Another Art Series Hotel will rise in Brisbane. Joining the impressive line-up of restaurants like Greca, Toko Brisbane, Stanley, and the Felons Brewing Co., it is set to launch within the Howard Smith Wharves development precinct.
The luxury 164-room five-star hotel is being developed by the Deague Group and will feature a pool terrace, and bar, as well as retail and a restaurant on its lower level. The project, considered as the key feature of the riverside development, is set to open in March 2019.
The luxury boutique hotel is the second for Brisbane, the first one being The Johnson, is designed by SJB Architects. The hotel facade is designed to blend into the cliffs with its earthy tones.
Each of the Art Series Hotels, such as The Johnson hotel, draws its design inspiration from their namesake artist. The Johnson hotel took its design cues from Australian abstract artist, Michael Johnson. The 96 self-contained open-plan suites hotel is complemented with Johnson artworks, in-house art libraries, and a dedicated art channel.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au
A Revitalized Howard Smith Wharves
Originally constructed in the 1930s, the Howards Smith Wharves is undergoing redevelopment that will revitalize and transform the 3.4-hectare historic site on the banks of the Brisbane River.
Howard Smith Wharves, one of the last remaining wharf site in the city centre, is located under the Story Bridge at Petrie Bight. The revitalization project aims to transform the site into Brisbane’s newest lifestyle and entertainment destination.
Beginning late 2018, Howard Smith Wharves will be home to riverfront restaurants and bars, brewery, five-star boutique hotel, and two indoor events spaces and a waterfront outdoor space. The site will also feature a cycle path and an underground parking space that can accommodate 359 vehicles.
More than 80 percent of the site has been allocated as a public space providing green outdoor spaces that are ideal for small or large events, parties, corporate, and team building activities.
The Howard Smith Wharves precinct is already taking shape with the fit-out works currently underway and the laying of the final piece of turf on the new 2.7 hectare parkland.
“With spectacular views of the Brisbane River, the Story Bridge and CBD skyline, this park will be the perfect place for picnics, fitness activities, enjoying live music, cycling and kayaking,” Infrastructure Chairman Cr Amanda Cooper said.
“Some 3,850 cubic metres of topsoil has been brought in to raise the level of the parkland above 2011 flood levels, with 4,000 square metres of turf and 13,000 plants finalising the family-friendly space.
“More than 80 per cent of the 3.4 hectare Howard Smith Wharves precinct will be public open space and parkland, which will be easily accessible from the New Farm Riverwalk and City Reach Boardwalk.
Howard Smith Wharves Revitalisation Project, Brisbane CBD, Queensland, Australia
Video credit: Savills Australia & New Zealand/YouTube
Howard Smith Wharves artist impression
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au
“Construction is currently underway for two cliff-face lifts which will provide some of the best views of Brisbane while enabling easy access to the park and the Howard Smith Wharves precinct, from Bowen Terrace and Wilson’s Outlook Reserve.
“An upgrade of Wilson’s Outlook Reserve will also begin next month, to enhance the popular scenic lookout with a new timber observation deck, picnic facilities, feature lighting, seating and landscaping,” Cr Cooper said.
Howard Smith Wharves artist impression
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au
The 600-sqm overwater deck is now complete, Cr Cooper added, with the octagonal pavilion that will feature a champagne lounge and oyster bar now under construction.
“Together with the parkland, dining and entertainment precincts at Howard Smith Wharves will open to the public progressively, from late this year,” Cr Cooper concluded.
“Until now, this has been the missing-link along the Brisbane River and this project has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine the site as a dining, entertainment and lifestyle precinct, further enhancing Brisbane’s status as a New World City,” Central Ward Councillor Vicki Howard said.
Howard Smith Wharves – Brisbane Development Fly Through
Video Credit: VR 360 Australia/YouTube
About Howard Smith Wharves Revitalisation Project
The Howard Smith Wharves, located on the northern side of the Brisbane River, is one of the last remaining wharf sites in the city centre. The 3.43-hectare wharf, under the Story Bridge at Petrie Bright, used to be operated as a cargo wharf until the 1960s.
In 2013, the Brisbane City Council invited interested developers to submit proposal to transform the Howard Smith Wharves(HSW) site into a world-class riverfront destination.
Adam Flaskas and Elisha Bickle were eventually selected as the preferred candidate for the redevelopment of the 3.42 hectare site which will include a riverside parkland and commercial development.
Two lifts will also be built at the top of the cliffs at Bowen Terrace and another at Wilson Outlook Reserve. The cliff lifts will serve as the link for pedestrians between the Bowen Terrace and the new Howard Smith Wharves restaurant and parkland precinct.
The HSW Nominees will have the overall responsibility for the entire site, including the design and construction of the park and open space areas. Asian Pacific Group, owned by the Deague Group, will undertake the hotel development and operation.
