Queen’s Wharf to showcase Brisbane

The excavations are over and now work is to start on the $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf development which will transform Brisbane.

An artist’s impression of the $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf development.

Brisbane’s multibillion-dollar Qu­een’s Wharf project will be­gin rising from the ground foll­owing almost three years of dem­olition, excavation and shoring works.

Contractor Multiplex has kicked off construction on the foundations and public realm of Dest­ination Brisbane Consortium’s $3.6­ billion casino, hotel and leisure development.

The Queensland capital’s biggest private development is being undertaken by Australian casino operator The Star Entertainment Group and its joint venture partners, Hong Kong-listed Far East Consortium and Chow Tai Fook.

The Star’s executive operations head, Geoff Hogg, said Brisbane residents could expect to see 10 cranes across the riverside site over the next five months.

“There is no doubt that our development will become an iconic precinct of a scale, diversity and quality unlike anything we have for locals and visitors to enjoy in Queensland today,” he said.

“Two tower cranes are now operating at our Queen’s Wharf Brisbane construction site, as work transitions from excavation to the physical build of a world-class integrated resort.

“Multiplex has now taken over the site as the appointed main construction contractor and will commence by building Queensland’s largest basement and underground carpark.”

The northern riverfront development — which spans almost 10ha — features a new casino, the overhaul of heritage buildings, five new hotels with more than 1000 rooms, around 50 restaurants and a major retail precinct. It is due for completion in 2022.

Ben Weaver, director of town-planning company Ethos Urban, said Queen’s Wharf was “a game-changer” that would help to elevate Brisbane’s global reputation. “It is one of a number of key projects with the potential to fulfil a longstanding ambition Brisbane has had as a new world city,” he said. “The level of private investment and its intensity is far beyond anything that has been attracted to the city previously.”

Mr Weaver said the restaurants and bars would bring more people and activity to the city, expanding the night-time economy along the river’s North Bank.

Once works reach the George Street level at the end of next year, Multiplex will build the integrated resort’s three towers, the first apartment tower, the public podium and Sky Deck level.

The ground-level construction comes after ProBuild excavated more than 400,000 cubic metres of material and demolished three former government buildings to clear the site.

Tunnelling for a future sewer line is going on 24 hours a day under the development. Piling for the 6500sq m over-river public space, to be called The Landing, is due to start this month.

Planning for the site’s apartment, retail and leisure operations are under way.

Apartment towers for more than 2000 units are expected on the site, developed in a 50:50 partnership between Far East Consortium and Chow Tai Fook.

Mr Hogg said the first tower would have more than 600 apartments. “We are still working through the retail and food and beverage strategy and mix for the precinct,” he said.