Early works on the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre expansion commenced. The expansion will activate Grey Street , link the centre with South Bank Parklands and introduce a new public space with a mix of retail and shopping experiences. Upon completion, the expansion will provide an additional 42% in event space with 18 additional meeting rooms, a large function room complete with an extensive terrace, city and river views.
March 2008
The Stockwell development on 199 Grey Street is completed.
February 2008
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, announces two major projects, the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre expansion and Stormwater Harvesting project. The stormwater harvesting project will provide an alternative water supply source for the maintenance of the Parklands and reduce its reliance on potable and purchased recycled water currently being trucked in.
2007
December 2007
Four week public consultation commences for the South Point project on the corner of Vulture, Grey and Tribune Streets at South Bank. The project will provide a mixed-use development for the precinct, which could include a hotel, arthouse cinema and residential apartments.
Installation of three 47 000 litre water tanks to hold recycled water for Parkland irrigation. The Parkland's total capacity is now 285 000 litres.
Installation of new bins, including seperate recycling bins, starts in the Parklands.
March 2007
A number of solar-powered parking meters are installed in Little Stanley and Grey Streets to assist with the managment of traffic and allow better customer access to retailers.
A new waterplay facility, Aquativity opens to the public. The $5 million water education and play park, redeveloped from an under-utilised bush stream playground near Streets Beach, is an exciting celebration of Brisbane and its defining feature, the Brisbane River.
Construction commences on the Abigroup redevelopment of the former Butterfly House site. The redevelopment will activate both the Stanley Street Plaza and Little Stanley Street, with access from both frontages to improve the public space. The new building is targeting a four star green star rating.
February 2007
The new South Bank Lifestyle Markets are launched.
2006
December 2006
Premier Peter Beattie and Treasurer Anna Bligh jointly announce the Government will spend $3.4 million on design work for a new construction phase to expand the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
November 2006
Leading the way in Brisbane’s push to reduce water consumption, South Bank Corporation has reduced local city water use by more than 25 percent in the past 12 months.
October 2006
The Premier unveils the winning bid by the Anthony John Group to develop sites 9A, 9B and heritage listed Collins Place, the largest remaining development site at South Bank.
South Bank Corporation appoints experienced market operator Blue Sky Events to reinvigorate its popular craft markets in 2007.
The Corporation takes advantage of Little Stanley Street's strong retial growth and buys Mirvac's remaining 35% interest in the retail tenancies.
September 2006
Parking becomes easier at South Bank with the launch of the Parking Guidance System - a joint initiative between South Bank Corporation, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Corporate Administration Agency (QPAC and Queensland Museum). The Parking Guidance System reports accurate, real-time car park space availability to motorists intending to use the major car parks within the South Bank Precinct.
August 2006
The Expression of Interest (EOI) for sites 9A and 9B and Collins Place South Bank closed on July 28 and generated an unprecedented response. More submissions were received for the site than any other previous development offering at South Bank.
July 2006
South Bank Corporation has approved national engineering and construction company Abigroup’s plans for a three storey development on the former Butterfly House site located in the heart of South Bank.
June 2006
South Bank Corporation launchs a call for Expressions of Interest to develop the largest available site in Brisbane’s burgeoning South Bank Precinct.
South Bank is the live site for the Soccer World Cup Australia v Italy knockout match
April 2006
South Bank Corporation announces it is investigating water mining opportunities at South Bank. The water mining project is part of a broader water management strategy at South Bank and is aimed at increasing the use of recycled water.
March 2006
Completion of Glenelg Street upgrade
February 2006
Public consultation for the South Bank Transit Site Project
January 2006
Opening of Saville South Bank Hotel
2005
September 2005
South Bank identified as part of the city centre in the Brisbane City Centre Draft Master Plan
Botanical signage installed throughout the South Bank Parkland
Holden announces sponsorship of Australia Day celebrations at South Bank
South Bank’s reputation as a world class precinct continues to receive international recognition. The International Downtown Association announced that South Bank Corporation won a 2005 Merit Award in the Public Space category. The International Downtown Association is an American based organisation that recognises and supports vital and liveable urban centres throughout the world.
August 2005
South Bank restaurant, Ahmet’s Turkish Restaurant, wins Best Entertainment Restaurant at the Brisbane Restaurant and Caterer’s Awards
Formal Gardens redesigned using Australian native plants
In a remarkable world first, the International Union of Forest Research Organisations held its World Congress in Brisbane. As part of the Congress a traditional tree planting ceremony was held to mark the opening and involved an extremely old and rare Wollemi Pine. Dating back over 200 million years the Wollemi Pine is one of the world’s oldest tress and was thought to be extinct until 1994 when it was discovered outside Sydney. The South Bank tree is the only one available for display in Brisbane.
