A piece of Brisbane river history is in danger of being lost forever after the Kookaburra Queen I was found partially submerged at her mooring in Hemmant, raising urgent questions about the future of one of Queensland’s most recognisable vessels.
Read: Historic Kookaburra Queen I Paddleboat Sells for $550,000 at Murarrie Auction
The beloved paddleboat, a fixture on the Brisbane River for nearly four decades, is sitting on the bottom near her dock on the eastern stretch of the river, not far from the Morningside and Hemmant foreshore. Efforts to pump water from the hull were reportedly underway, but those familiar with the vessel say the task ahead is daunting, and time may already be running out.
Mystery deepens over how she came to sink
Last September, she was listed for auction through Grays auction house and sold for $550,000 to a Gold Coast buyer. Her new owner’s plans for the vessel were never made widely known. That sale, completed just four months ago, is part of why those close to the vessel are so puzzled by what has happened.
A previous owner of the Kookaburra Queen I said he was shocked by the vessel’s condition, telling the media the boat had a solid, quality hull and that he had been on board as recently as a month before the sinking. He said caretakers had been living on board and keeping watch over her, and everything had appeared to be in order. The sudden appearance of the vessel sitting on the riverbed, having apparently been moved from her regular berth, struck him as deeply mysterious.
He described the situation as sad and costly, suggesting that once a wooden hull like hers becomes fully submerged, recovery becomes an enormous and expensive undertaking and may not be feasible.
Maritime Safety Queensland also announced that the vessel was unlikely to pose a threat to other river traffic and was not expected to sink any further. However, authorities had not yet confirmed what kind of salvage operation, if any, might be possible, leaving the boat’s fate firmly up in the air.
About the Kookaburra Queen I
Built at Bulimba in 1986 and launched in 1987, the Kookaburra Queen I was originally purpose built to serve as a floating attraction for World Expo ’88, the landmark world’s fair that put Brisbane firmly on the international map. She quickly became a favourite on the river, spending the following decades hosting weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and tourist cruises for Queenslanders and visitors alike.
At 30.5 metres in length, she was no small operation. The vessel could accommodate more than 300 guests across two main decks, with an observation deck for a further 30 passengers. She boasted two independent dance floors, a commercial grade kitchen with cold room, eight bathrooms, and a PA system, everything you needed for a proper Brisbane celebration on the water.
Read: Hemmant Riverfront Set for Major Change with New Marina Village
The Kookaburra Queen I proved resilient over the years. She survived the catastrophic 2011 Queensland floods and continued operating in the years that followed. But the 2022 floods dealt a more serious blow, and the vessel was forced to cease commercial operations following that damage.
A community landmark in uncertain waters
For residents of Morningside, Hemmant, and the surrounding suburbs, the Kookaburra Queen I is more than a boat. She is a memory, the venue for a first date, a wedding reception, a retirement party, a school formal. Seeing her partially swallowed by the Brisbane River is difficult to watch.
Her sister vessel, the Kookaburra Queen II, features a classic paddlewheel more reminiscent of 19th century Mississippi and Murray River steamers. Its current operational status was not confirmed at time of publishing.
Whether she can be salvaged, restored, or whether this week marks the quiet end of a forty year chapter on the Brisbane River, remains to be seen. For now, she rests on the riverbed at Hemmant, and the community is waiting for answers.
Published 24-February-2026
