6 days ago
From the ritz to the rubble: Queens Wharf building through the years
As far as grand openings go, Queens Wharf enjoyed an auspicious welcome into the world.
Queen Elizabeth II opened the harbourside building on Saturday, May 7, 1988, alongside her husband, Prince Philip, after sailing overnight from Sydney on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
It marked the end of the waterfront precinct's industrial past (it was once known as Kings Wharf) and the beginning of an embrace of tourism and recreation.
The Queens Wharf's opening was arguably the highlight of the British monarch's fourth and final visit to Newcastle.
Marty Adnum, the managing director of Newcastle marketing agency Out Of The Square, was among the crowd at Queens Wharf as a 19-year-old when the Queen opened the building.
He said for several decades, the precinct served the city well.
"In the early days, it was our first on-water eating experience," Mr Adnum said.
"Going back to then, it was a great benefit to us. But we've evolved so much as a city."
For the next 30 years, the Queens Wharf white building served as a meeting place for Novocastrians and visitors.
Its spectacular views of the harbour across to Stockton and Nobbys Lighthouse guarantee a prime position in any tourist's itinerary.
It also became a popular dining precinct and hosted weddings and corporate functions, and offered a prime vantage spot for the harbour's New Year's Eve fireworks.
The Queens Wharf building's most infamous section, the phallic-shaped observation tower, was demolished in 2018 due to its lack of wheelchair access and $1.6 million maintenance bill.
Countless Novocastrians climbed the Queens Wharf Tower's 180 steps across three decades, but Newcastle Herald columnist Paul Scott reflected in a 2021 editorial that it was hardly remembered with nostalgia.
"Whenever I smell the stale stench of urine in the empty shop fronts of Hunter Street - which is most days - I recall the QWT," Scott wrote.
Then interim City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath was also pleased to see the 30-metre structure chopped in 2018.
"There really is no other way to describe the Queens Wharf Tower other than as an embarrassment to the city," Mr Bath said.
"I look forward to not having to answer the inevitable question of 'why' from guests and visitors when they first see the tower."
In typical Novocastrian fashion, the tower didn't come down with a whimper.
The tower was immortalised as a bottle opener in 2018 with the words "what goes up must come down" by Out Of The Square.
Almost 3000 bottle openers were sold, raising $22,193 for the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance.
Mr Adnum said the infamous tower still holds a quirky place in the hearts of Novocastrians.
"They sold like hot cakes," he said. "As much as it's the whole penis-tower thing, it's fondly remembered."
The rest of the Queens Wharf building continued for another two years before a fire broke out in the kitchen of bar and restaurant Six Degrees in May 2020.
Since then, the once-proud entertainment hotspot has been left to rack and ruin.
The Newcastle Herald revealed last October that squatters had moved in, and the building was abandoned to graffiti, broken windows, and rubbish.
The City of Newcastle last week invited the community to provide their feedback on the future redevelopment of the Queens Wharf building, which has sparked many conversations about the precinct.
Whatever the future holds, its prime position in the heart of Newcastle Harbour will continue to fascinate locals and visitors alike.
As far as grand openings go, Queens Wharf enjoyed an auspicious welcome into the world.
Queen Elizabeth II opened the harbourside building on Saturday, May 7, 1988, alongside her husband, Prince Philip, after sailing overnight from Sydney on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
It marked the end of the waterfront precinct's industrial past (it was once known as Kings Wharf) and the beginning of an embrace of tourism and recreation.
The Queens Wharf's opening was arguably the highlight of the British monarch's fourth and final visit to Newcastle.
Marty Adnum, the managing director of Newcastle marketing agency Out Of The Square, was among the crowd at Queens Wharf as a 19-year-old when the Queen opened the building.
He said for several decades, the precinct served the city well.
"In the early days, it was our first on-water eating experience," Mr Adnum said.
"Going back to then, it was a great benefit to us. But we've evolved so much as a city."
For the next 30 years, the Queens Wharf white building served as a meeting place for Novocastrians and visitors.
