Categories > Guides and Tips
The Ultimate Guide to the Brisbane Powerhouse
- Brief History of the Powerhouse in Brisbane
- Location
- Inside the Brisbane Powerhouse
- How to Get There
- By Bus
- By Ferry
- By Car
- By Bike
- Accessibility
- Things to See and Do / Attractions
- See What’s On and Book Your Tickets
- Join a Guided Tour
- Attend a Festival
- Live (Or Dine) On the Edge
- Shop at the Farmers Market
- Celebrate Milestones
Wondering where to catch electric performances and exhibits in the River City? Brisbane’s art and culture icon, the Brisbane Powerhouse, is both a stunning landmark and a hub for all things creative!
Sitting along the banks of the Brisbane River in New Farm, this former power station is indeed a character in its own right. It was built in the 1920s to power Brisbane trams for several decades and today electrifies audiences through the arts!
There’s always something interesting happening at the Brisbane Powerhouse, so every visit will definitely be unique! If you’re planning a night out or a date at the Powerhouse, here’s our ultimate guide to help you out!
Brief History of the Powerhouse in Brisbane
First, a little background on this New Farm gem.The Brisbane Powerhouse was originally built as a power station and its construction began in 1926 in New Farm. It was designed by Roy Rusden Ogg and was completed in 1928.
The station provided electricity for the whole tramway network and supplied power and lighting loads for several suburbs. However, with transport shifting to bus operations and changes in power generation methods, the power station was rendered obsolete.
The powerhouse was decommissioned in 1971, and Swanbank Power Station became the region’s primary electric supplier.
The site then served several purposes such as a works depot and a shelter for the homeless. And finally, in 1989, the building was reacquired by the Brisbane City Council and commissioned architect Peter Roy to redesign the site as an arts venue.
The refurbished site retained most of its original elements and first opened again in May 2000 and underwent another major overhaul in 2006.
Since then, visitors are able to enjoy numerous performances and events yearly, from theater performances, music, dance, comedy, film, and more!
The Brisbane Powerhouse truly is one of the must-visit places in the city, not to mention a perfect date spot, with a spectacular view of the Brisbane River, to boot!
Location
The Brisbane Powerhouse is located at Yagara Country, 119 Lamington St, New Farm QLD 4005. It’s open 7 days a week from 9am till late.
The repurposed power station is nestled on the banks of the Brisbane River offering a stunning scenery of the city skyline that blends with the lush greenery of New Farm.
Inside the Brisbane Powerhouse
To give you an idea of what’s inside the iconic art and culture hub – it’s a multi-purpose center with two main theaters, galleries, performance spaces, a shop, and restaurants!
The Powerhouse Theater can seat 536 guests and the Visy Theater can seat 200. The other venues are Turbine Hall, a rooftop terrace, outdoor plaza, green spaces, while the restaurants and bars are open for pre-show dines and drinks.
The center continues to support and develop projects in the field of performing and visual arts as well as facilitate workshops for kids and the community.
The venue is also available for special events such as weddings, corporate functions, and other occasions.
How to Get There
The Brisbane Powerhouse is very accessible by public transport so it’s recommended to consider commuting, ridesharing, or even riding your bike whenever possible.
By Bus
You can take the 195 and 196 buses that stop at Brunswick Street and Oxlade Drive as well as the 199 buses that stop at Merthyr and Hawthorne Street. All of the stops are more or less just 500 meters away from the Brisbane Powerhouse.
By Ferry
The New Farm ferry terminal is just 200 meters away and the service is approximately every 30 minutes until midnight.
By Car
If you’re bringing a car, we recommend that you arrive early as parking is limited at the Powerhouse so it’s still best to consider getting there via public transport or bicycle.
But you may chance upon a free parking slot at New Farm Park Car Park on Brunswick Street. While the Brisbane Powerhouse Car Park has 148 paid parking spaces and entrance is from Lamington Street.
By Bike
The venue is very accessible by bike as it’s situated along the Newstead-New Farm Bikeway and there are secure bike racks available as well.
Accessibility
All levels of the building can be accessed by lift and their friendly staff are always ready to assist when needed.
