Brisbane’s riverside hotspot is going bigger, bolder and better ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.
Few places capture Brisbane’s laid-back lifestyle quite like Howard Smith Wharves. Sitting pretty beneath the Story Bridge, it’s a go-to for sunset cocktails, long lunches and good times. And now, it’s gearing up for its biggest transformation yet.
Recently approved by the Brisbane City Council and state government, a $500 million redevelopment dubbed HSW 2.0 is bringing a boutique hotel, over-river pool and brand-new public spaces to this beloved riverside destination.
What to expect from HSW 2.0
Howard Smith Wharves wasn’t always the thriving lifestyle precinct it is today. Once a neglected stretch of land along the Brisbane River, it remained largely overlooked until 2015, when Artemus Group recognised its untapped potential and acquired the site.
The redevelopment includes a 106-key luxury hotel, over-river pool and upgraded outdoor spaces.
Following three years of extensive work, Howard Street Wharves opened in 2018, joining the Australian real estate development and hospitality group’s growing portfolio. Today, it’s one of Brisbane’s biggest drawcards.
But just over a decade on from its purchase, the iconic hub is preparing for a bold new chapter. With permission to proceed now secured, fresh insight into the ambitious redevelopment has been revealed – and why its completion date is no coincidence.
“The timing of this approval could not be more significant," says Howard Smith Wharves founder, Adam Flaskas.
“With Brisbane set to host the world for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, HSW 2.0 positions Howard Smith Wharves and the Brisbane River as a centrepiece of the city’s global moment. This is not just for Brisbane today, but for the world that will be watching in 2032."
Brisbane’s new boutique hotel will boast uninterrupted views of the Story Bridge.
Among the redevelopment’s most anticipated additions is a 106-room boutique hotel overlooking the Story Bridge, with unparalleled views across the Brisbane River and CBD.
While details remain under wraps, including the hotel’s design, amenities and eventual operator, it’s expected to raise the bar for luxury accommodation in Brisbane. The capital city’s first over-river pool only adds to the excitement, providing relief from the sweltering Queensland heat in spectacular style.
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More room to roam along the river
Beyond the new hotel, a range of expansive outdoor spaces and upgraded public infrastructure promise easy access to the river and an enhanced visitor experience.
Infrastructure across the precinct will be upgraded to improve the visitor experience.
Seamlessly meander between Howard Street Wharves and the water's edge.
Revitalised outdoor spaces encourage weekend walks along the river.
Chief among the additions is two new cliffside lifts, which will improve access to Howard Smith Wharves and create seamless connectivity between the precinct and the CBD. A huge set of riverfront steps will then cascade down to the water’s edge, making it easier than ever for locals and visitors to enjoy the river.
The redevelopment also includes an additional 8,500 square metres of public outdoor space, a 30 per cent increase on existing capacity. That means more room for weekend strolls, riverside picnics and community gatherings.
Felons Barrel Hall, one of Brisbane’s best breweries, will also undergo upgrades to accommodate an expanded music and entertainment line-up.
Visitors can soak up the sun at Brisbane’s first over-river pool.
A brand-new pontoon will support greater river-based tourism efforts, with infrastructure for private vessel mooring and improved water transport. Backed by the Queensland Government, it will be specifically designed and built to withstand flood conditions.
As Brisbane prepares to welcome the world in 2032, the redevelopment will ensure Howard Smith Wharves is ready for the spotlight. While an exact opening date has not been confirmed, CEO Luke Fraser says the project’s vision extends far beyond the Olympic Games.
“Every decision we’ve made in designing Howard Smith Wharves has been guided by asking: how do we create something that Brisbane will be proud to show the world in 2032 – and for decades beyond."
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Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.
While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.
Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.
Getting there
Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)
You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.
Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.
Best accommodation in Clermont
Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)
All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.
Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.
One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters, Four Mile, Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings. To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting. They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.
Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum. Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.
The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.
See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)
For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.
Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services. Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.
Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs. The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.
Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont
Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.
Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.
Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.
For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.
Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.