Its spectacular views of the harbour across to Stockton and Nobbys Lighthouse guarantee a prime position in any tourist's itinerary.
It also became a popular dining precinct and hosted weddings and corporate functions, and offered a prime vantage spot for the harbour's New Year's Eve fireworks.
The Queens Wharf building's most infamous section, the phallic-shaped observation tower, was demolished in 2018 due to its lack of wheelchair access and $1.6 million maintenance bill.
Countless Novocastrians climbed the Queens Wharf Tower's 180 steps across three decades, but Newcastle Herald columnist Paul Scott reflected in a 2021 editorial that it was hardly remembered with nostalgia.
"Whenever I smell the stale stench of urine in the empty shop fronts of Hunter Street - which is most days - I recall the QWT," Scott wrote.
Then interim City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath was also pleased to see the 30-metre structure chopped in 2018.
"There really is no other way to describe the Queens Wharf Tower other than as an embarrassment to the city," Mr Bath said.
"I look forward to not having to answer the inevitable question of 'why' from guests and visitors when they first see the tower."
In typical Novocastrian fashion, the tower didn't come down with a whimper.
The tower was immortalised as a bottle opener in 2018 with the words "what goes up must come down" by Out Of The Square.
Almost 3000 bottle openers were sold, raising $22,193 for the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance.
Mr Adnum said the infamous tower still holds a quirky place in the hearts of Novocastrians.
"They sold like hot cakes," he said. "As much as it's the whole penis-tower thing, it's fondly remembered."
The rest of the Queens Wharf building continued for another two years before a fire broke out in the kitchen of bar and restaurant Six Degrees in May 2020.
Since then, the once-proud entertainment hotspot has been left to rack and ruin.
The Newcastle Herald revealed last October that squatters had moved in, and the building was abandoned to graffiti, broken windows, and rubbish.
The City of Newcastle last week invited the community to provide their feedback on the future redevelopment of the Queens Wharf building, which has sparked many conversations about the precinct.
Whatever the future holds, its prime position in the heart of Newcastle Harbour will continue to fascinate locals and visitors alike.
As far as grand openings go, Queens Wharf enjoyed an auspicious welcome into the world.
Queen Elizabeth II opened the harbourside building on Saturday, May 7, 1988, alongside her husband, Prince Philip, after sailing overnight from Sydney on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
It marked the end of the waterfront precinct's industrial past (it was once known as Kings Wharf) and the beginning of an embrace of tourism and recreation.
The Queens Wharf's opening was arguably the highlight of the British monarch's fourth and final visit to Newcastle.
Marty Adnum, the managing director of Newcastle marketing agency Out Of The Square, was among the crowd at Queens Wharf as a 19-year-old when the Queen opened the building.
He said for several decades, the precinct served the city well.
"In the early days, it was our first on-water eating experience," Mr Adnum said.
"Going back to then, it was a great benefit to us. But we've evolved so much as a city."
For the next 30 years, the Queens Wharf white building served as a meeting place for Novocastrians and visitors.
Its spectacular views of the harbour across to Stockton and Nobbys Lighthouse guarantee a prime position in any tourist's itinerary.
It also became a popular dining precinct and hosted weddings and corporate functions, and offered a prime vantage spot for the harbour's New Year's Eve fireworks.
The Queens Wharf building's most infamous section, the phallic-shaped observation tower, was demolished in 2018 due to its lack of wheelchair access and $1.6 million maintenance bill.
Countless Novocastrians climbed the Queens Wharf Tower's 180 steps across three decades, but Newcastle Herald columnist Paul Scott reflected in a 2021 editorial that it was hardly remembered with nostalgia.
"Whenever I smell the stale stench of urine in the empty shop fronts of Hunter Street - which is most days - I recall the QWT," Scott wrote.
Then interim City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath was also pleased to see the 30-metre structure chopped in 2018.
"There really is no other way to describe the Queens Wharf Tower other than as an embarrassment to the city," Mr Bath said.
"I look forward to not having to answer the inevitable question of 'why' from guests and visitors when they first see the tower."
