To celebrate the launch of the newly refurbished Customs House Restaurant with its stylish glass roof, the eatery is offering a special dining discount to University of Queensland staff.
From now until April 20 staff will receive a 10 percent discount at the restaurant by mentioning the promotion when making a reservation.
The glass roof is the centrepiece of the newly refurbished restaurant, which is located in the Brisbane CBD.
The outside dining area has been transformed with the split-level Riverside Terrace making way for an architecturally pleasing one-level restaurant, covered by the roof. A new a la carte menu has also been introduced.
Place Planning and Design, led by Alex Cohn, designed the roof, which was built by T.P. Turner Pty Ltd. Renowned architect Robert Riddel acted as heritage consultant and The University of Queensland’s Property and Facilities Division coordinated the project.
Customs House Director Lyn Black said the refurbishment was specifically designed so as not to detract from the cultural significance of the historic building.
“The idea was to ensure that the roof design did not compete with the building. It makes its own architectural statement without restricting the view of Customs House from the other side of the river,” Ms Black said.
“You come across the Story Bridge and you can’t actually see that there’s a roof here.”
Now dwarfed by modern towers of glass and steel, the Customs House still shines like a beacon on the banks of the Brisbane River.
The imposing and rare surviving masterpiece of the Colonial Architects Office took three years and 38,346 pounds to build and opened in 1889.
The University of Queensland, which now owns Customs House, has turned the building into a modern, highly functional, multipurpose centre for educational and cultural activities.
Ms Black said the refurbishment offered a different and even more comfortable environment for patrons.
“The glass cuts out UV rays and the roof is sufficiently high enough not to impede the views of the bridge and Customs House,” she said.
“It’s also a more flexible space because it is all on one level and we will soon have heaters installed ready for winter.”
She said a great deal of thought had gone into the design to make it both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Customs House Restaurant trading hours:
Lunch: Monday – Sunday
Dinner: Tuesday – Saturday
Sunday breakfast: from 9am
Cake and coffee: every day from 10am
Restaurant bookings: telephone 07 3365 8921.
Media: For more information, contact Lyn Black (telephone 07 3365 8909, email lyn@customshouse.com.au) or Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479, email c.saxby@uq.edu.au).
