A Star is born: Queen’s Wharf project to use Brisbane Festival as launch pad for first openings
Brisbane’s multi-billion dollar Queen’s Wharf precinct has named August 29 as the date for the first of its multi-stage openings with the long-awaited The Star Brisbane.
The Star Brisbane chief executive Daniel Finch in front of the Queen's Wharf project
Nearly nine years after it was formally announced and two years past its original projecting finishing point, The Star Brisbane has announced it is finally opening at least some of its doors, with a series of restaurants, bars and public spaces launching through late August and September, starting from August 29.
“We are thrilled to be commencing our phased opening to coincide with Brisbane’s biggest party, Brisbane Festival,” said The Star Brisbane Chief Executive Officer Daniel Finch.
“Fittingly, public spaces will be among the first areas to be opened and that includes the viewing platform on Sky Deck, Miller Park, and of course the Neville Bonner Bridge linking Queen’s Wharf to South Bank.
“However the transformed grassed public areas along the river including The Landing and Finger Wharves will open after Riverfire.” (Riverfire 2024 will be taking place on August 31).
Finch said the 1440 seat Event Centre wolud be opening its calendar “from early September” and the 340 room Star Grand hotel would have “bookings to open very soon”.
Announced dining and leisure openings include the LiveWire live entertainment venue, celebrity chef Luke Nguyen’s Fat Noodle, Japanese restaurant Sokyo, cocktail bar Cherry and a sprawling Sports Bar. Restaurants in the Sky Deck and The Terrace areas are reportedly under final fit outs and will open progressively through the remainder of 2024.
The main Casino floor and premium gaming rooms will also be part of the initial openings with Finch addressing the Star Entertainment Group’s recent quagmire of controversies.
“We are subject to regulatory and government approvals and as such our remediation is crucial and will ensure we deliver the best possible outcomes,”he said. “We have a responsibility to our community, our guests and our team members to be better and provide the safest environment possible across the entire business.”
Areas to open progressively from August into September and throughout the remainder of 2024 as part of the first phase of a multi-staged opening include:
• Public Areas: 7.5 hectares of public space including Neville Bonner Bridge, upgraded Bicentennial Bikeway, Miller Park, Sky Deck viewing platform, Leisure Deck on Level Seven
• Newly created green space The Landing to open after Riverfire
• Sky Deck: Trio of restaurants will open progressively during first phase
• The Star Grand: 340 hotel rooms including four penthouses, three swimming pools, Sokyo restaurant (Japanese)
• Event Centre: 1,440 seat ballroom with pre-function bar, outdoor terrace and views to the Story Bridge
• The Terrace Dining, Level Four: restaurants will open progressively during first phase
• Level Five & Six: LiveWire, Sports Bar, Fat Noodle (South-East Asian), Food Quarter, Cherry, Main Casino Floor and Premium Gaming Rooms
• Leisure Deck: Gymnasium, more food & beverage outlets
Areas to open as progressively as part of the next phase of a multi-staged opening will include:
• Dorsett and Rosewood hotel tower
• Velo Café end of trip facility
• Luxury Retail destinations
• The Terrace Dining, Level Four: Ice-creamery, Asian dining and more geographical themed dining
• Heritage buildings: Activated with experiences, retail and food & beverage
The Queen’s Wharf project – delivered by the Destination Brisbane Consortium, a joint venture between The Star Entertainment Group and Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium – hopes to be a revitalising agent for the Brisbane CBD and night-time economy.
