The Queen’s Wharf destination resort’s new casino is presently undergoing construction in Brisbane and is set to have more slot machines than the Treasury Casino; The Star Entertainment Group’s other gambling venue in the city.
Back in the summer of 2015, The Star, along with its Chinese partners, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium snagged the contract for the development of the Queen’s Wharf gaming, entertainment, and hotel precinct in Brisbane, Queensland. The resort’s opening is scheduled for 2022.
Geoff Hogg, the Star Queensland’s Managing Director explained that the casino at Queen’s Wharf would hold 2,500 slot machines, 800 more real money pokies than Treasury Casino.
The Queen’s Wharf resort will eventually replace the Treasury casino as the latter venue is set to close once the new one opens. With the Treasury’s license being transferred to a new gaming operation, the venue will be renovated into a department store in 2023.
Mr. Hogg said, “There has been no change to the casino’s licensing conditions” Brisbane would still only have a single casino when the new resort eventually opens.
The Star and its Chinese associates are investing over A$3.6 billion (approx. $2.4 billion) into the project. Construction work commenced last summer after a two and a half year excavation process at the construction site.
Riverside Gardens taking shape
Mr. Hogg, the Queen’s Wharf Project Director, Simon Crooks, and ProBuild General Manager Jeff Wellburn, gave local journalists a tour of the cement base for The Landing, two semi-circular gardens that will extend 50 meters into the Brisbane River, forming part of the multi-faceted resort.
The pair of cement bases will hold up over 6,500 square meters of landscaped gardens just on the river, facing South Bank.
Mr. Wellburn detailed how construction workers drilled pilings 26 meters into bedrock to ensure that the park space could survive a collision with a vessel if a flood ever occurs. Journalists further learned from Mr. Crooks that The Landing would be a standout feature of the Queen’s Wharf precinct. In contrast to South Bank’s family-friendly reputation, the Queen’s Wharf integrated resort, while still accommodating family fun, would cater more specifically to adults.
The complex will boast a myriad of features, including hotels and residential towers, a casino, multiple food/beverage facilities, retail centers, and much more. All this will be nestled between George and William Street in Brisbane.
