GSA Guide - Petrie Bight retaining wall Claimed

The Petrie Bight retaining wall is one of the best original retaining walls in Brisbane. It was built to prevent Queen Street from collapsing onto the Petrie Bight Wharf and warehouse area.

History: 

This old Brisbane retaining wall was built in 1881-82 to assist with the terracing of the ridge running down to the river from the vicinity of the area now occupied by St. John's Cathedral. The terrace comprising Queen Street still serves its original purpose. The original wharf area is now occupied by high rise developments with some open space, particularly along the riverside boardwalk.

The contractor for the project was Henry Patten and the cast iron balustrade was manufactured locally by Smith Forrester & Co. Since 1998 about 20 m of the wall has been dismantled and reconstructed on a new alignment.

Various breaches in the parapet have been repaired, one of which now holds a reinforced concrete stairway. Continued redevelopment along the river transformed the area into landscaped terraces around 1998.

Building Materials: 

The Petrie Bight retaining wall is built with porphyry (Formation: Brisbane Tuff), some of the stone may have been source locally during