Co-located with Raptis Seafoods on the river at Morningside, Colmslie Wharves will provide 51 new commercial berths in a visionary plan to support displaced river and bay tourism operators.
This game-changing project will deliver a tourism bonanza for Brisbane that is forecast to inject more than $100 million a year into the local economy and attract almost 110,000 extra visitors per annum. It is also expected to create 337 ongoing jobs.
The Queensland Government has backed Colmslie Wharves, awarding a $4 million grant through its Growing Tourism Fund to support the development due to its close alignment with key tourism, economic, employment and environmental policy objectives.
The project makes use of currently under utilised freehold land and river frontage in an industrial area only 9km from the Brisbane CBD and in close proximity to existing key pick-up and drop-off zones for river-based tourism. It is also likely to encourage investment in additional common user river infrastructure, driving growth and prosperity for tourism businesses providing Brisbane River and Moreton Bay experiences.
As Brisbane gears up for the 2032 Olympic Games, Colmslie Wharves will provide vital marine infrastructure that will power a new era of water-based tourism activity worthy of the River City’s iconic brand.
Driving growth and prosperity for river-based tourism businesses.
Driving growth and prosperity for river-based tourism businesses.
51
MARINA BERTHS FOR TOURISM VESSELS
430
MILLION ECONOMIC BOOST OVER 5 YEARS
110,000
INCREASE IN BRISBANE VISITOR NUMBERS
337
ONGOING JOBS IN LOCAL SMEs
50
CUT IN TRAVEL TIME TO MORETON BAY & ISLANDS
56
YEARS IN BUSINESS FOR OWNER RAPTIS GROUP
Marine
Colmslie Wharves will be a game-changer for Brisbane’s marine tourism industry.
Since 2023, operators have struggled with a critical shortage of marina berths, forcing them into temporary, unsuitable locations.
Colmslie Wharves is the solution – a purpose-built commercial marina designed to accommodate 51 vessels up to 35m, offering security for existing operators and a catalyst for new entrants.
More operators will mean more investment, more jobs, and a thriving marine sector, fuelling Brisbane’s reputation as Australia’s premier River City destination!
Tourism
Despite being known as the River City, Brisbane has fallen behind other capitals in river and marine tourism.
In 2019, fewer than 1 in 10 domestic overnight visitors experienced the Brisbane River or Moreton Bay.
Colmslie Wharves will revitalise and grow the city’s marine tourism industry, allowing operators to offer new tours, island transfers and eco-experiences.
The project will also drive investment in common user infrastructure, such as pick-up points and temporary daytime berthing, boosting tourism, supporting local businesses, and cementing Brisbane as a premier waterfront destination.
Economy
Colmslie Wharves will deliver a major economic boost for Brisbane.
Creating a forecast 51 jobs during construction and 337 ongoing roles across tourism, hospitality, and marine services, it will drive industry growth and new business opportunities along the Brisbane River and into Moreton Bay.
With 109,625 extra visitors annually, the project is set to generate $17.98 million in visitor spending and $428.29 million in economic output over five years.
By unlocking Brisbane’s marine tourism potential, Colmslie Wharves will fuel jobs, investment, and an exciting new era for the River City.
Environment
Colmslie Wharves has been designed with environmental responsibility at its core, ensuring minimal impact on the Brisbane River and surrounding ecosystems.
Purpose-built infrastructure, including on-water fuelling and sewage pump-out facilities, will support responsible waste management for commercial vessels.
The project will also help reduce unauthorised mooring, mitigating environmental risks.
Backed by the Raptis Group’s strong compliance record and commitment to sustainability, Colmslie Wharves will enhance marine tourism while protecting the health of the river for future generations.
Marine
Since 2023, Brisbane’s commercial tourism operators have faced a severe shortage of suitable marina berths, resulting in a market failure that has constrained the growth and investment potential of the marine tourism industry.
The forced removal of commercial vessels from Dockside Marina at Kangaroo Point, combined with the closure of the Dexus marine facilities at Eagle Street Pier required commercial operators to relocate. Many have sought temporary berthing at either Raptis’s current dock at Colmslie or recreational marina at Rivergate, neither of which are fit for purpose.
Colmslie Wharves will address this critical shortage of overnight mooring facilities. Designed to accommodate 51 vessels of up to 35 metres in length, it will provide both certainty for existing commercial tourism operators and an incentive for new operators to enter the sector.
