The development approval will dramatically amplify the precinct’s public footprint—unlocking 8500sq m of new outdoor space, equating to a 30 percent increase in the site’s public realm. Its broad focus is on cementing the Artemus Group precinct as a world-class and uniquely Brisbane destination ahead of the Games with enhanced amenities, public access and riverside tourism infrastructure.

The approval from the Brisbane City Council paves the way for a 106-room boutique hotel atop a revamped Felons Barrel Hall as well as Brisbane’s first over-river public swimming pool. The plans also include “cascading” riverfront stairs to connect the precinct to the river, and a flood-resilient pontoon delivering private boat mooring and a tourism gateway to Moreton Bay.

“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,” said Artemus Group founder Adam Flaska.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Brisbane. Howard Smith Wharves has always been about connecting people with this magnificent river, and with this announcement we take that vision to an entirely new level.”