July 2005
South Bank Corporation appoints one of Australia’s leading urban designers Malcolm Snow as its new CEO
June 2005
Bill Grant retires after 8 years as Chief Executive Officer of South Bank
April 2005
A Current Affair names South Bank 5 Cinema best value cinema in Australia
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie announces an interactive water play park will be built at South Bank
The Ship Inn re-opens after extensive renovation work
February 2005
South Bank Corporation launches a local & national search for a new CEO
Bill Grant announces his resignation after 8 years as Chief Executive Officer at South Bank Corporation
CGU Building officially opens in Grey Street
2004
December 2004
Southern Entry works officially opened by Premier of Queensland Peter Beattie
Southern Entry works completed including extension of the Arbour to Vulture Street and upgrade to Memorial Park
New South Bank Board announced
October 2004
Little Stanley Street wins Property Council of Australia (QLD) 2004 Best Neighbourhood and Strip Centre under 10 000sq m GLAR (gross lettable area)
May 2004
South Bank is named the best public sector development in the world for 2004 at the FIABCI Prix d’Excellence (the world’s most prestigious real estate awards)
March 2004
National ice-cream company, Streets, is announced naming rights sponsor of South Bank’s beach, now known as Streets Beach following a three year partnership agreement
2003
December 2003
The Catalano's, owners of the Hawthorne and Balmoral Cinema’s, opens the South Bank 5 Cinema Complex in the former IMAX cinema building. The first month's trading is beyond expectations.
October 2003
South Bank Retail wins Property Council Australia 2003 Queensland Shopping Centre of the Year Award in the Neighbourhood Centres under 10 000 square metres gross lettable area retail category. Little Stanley Street gets runner up in the same category.
September 2003
South Bank Indigenous Employment Project wins Employment (medium) category in the 2003 Queensland Reconcilitation Awards for Business
South Bank Retail wins Australian Marketing Institute Awards’ New Product/ Service Category for it “Free Parking when you Dine” promotion
August 2003
Two South Bank restaurants win major awards at the Restaurant and Catering Queensland Awards (Brisbane). Little Stanley Street’s Ahmet’s Turkish Restaurant is named Best Themed Restaurant for the second year running and Wang Dynasty wins best Chinese Restaurant. The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre wins four of the five catering awards.
June 2003
16,000 Rotarians converge on South Bank for the 2003 Rotary International Convention at the BCEC – South Bank hosts a public welcome of cultural dance, music and a fire and fireworks event.
2002
December 2002
Little Stanley Street records sales of almost $4 million in its first year, exceeding budget expectations.
South Bank Retail wins Neighbourhood and Strip Centres under 10,000sqm category at the Property Council of Australia’s 2002 Queensland Shopping Centre of the Year Awards. South Bank Retail also won the marketing award in the Neighbourhood and Strip Centres under 10,000sqm category.
South Bank Beach wins Young Legends Award at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Beach Challenge Queensland Awards. The award recognises the beach’s involvement with the inaugural Rookie Lifeguard Program, City Nippers and surf education with schools and tourist groups.
October 2002
New multi-level commercial development, to be built by Thiess by arrangement with Mirvac, announced for site 9C2 on Grey Street, next to the Thiess Headquarters.
South Bank restaurant, Ahmet’s Turkish Restaurant, wins Best Themed Restaurant at the Brisbane Restaurant and Caterer’s Awards.
September 2002
Suncorp Piazza is the official live site for the AFL grand final, with the game shown on the Suncorp Piazza and attracting a crowd of around 2,000.
Boost Juice opens at South Bank, recording the best opening weekend for a Boost store in Australia and the best opening weekend for any takeaway store in the parklands at South Bank.
August 2002
Masterplanning begins for Mazda site redevelopment.
Suncorp’s 10-year partnership with South Bank Corporation, including naming rights sponsorship of the now Suncorp Piazza and new, state-of-the-art Suncorp Superscreen, is announced.
July 2002
South Bank Corporation implements new logo.
South Bank retailers record sales increases of 13% and a record year.
June 2002
Premier cuts 4m long “ENERGEX Brisbane Arbour” cake to mark South Bank Parklands’ 10th birthday.
May 2002
Stanley Street Plaza improvement works completed – including new shaded balconies at beachside cafes, alfresco dining areas overlooking Stanley Street Plaza, streetscaping and a new pergola.
April 2002
Expressions of interest close for Site 9D with the response from the development industry exceeding expectations.
South Bank precinct successfully stages the inaugural Jammin’ event.
February 2002
Work commences on improvement works to Stanley Street Plaza.
Site 9D is offered to the market for a hotel or service apartment.
January 2002
Premier Beattie launches South Bank Precinct’s inaugural branding campaign “South Bank Always Creating”.
Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art welcomes its first students to its South Bank campus.