The project will also support the modernisation of Brisbane’s commercial marine industry. Many tourism operators have been reluctant to invest in their vessels due to the lack of long-term, reliable berthing options. By providing a stable home base, Colmslie Wharves will be the catalyst for a strong and more diverse commercial marine sector.
Additionally, as the project attracts more commercial operators, it will generate a flow-on benefit to the marine service sector, driving demand for repairs, maintenance, and refits, which will further strengthen Brisbane’s marine industry and local economy.
”Designed to accommodate 51 vessels of up to 35 metres in length, it will provide both certainty for existing commercial tourism operators and an incentive for new operators to enter the sector.
51 berths dedicated to commercial vessels
Berth sizes ranging from 12m up to 35m
Current industry zoning supports marine industry
Easy access for vessel provisioning
Fuel connection points/provisioning for refuelling
Waste water pump-out facilities/general waste
Car parking to support vessels and staffing
Staff amenities, including toilets and showers
Tourism
Brisbane has historically underperformed in river tourism compared with other Australian capital cities despite its cherished ‘River City’ mantle and the natural beauty of Moreton Bay and the bay islands.
In 2019, only 8.2% of domestic overnight visitors participated in a river or bay-related experience, while for locals, the Brisbane City Council’s fleet of CityCats is by far the most common river experience. Entertainment vessels such as Oasis predominantly host local residents.
Colmslie Wharves will play a vital role in enhancing Brisbane’s tourism industry by providing much-needed infrastructure to support and grow river and marine-based tourism. It will allow commercial tour operators to expand their services and offer more experiences that connect both visitors and locals to the river and the bay, while also encouraging new industry entrants.
Importantly, the project will also drive investment in common user infrastructure – pick-up and drop-off locations and temporary daytime berthing – providing new experiences along with prosperity for tourism businesses.
Colmslie Wharves will significantly improve marine accessibility across the Brisbane River, Moreton Bay and the bay islands (up to 50% reduction in travel times), strengthening river connectivity and making it easier for operators to offer island transfers, new high-end charter experiences, and eco-tourism activities.
”This project will single-handedly boost Brisbane’s appeal as a premier destination for water-based tourism.
Increase Brisbane’s share of the marine tourism market
Meet growing demand for unique water-based activities
Diversify Brisbane’s tourism offerings
Encourage longer visitor stays in Brisbane
Drive demand for accommodation, dining and local attractions across Brisbane
Align with ‘wharves’ popularity, e.g., Howard Smith Wharves & Queen’s Wharf
Economy
Colmslie Wharves will deliver substantial economic benefits to Brisbane, generating significant employment opportunities, boosting visitor numbers and contributing to the overall economic growth of the region.
A key benefit of the project is job creation, with 51 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs supported during the construction phase and an estimated 337 FTE jobs once the marina is fully operational. These positions will span various sectors, including tourism, hospitality and marine services. An influx of new businesses and services around the marina will further drive economic activity and job growth in related industries.
The marina is expected to attract 109,625 additional visitors annually, generating $17.98 million in additional visitor expenditure per year.
Substantial financial contributions will arise during both the construction and operational phases.
The construction stage is forecast to generate $17.85 million in economic output and contribute $5.77 million in economic value add.
Once operational, the marina is expected to create $102.61 million in annual economic output, with a value-add contribution of $42.15 million per year. Over the first five years, the project is projected to contribute $428.29 million in total economic output and $174.37 million in economic value add.
By bridging critical infrastructure gaps and creating new tourism experiences, Colmslie Wharves will play a pivotal role in shaping Brisbane’s tourism future.
Source: Economy.id
”Over the first five years, the project is projected to contribute $428.29 million in total economic output and $174.37 million in economic value add.
Environment
The Colmslie Wharves project has been designed with environmental responsibility at its heart, ensuring minimal impact on the Brisbane River and surrounding ecosystems.
As the site has long been designated for marine and industrial activities, the marina development represents the highest and best use of the land and water. A key aspect of the marina is the inclusion of on-water fuelling and sewage pump-out infrastructure, supporting responsible environmental and waste management practices for commercial tourism vessels.
