Gladstone East Shores Redevelopment

The Gladstone East Shores Redevelopment has transformed the city’s waterfront into a vibrant public destination that celebrates its industrial and maritime heritage. Delivered in two stages over a decade, the precinct is now a focal point for community life, tourism and recreation, offering spaces that connect people to the harbour and to Gladstone’s unique identity.

Gladstone Ports Corporation sought to revitalise a key section of the waterfront, creating a high-quality public realm that would serve both residents and visitors while remaining sensitive to the operational needs of a major port. Appointed in 2010, Urbis led a large multidisciplinary team to reimagine the future of the foreshore, through master planning, design and delivery. 

The challenge was to create a linear, connected waterfront precinct that strengthened links to the CBD, improved environment performance and delivered contemporary spaces for play, leisure and community gathering. All while celebrating the city’s history, culture and maritime character.

Urbis provided design management, master planning, urban design and landscape architecture services across both stages of the redevelopment. Our integrated team worked closely with the client to develop a vision that balanced heritage interpretation with modern amenities. 

Stage 1 introduced a 380‑metre waterfront promenade that connects people directly to the water’s edge, sheltered by lightweight, industrial‑inspired canopies. An over‑water gathering space sits alongside the precinct’s highly popular interactive water play area, creating a lively and social heart. The parklands are also linked back to the city centre and Auckland Hill lookout via an internal pedestrian and cycle promenade, which cleverly accommodates occasional heavy‑lift port access outside public hours while functioning as a key landscape element.

Environmental performance was embedded into the design, with all site water collected and treated through WSUD initiatives. Stormwater is captured and transferred to a large‑scale underground wicking bed system, providing energy‑free irrigation for expansive lawn areas.

Gladstone’s maritime history is expressed throughout the precinct through both retained and new elements. Floating maritime buoys, signage referencing deep‑sea navigation, large‑scale public artworks inspired by ocean life, and the permanent berthing of the decommissioned HMAS Gladstone within a wet dock create a series of evocative spaces intrinsically linked to the city’s past and working port identity.

Stage 2 built on this success, extending the promenade and adding custom designed play and exercise equipment with an industrial aesthetic, ensuring a seamless connection between new and existing elements.

Since its official opening in November 2014, Gladstone East Shores has become a much‑loved recreational precinct for residents and visitors of all ages — a place to meet, relax, exercise and enjoy the foreshore. Stage 1 received multiple awards recognising its design excellence and community value, including honours from AILA, Parks and Leisure Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia.

Stage 2 opened in 2020, further enhancing the precinct’s appeal, offering expanded facilities and reinforcing the waterfront’s role as a social and recreational hub. The redevelopment has strengthened Gladstone’s identity, boosted tourism, and provided inclusive spaces for all ages.

HMAS Gladstone and waterfront walk - William Debois

Gladstone East Shores - Angus Martin

Entrance signage - William Debois

Lighthouse & HMAS Gladstone - William Debois

Gladstone East Shores - William Debois

Gladstone East Shores - William Debois

Gladstone East Shores - William Debois

Gladstone East Shores - William Debois