Key features of the Howard Smith Wharves Revitalisation Project:
a dining, retail and tourism centre utilising the existing heritage listed buildings
new public open spaces that may be used for markets and festivals
164 rooms in a 5 star Art Series Hotel
a hotel façade that blends into the cliff face with natural tones and textures to keep the iconic Story Bridge as the main focus
underground car park for 359 vehicles
33 employee bicycle spaces and a further 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 for hosting of events like cultural and food festivals.
The construction works for the $110 million Howard Smith Wharves redevelopment project commenced in 2017 and is scheduled to be completed by late 2018.
Time is almost up for fans of The Coop Bistro’s parmigianas as the restaurant bids farewell to make way for I Like Ramen in Fortitude Valley.
Photo credit: I Like Ramen/Facebook
Tagged as the creator of country’s first vegan ramen, I Like Ramen will be taking over the place of The Coop at The Flying Cock on Brunswick Street. But before The Coop closes its doors on Saturday 20 October 2018, customers can enjoy the last bits of its weekly meaty deals.
Once refurbishments are done, the pub will make the big shift to serve vegan dishes.
End of an Era
With a sense of sadness and anticipation for new things to come, The Coop is bringing the last of its weekly promos up to 20 October.
Cocky Trivia – Held every Tuesday night, Cocky Trivia will have its final run on 16 October at 7:00 p.m.
Parmageddon – The Coop’s Wednesday promo, 2-4-1 Parmys, will end on 17 October. For the last time, from 11:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the bistro’s famous parmigianas will be $19.99 for 2 parmys with any two drinks purchased at the time of ordering.
Photo credit: www.thecoopbistro.com.au
$3 Tacos – Thursday 18 October will be the last of the bistro’s all-day and night Thursday treat of any tacos for $3.
Friday $10 Burger & Fries – On Friday 19 October, The Coop will offer burger and fries for $10 for the last time. Choose from classic, chicken burger or the vegetarian Summer Harvest one last time.
Nugg Club – On the last day of The Coop, it will be an all-out, all-you-can-eat-nuggets time. For $20, customers can eat all the nuggs they can munch, plus unlimited golden fries and slaw.
It all started in August 2018 when The Flying Cock hosted I Like Ramen as a pop-up every Sunday to serve delectable bowls of plant-based ramen for lunch and dinner. Because of the successful run of the pop-up venue, the owners decided to make the permanent shift to vegan.
The bistro space will be refurbished, and whilst there is still no definite opening date for the ramen place, it is expected to begin operation in late October or early November.
I Like Ramen is currently busy creating the menu for the Fortitude Valley store. As a teaser, it featured some of the new menu items on Facebook. Think Panko mushroom and kimchi bao, Agedashi tofu in shitake dashi, and Steamed Asian greens with garlic and ginger dressing. All those in addition to its famous bowls of plant-based ramen.
Exciting vegan menu coming up at I Love Ramen in Fortitude Valley (Photo credit: I Like Ramen/Facebook)
The Fortitude Valley store is the first Brisbane branch of the Gold Coast-based vegan ramen specialist.
Nom Nom Bao is the latest Nom Nom store, located on Warner Street in Fortitude Valley. The restaurant is an addition to the Nom Nom Korean Eatery and Nom Nom Ramen & Sake Bar on Bakery Lane.
Photo credit: Nom Nom Bao / Facebook
Bao, also known as baozi, is a steam bun that is traditionally packed with pork mixture is wrapped in a white, warm, and soft bun.
On 7 September, Nom Nom Bao officially opened and to commemorate its opening, they gave away 100 free bao. The restaurant offers street-style food such as pork belly and teriyaki fried chicken.
The star of the menu, of course, is their fluffy bao. Guests can also have the galabi beef with kimchi slaw. Vegetarians can try out their delicious tofu and miso.
For those with a sweet tooth, try out their bao ice cream or the bubble milk tea to seal that Asian food experience. They also have bao for dessert, deliciously filled with matcha ice-cream and topped with icing sugar.
Nom Nom is also a great place to have a drink. Or two. They serve Green Beacon craft beer on tap along with a selection of cocktails. You can also have a glass of wine — choose from red, white, rose or sparkling.
Oktoberfest 2018 is almost here and as part of the German celebration, there will be an Autofest on 14 October 2018 at the Brisbane Showgrounds in Bowen Hills.
Showcasing vehicles that feature German automotive engineering, innovation, and luxury and filling your system with good German beer will be a good chance to enjoy two of the greatest Bavarian contributions to the world. There will be vintage cars on display as well as rare and popular vehicles at the event.
Aside from cars, there will also be bikes and trucks at the event. To make it even better, other car enthusiasts will be there that share the same interest as you!
