Portside Wharf, is set to undergo an extensive $20 million makeover, which will reaffirm the precinct as a vibrant neighbourhood village by the water..
The design vision for the dining, retail and entertainment precinct is aimed to capture the hearts and minds of the local community – particularly those within 20 minutes of its premier location on the Brisbane River at Hamilton.
Through a partnership with designer Cavill Architects and city-shapers Urbis, work is anticipated to commence later this year and be finalised by December 2023.
The reimagined riverside locale will enhance views and access to the river through an extended entry plaza and main street, and create additional shading and landscaping to support expanded year-round outdoor dining with a refreshed and activated riverfront.
New, exciting tenancies will be created, and defined dining, retail and entertainment sub-precincts will be introduced to enhance the experience of visitors to the precinct. Areas dedicated to lifestyle and wellness, convenience and premium boutiques will also be established.
Brookfield Residential Properties’ Managing Director, Lee Butterworth, said “we have built a strong foundation at Portside Wharf since its opening 16 years ago, and this significant investment will further enhance its reputation as a dining, shopping, entertainment and lifestyle destination,” he said.
“It is an opportune time to shape a new vision and future for Portside Wharf, one that refocuses on and celebrates the rich history and people of our local community.
“The redevelopment will entice new visitors to rediscover our village by the water, while redefining our vibrant neighbourhood locale for the more than 4,000 residents now living in the immediate area.
“The changes we are making will amplify our community connections, provide exciting day and night experiences, leverage even further our enviable waterfront location, and create enticing spaces for our customers to relax, unwind and socialise.
“We are actively seeking to expand our tenant mix with new convenience, dining, wellness and boutique offerings that support our vision for this new evolution of Portside Wharf.”
Cavill Architects Practice Director Andrew D’Occhio and Urbis Senior Designer Lorena Garcia Martin said the investment would herald a new future for Portside Wharf by drawing on its rich legacy.
“This river location has been essential for centuries, originally as a hunting and gathering ground, then as a regatta location, productive wharf and cruise ship terminal, and combining these histories in this next phase will reassert Portside Wharf as one of Brisbane’s key memorable places to gather and connect with the river,” Mr D’Occhio said.
“We will be opening-up Portside Wharf visually and physically from its northern entrance, extending through the heart of the precinct a vibrant main street to connect this area of Hamilton more directly to the water.
“Portside Wharf really led the charge in introducing new residents and retailers to this location and, over time, it has been complemented by a sequence of adjoining public spaces and parkland.
“Portside Wharf’s investment will better connect the precinct to those new spaces and the surrounding Hamilton suburb, making it a comfortable year-round place to visit by foot, with new softened materials, shading and landscaping offering the dual benefit of shaping high-quality places to gather and protection from the elements.”
Portside Wharf features over 12,000sqm of retail space, home to some of Brisbane’s best dining and entertainment, including Sono Japanese Restaurant, Byblos, Gusto Da Gianni, Dendy Cinema and the recently expanded Zeneldin’s IGA, with a number of exciting new retailers to be announced soon.