2001
December 2001
South Bank’s Breaka Beach wins Queensland’s Friendliest Beach Award at the Environmental Protection Agencies Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach Challenge 2001.
Surf Lifesaving Queensland and the South Bank Precinct Indigenous Liaision and Employment Project launch the inaugural Rookie Indigenous Lifeguard program.
November 2001
South Bank Corporation wins the 2001 Royal Australian Planning Institute (Qld) Awards for Excellence in the Urban Design category.
Stage one of Mirvac’s $100 million Arbour on Grey residential, retail and commercial precinct is opened.
October 2001
Premier Peter Beattie opens The Goodwill Bridge, a pedestrian and cycle bridge linking South Bank and the City.
August 2001
South Bank is the “Red Centre” of The Goodwill Games – the centre of social activities including concerts on the river stage and several sporting events, including the beach volleyball.
North Queensland developer, Honeycombes, wins tender to develop site 9G2, at the corner of Tribune and Grey Streets.
June 2001
South Bank hosts events during the World Veterans’ Athletics Championships.
The South Bank Master Plan Redevelopment won the overall “Premier” award and the urban renewal category of the prestigious Urban Development Institute of Australia (Qld) 2001 Awards for Excellence, ahead of 77 entries.
March 2001
South Bank named finalist in the Brisbane Tourism Awards, Significant Regional Festivals and Special Events category.
2000
November 2000
South Bank wins the most prestigious urban design award in Australia, the Urban Design in Australia Award 2000, awarded by the Australian Council of Building Design Professions.
South Bank landscaping contractor, Green Concepts wins the Queensland Landscaping Industry Award for Maintenance of the Parklands.
Sunstate Coatings wins the Galvanizers Association of Australia’s Sorel Award for Industry Achievement, the most significant Hot Dip Galvanising Industry award in the country, for the ENERGEX Brisbane Arbour.
Barry Webb and Associates Qld Pty Ltd wins the Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand’s Queensland Lighting Awards for the ENERGEX Brisbane Arbour.
September 2000
South Bank records its highest ever September attendance with almost 490,000 people visiting South Bank during the month.
August 2000
The South Bank Redevelopment and ENERGEX Brisbane Arbour win the Royal Australian Institute of Architects 2000 Queensland Awards for Civic Design.
July 2000
Premier Peter Beattie launches construction of the Queensland College of Art.
June 2000
South Bank celebrates eighth anniversary and welcomes its 40 millionth visitor.
May 2000
The State Government awards John Holland the contract to build a pedestrian and cycle bridge from South Bank to QUT.
Construction begins on the South Bank Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge.
Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art development commences construction.
The sod is turned on Mirvac’s The Arbour on Grey residential, retail and commercial development, which comprises 170 stylish apartments on four and five levels and ground floor retail.
April 2000
A month-long celebration of the completion of Master Plan works begins. Activities include Art in the Arbour, music under the stars and school holiday sports activities.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie officially declares the Arbour open and names ENERGEX as its sponsor. The Arbour is now called the ENERGEX Brisbane Arbour.
The South Bank Redevelopment, ENERGEX Brisbane Arbour, South Bank House and Thiess Centre win commendations for urban design at the Royal Australian Institute of Architects 2000 Brisbane Awards
March 2000
Mirvac opens a display apartment and sales office at South Bank, with the announcement that 30 of the 72 apartments in Stage One of The Arbour on Grey development have already sold.
1999
December 1999
More than 110,000 people see in the new year at South Bank’s Jupiters Limited Millennium Celebrations.
November 1999
Grey Street reopens to through traffic as a two-way street.
The Arbour is completed.
October 1999
South Bank Corporation staff relocate to their new building, South Bank House, in the heart of the parklands.
September 1999
Thousands attend an Arbour Open Day, to celebrate the completion of stages one and two of the Arbour, from the Ship Inn Hotel to the Visitor Information Centre, and next to the Arbour View Cafes.
August 1999
Premier Peter Beattie visits to announce winning tenderer for sites 9E and 9F, Mirvac. Mirvac’s plans include a $100 million development, The Arbour on Grey, with about 170 apartments, retail and commercial office space.
July 1999
Premier Peter Beattie visits to officially open stage one of the Arbour, above the new underground car park.
June 1999
Thiess staff relocate from Archerfield to their new global headquarters, Thiess Centre, at South Bank.
March 1999
Hoyts South Bank Cinemas open in the same complex as IMAX.
Abigroup starts work on a new South Bank House in Stanley Street Plaza, to house South Bank Corporation’s administration staff and other office tenants.
February 1999
Deputy Premier, the Hon Jim Elder, launches a two-month expression-of-interest period for two prime development sites, bordered by Grey Street and Little Stanley Street.
The first of 403 galvanised steel columns is installed. The columns will make up the Grand Arbour, a serpentine-like pathway running the 1km length of The Parklands.