If you want to show off your vehicle, you can do so by registering here.Approved vehicles are free and will also include four free festival passes for 14 October. Registrations will close on 9 October.
This year’s Oktoberfest will happen on two weekends starting on 5-7 and ending on 12-14 October.
Whilst you’re looking at vehicles at the Autofest 2018 event, you can hear the Bavarian entertainment not too far from you. You can also bring a brezel with you along with a cup of beer from the food and drink stalls at the event.
Your kids will definitely have fun looking at the beautiful cars that will be showcased at this event. And also, they’re definitely Instagram worthy!
Following its remarkable restoration, T.C. Beirne & Co. in Fortitude Valley will open its doors once again on October 2018.
The revitalisation of the heritage-listed building on Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley includes the return of the famous T.C. Beirne signage on one of Brisbane’s most historic buildings.
Joint venture partner David Mann said the T.C. Beirne department store, built in 1902, underwent several expansions over the years and still remains a household name in Brisbane.
David Mann Photo Credit : Supplied
“For decades people knew T.C. Beirne & Co. as the place to shop for fashion,” Mr Mann said.
“Now returned to its former glory, the heritage listed T.C. Beirne & Co. is bringing premium dining and retail back to the heart of The Valley,” he added.
History of T.C. Beirne & Co.
Photo Credit : Supplied
Irish retailer, Thomas Charles Beirne was the founder and director of the T.C. Beirne department stores. He became one of Queensland’s wealthiest businessmen and remained active in the business right up until his death in 1949.
In 1956, T.C. Beirne & Co. in Fortitude Valley was sold to David Jones who continued to trade before closing in 1973.
The iconic building located at the heart of Fortitude Valley was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 29 April 2003.
T.C. Beirne & Co. Restoration
The building’s historic features such as the Brunswick and Duncan Street façades and exposed original columns as well as the striking glass atrium have been magnificently showcased by award-winning design studio Hassell.
Photo Credit : Supplied
The contemporary ground floor, designed by Buchan Group architects, creates inviting linkages between the Brunswick and Duncan Street Malls.
Photo Credit : Supplied
Set to open in October 2018, this much-anticipated retail space has already attracted major dining and leisure tenants including the Beirne Lane bar and restaurant and Brisbane’s first B. Lucky & Sons delivering a complete entertainment experience.
Furthermore, 11,000 sqm of the upper-level commercial space is already open for business and is now home to a number of leading tech and innovation tenants including Croomo, Clui, Genie Solutions along with the State Government’s The Precinct innovation hub.
Get ready, beerheads because this year’s Oktoberfest 2018is almost here in Bowen Hills! On 5-7 October and 12-14 October, be part of this year’s popular Bavarian celebration at the Brisbane Showgrounds.
Expect a bierzelt (Oktoberfest’s iconic beer tent) at the event where you can enjoy great German beers. Traditional stalls will be present as well and of course, an amazing line-up of live entertainment will keep the adrenaline pumping.
Don’t miss out on yummy schnitzels and brezel (pretzel), because what is Oktoberfest without these popular German food staples? Kick off the first weekend of this free-flowing beer festival by having an authentic Bavarian breakfast of delicious sausages paired with a Brezn and sweet mustard. Then, go through the entire weekend feeling like a true local German in the city!
For those with a sweet tooth, grab yourself a Kaffee and Kuchen (coffee and cake), Germany’s version of “afternoon tea.” There will be a wide range of sweet cakes to choose from such as Black Forest, Sarcher Torter, Apple Strudel and many more.
Your children will not feel out of place here as there is also entertainment and activities for them to enjoy at the KinderZone. Traditional Kasperltheater Puppet Show will keep your kids entertained whilst on the two Sundays of the event, your kids are entitled to FREE RIDES ALL DAY!
There will also be baby animals to care for along with various activities such as face painting.
For that authentic Oktoberfest experience, the line-up of live entertainment involves the Bavarian Oompah band, the Münchner Baum, Heide the Yodeller and Alpenrosen Dance Group.
Choose your Fraulein and see if you can pick the winner from amongst the line-up of beautiful ladies out to showcase not only their beauty but also their strength and most importantly their German knowledge.
If you’re feeling competitive, you can participate in the Beardmeister and the Bavarian Strongmen to earn instant street creds. If you’re not joining any of these competitions, make sure to watch them. Aside from the fun factor, they’re a great way to learn more about German culture.
As if delicious handcrafted beers that strictly follow the guidelines set forth in the German Purity Law of 1516 are not enough, there are also German and Australian Wines, champagne to try and enjoy. Soda, water, and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available at the festival.
For over ten years, the city has been celebrating Oktoberfest. In fact, it has become the country’s biggest German Festival with thousands of people attending the festival each year. The festival is from German-Australian festival directors Kim and Boris Zoulek.
Stanley, a Hong Kong inspired eatery at Howard Smith Wharves will open its doors in December 2018.
