Howard Smith Wharves

Howard Smith Wharves is a heritage-listed former wharf precinct on the Brisbane River beneath the Story Bridge in Brisbane City, Queensland. Built between 1934 and the early 1940s by Brisbane City Council and leased to Howard Smith Company, the wharves served as cargo berths. Redeveloped and reopened in 2018, the 3.5-hectare site now operates as a riverside dining, brewery, hotel and public parkland precinct retaining original wharf structures and cliff-side heritage buildings.

Visitors can expect a riverside precinct beneath the Story Bridge with restored heritage wharf sheds, timber boardwalks and open parklands along the Brisbane River. The site contains restaurants, cafes, bars, Felons Brewing Co., a boutique hotel and event lawns set against the cliffs of Bowen Terrace. Areas to explore include the waterfront promenade, heritage buildings, public art, lawn areas and viewpoints of the river and bridge. The precinct is primarily for dining, drinking, sightseeing and photography.

Constructed by Brisbane City Council between 1934 and early 1940s to provide riverside wharfage, the Howard Smith Wharves were leased to Howard Smith Company Limited for cargo handling. The precinct includes wharves, sheds and retaining walls built into the cliffs below Bowen Terrace and is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. It operated as commercial wharves until the 1960s, later used by Queensland Water Police, before major heritage revitalisation and reopening as a public precinct in 2018.

The precinct is a prominent example of adaptive reuse of industrial maritime heritage in Brisbane, retaining original wharf structures while serving as a major riverside dining, leisure and community event destination. Its location beneath the Story Bridge makes it a central gathering place for locals and visitors and a focal point for riverfront recreation and cultural events.