HOWARD SMITH WHARVES

Howard Smith Wharves was developed by the Queensland Government in conjunction with the Story Bridge between 1934 and the early 1940s.  It was developed to create work for the people of Brisbane to help with the depression in the 1930s.  The site, properly known as the Brisbane Central Wharves, replaced smaller wharves constructed in early 20th Century by Brisbane Wharves Ltd, leased by William Howard Smith & Sons Ltd. (Department of Environment and Resource Management, 2006)

The offices for Howard Smith Co. Ltd was completed by 1936 as a two-storey reinforced concrete building. In 1939, 3 berths with 5 new storage sheds, constructed of hardwood timber, and corrogated iron.  The wharves of reinforced concrete base laid on the rock of the river.  Hardwood timber such as ironbark, blue gum, yellow stringybark, spotted gum and messmate were used for walings, decking and berths.

In 1941-42 due to the Second World War, Brisbane City Council constructed 5 air raid shelters near the site adjacent to the Story Bridge. 

Howard Smith left the site, to closer to the mouth of the River in the 1960s.  The Water Police then occupied the site as well as the Queensland Works department.  The decking however, was largely destroyed and washed away during the 1974 floods.

Source: Department of Environment and Resource Management, 2006, Howard Smith Wharves, The State of Queensland. 
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/chims/placeDetail.html?siteId=16518