There are PWD-friendly seating options available for disabled patrons and wheelchair users. But take note that the balcony at the Powerhouse Theater is not accessible by wheelchair.
They also provide assisted listening devices, just make sure to inform them at the time of your booking. And for a comfortable watching experience, they allow bringing items such as ear plugs, fidget toys, muted electronic devices, etc.
Things to See and Do / Attractions
Truly a powerhouse for entertainment, the Brisbane Powerhouse electrifies audiences through various forms of performances, art, and so much more!
Step inside this historical building and savor the beauty and excitement of Brisbane’s contemporary art and culture scene! You’ll never know what’s in store as every visit would be totally unique!
But here are some of the things you can do all-year round before you plan your visit:
See What’s On and Book Your Tickets
Website: https://brisbanepowerhouse.org/?section=whats-on
Contact: [email protected] / (07) 3358 8622
Planning a night out at the Brisbane Powerhouse? Always check their What’s On page for the latest shows and events and book your tickets early if you’re looking to catch a particular performance.
You can also just drop by to see exhibits at the gallery which are free of charge. The venue opens 9am till late 7 days a week.
Join a Guided Tour
Website: https://brisbanepowerhouse.org/visit/#tours
Contact: [email protected] / (07) 3358 8600
Dive deep into the history of the 1920’s power station reborn into an arts venue that has been beautifully restored and remains to be an iconic landmark on the Brisbane River.
You’ll also discover the stories behind its idle years where the homeless, underground artists, and performers sought shelter and made art within its ruins. The price for the tour is $15 for adults and $9 for school groups up to Year 7.
Attend a Festival
Website: https://brisbanepowerhouse.org/festivals/
Contact: [email protected] / (07) 3358 8622
The Brisbane Powerhouse plays host to a number of festivals every year. The most notable are the MELT Festival, The Brisbane Comedy Festival, Night Feast, and the OHM Festival of Other Music.
The MELT Festival celebrates queer art and artists and usually happens every November, while the Brisbane Comedy Festival takes place from April to May.
The Night Feast is a month-long celebration of the senses filled with feasting and art. And the OHM Festival of Other Music explores adventurous and innovative musical, sound, light, and performance techniques beyond the mainstream genres.
Live (Or Dine) On the Edge
Website: https://vertigobrisbane.com.au/
Contact: [email protected] / (07) 3358 8622
Up for an elevated dining experience? This new attraction at the Brisbane Powerhouse will take your tastebuds to new heights (literally!).
Dine on the edge at Vertigo, a vertical restaurant where you’ll dangle from the top of the Brisbane Powerhouse for a gastronomic and adrenaline-pumping dining experience!
Your food will be served from Bar Alto which includes a sumptuous meal paired with fine wine. It’ll be so good that you’ll forget about your fear of heights!
It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, though. But fear not as you can still enjoy a delectable meal where your feet can touch the ground.
Bar Alto serves mouth-watering Italian dishes where your feet won’t need to dangle from up high. You can also try Mary Mae’s for a more casual dining that you can enjoy from breakfast to dinner time along with breathtaking views of the Brisbane River!
Shop at the Farmers Market
Website: https://www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au/powerhouse-farmers-markets
Contact: https://www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au/contact
Not only does the Brisbane Powerhouse support the performing and visual arts scene, but it also hosts farmers markets and night markets that promote local products!
You can shop at the Jan Powers Farmers Markets every Saturday from 6am to 12nn. It’s a haven for Brisbane foodies offering local and fresh produce, artisan cheeses and bread, handmade pasta, and more.
Of course, you can start the day with great coffee available at the market along with food trucks that offer a wide variety of scrumptious eats!
Celebrate Milestones
Website: https://brisbanepowerhouse.org/events-functions/
Contact: [email protected] / (07) 3358 8622
Dreaming of the perfect wedding? Why not let a world-class production team handle it inside an iconic performance venue – it’s your time to take the stage!
The Brisbane Powerhouse will give you a one-of-a-kind event that’ll surely be an unforgettable experience for you and your guests. A historic venue would be just perfect for a historic day, wouldn’t you agree?
You can book the venue for weddings, corporate events, and other special functions. There are different spaces available that can be versatile based on your needs and the best part is, you’ll be working with the same people behind their amazing shows!