The new project of Andrew and Jaimee Baturo will surely boost the dining experience in the much-awaited lifestyle precinct. The couple is not new to the food industry since they are also the owners of the renowned Libertine in Petrie Terrace.
Andrew Baturo and Interior Designer Anna Spiro working together on-site. Photo credit: Howard Smith Wharves/Facebook
Stanley will transform the heritage-listed former water-police headquarters back to life. This will be done with the help of the famous Interior Designer Anna Spiro. The design will feature a fusion of modern design and traditional Chinese elements such as hand-painted screens and porcelain.
The Hong Kong-inspired Chinese restaurant will be serving dishes by renowned chef Kym Machin. Their menu will include an array of seafood dishes, Peking duck, roast pork belly, and crispy-skin chicken.
Whilst the highly anticipated Hong Kong-inspired eatery will be open in December, you can already enjoy hanging out in the precinct a month earlier as Felons Brewing Co opens its doors in November 2018.
Howard Smith Wharves will open in late 2018. Photo credit: Howard Smith Wharves/Facebook
With the selection of world-class restaurants plus the development of a 5-star luxury boutique hotel, an exhibition centre, and over 2.7 hectares of public open space, Howard Smith Wharves will certainly be a game changer in the tourism industry of the city.
It’s going to be a sweet, sweet September in Brisbane with the opening of Sugar Republic in Fortitude Valley.
Following their successful and sold-out event in Melbourne, Sugar Republic is set to conquer Brisbane. This 23 September and for a limited time only, Valley Metro will overflow with Sugar Republic’s art installations that are sure to remind you of your sweet childhood memories.
Photo credit: Sugar Republic/Facebook
Experience jumping out of giant birthday cakes and climbing inside super-sized gumball machines. There’s also a swimming-pool-sized pit of pink balls, swing inside a fairy floss room, the Wheel O’ Treats and lots more!
Fairy floss swing
Photo credit: Sugar Republic/Facebook
There will be themed rooms with art installations paying homage to our beloved sweets, candies, and desserts. Relive your fun childhood with sherbet-filled rainbow bridge, a pink-on-pink installation, and a larger-than-life traditional lolly shop you could play in. Other exciting themes include the interactive sprinkles wall ‘press for confetti’ button and Australia’s first neon art wall.
Neon art wall
Photo credit: Sugar Republic/Facebook
Sugar Republic is a pop-up sweets museum by Creative Nation Australia. They collaborate with local artists and creatives to stage fun, interactive, and nostalgic attractions for every sweets-loving individuals to enjoy.
Whilst Sugar Republic is meant for grown-ups, children are also welcome to experience the attractions. Kids aged 2 and under will get free entry. If you prefer, however, to enjoy the fun with fellow adults only, Sugar Republic also has night sessions starting at 6:30 p.m.
Of course, a tour of Sugar Republic candy museum is certainly not complete without photos. So, take as many photos as you can. Fill your social media feed with gorgeous photos of your fun-filled encounters from each of the mind-blowing installations
Plus, visitors will be treated to a few tastings which may include ice cream, lollies, and fairy floss. Sweet!
Tickets are now on sale. Ticket prices are $35 (General Admission), $29 (Children aged 12 and under), Free Admission (Children aged 2 and under). Buy Tickets
Valley Metro Centre, 230 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Adults will soon be having their fill of fun retro-games and cocktails when B.Lucky & Sons opens its doors in Fortitude Valley. The site of the new grown-up arcade-inspired bar is the historic TC Beirne Building on Brunswick St.
Credit:B. Lucky & Sons/YouTube Upon entering through a pawn shop facade, there lies the neon-lit adult playground filled with classic arcade games. Players can try their luck and collect ticket prizes by playing games like Mario Kart, Space Invaders, In the Groove, NBA Hoops, and Whack N’ Win. Lucky winners can claim and pick their vintage collectables like Chanel handbags and Nintendo 64s at the prize parlour. Game prices range from $2-$5.
The night of fun and games will certainly not be complete without food and drinks. B.Lucky & Sons Fortitude Valley has got you covered with their “East meet West” food menu at the cocktail lounge.
Some of the featured drinks:
The Tarotino – Smirnoff Vodka, coffee and chocolate liqueurs with almond and taro served in a gold-rimmed glass.
Don Billy – Don Julio Blanco Tequila, white chocolate liqueur, and a punchy passion fruit puree shaken with egg white. Topped with white chocolate.
Mai Tai – Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold Rum, Plantation Original Dark Rum, Cointreau, and almond syrup shaken with lime.
Ginger Spice – Old English punch bowl filled with Captain Morgan Spiced Gold Rum and lashings of cinnamon whiskey with a touch of caramel and apple.
The Tarotini
Some of the featured stone baked pizzas and sides:
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au
