GROUPS taking in views over the Brisbane River from the city’s newest and most ambitious hotel towers can be forgiven for overemphasising the 2032 Olympics as they gush about splendid vistas and all that progress.
While hosting the Summer Games in a few years time is more than a feather in the cap, what visitors to either side of the Brisbane River – including those enjoying the views from the Star Hotel’s SkyDeck at Queens Wharf – is that business events and the visitor economy inspired what they see before them.
Brisbane has created a destination to meet the needs of a growing population while regenerating a waterfront emerging from bygone days of heavy industry.
With new structures like the Neville Bonner Bridge – a walkway linking Queens Wharf with the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) precinct – the city is earning its place as a world-class business events destination.
Queens Wharf, which sees the Star reaching over to the convention precinct, is a A$3.6 billion investment delivered by Destination Brisbane Consortium – joint venture led by the Star Entertainment Group alongside its Hong Kong-based partners, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium. It comes as part of a A$14bn pipeline of investments being stored by Brisbane Economic Development Agency that include the South Bank Cultural Precinct, cross-river transport links, a metro system and hotels.
Business and cultural events combined with BCEC’s links to world-leading researchers at the city’s universities have nurtured Brisbane’s growing command in attraction medical and scientific conferences. And the progress, including winning the rights to host the 2032 Olympics, was decades in the making.
Brisbane’s Riverfront offers many pleasant surprises; restaurants, a public beach, inland cliffs used for sports climbing, disused stores transformed into chic bars – and a Nepalese temple designed to look centuries old and somewhat out of place amid the hip and sporty strolling, jogging or cycling by.
Backgrounder… More than an Olympic Dream
The Nepalese Peace Pagoda was built as Brisbane prepared to host World Expo 1988. For many locals Expo 88 was when the riverfront’s regeneration originally sprung into action with acres of industrial wasteland making way for structures exhibiting the business and cultural potential of the world’s destinations.
World Expo ’88 was hailed as a “game changer” and paved the way for the impressive developments seen today, particularly with the Wool Expo Park being redeveloped to locate BCEC and what is now the convention precinct.
Meetings and incentive planners will find ample event spaces and a host of activities with which to bond groups, not only using both sides of the Brisbane River, but also beyond the city centre.
Here’s selection of ideas…
HOTELS
Queens Wharf Sky Deck – As more restaurants and unique spaces for groups open in phases at the Grand Star Hotel, views over Brisbane River across to Brisbane convention precinct have been the first port of call for group organisers in these early days of the Star. Cocktails at 100 metres above the city are already an itinerary favourite with the Cicada Blu entertainment venue soon to be a SkyDeck centrepiece.
Emporium Hotel Brisbane – More views are found across on South Bank from the Emporium’s Terrace Rooftop Bar whether your get together is for a light breakfast, or views from another vantage point, this time with a breakfast/cocktails at The Terrace. This lounge can cater for up to 250 guests and features a retractable ceiling so groups can direct their gaze to the stars.
Calile Hotel – The Fortitude Valley area of the city features luxury storeas and equally suave restaurants. An oasis among the high-powered sports cars and the hum affluence is the newly opened Calile. The Hellenika restaurant serving Greek cuisine at one end of the hotel by is one of the group options with indoor and outdoor event space also cordoned off at the other end of the pool.
UNIQUE VENUES
Powerhouse Brisbane – This former power station has become a home for contemporary culture with an outdoor cinema and theatre suitable for large-scale conferences recently added. Other spaces include the Underground Theatre and the “dramatic, cathedral-like space” of the Turbine Platform. For smaller meetings or breakouts the Graffiti Room is among the choices while the Riverbend Terrace on the third level, the Rooftop Terrace and the lawn setting of the Pleasuredome are available for F&B. The building’s Vertigo dining experience, however, is arguably the high point!
Customs House – This heritage building once processed tariffs and other trading arrangements for the port of Brisbane before the demand for sleek office buildings and the digital era lowered the dependency on paper forms. Again, its prominence along the riverbank gives envious views from the balcony, which makes an idea space for cocktails or long-table dining. The Customs House is part of the University of Queensland’s property portfolio with settings such as the main hall suitable for medium-sized conferences.
QAGOMA (Queensland Art Gallery/ Gallery of Modern Art) – Thanks to Brisbane’s walkability, South Bank’s cultural and convention venues are easy for groups to access. QAGOMA has an award-winning catering and events team with several spaces available ranging from the Roof Terrace with splendid views of the river and Kurilpa bridge, Sculpture Terrace for cocktails and the indoor setting of the Watermall for banquets.
