Heritage protection comes first at Queen’s Wharf Brisbane

Just days after taking possession of the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development site on 1 January, the Destination Brisbane Consortium is moving to protect the heritage buildings in the precinct prior to any significant enabling works starting.

Investigations have begun to determine the foundation conditions of several of the heritage buildings.

The investigations are looking at the base of the buildings, to determine the extent and method of their construction, and to identify if there has been any subsidence since they were built in the 1800s.

Destination Brisbane Consortium Project Director Simon Crooks said the work was of vital importance before any demolition and excavation activities occur.

“We need to undertake a dilapidation survey of the footings of these buildings, as this will identify what potential retention systems are required,” Mr Crooks said.

“These investigations will be done to Harris Terrace, The Mansions, National Trust House, the former Public Services Club, and the Printery. Additional investigations may be undertaken on further buildings depending the extent of new works and their proximity to heritage buildings.”

Mr Crooks said the consortium has engaged Brisbane firms – Mount Cotton Constructions, structural engineers Calibre Consultants and geotechnical engineers Butler Partners – to undertake the work.

“They will need to dig small test pits of between one and three metres deep at the footings of each of these buildings,” Mr Crooks said.

“Small amounts of some footpaths will be dug up, with all work supervised by an archaeologist and reported back to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.

“Depending on the material around the footings, it may take a few days to a week to assess each building, after which point the test pit will be filled back in and any retention systems put in place if required.

“Several of the heritage buildings have already been identified through preparatory testing throughout 2016 as needing protective bracing ahead of nearby demolition and excavation work. This will be done prior to hard demolition commencing, expected in March 2017, and will look like steel scaffolding up against the building.”

With 11 heritage sites located within the precinct, their restoration and repurposing will be a major aspect of the development of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane.

“We take this very seriously, as is demonstrated by the award-winning stonework conservation and heritage management that consortium partner, The Star Entertainment Group, has undertaken of the Treasury hotel and casino buildings,” Mr Crooks said.

“We will be fitting out all heritage buildings in the site with vibration and movement monitoring equipment for the duration of our development works.

“These will identify in real time if there is any tilting or movement.

“Further, we will have in place monitoring on the Riverside Expressway, as well as groundwater, temperature, vibration and surface displacement monitoring.”

The Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development is a game changer for the city, and will feature:

• 50 new restaurants and bars.
• More than 1000 premium additional hotel rooms.
• 2000 residential apartments.
• Reactivation of some of the city’s most significant heritage buildings.
• More than 2000 jobs during peak construction and 8000 operational jobs.
• A 100 plus-metre Sky Deck.
• 12 football fields of enhanced public open space.
• A new pedestrian bridge from the CBD to South Bank.

Milestones for the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development will be updated online at www.queenswharfbrisbane.com.au and on the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Facebook page www.facebook.com/queenswharfbrisbane/.

Harris Terrace in current condition

Harris Terrace as part of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane (indicative)