Artemus Group’s Riverside Precinct Focus Sharpens

Never again will Brisbane turn its back on “the brown snake”. Under the city’s landmark Story Bridge, the developer behind the Howard Smith Wharves precinct has made sure of that. Tapping into the city’s murky and meandering serpentine soul, Artemus Group’s redevelopment of the historic wharves in 2018 reinvigorated the Queensland capital’s connection with the Brisbane River. Six years later, it has unveiled a bold vision for the next stage of the transformative hospitality and entertainment precinct. And it comes as the river’s edge slowly sheds its skin, figuratively speaking, with major projects—including the $3.6-billion Queen’s Wharf, $2.5-billion Waterfront Place and an overhaul of the 42ha South Bank Parklands—in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics. “The river is one of our city’s superpowers,” Artemus Group chief executive Luke Fraser tells The Urban Developer . “And it’s also something which we’ve done really terrible things to, historically. “We’ve quarried it, we’ve used it as a sewer at one point, and there’s whole parts of the city that turned their back on it. If you look at some of the oldest apartment buildings in New Farm, they constructed their stairwells on the river-facing side. “We never realised what a beautiful asset it is for the city, and we never realised how majestic and peaceful and amazing it is … the way that it moves throughout our city and the way it connects a lot of our inner-city precincts now. ▲ The plans include a nine-storey hotel for the historic wharves on the Brisbane River. “And what’s beautiful about all those different precincts that are on the river is they all offer a diversity of uses, and they’re all very complementary to each other.” Led by Artemus Group founders Adam Flaskas and Paul Henry as well as Fraser, the resurrection of the 3.5ha site of the heritage-listed Howard Smith Wharves—after being abandoned for decades—created a different experience again. Fraser says Howard Smith Wharves—“where you’re either on or over the river”—connected not only “with a lot of things that people in Brisbane loved about Brisbane” but more significantly “with the river in a really strong way”. “And the next plan connects even more with the river,” he says. “So when the world comes to town in 2032, people are going to love it.” The proposal includes the construction of a 77-room, nine-storey riverfront hotel and arch-filled colonnade with ground-level retail and a music hall/theatre replacing the existing Felons Barrel Hall. As well, an expansive new river terrace and deck with an overwater pool, bar and dining area is planned along with enhanced riverfront public spaces, pathways, parklands and boardwalks. To activate the eastern end of the precinct, the heritage-listed galvanised Rivershed would be raised by a level with new restaurants underneath and function spaces at the upper level including a new loft style bar and offices. The creation of a new two-level venue—Rivershed East—is also proposed, separate from but connected to their main shed, and Bougainvillea House, an existing single-storey event space with a wraparound veranda, is to be revitalised and expanded with an additional floor and its built form trellised and heavily landscaped. Crucially, two new “cliff lifts” would provide much-needed improved public access to and from Fortitude Valley and New Farm. Additionally, two new “river stairs” would provide further spaces “for people sit and pause and enjoy everything the river has to offer”. “Our original plan that was hatched 10 years ago imagined the spaces that we have today but there has always been the opportunity to do more at Howard Smith Wharves,” Fraser says. ▲ The new plans for the Howard Smith Wharves are an evolution for the initial redevelopment of the precinct in 2018. And he says although its doors had been open for only a year when the pandemic hit, and then a flood, the precinct had emerged stronger from that challenging period. “What this new plan does is really enhance what we’ve seen in the way that people love to enjoy Howard Smith Wharves and it really invests in that. “Creating the spaces that allow people to use them in the way that they want to is something that we’ve really been focused on, and that’s what this plan delivers on.” As well, Fraser says Brisbane “continuing to catapult itself on to the global stage” had provided significant impetus for the precinct’s future evolution. “That’s really exciting for the city … and what that’s given business here, people like ourselves, is the confidence to dream big and be bold.” Architect Mark Damant, of design studio Little Boat Projects, says the project “considers placemaking as the primary objective of the architecture”. “This is a place for people, first and foremost,” he says. “The design is welcoming and comfortable. There is something for everyone.” The river, known as Maiwar by the traditional owners of the lands—the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples—has long been a meeting and trading place. Damant says the vision by Artemus Group also “positions Howard Smith Wharves to become the most sustainable precinct in the world”. “The design incorporates subtropical landscape elements, integrating rooftop gardens and facade greenery, while world-first initiatives focus on reducing environmental impact and enhancing liveability,” he says. Twelve beverage storage tanks would be integrated into three locations across the riverside precinct to support sustainability by reducing packaging waste and traffic movements. A submitted architectural startement says the overall design has been derived from Brisbane’s rich history of public architecture and the site's unique geology of the river edge and cliff face. “The proposal...seeks to celebrate Brisbane’s traditional architecture of red/ brown brick—the Woolstores of Teneriffe, the old Brisbane Museum, and the original RNA buildings on St Pauls Terrace, the McWhirter’s building, the Brisbane Powerhouse are all fine examples of buildings that once defined public architecture in Brisbane. “These buildings and their materiality have stood the test of time. “The proposal additionally strongly references the stone cliff that define this part of the Brisbane River, especially where the architecture intersects with the landscape.” Fraser says the group’s plan is to deliver Howard Smith Wharves’ next stage ahead of the 2032 Olympics. The code-assessable development application lodged with the Brisbane City Council follows plans filed in October last year for a $20-million overwater expansion. Under the plans, two 157m-long pontoons—either side of the existing Mr Percival’s bar—would be constructed to establish a “river tourism gateway” accessed via five gangways and an elevator. Boat-berthing facilities would restore the original historic purpose of the wharves while providing river connections to key tourism locations in the city and Moreton Bay. The proposal also involves the creation of unique floating food and beverage venues—including aboard a permanently moored trawler and barge. “We’re working through procuring the contractors now for the pontoon project,” Fraser says. “Our plan is to deliver that first and once that’s complete work with contractors to identify the ideal delivery window for this next stage. “And what that does is it allows us to have places for our team and the businesses that they work in to keep operating while some of these buildings get remodelled.” Artemus Group, meanwhile, is also working up plans for Sydney’s landmark Manly Wharf and the Manly Wharf Hotel, which it acquired for $110 million last year from Robert Magid’s TMG Developments. “We’re passionate about waterfront property and businesses—revitalising them and creating iconic precincts,” Fraser says. “We love connecting with the community through that…creating the cultural hubs, finding the local connection to food suppliers and producers. “Our focus at the moment really is Howard Smith Wharves and Manly Wharf. “But never say never. That might take us to another waterfront precinct.” ▲ Two 157m-long pontoons are part of plans for a “river tourism gateway” at the wharves. Funny he should mention that. Speculation has been rife that Artemus Group has been running the rule over another high-profile Sydney waterfront asset—Luna Park, which just happens to sit in the shadow of another landmark bridge. “I did see those rumours, yeah,” Fraser says coyly. It is the first time the heritage-listed amusement park, which opened in 1935, has come to market in two decades. Industry insiders are tipping a sale price in the vicinity of $70 million for the offering, which includes the business, the buildings and long-term lease on the land, which is owned by the Luna Park Reserve Trust, a government agency. Asked if Artemus Group was circling what is arguably Australia’s most recognisable waterfront site, Fraser would not be drawn. “There’s always speculation, isn’t there? But, yeah, I mean it’s a pretty iconic, interesting asset.” Say no more. You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. Click here to learn more.

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