Information
Landmark: Brisbane PowerhouseCity: Brisbane
Country: Australia
Continent: Australia
Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane, Australia, Australia
Overview
The Brisbane Powerhouse stands among the city’s top cultural spots, where art meets performance, history echoes in old brick walls, and bold ideas take the stage.Perched on the edge of the Brisbane River in lively New Farm, this once-industrial warehouse now buzzes with contemporary art and live performances, its brick walls still faintly smelling of old timber and paint.With its buzzing studios, live shows, and vibrant festivals, the Brisbane Powerhouse has become a cherished heart of the city’s cultural life.At 119 Lamington Street in New Farm, Brisbane, the Brisbane Powerhouse hums with life-once a 1928 power station for the city’s tramway, it now bursts with theatre, live music, dance, comedy, festivals, and exhibitions, all set across performance halls, art galleries, cafés, bars, and airy event spaces.With its massive steel beams, weathered brick walls, and tall windows that caught the afternoon light, the building’s bold industrial design gave it a commanding presence and cemented its place in Brisbane’s early power network.By the late 20th century, the power station had outlived its purpose, and crews shut it down, leaving the big turbines to gather dust.After major renovations in the 2000s, the Brisbane Powerhouse reopened in 2000 as an arts venue, its old brick walls now echoing with music, voices, and the hum of opening-night crowds.They kept the building’s ornate woodwork and tall arched windows, yet turned it into a sleek cultural hub alive with contemporary art, performances, and community gatherings.At the Brisbane Powerhouse, sweeping Art Deco lines meet the grit of industrial design, where sunlight spills across high ceilings, bare beams, and wide, open floors.You can still see the building’s industrial past in its design-brick facades warmed by the afternoon sun, tall steel-framed windows, and cool, bare concrete underfoot.They kept the soul of the old space intact, adding sleek lighting and crisp, clear acoustics so it could handle everything from a quiet poetry reading to a full-throttle concert.The Brisbane Powerhouse houses several performance spaces, each with its own mood and size.The Powerhouse Theatre, for example, is a flexible, intimate venue where you might catch a gripping play, a sharp stand-up act, or the thud of dancers’ feet on stage.It seats about 300 people, spacious enough for a full-scale musical yet cozy enough for a quiet play where you can hear every breath.The Turbine Platform sits outdoors by the Brisbane River, where you can hear music drift across the water during festivals, concerts, and other live performances.During big festivals and city events, people gather on the Turbine Platform, where they can watch the river shimmer below and the skyline glow in the distance.The Infinity Theatre is a cozy, adaptable space, perfect for performances, hands-on workshops, and lively community gatherings.The space welcomes experimental performances, lively discussions, and hands-on shows where the air hums with energy.The Studio is a cozy, close-knit venue where you might catch a contemporary dance piece, hear the snap of a poet’s voice, or watch bold, experimental theater unfold just a few feet away.The Brisbane Powerhouse is famous for its lively mix of arts and cultural events, from intimate jazz nights to bold contemporary theatre, offering something for every taste.The Powerhouse’s theater lineup ranges from intimate local dramas to glittering musicals, with productions by artists from around the corner and across the globe.Live Music: This spot draws crowds for its live shows, with everything from the bright strum of indie guitars to the smooth sway of jazz, plus classical, electronic, and plenty more.The place draws fresh talent and seasoned acts alike, from a singer testing new lyrics to a veteran guitarist who knows every note by heart.Comedy: The Brisbane Powerhouse buzzes during events like the Brisbane Comedy Festival, drawing comedians from across the globe to deliver sharp stand-up sets and quick-fire improv that can leave the whole room roaring.Dance and Contemporary Performance: The venue hosts everything from bold contemporary art shows to electrifying dance pieces, each one stretching the limits of tradition like a spotlight cutting through the dark.Festivals: The Brisbane Powerhouse regularly takes part in some of the city’s biggest celebrations, from the lively Brisbane Festival to the laugh-filled Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the star-studded Brisbane International Film Festival.The venue also hosts art exhibitions, from vivid installations to striking photography, giving both new and seasoned artists a place to share their work.At the Brisbane Powerhouse, you can linger over coffee or sip a cold drink at The Engine Room, the main café and bar, where modern Australian dishes are served alongside the smell of fresh espresso.The easygoing vibe makes it perfect for grabbing dinner before the show or lingering over a glass of wine once the curtain falls.Bar Alto sits right on the river, a sleek spot where you can linger over Italian-inspired plates, sip a crisp glass of wine, or try a frothy craft beer while the water glints in the afternoon sun.It’s a great spot for an easy weeknight dinner or a big celebration-imagine clinking glasses under warm string lights.Outdoor Dining: Sitting just steps from the river, the Powerhouse offers outdoor tables where you can linger over a meal or sip a cold drink while watching the Brisbane River flow past and the Story Bridge glow in the distance.The Brisbane Powerhouse buzzes year-round with events and festivals that spotlight the city’s vibrant culture.During the Brisbane Festival, it becomes the beating heart of the celebration, alive with music, theater, dance, and vivid bursts of color from local art.Brisbane Comedy Festival: The venue comes alive each year with everything from sharp-witted stand‑up to quick‑fire improv, drawing crowds for this much‑loved celebration of comedy.At the Brisbane International Film Festival, the Brisbane Powerhouse buzzes as a main hub, showing films from around the world and from home, then drawing crowds in for lively filmmaker Q&As and spirited panel talks.Alongside its performances and exhibitions, the Brisbane Powerhouse throws itself into education and community projects, from hands-on workshops to lively neighborhood events.They run workshops, masterclasses, and public programs for emerging artists, students, and anyone curious enough to join-sometimes in bright rooms that smell faintly of fresh paint.These programs open the door to creative growth, letting people dive into the arts with paint on their fingers and ideas taking shape under their hands.Getting to the Brisbane Powerhouse is easy-buses rumble past the stop just down the street, and ferries pull in at the river dock a short walk away.The New Farm Park Ferry Terminal sits only a few minutes’ walk from the venue, and you can also catch a bus that stops near the Powerhouse, right by the line of fig trees.Parking: The venue has only a few spots on-site, but you can also find street parking nearby, often just past the corner café.Whenever you can, take public transit-the venue’s packed streets make parking a headache.
