Brisbane was built on a river and thrives on its stunning views. Whether you are planning an elegant wedding banquet, an investor roadshow or a relaxed 40-th birthday barbecue, choosing a venue on the water instantly lifts the mood: more breeze, more room, more “wow” in the Instagram feed. After fifteen years of supplying musicians, DJs and full production to waterfront events, when it comes to riverside event venues, we know which ones nail the essentials – power, access, sight lines, parking and, of course, a sunset worth photographing.
Here’s our favourite riverside venues, each with its own unique charm. We’ve grouped them in a way that ensures no space is repeated between categories. If a property can host every type of function with credibility (and several can), you’ll find it only once in the “Versatile All-Rounders” section. This keeps your shortlist focused and helps you find the perfect location for your specific event without any sense of repetition.
Wedding Venues – Romance on the River
Riverlife (Kangaroo Point)
Capacity: 30 – 800 | Setting: open-air marquees & river deck
Beneath the Story Bridge, Riverlife delivers a matchless dusk backdrop. Ceremonies unfold in the parkland above; receptions flow onto a fairy-lit deck cantilevered over the water. It is licensed until 10 pm and partners with The Fresh Collective, so food quality rivals that of top hotels, while guests enjoy barefoot, river-breeze informality. Add an acoustic duo for canapés or high tea, then unleash rock-pop band after speeches.
Customs House (CBD)
Capacity: 50 – 200 seated | Setting: heritage marble & colonnades
Tie the knot beneath the copper-domed Long Room, then lead guests onto the Riverside Terrace, where the Story Bridge blushes pink after sunset. Patina Restaurant supplies paddock-to-plate menus; our string quartet sits perfectly beneath the soaring ceiling. The Customs House books out 12–18 months in advance for Saturdays between September and May, so please enquire early.
Waters Edge Portside (Hamilton)
Capacity: 70 – 400 seated / 850 cocktail | Setting: modern glass ballroom
On the sixth floor at Portside Wharf is Waters Edge, Portside. This contemporary blank canvas frames the river traffic and city lights through three glass walls. A private balcony handles fireworks, sparkler exits and – thanks to its height – unbeatable long-exposure photography.
The Landing at Dockside (Kangaroo Point)
Capacity: 60 – 150 seated | Setting: indoor–outdoor pavilion with lawn
Often overlooked due to its 1990s façade, The Landing surprises couples with lush riverbank lawns for ceremonies, a climate-controlled pavilion for dinner, and in-house planners who welcome outside stylists. Our jazz trio or a live sax-and-DJ combo suits the romantic but relaxed brief here.
Brisbane Powerhouse Rooftop (New Farm)
Capacity: 40 – 120 seated | Setting: industrial-chic terrace & art-deco lounge
For couples who prefer moody brickwork to white chiffon, the Powerhouse Rooftop‘s terrace delivers exposed steel, neon art and head-turning river views. There is a wet-weather lounge inside, an in-house lighting grid and pristine toilets – three ingredients back-yard warehouses rarely offer.
Corporate Venues – Conferences, Product Launches & Gala Dinners
Rydges South Bank – Level 12 Rooftop
Capacity: 220 banquet / 300 cocktail | Strength: built-in AV + BCEC link bridge
The penthouse floor of Rydges is glass on three sides and directly connects to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre via an internal footbridge. That means keynotes upstairs, break-outs next door and cocktails back under the chandeliers – no transfers required. Onstage’s 3.5-metre LED wall fits beneath the ceiling bulkheads, and our wireless mic kit ties into the house PA in minutes- helping to perfect your stage management.
Room Three Sixty (QUT Gardens Point)
Capacity: 200 banquet / 320 cocktail | Strength: 360° river & garden vistas
Delegates glance left to see City Hall, right for the Botanic Gardens and straight ahead to the river. Automated blinds blackout for presentations; Cuisine on Cue serves impeccable, locally produced menus. Because Room Three Sixty sits inside a university, day rates are surprisingly competitive for a space of this calibre.
Brisbane Powerhouse – Powerhouse Theatre Flat-Floor
Capacity: 320 banquet / 500 cocktail | Strength: full theatrical lighting & rigging
Awards nights shine here on the Powerhouse Theatre Flat-Floor: an 8-metre LED screen positions beautifully on the stage proscenium, changeovers happen silently behind drapes and exposed brick, and photographs evoke a sense of Brooklyn. There are no pillars, so even low two-metre tables enjoy an uninterrupted sight-line to presenters.
W Brisbane – The Great Room
Capacity: 450 banquet / 600 cocktail | Strength: five-star luxe & riverfront boardwalk
With 6-metre ceilings, custom chandeliers and an adjoining pre-function foyer overlooking the water, the Great Room in W feels suitably grand for ASX roadshows or tech-unicorn fundraisers. Inbuilt line-array speakers and 3-phase power simplify production budgets.
QUT Venue Museum – Old Government House
Capacity: 80 banquet / 150 cocktail | Strength: heritage prestige & courtyard
Although technically one block from the river, the QUT Venue Museum‘s sandstone courtyard frames the river bend, and City Cat ferries glide by in the background – perfect for leadership retreats that require breakout lawns and heritage gravitas.
Private Parties – Birthdays, Engagements & Casual Soirées
Regatta Hotel Verandah (Toowong)
Capacity: 20 – 100 | Atmosphere: colonial Queensland pub with iron lace balconies
Guests arrive via CityCat, climb the grand staircase and find private bars opening onto the river-breeze verandas of the Regatta Hotel. Add Onstage’s country-rock trio for a 40-th hoedown, or let our DJ spin ’90s anthems while the locals toast at sunset.
