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The demolition of Queens Wharf West is finally visible to the public. Crews have started stripping the fire-damaged building from the inside out, preparing to carefully dismantle its external structure over Newcastle Harbour.
The work is strictly confined to the western building, meaning the separate Queens Wharf Hotel at the eastern end of the precinct remains completely open and will continue trading under its lease until 2033.
During a site tour on Wednesday with Lord Mayor Gavin Morris, demolition contractor DEMEX was busy preparing the precinct for major structural work. Before perimeter protection is installed and heavy machinery is brought in, crews are clearing out internal walls, fittings, electrical cabling, plumbing, and mechanical services.
From there, the main structure will be demolished from west to east and from the top down, with two excavators working in tandem to bring the building back to its ground-floor slab.
Getting to this point wasn’t easy. A DEMEX representative noted that five months of planning, supported by a structural engineer, went into the detailed demolition work plan.
“It’s quite a complex and unique project,” he said. “The structure is over water, there are slab ratings and loadings involved.”
Because Queens Wharf and much of the adjoining Wharf Road sit on a concrete platform supported by steel piles and a sea wall, the contractor had to carefully plan how machinery and demolition materials could be loaded onto the slab safely. Crucially, they also had to ensure no debris or contaminants enter the harbour.
DEMEX expects the main physical demolition to take about two months once fully underway, depending on environmental conditions. However, the City of Newcastle has allowed up to six months for the broader demolition program, which covers preparatory work, structural removal, and clearing the site.
This complex work must also be coordinated around the active ferry wharf. While ferry services are expected to continue operating and Wharf Road will remain open, commuters might see some pedestrian and cycling detours, as well as alternate approaches to the ferry.
So, what comes next? Council is currently assessing proposals from private organisations interested in redeveloping and leasing the site. The Council will retain ownership of the land, and no replacement design or development partner has been publicly selected yet.
Cr Morris said he wants councillors to make a decision by Christmas, or otherwise during the first half of 2027.
The brief issued to potential partners was shaped by extensive community consultation last year. The Council received almost 1,800 comments and suggestions, with 97 per cent of respondents supporting the overall vision. Because of this, Council does not plan another broad consultation process. Once a preferred proposal is selected, it will go through the normal development application process, which includes public exhibition and an opportunity for submissions.
Originally constructed as a Bicentennial project, Queens Wharf was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Newcastle in May 1988. It was built with an estimated 25-year lifespan.
“Sadly this building was never built to last, it had a short lifetime expectancy and it’s somewhat overdue,” Cr Morris said.
Fortunately, Council investigations found that the concrete platform, steel piling, and sea wall beneath the precinct have at least another 50 years of useful life, meaning they can easily support future redevelopment.
For many locals, the western building is full of memories. Known for its uninterrupted harbour views, it housed popular venues over the years, including Blue Water Pizza, Six Degrees, Cielo Italiano, and the Harbourview Function Centre. Former patrons will also remember the upstairs Bojangles nightclub, where Cr Morris even recalled DJing at an event featuring singer Deni Hines.
The building also contained public toilets and an office for Keolis Downer ferry staff. Those staff members continued using part of the building until just last month, when they moved to a purpose-built facility at Griffith Park in Stockton.
The precinct used to be highly connected to the city centre. An adjoining ramp and overhead walkway once linked Queens Wharf with the Hunter Street Mall, carrying pedestrians over Wharf Road, the former heavy railway corridor, and Scott Street. The rail bridge section was removed in 2016, and the iconic Queens Wharf Tower followed in 2018.
The ultimate demise of the western building was sealed by a fire on May 28, 2020. According to Fire and Rescue NSW, the blaze began in a kitchen and spread into the building’s flue system. While the hospitality areas were rendered largely unusable and forced to close, ferry staff were able to safely remain on site until their recent relocation.
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