Construction is advancing on Colmslie Wharves in Morningside, set to become Brisbane’s only dedicated commercial marina when it opens in mid-2026, with the project forecast to inject more than $100 million annually into the local economy and create 337 ongoing jobs.
Located on the Brisbane River just nine kilometres from the CBD, the marina will offer 50 berths capable of accommodating vessels up to 50 metres in length. Leasing for the first berths is already underway ahead of the expected mid-2026 opening. The project is being delivered by Raptis Investments, with $4 million in support from a Queensland tourism infrastructure fund.
The marina fills a long-standing gap in Brisbane’s marine infrastructure. For years, tourism and commercial vessel operators on the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay have faced a shortage of overnight berthing options, with many forced to work around inadequate facilities or redirect their operations to other ports. Colmslie Wharves is designed to provide the permanent, purpose-built solution that operators have been waiting for.
What the Marina Will Offer
The 50-berth facility will provide crew amenities, fuel services, waste management systems and ample parking, giving commercial operators a fully serviced base for river and bay tourism. Its position on the river provides quick access to key pick-up and drop-off points across the broader south-east Queensland marine network, including the bay islands and Moreton Bay.
Developers designed the marina with environmental safeguards to minimise its impact on the Brisbane River and surrounding ecosystems. The approach reflects growing recognition of the river corridor’s tourism and recreational potential ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Leasing interest has already come from existing local operators, new entrants to the market and major interstate marine businesses looking to establish a Brisbane presence. The Australian Commercial Marine Group has pointed to the shortage of long-term berthing options as a factor that has historically pushed potential operators to other cities, with the Olympics now accelerating demand for river and bay-based tourism infrastructure in Brisbane.
Operators Ready to Expand
The infrastructure gap has had tangible consequences for businesses already operating on the river. The owner and operator of luxury river cruise provider Yot Club described having to put expansion plans on hold, including new vessels, additional staff and wider supply chain activity, despite strong customer demand. Colmslie Wharves completing construction is the trigger that allows those plans to move forward.
The Australian Commercial Marine Group also highlighted the untapped potential of Moreton Bay as a tourism destination. Thousands of visitors travel north to Hervey Bay each year for whale watching, despite Moreton Bay hosting whales on Brisbane’s doorstep. The absence of suitable berthing infrastructure has been a key reason that potential has gone undeveloped. With Colmslie Wharves providing the launching pad, operators anticipate a range of new offerings including boutique cruises, eco-tourism experiences, adventure sports and private water taxi services.
Why This Matters to Morningside and Murarrie
For residents of Morningside and Murarrie, Colmslie Wharves represents a significant change to what has historically been a quietly industrial stretch of the riverfront. A new commercial marina will increase activity along the waterfront, attract new businesses to the area and bring the foot traffic that follows well-placed tourism infrastructure.
The forecast of nearly 110,000 additional visitors to Brisbane per year translates into real local economic activity. Visitors arriving by vessel need accommodation, food, transport and services, much of which will flow through the suburbs closest to the marina. For a community like Morningside, which sits between the river and some of Brisbane’s busiest inner-east corridors, that kind of economic activation has the potential to strengthen local businesses and support long-term growth in the area.
With the 2032 Olympics on the horizon and the Brisbane River increasingly central to how the city presents itself to the world, Colmslie Wharves places Morningside and Murarrie at the start of something the river corridor has needed for a long time.
For leasing enquiries or more information, visit colmsliewharves.com.au.
Published 16-March-2026.