In typical Novocastrian fashion, the tower didn't come down with a whimper.
The tower was immortalised as a bottle opener in 2018 with the words "what goes up must come down" by Out Of The Square.
Almost 3000 bottle openers were sold, raising $22,193 for the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance.
Mr Adnum said the infamous tower still holds a quirky place in the hearts of Novocastrians.
"They sold like hot cakes," he said. "As much as it's the whole penis-tower thing, it's fondly remembered."
The rest of the Queens Wharf building continued for another two years before a fire broke out in the kitchen of bar and restaurant Six Degrees in May 2020.
Since then, the once-proud entertainment hotspot has been left to rack and ruin.
The Newcastle Herald revealed last October that squatters had moved in, and the building was abandoned to graffiti, broken windows, and rubbish.
The City of Newcastle last week invited the community to provide their feedback on the future redevelopment of the Queens Wharf building, which has sparked many conversations about the precinct.
Whatever the future holds, its prime position in the heart of Newcastle Harbour will continue to fascinate locals and visitors alike.
As far as grand openings go, Queens Wharf enjoyed an auspicious welcome into the world.
Queen Elizabeth II opened the harbourside building on Saturday, May 7, 1988, alongside her husband, Prince Philip, after sailing overnight from Sydney on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
It marked the end of the waterfront precinct's industrial past (it was once known as Kings Wharf) and the beginning of an embrace of tourism and recreation.
The Queens Wharf's opening was arguably the highlight of the British monarch's fourth and final visit to Newcastle.
Marty Adnum, the managing director of Newcastle marketing agency Out Of The Square, was among the crowd at Queens Wharf as a 19-year-old when the Queen opened the building.
He said for several decades, the precinct served the city well.
"In the early days, it was our first on-water eating experience," Mr Adnum said.
"Going back to then, it was a great benefit to us. But we've evolved so much as a city."
For the next 30 years, the Queens Wharf white building served as a meeting place for Novocastrians and visitors.
Its spectacular views of the harbour across to Stockton and Nobbys Lighthouse guarantee a prime position in any tourist's itinerary.
It also became a popular dining precinct and hosted weddings and corporate functions, and offered a prime vantage spot for the harbour's New Year's Eve fireworks.
The Queens Wharf building's most infamous section, the phallic-shaped observation tower, was demolished in 2018 due to its lack of wheelchair access and $1.6 million maintenance bill.
Countless Novocastrians climbed the Queens Wharf Tower's 180 steps across three decades, but Newcastle Herald columnist Paul Scott reflected in a 2021 editorial that it was hardly remembered with nostalgia.
"Whenever I smell the stale stench of urine in the empty shop fronts of Hunter Street - which is most days - I recall the QWT," Scott wrote.
Then interim City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath was also pleased to see the 30-metre structure chopped in 2018.
"There really is no other way to describe the Queens Wharf Tower other than as an embarrassment to the city," Mr Bath said.
"I look forward to not having to answer the inevitable question of 'why' from guests and visitors when they first see the tower."
In typical Novocastrian fashion, the tower didn't come down with a whimper.
The tower was immortalised as a bottle opener in 2018 with the words "what goes up must come down" by Out Of The Square.
Almost 3000 bottle openers were sold, raising $22,193 for the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance.
Mr Adnum said the infamous tower still holds a quirky place in the hearts of Novocastrians.
"They sold like hot cakes," he said. "As much as it's the whole penis-tower thing, it's fondly remembered."
The rest of the Queens Wharf building continued for another two years before a fire broke out in the kitchen of bar and restaurant Six Degrees in May 2020.
Since then, the once-proud entertainment hotspot has been left to rack and ruin.
The Newcastle Herald revealed last October that squatters had moved in, and the building was abandoned to graffiti, broken windows, and rubbish.
The City of Newcastle last week invited the community to provide their feedback on the future redevelopment of the Queens Wharf building, which has sparked many conversations about the precinct.
Whatever the future holds, its prime position in the heart of Newcastle Harbour will continue to fascinate locals and visitors alike.
