Howard Smith Wharves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howard Smith Wharves |
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Howard Smith Wharves, 2019
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| Location | Boundary Street, Brisbane City and Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | c. 1934 - 1940s circa |
| Official name: Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane Central Wharves | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 4 February 1997 |
| Reference no. | 601781 |
| Significant period | c. 1935-1960s (historical) 1930s-1940s (fabric) |
| Significant components | wharf/dock/quay, views to, bridge/viaduct - road, natural feature - cliff, pylon/s, air raid shelter, pile/s, shed - storage, views from, docking/loading facility, office/administration building |
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The Howard Smith Wharves are a special heritage-listed area on the Brisbane River in Brisbane, Australia. This important site was built between 1934 and the 1940s. It covers about 3.5 hectares and is known for its history and culture. The wharves are located near the Brisbane City and Fortitude Valley areas. They were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997 because of their historical value.
In 2009, the Brisbane City Council suggested big plans to develop the site. This included building a hotel and places for entertainment. However, people in the community did not like this idea. They wanted more public space and less commercial buildings. A new plan was made, but the Queensland Government said no. They were worried about flooding.
Later, in 2013, the Council asked for new ideas to redevelop the site. A plan was chosen in 2014 and approved in 2015. The new and improved site finally opened in late 2018. A new ferry terminal for the Brisbane Ferries network also opened there in 2020.
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History of Howard Smith Wharves
The Howard Smith Wharves were built by the Queensland Government. This happened between 1934 and the early 1940s. The main goal was to create jobs during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people did not have work. The project was also connected to building the Story Bridge. Both projects helped create important structures for Queensland's future.
These wharves were first called the Brisbane Central Wharves. A shipping company called Howard Smith Co. Ltd leased them. They used the wharves from the mid-1930s until the early 1960s. This is why they are now known as the Howard Smith Wharves.
Before these wharves, smaller ones were on the site. These were built in the early 1900s. Howard Smith Co. Ltd also used those earlier wharves. Over time, Brisbane's port facilities moved further downstream. This means they moved closer to the mouth of the river.
In the 1880s, Howard Smith Co. Ltd became an important shipping company. They traded along the Australian coast. They moved their operations to the Boundary Street Wharf. This was at Petrie Bight, a bend in the river. In the 1930s, the Queensland government took over these wharves. They rebuilt them as the Brisbane Central Wharves.
Building the Wharves and Story Bridge
The rebuilding of the wharves was part of the Story Bridge project. The government wanted to make the Brisbane River better at Petrie Bight. This meant making it wider and deeper. They had to knock down the old wharves and sheds. They also dug into the cliff below Bowen Terrace. This made the river wider by up to 70 feet (21 metres).
Work on the wharves began in 1934 and continued into the early 1940s. The construction was done by day labourers. This means people were paid by the day for their work. The project was done in stages so that ships could still use the port.
The first new building was a two-storey concrete office. It was finished by 1936 for Howard Smith Co. Ltd. It had great views of the river. Three berths (places for ships to dock) were planned. They would have five new storage sheds. These sheds were made mostly of timber and corrugated iron. They had sliding doors facing the river for loading cargo.
The wharves themselves had a concrete base. Large timber piles were pushed into the riverbed. Strong hardwood timbers were used for the main parts and the deck. Hundreds of thousands of feet of timber were needed. The road behind the sheds was also widened. This meant cutting back the cliffs of New Farm. This part was finished by 1938.
World War II and Later Changes
Work on the wharves stopped in the early 1940s because of World War II. Many workers were moved to other war-related projects. The third berth was never fully finished.
During 1941-1942, the Brisbane City Council built five air-raid shelters near the wharves. This was because people worried about attacks from Japan. Many workers were at the wharves, and the Story Bridge was an important target. Three shelters were typical concrete "pillbox" style. The other two were made from large stormwater pipes. These "pipe" shelters are quite rare in Brisbane.
Howard Smith Co. Ltd leased the wharves until the early 1960s. After that, they moved to bigger facilities closer to the river mouth. The Water Police then used part of the site. The Queensland Works Department also used it for storage.
Since the 1960s, a large part of the site has been empty. Some of the timber decking was washed away during the 1974 floods. In 2000, one of the old wharf buildings was taken down after it started to collapse. The Howard Smith Wharves are now one of the few remaining and most complete old wharf sites in central Brisbane. They still have the office, sheds, and wharf areas.
Redevelopment Proposals
On 18 August 2009, the Brisbane City Council approved a plan for the Howard Smith Wharves. The idea was to develop the site into three main areas:
- A hotel and tourism area.
- A place for restaurants, shops, art galleries, and entertainment.
- An area for outdoor activities and community events.
The plan also aimed to keep 80 percent of the site as open public space.
Many people were against the first development plan. They were worried about how it would affect the history and natural beauty of the area. Groups like the Brisbane Cliffs Coalition and the Howard Smith Wharves Appeal Committee fought against the plans.