RECREATION & TEAMBUILDING
Vertigo – Atop the Brisbane Powerhouse there is an on-the-edge dining experience with groups paired up for each table with the floor 17 metres below for those fearless enough to look down. At Vertigo, guests are safely harnessed as they approach their tables and again as they get seated to experience the high points of dining. As well as high-class dining, the suspense is made more easier as team members encourage those fretful of heights to eventually relax and enjoy the food, and the views. There are options to glide down the side of Powerhouse by rope after dinner, take the stairs or the lift.
Story Bridge Adventure Climb – Again groups can don the harnesses and get securely clipped into climb suits to walks together to greater heights over sections of Story Bridge, this time 80 metres above sea level. A more low-altitude option is cycling with Riverlife Brisbane, which also operates other adventure activities such as kayaking and inland cliff climbing on natural rock face from its Naval Stores base at Kangaroo Point. Riverlife also provides various-sized event spaces complete with catering and those views of Brisbane.
Graffiti Art Masterclass – Banana Life provides team building options and conference gamification with a street culture theme to let groups bond. Graffitis art classes give groups an appreciation of lesser known creative outlets and the chance to take home quirky additions to their art collections.
Banana Life instructors introduces aspiring artists to the two main types of nozzle used in spraying along with correct techniques such as stencilling and applying layers of shade – all done legally on a square canvas. New Farm Park near to the Powerhouse makes an idyllic itinerary stop for the activity in a space shared by picnickers, exercisers and fellow artists. Corporate names and team themes are among the inspirations.
EXCURSIONS
Marinas and jetties can be found up and down the Brisbane River and organisers can work with YOT Vice to choose their embarkation point. One of YOT”s state-of-the-art vessels is a two-level 90 foot (27.5 metres) luxury yacht complete with bar and buffet. Seafood buffet complete with bar are among the options.
Sirromet Winery – Before groups sample wine these days, it has become customary to imbibe the educational aspects, typically with a wine-blending workshop before lunch. Sirromet is a family-owned winery about a 40 minute drive from Brisbane with 560 acres of vineyards and natural bush. The property is also known for hosting music festivals and its skills in catering naturally extend to corporate event groups. Ample indoor and outdoor events space is provided including accommodation for retreats. The Tuscan Terrace is idea for lunches with views of the estate while the Cellar Door caters to tastings. Unique venues include the high-ceiling Lurleen’s room and the adjacent Barrel Hall.
Teambuilding activities at Sirromet range from self-guided bushwalking; 4×4 driving through a designed track, sip and paint workshops; helicopter excursions and clay-shooting.
Tangalooma Resort – Brisbane’s holiday island destination, about a 70-minute ferry ride from the city, is also popular with conference and incentive groups. Quad-biking; wild dolphin or pelican feeding are amain the team bonding options alongside more than 85 different tours and activities. Accommodation option for groups vary from mid-range to more high-end with balconies and kitchen. Conference and event packages are offered with the Waterfront Pavilion and Wheelhouse available for larger meetings and those ocean views.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Concerns that koalas were becoming an endangered species rose to a height in the late 1920s when the passive bear was hunted for its fur. This led to the opening of the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary, which offers encounters with the eucalyptus-loving creatures as well as a chance to feed the sanctuary’s kangaroos.
UNIQUE DINING
Boom Boom Room – Preserving heritage buildings is not only a mainstay of Brisbane’s development, but also a chance for creative design for the interiors. At the Treasury building, the Japanese-themed Boom Boom Room is one of the city’s sophisticated cocktail haunts with private rooms available for small groups.
Upstairs at the Treasury the Asia theme continues with Donna Chang with private dining rooms available and welded-open iron safe doors still in the corridors after all these years. The Victorian building also blends in the modern features of the Adina hotel in the floors above.
Howard Smith Wharves – One of Brisbane’s most-anticipated regeneration projects is found at Kangaroo Point where former storage units have been repurposed as bars and restaurants. Stanley Restaurant gives a modern touch to Chinese cuisine with al fresco dining main adding more views of Brisbane River.
ALSO TRY…
Spicers Hidden Vale – An hour’s drive from Brisbane, this retreat combines luxury with a friendly country welcome. Back in the city, Eat Street Northshore provides a laid back atmosphere featuring local live entertainment.