January 1999
IMAX Brisbane opens to the public.
Dairy giant Pauls takes over sponsorship of the beach, giving it the new name, Pauls Breaka Beach.
1998
December 1998
A record 82,000 people attend the BXI New Year’s Eve Mardi Gras at South Bank.
Premier Peter Beattie announces overwhelming community support for the proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge.
More than 350,000 people flock to South Bank over seven nights for the award-winning Dairy Farmers Christmas Lantern Festival.
Premier Peter Beattie visits to plant the first tree, a kauri pine, along the median strip of the newly realigned Grey Street.
The new 800-space underground car park opens to the public. The opening is attended by Premier Peter Beattie and his family.
October 1998
The Premier, The Hon Peter Beattie, launches a four-week community consultation period to establish preferred landing options for a proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge, linking South Bank with the city’s Botanic Gardens.
Grey Street is closed for realignment.
September 1998
The Premier, The Hon Peter Beattie, launches plans for the Arbour, a meandering, flower-covered walkway that will run the length of the parklands, as part of the Master Plan.
July 1998
South Bank Corporation introduces a complimentary shuttle bus to get people from the CBD to South Bank. The bus runs seven days a week for six months.
May 1998
Mutiplex Constructions begins work on a $14 million underground car park.
February 1998
Work begins on IMAX theatre and Thiess Contractors development.
January 1998
Gondwana is closed and the animals re-housed.
1997
December 1997
Visitor Information Centre relocated to the ground floor of the Parklands Administration Building, adding a fully equipped parents’ room and upgrading its ticketing capability to become the city’s largest agency.
October 1997
$20 million IMAX theatre announced for one of the key Grey Street development sites and Thiess Contractors selected as the preferred developer for another - a $30 million development to house the company’s national headquarters announced.
September 1997
Expressions of Interest called on first development site released under new South Bank Master Plan.
Resource Coordination Partnership Pty Ltd (RCP) appointed project managers for Master Plan implementation.
August 1997
The Queensland Premier, the Hon. Rob Borbidge, launches new Master Plan for South Bank precinct.
April 1997
South Bank Parklands welcomes its 25 millionth visitor.
February 1997
New Board releases Vision Statement for South Bank’s future and appoints design team to formulate design concept.
1996
December 1996
Group Tour Lounge & Rainforest Deck officially opened and Destination Brisbane tourist product launched.
Record crowds (350,000 plus) attend annual Christmas Lantern Festival.
November 1996
New South Bank Corporation chairman (Steve Wilson) and board appointed by State Government.
October 1996
CCTV surveillance system installed.
July 1996
Russell Street Entry Court completed.
June 1996
Queensland Conservatorium completed.
May 1996
Rydges South Bank Hotel completed and opened.
January 1996
South Bank Corporation appoints Master Architect, John Simpson, of Spowers JSA Pty Ltd.
South Bank Parklands welcomes its 20 millionth visitor.
1995
June 1995
Official opening of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
February 1995
Park Avenue residential apartments completed.
January 1995
Southbound lanes of Grey Street open to traffic.
1994
November 1994
Construction commences on the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.
September 1994
Construction commences on the Rydges South Bank Hotel.
June 1994
Grey Street Reinstatement contract awarded to John Holland Constructions Ltd.
June 1994
South Bank Parklands welcomes its 12 millionth visitor.
May 1994
South Bank Corporation Amendment By-law (No. 1) 1994 gazetted.
1993
December 1993
South Bank Corporation Act amended to reflect the changing role of the Corporation. The main thrust of these amendments was: to give the Corporation long-term Parkland operating and leasehold supervision responsibilities; ensure that the land only be disposed of under leasehold conditions; give the Corporation powers sufficient to enable certificates of title to be issued for leasehold properties, in stratum or otherwise, closely equivalent to the conditions applying to freehold tenure; and vest in the Corporation ownership and control of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
June 1993
South Bank Parklands celebrated its first birthday. More than 6.3 million people visited the Parklands in its first 12 months - nearly double visitor projections.
1992
June 1992
South Bank Parklands officially opened.
1991
June 1991
Mr Ron Paul appointed Chairman.
January 1991
Second major contract awarded to Jennings Construction Services.
1990
August 1990
First major contract awarded to Thiess Contractors.
May 1990
Tenders called for first major contract.
Preliminary construction work commenced.
April 1990
Approval of Development Plan.
1989
Nov/Dec 1989
Public review of Draft Development Plan.
August 1989
Media Five Australia appointed as Master Architects.
June 1989
South Bank Corporation sought submissions from five architectural firms to prepare a Development Plan for South Bank Parklands.
May 1989
The South Bank Corporation Act was gazetted providing for the establishment of South Bank Corporation. The Corporation was briefed to redevelop the World Expo 88 site and control development in the adjoining South Brisbane precinct.
