The announcement of the permanent closure of Brisbane’s historic Treasury Casino has marked the end of an era as the iconic establishment shuts its doors after three decades of operation. The closure will take place at midnight on Sunday, making way for The Star to take over as the main gambling hub at the Queen’s Wharf precinct, which is part of a $4 billion development project.
Daniel Finch, a spokesperson for the Treasury Casino and Hotel, expressed the emotional impact of the decision on staff members, acknowledging the significant historical and sentimental value of the buildings that have been under the company’s ownership since 1995.
As the operations of the casino move to a new location, plans are in place to transform the Treasury buildings into retail and dining venues by 2025. Negotiations for the sale of the properties are ongoing, with Finch mentioning that there are promising discussions taking place.
In the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, The Star Entertainment Group is gearing up to open its main gaming floor, premium gaming rooms, and five restaurants on day one at the Queen’s Wharf precinct. The introduction of the Neville Bonner Bridge will also improve connectivity between Queen’s Wharf and South Bank.
The new development is expected to boost Brisbane’s reputation as Australia’s “bleisure” capital, where business visitors combine work and leisure activities. Finch highlighted recent data showing an increase in time and money spent by business visitors in the city compared to other states.
Despite the excitement surrounding the upcoming launch of The Star’s Queen’s Wharf project, the company has faced challenges, including financial setbacks due to system issues that led to the temporary shutdown of its poker machines. Additionally, there have been allegations of impropriety that could potentially lead to the suspension of its Queensland license by the end of 2024. To address these concerns, The Star is under pressure to implement necessary reforms, with the Queensland and New South Wales governments delaying any regulatory actions for the time being.