Southbank Beer Garden – River Room & Terrace
Capacity: 50 seated / 100 cocktails (private) – 400 (exclusive hire)
BBQ canapés, craft beer, palms swaying – Southbank Beer Garden is the closest thing to a beach bar in the CBD. PA and microphone come included; we frequently supply indie soloists or reggae trios here. The noise cut-off is 10 pm, so build your run-sheet accordingly.
Riverbar & Kitchen – Private Nook
Capacity: 40 seated / 80 cocktail | Atmosphere: Hamptons-meets-Queensland chic
Book the northern alcove, drape a few festoon lights and let our acoustic duo soundtrack Aperol sunsets at the River Bar and Kitchen. The venue sits one metre above the boardwalk, so you can tap the river vibe without seawater flicking champagne flutes.
Outdoor & Festival Sites – When You Need Serious Space
Riverstage (Botanic Gardens)
Capacity: 9,500 GA | Infrastructure:* permanent stage, green rooms, in-ground power
The Riverstage is Queensland’s answer to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl hosts everything from symphony under the stars to EDM internationals. Onstage’s festival package includes V-dos audio towers, 8-colour movers and line-array delay stacks to comply with council noise maps.
South Bank Cultural Forecourt & Riverside Green
Capacity: 800 – 5,000 depending on fencing | Infrastructure:* paved plaza + new lawn
The Forecourt handles markets, mass workouts and corporate brand activations; Riverside Green offers turfed terraces for pop-up cinemas or mid-size concerts. Nearby toilets, power pits and train/ferry access tick all logistical boxes.
Northshore Collective Event Lawn & Eat Street
Capacity: 5,400 m² of lawn + 70 shipping-container eateries
Hire the blank lawn for circuses, car launches, or colour runs, or privatise Eat Street for 3,500 pax, complete with food stalls, stages, and more fairy lights than Vegas. Wide-open truck gates and an industrial 3-phase supply help crews set up quickly.
City Botanic Gardens River Hub & Queens Walk
Capacity: 200 – 1,000 for pop-ups | Infrastructure:* temporary staging only
Perfect for sustainability expos, rowing club fundraisers or sunrise yoga festivals. Staging must be erected; Onstage provides low-impact aluminium decks that protect heritage roots.
Versatile All-Rounders – One Venue, Many Possibilities
These four venues excel across weddings, corporate functions and parties. Rather than list them three times, here is a single snapshot so you can decide where they best fit your brief.
| Venue | Core Strength | Weddings | Corporate | Parties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Smith Wharves (HSW) | Heritage wharf aesthetic + Story Bridge backdrop | ✔ Rivershed seats 360 | ✔ Three break-out cottages + lawn projections | ✔ Felons Barrel Hall for 500-guest brews & bands |
| Blackbird Bar & Grill | 180° floor-to-ceiling river views + Gatsby décor | ✔ Riverview Room seats 280 | ✔ Executive lunches & product launches | ✔ Entire bar takeover for 300-guest cocktail |
| Stamford Plaza | Five-star hotel with riverside gardens | ✔ Lawn ceremonies + ballroom | ✔ Five meeting rooms + ballroom | ✔ High-tea hen’s parties, milestone birthdays |
| Emporium Hotel South Bank | Boutique luxury + rooftop infinity pool | ✔ Frangipani Ballroom seats 250 | ✔ Private boardrooms & wine-tastings | ✔ Rooftop cocktail up to 150 with DJ |
Onstage Entertainment is a preferred supplier to each of the above, which means we have pre-approved bump-in routes, tuned PA presets, and a hotline for venue coordinators. This status also ensures that our services are reliable, convenient, and tailored to the specific needs of each venue, making us the ideal choice for your event needs.
How Onstage Entertainment Amplifies Riverside Events
- Acoustics & Compliance – Water and concrete reflect sound unpredictably. Our engineers model each site in ArrayCalc and then adjust delay stacks to ensure speeches remain crisp and bands stay within council dB limits.
- Talent That Travels Light – Solo violin on a paddle-wheeler? Ten-piece soul band at HSW? We book Brisbane-based artists who are familiar with the docks and can load in without the use of forklifts.
- One-Truck Production – We pack stage, lighting, LED wall, and audio into a single 12-tonne HR vehicle, cutting bump-in fees and keeping city centre traffic controllers happy.
- Concept-to-Curtain Service – From creative pitch decks to on-night stage management, you get one point of contact – no supplier daisy chain, no blame game.
Final Word
Pairing a Brisbane River view with carefully curated live entertainment elevates an event from pleasant to unforgettable. With the duplicate venues removed and each location anchored to its strongest use case, your shortlist should feel clearer. This means that we carefully select venues based on their unique features and the specific needs of your event, ensuring that your event is truly one-of-a-kind.
When you are ready to lock in a soundtrack as mesmerising as the sunset, Onstage Entertainment has the artists, engineers and gear to make the river dance. Our unique blend of talent, technology, and location will create an event that is truly unforgettable. Contact us today for more information regarding your riverside event.
Quick FAQ
How soon should I book?
Riverside Saturdays in peak spring and autumn book 12-18 months in advance for weddings and gala dinners. Weeknights and winter months remain more flexible.
Do all outdoor venues shut music at 10 pm?
YES – Brisbane City Council mandates 22:00 for amplified outdoor sound within the inner-city river corridor. Indoor spaces may be used later, provided doors remain closed, and decibel limits are respected.
Are water-taxi arrivals possible?
Public pontoons are situated beside Riverlife, Customs House, Stamford Plaza, and HSW. Private charter pontoons are available for larger vessels at Northshore Hamilton and Dockside Marina.
What if it rains?
All listed wedding and corporate venues have indoor contingencies. For pure outdoor sites (Riverstage, Cultural Forecourt, Northshore Lawn), budget for clearspan marquees or set a postponement clause with suppliers.
