The North Queensland capital has today come alive as Townsville’s Flinders Street Wharves welcomes its first guests, unveiling a transformative era for hospitality, entertainment, and tourism in Queensland’s North.
The landmark $30M hospitality precinct located in the former Burns Philp & Co. building at 108 Flinders Street, overlooking Townsville’s waterfront, is set to revive the iconic street into a dining and entertainment mecca, housing seven unique spaces in one destination and marking an exciting new chapter for locals and visitors.
Co-owner of Flinders Street Wharves, Grant Morgan, said the highly anticipated opening was an iconic moment.
“This project has been years in the making and to officially welcome our first guests through the doors today is a historic occasion for this city,” Morgan said.
“We are incredibly proud to deliver a destination where locals can celebrate the best of their city and visitors can experience a new, vibrant tourism offering in North Queensland.”
The 2600sqm riverfront day-to-night destination champions Townsville’s laidback lifestyle whilst blending refined experiences to create a vibrant, evolving space that never stands still.
With capacity for up to 1000 guests, Flinders Street Wharves features a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces, each offering a unique experience from morning to evening and beyond.
The precinct will create 120 jobs for locals and hopes to attract over 350,000 guests in its first year, injecting approximately $6M back into the local economy*.
The Kiosk, the venue’s casual eatery will serve all-day coffee and morning bites by the waterfront. Situated next to The Kiosk, the Beer Garden is the precinct’s dedicated alfresco space for all-occasions. Inside, guests can expect a relaxed yet elevated setting at The Bistro where pub favourites are the hero and the likes of woodfired pizzas, locally caught seafood, and seasonal dishes shine. Laneway Bar will serve up creative cocktails and a range of tap beers, wines, and spirits.
Meanwhile, Merchants Bar brings a sense of heritage, pairing the historic Burns, Philp & Co. building characteristics with refined elements, set to become a local institution. For those looking for an intimate dining experience, The Dining Room offers a private dining experience for up to 10 guests.
On the second level, guests can experience Townsville from a new perspective, atop The Rooftop where panoramic views and live entertainment bring the precinct to life come nightfall.
The Flinders Street Wharves development officially commenced civil construction in September of 2024 and over the past 12 months, the former centre of imports and exports in North Queensland which
overlooked the Townsville Wharves, has been repurposed by leading Queensland Architecture and Interior Design Studio, KP Architects.
The design is a reflection of Townsville’s tropical lifestyle whilst paying homage to the heritage of the Burns Philp & Co. building, the last surviving 19th century warehouse complex along the Ross Creek River and heroes original features throughout the multi-level site, designed to celebrate the rich legacy of the building.
The half-an-acre site will soon be home to North Queensland’s first floating pontoon bar and tourism hub to revitalise the waterways and increase connectivity between the mainland and tourism hotspots. The overwater restaurant and bar, The Docks will offer a more elevated experience for locals and travellers with a Mediterranean inspired menu where North Queensland’s quality seafood will be reminiscent of an ocean-to-plate like experience.
The pontoon’s tourism hub will feature two pontoons, operated by local tourism business, Poseidon Adventures. Poseidon Adventures will allow for boat and jet ski tours from the pontoon to Magnetic Island and Cape Cleveland, plus shorter trips up and down the river.
Flinders Street Wharves is officially open to the public today with bookings available from Monday 15 December. The venue will operate seven days per week, from 6am until 12am Sundays through to Thursdays and 6am until 2am Fridays and Saturdays. The Docks and marine tourism hub will open this summer.
