Flinders Street Wharves set for $30m floating bar revamp

A floating bar and restaurant will be the new waterfront centrepiece of Townsville’s Flinders Street Wharves as part of an ambitious new development. See the plans + construction update.

A render of the proposed waterfront development of Float on Flinders Street.

A floating bar and restaurant will be the new waterfront centrepiece of Townsville’s Flinders Street Wharves as part of an ambitious new development planned to begin construction later this year.

The new Marine Tourism Hub development will feature booking offices, commercial marina berths and FLOAT, a function area, restaurant and bar venue that will be the first of its kind in North Queensland.

The project, pegged as a tourism attraction to those looking to holiday in the tropics, will be in part funded by the state government’s Growing Future Tourism program.

Construction is expected to start later this year, with the $30m project one of five developments to share in the tourism program’s $15m first round of funding.

Townsville MP Scott Stewart said the project had been in the works for some time, and that first discussions between himself and developers had occurred last year.

“This is a great project for our city centre which will have activate it even more,” Mr Stewart said.

A render of the proposed waterfront development of Float on Flinders Street.

“I met with the project directors last year and heard about what Flinders Street Wharves will do for the city.

“Projects like this, along with the Queensland Country Bank Stadium, are important in bringing more people into the city centre which supports our local businesses.”

When first proposed, the design was to feature a waterfront pavilion next to the iconic Burns Philp building on Flinders Street, but the project has now been refined to something sleeker, according to updated renders.

Flinders Street Wharves Director Andrew Hooper-Nguyen said he was ‘delighted’ to see the project proceed with the aid of the state government.

“The Marine Tourism Hub is a major investment and we are delighted to be partnering with the Queensland Government in promoting world-class marine tourism experiences at Magnetic Island and the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.

“The FLOAT functions, restaurant and bar venue will be a first for North Queensland. It will activate the waterfront and bolster Townsville’s image as a liveable city and tourist destination.”

The five projects funded in part by the first round of the Growing Future Tourism program, including the Flinders Street Wharves development, are expected to be ‘practically completed’ by June 30, 2026.

Originally published as Flinders Street Wharves set for $30m floating bar revamp