansive general casino floor, three bars and two restaurants – with access via escalators from the end of the Neville Bonner Bridge.
The main casino floor is home to Luke Nguyen’s Fat Noodle restaurant, a Sports Bar, Cherry Bar, the 19m-long LiveWire entertainment bar, and the casual dining space called Food Quarter.
Fat Noodle – originally housed in the Treasury Casino – will feature favourites like 20-hour Fat Pho Noodles and a fiery laksa.
The restaurant comes with a catch, though – as only guests aged 18 plus will be able to dine because it is inside the casino itself.
The Sports Bar features 100sqm of LED screens.
Its first function will be the celebration of 30 years of partnerships between XXXX and the Brisbane Broncos on Thursday night, where a mural dedicated to the team on the wall of the bar will be unveiled.
The Livewire bar is designed to host some of the city’s top performances, from music to comedy and more.
All will be opening from Thursday at 2pm, when the casino opens, however exact times could not be confirmed.
Level 6 will be home to the exclusive Oasis and Sovereign rooms, reserved for premium members. Both of these rooms have their own private restaurant.
There is also an ultra-exclusive “high-rollers” casino floor under construction somewhere else in the building, but remains shrouded in mystery.
STAR GRAND HOTEL
The Star Grand Hotel is one of three hotels slated for the precinct, and will be the first to open – on Thursday at 10am.
Guests will start checking in from midmorning with the hotel fully booked for opening day and the following three days.
Check out our exclusive walk-through below.
From floor to ceiling glass windows, an exorbitant bath tub overlooking South Brisbane to flashy decor, The Sunday Mail has got an exclusive sneak peek inside the Star Grand Hotel which has sold out it’s first four nights ahead of its opening.
The hotel lobby bar will also be open from then for all-comers.
And the 340-room hotel’s swanky lobby is also home to the ‘cutting-edge’ Japanese restaurant, Sokyo, opening at 5pm Thursday, headed by Executive Chef and ‘sashimi florist’ Alex Yu, best known for his artistic raw fish platters.
The chef began his eight year career at the first Sokyo venue in Sydney before going on to become head chef at Melbourne’s subterranean Asian dining space, Yugen.
Diners can choose from a variety of options from a 10m sushi bar, selling standard sushi and sashimi, or specialised dishes including top-quality Wagyu beef and an array of other seafood and meat.
A tasting menu will also be on offer.
GEORGE ST FOYER
The grand entrance to the Queens Wharf precinct from George Street features artist Lindy Lee’s eight metre, eight tonne sculpture ‘Being Swallowed by the Milky Way’- a bronze oblong, featuring more than 25,000 pin prick holes to emulate stars.
The 70-year-old’s sculpture is the first revealed artwork of an approximately $13 million curation of works by local, First Nations and international artists, that will feature in the buildings and along the riverfront.
The foyer is a sweeping entryway to the precinct, and you can walk straight through it and up to level four to the Neville Bonner Bridge – or cross William Street and the Star Grand hotel lobby to walk down the stairs to the riverside area.
EVENT CENTRE AND BALLROOM
The Star Brisbane’s event centre occupies the building between William and George Streets.
It already has a long list of booked events and functions boasting a ‘full-dance card’ for the remainder of the year.
It boasts Brisbane’s largest hotel ballroom- boasting a 2000-person capacity and a commercial kitchen the size of half a football field.
Among confirmed events on the calendar are the Brisbane Broncos’ end of season presentation ball and the Not So Silent Night Christmas ball.
PUBLIC GREEN SPACES
Nestled between Queensland’s oldest occupied building - The Commissariat store, home to the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, and the former State Library building, Miller Park will provide a thoroughfare and green space between William Street and Queens Wharf Road.
The park was named after the Commandant of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, Lieutenant Henry Miller, acknowledging its original purpose as the main access point to the settlement.
Miller Park is expected to be open for the public to enjoy, along with elevator access to and from William Street.
The Landing ‘green wharf’ and the Finger Wharves, which have been a barricaded construction zone for some time, located on the edge of the river won’t be open on Thursday, but will instead open early September, after Riverfire festivities are over.
WHAT WON’T BE OPEN THIS WEEK
TO OPEN BEFORE NOVEMBER:
Leisure Deck on Level 7: Touted as a park in the sky, the Leisure Deck is an expansive, mixed-use green space on level seven, nestled 35m above ground level between the Rosewood and Dorset tower and the Queens Wharf Residences tower, accessible through main escalators and lifts by the public. Once there, there is 12,000sqm of artificial turf that will be used for weekly movie nights, and the potential for markets, events and other activations, including regular dining popups. There will be no permanent food options on this level, though there are expected to be regular pop-ups in the space.
Hotel guests would also have exclusive access to swimming pools, a sauna and a pool bar on this level, however these will be swipe card access only.
The Star said they were hoping for the space to be open and publicly accessible on Thursday, but had faced some issues in the lead up, and the space would open in the days following.
The Landing and Finger Wharves: ‘Green wharf’ recreation space and the wharves to open after Riverfire
The Terrace: Dining precinct featuring Cucina Regina, Lúc Lắc, Azteca, a new iteration of Gambaro Group’s Black Hide Steak & Seafood, Dark Shepherd and Pompette, among those announced so far.
Skydeck Dining: Babblers casual, all-day dining and Aloria, an elegant restaurant, featuring top-quality food and the ‘cellar in the sky’ plus a dedicated martini menu.
TO OPEN LATER:
Velo Cafe: Two-story cafe on the Bicentennial bikeway along the river, designed for cyclists, runners and pedestrians.
The Terrace: Further dining options still TBC, possibly including an ice-creamery.
Dorset and Rosewood Hotels: The 4.5 star and ultra-luxury hotels, respectively, will occupy the western tower with the big Star symbol on it (with the Dorset from ground to the Skydeck on Level 23, and the Rosewood from the Skydeck to, with direct access onto the Skydeck exclusive for Rosewood guests, but they will not open until a date yet to be confirmed.
Queens Wharf Residences: The first of three residential towers planned for the precinct is sold out and is expected to open soon, but at a date yet to be confirmed. Early construction has started on the other two residential towers.
Stephens Lane: The Stephens Laneway precinct will be home to varied food and beverage offerings including a hole-in-the-wall speak-easy.
The Mansions: A heritage site backing on to the construction site of the Queens Wharf tower, the towers were originally slated for retail and casual dining options, however given the amount of time it will take for the tower to be completed and for the Mansions refurbishment to be considered, the true intention is as yet confirmed.
Harris Terrace and Lane: The terrace will host various boutique retail and mixed dining options, while the laneway will consist of luxury retail.
Old State Library: Proposed site of Aboriginal and European Heritage Centre, highlighting the historical significance of the area.
Old Printery and Printery Office: These heritage buildings will be transformed into luxury retail and a restaurants and events space for the Rosewood Hotel, respectively. Former Department of Primary Industries building: The former DPI building will be a four indoor level and two outdoor level building featuring a variety of dining experiences including a microbrewery.
OTHER CHANGES
The Treasury Casino building: It is on the market for a new tenant, possibly Griffith University.
Treasury Hotel: The Treasury Hotel will remain open until the completion of the Rosewood and Dorset Hotels before next steps are considered, however currently published plans have suggested it will be a fourth hotel.
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