Raptis has maintained a strong compliance record with environmental regulations, with no notifiable environmental or work health and safety incidents reported during its tenure. The company’s history of responsible site management demonstrates a commitment to meeting environmental obligations that will be reflected in the new marina project.
By supporting purpose-built commercial berths, the project will also help to reduce unauthorised mooring along the Brisbane River, mitigating environmental risks associated with uncontrolled vessel movements.
Colmslie Wharves will enhance Brisbane’s capacity to accommodate commercial vessels without compromising the health of the river and bay.
By incorporating environmentally appropriate infrastructure and strict operational safeguards, it will play a crucial role in promoting a cleaner and more sustainable marine tourism industry for Queensland.
”Colmslie Wharves will enhance Brisbane’s capacity to accommodate commercial vessels without compromising the health of the river and bay.
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About us
Colmslie Wharves is an initiative of Raptis Investments – the owner and operator of retail, commercial, industrial and wharf real estate assets spanning the Eastern Seaboard and South Australia.
First founded in 1969 to hold the Raptis family’s real estate assets, Raptis Investments now has more than $400 million in assets under management with a tenancy profile that includes major national and international retail brands.
Raptis Seafoods (A Raptis & Sons) was founded by Athanasios George (Arthur) Raptis in 1954 and is now one of Australia’s largest privately owned fishing and seafood trading companies and enjoys a global reputation for quality products and a commitment to excellence.
Raptis today owns and operates fishing fleets from Far Northern tropical waters to the freezing depths of the Great Australian Bight, the state-of-the-art processing facility and auction trading floor at Morningside.
It is both a wholesaler and shareholder of the Sydney Fish Markets and a major supplier of seafood to distributors, wholesalers, seafood retail outlets and major national supermarket chains and export markets.
”Raptis has succeeded into its third generation of family legacy and currently employs more than 200 people across its operations.
Site history
The Colmslie Wharves region of the Brisbane River has a long and rich history both before and after European settlement, including an important crossing point for Traditional Owners, a strategic military base and a major hub for Brisbane’s seafood industry.
The riverbanks were used extensively for hunting, fishing, and gathering by the Turrbal and Jagera People, with archaeological evidence including fishing nets, baskets, and large canoes found in the area. The river’s sandbanks made this a natural crossing point between the north and south banks, connecting key Indigenous pathways, with area to the north known as Mooroo-mooroolbin (now Northshore Hamilton) and the southern side called Murari (now Murarrie). These deep historical connections highlight the enduring cultural significance of the Brisbane River and its surrounding areas.
The connection to the river continued during the early settlement period, and some of Brisbane’s first regattas were held along the shores of Hamilton Reach. The site played an important role in Australia’s defence efforts during World War I, when the Australian Commonwealth Arsenal developed defence factories along the banks of the Brisbane River, including the heritage-listed Acetate of Lime Factory, built between 1917 and 1920 to provide acetate of lime for cordite production. Though production ceased in 1922, the site’s industrial legacy remained an important part of its development.
During World War II, the site became a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base, later known as HMAS Moreton, Colmslie. The existing jetty was used as a refuelling wharf, and new naval workshops and a repair slipway were constructed upriver from the Raptis site.
”The planned Colmslie Wharves project will build upon this rich heritage, ensuring that the site remains an important focal point for Brisbane’s marine and tourism industries for future generations.
In the late 1940s, the Australian Government repurposed the factory buildings as a migrant hostel, subsequently known as The Colmslie Migrant Hostel, providing accommodation for new arrivals to Australia. Buildings were converted into housing, and additional timber huts were constructed to support Brisbane’s growing migrant community. Two of these heritage-listed huts have since been preserved as part of the Rivermakers development.
By 1966, the site transitioned from government control to commercial use when the Queensland Fisheries Board took over a portion of the land, establishing Brisbane’s Metropolitan Fish Market in 1968.
In 1987, the Raptis family acquired the Queensland Fisheries Board from the government and has since operated the site as Raptis Fish Markets, continuing its legacy as a key location for seafood processing, trade, and distribution in Brisbane.
Today, the Colmslie site stands as a testament to Brisbane’s industrial, maritime, and cultural history, evolving from its wartime origins to a vital marine and seafood industry hub.
The planned Colmslie Wharves project will build upon this rich heritage, ensuring that the site remains an important focal point for Brisbane’s marine and tourism industries for future generations.
