The $110 million Howard Smith Wharves project isn’t due to open for another month but eager residents are looking to make bookings for 2021.
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The development, approved by Brisbane City Council in 2015, will reactivate 3.4 hectares of riverside land underneath the Story Bridge, including restaurants, an overwater bar, a 164-room five-star hotel and multiple event spaces.
The event spaces can accommodate up to 1000 guests and the first two, The Rivershed and Howards Hall, would open in November.
The spaces are designed to host anything from seminars to weddings and residents are already securing the space.
Hundreds of inquiries have been received about the spaces, with bookings made up until 2020 and inquiries made into 2021.
Bookings have been made for galas, award dinners, exhibitions, conferences and weddings, and there has been interest for holiday functions throughout November and December, including New Year's Eve.
A third event space, The Houses, would open from February and was more suited to smaller events.
Former Star Entertainment Group events director Scott Bayne has stepped into the role of Howard Smith Wharves events general manager.
“We’re thrilled to be launching the Rivershed and The Houses,” said Mr Bayne, who also served as group dining manager of Wynn Resorts, based on Las Vegas.
“Brisbane is a thriving hub for business and the arts, as well as a place defined by its strong sense of community.
“It was therefore essential for us to create welcoming, ownable spaces within the precinct that could be constantly transformed for any event size or type – be it runway shows or gala dinners, product launches or weddings.”
The event spaces will be some of the first elements of the $110 million development to open, with a construction lease issued by the council for the site until 2020.
Key features of Howard Smith Wharves project:
- A dining, retail and tourism centre using existing heritage-listed buildings.
- New public open spaces that may be used for markets and festivals.
- 164 rooms in a five-star Art Series Hotel.
- A hotel facade that blends into the cliff face with natural tones and textures to keep Story Bridge as the main focus.
- Underground car park for 359 vehicles.
- 33 employee bicycle spaces and 50 bicycle spaces for visitors throughout the parkland.
- Parkland and public open spaces including lifts linking the site to the top of the cliffs.
- A 1500-square-metre exhibition space.
