A new speakeasy, rooftop garden bar and steakhouse planned for The Vic Hotel’s multimillion-dollar revamp

Oct 23, 2024, updated Oct 30, 2024

Perched on the corner of Edward and Charlotte Street, The Victory Hotel has remained a fixture of Brisbane for generations. This week, a multimillion-dollar redevelopment plan was proposed to reinvigorate the iconic watering hole with a major overhaul. If approved, the refurbishment would transform Brisbane’s oldest surviving pub into four separate venues, marking a new era in the establishment’s 139-year history. Keep reading to find out more …

In 1885, The Victory Hotel, named The Prince of Wales until 1921, first opened its doors. Located in Frog’s Hollow, the low-lying, marshy area of The City, the hotel would go on to witness the birth of Brisbane’s business district – transforming from a sparse community of residential and boarding houses to today’s bustling cosmopolitan epicentre. Throughout the years, The Vic, as it’s become known, has been on the receiving end of multiple refurbishments and redesigns before emerging today as a testament to The City’s earliest days.

This week, Australian property investment and development company Precision Group submitted a Development Application (DA) to redevelop the iconic hotel with a new breath of life. “Our focus is on creating a world-class destination that will attract visitors from across Australia and around the world, while preserving the heritage of the site for future generations,” shares Precision Group leading executive Rory O’Brien.

Precision Group has worked with architecture firm Bureau Proberts and interior designers S.Shyne to dream up this new vision for the hotel, with support from renowned heritage architect Ruth Woods. The proposed plans look to honour the historical site as well as its history by providing a more diverse range of experiences. Precision Group wants to transform the pub into four separate venues, including a sports bar and beer garden, a rooftop garden bar, a steakhouse and a basement speakeasy-style bar with a gaming room.

“The new works reflect a modern interpretation of the original form and materiality of the 19th-century hotel,” shares Ruth. “The project brings the features of the historic building back into focus while updating the facilities to service the more sophisticated requirements of patrons in the twenty-first century.”

In terms of the intended fit-out, the team is looking to pay homage to the hotel’s rich history, whilst incorporating modern touches to connect with new generations. Set to blend the present and the past, the proposed works seek to establish The Vic as a dynamic and versatile dining destination.

The redevelopment of the Victory Hotel is expected to commence in early 2025, pending all approvals.