In September 2009, some local residents, including a city councillor, took legal action. They challenged how big the planned development was. This made the council change their plans for the site.
In June 2009, the Brisbane City Council changed its plans. They listened to what the community said. People were concerned about losing their views and the size of the new buildings. So, the council changed the building shapes and sizes. They also added a new 10-metre (33 ft) boardwalk and a possible CityCat ferry terminal.
The revised plan was open for public comments. Only 10% of the parkland was to be used for shops. However, after the big 2010–11 Queensland floods, the Queensland Government rejected the plans. They said the plans were a flood risk. An $8.5 million project to fix the boardwalks was finished by February 2013. Then, new plans for the site were announced.
What the Wharves Look Like
The Howard Smith Wharves are on the northern side of the Brisbane River. They are located at Petrie Bight. The site is bordered by cliffs on the northern and eastern sides. These cliffs are topped by Bowen Terrace and Moray Street. Wilson's Outlook gives a great view of the site from above. You can enter the site from Boundary Street on the west. The northern parts of the Story Bridge are also within the wharves area.
The site has several buildings and parts of the old wharves along the river. These include:
- A two-storey concrete office building, used by the Water Police. It is near the western entrance.
- Shed No. 2, located between the Water Police office and the Story Bridge pylons.
- Shed No. 3, east of the bridge pylons.
- Shed No. 4, further southeast.
- Shed No. 5, at the end of the group towards the southeast.
There are also smaller structures. These include four old air-raid shelters at the base of the cliffs. There are also concrete slabs and another air-raid shelter near the western entrance.
Buildings and Wharves
The Water Police office building is made of concrete. It has a tiled roof and wide eaves (the parts of the roof that hang over the walls). The building faces the Brisbane River. It has large windows and sunhoods (shades) over the ground floor windows. The side facing the river has a balcony on the first floor. It has timber posts and a railing.
Inside, the ground floor has offices. A concrete staircase leads to the first floor. The first floor has a large office area with river views. The building has timber doors and decorative ceiling edges.
A curved garden bed with a small cannon is in front of the office building. A timber wharf extends from the building along the river. This wharf has a timber railing. A part of the wharf in front of the office building is lower. It has stairs for smaller boats to dock.
The sheds (Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5) are single-storey timber buildings. They have corrugated steel roofs with wide overhangs. Shed No. 4 has a double roof and is the longest. The sheds have corrugated steel walls. They have large sliding timber doors at the ends. Openings facing the river were used for cargo.
You can still see remains of timber piles from older wharves in front of Sheds No. 3 and No. 4. Most sheds have timber floors, but Shed No. 5 has a concrete floor. About half of Shed No. 4 is built over the river. A concrete road runs behind the sheds.
Air-Raid Shelters and Cliffs
Several old air-raid shelters are located along the base of the cliffs. One is near the western entrance.
Two of the shelters are made from large concrete pipes. They have entrances at both ends. One is four sections long, and the other is two sections long.
The other shelters are rectangular concrete buildings. They have been changed to be used for storage. Two are in a fenced area, and one is near the western entrance.
The cliffs stretch from the western entrance to the southeastern edge of the site. The cliff faces have overgrown parts and exposed rock. They also support the northern end of the Story Bridge. A large area at the southeastern end of the site is used to store stone blocks.
Why Howard Smith Wharves are Important
Howard Smith Wharves were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997. This means they are very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's History
The wharves show how Queensland's history has changed. They are rare examples of Brisbane's port in the city centre. Brisbane has always been Queensland's main port. Until the 1940s, most shipping was done upstream. The wharves also show how the government created jobs during the 1930s Depression.
The World War II air-raid shelters on the site are also very important. They are the most complete group of shelters left in Brisbane. The "pillbox" shelters are great examples of their kind. The "pipe" shelters are rare and unique. Their location near the wharves and Story Bridge shows how important these places were during the war. They remind us how the war affected workers in Brisbane.
Unique Cultural Heritage
As the last surviving wharves in the city centre, Howard Smith Wharves are special. They show what a 1930s port looked like. They include the office building, sheds, roads, and wharves.
Main Features of a Port
The Howard Smith Wharves were one of the biggest single wharf leases in central Brisbane. The site is still largely intact. This helps us understand its past use.
The sheds and air-raid shelters show their practical purpose. The office building looks good and reminds us it was once the main office for the Howard Smith Company.
Beautiful Views and Scenery
The Howard Smith Wharves offer great views of the Story Bridge. The size and shape of the buildings and the cliffs create a beautiful scene. The site is a well-known landmark in Brisbane. It adds a lot to the look of the Brisbane River.
The old wharves, made of large timber, look worn and used. This shows their history of heavy use. The cliffs, with their mix of plants and rock, create a dramatic background for the buildings. They also support the northern end of the Story Bridge.
Connection to Important Groups
The site is also important because of its long connection with Howard Smith Co. Ltd. This company was one of Australia's main coastal shipping companies in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Images for kids
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Green House at Howard Smith Wharves
