The Refinery books one event a day: a wedding, a company dinner, an awards night or a product launch for 40 to 100 seated guests, or 80 to 150 in a cocktail format. The venue is a renovated warehouse with a private garden at 12 Austin Street in Newstead, an inner suburb of Brisbane. Bookings are open until the end of 2027. In 2028 the space will be taken over by the neighboring Rogue Bistro, so it suits events planned within that window.
Seminars and company events
The corporate offer is built around lunches and evenings rather than working days. The venue lists end-of-year parties, company dinners, cocktail galas, awards nights and product launches. It does not sell delegate packages for conferences or workshops, so it fits a team celebration or a client evening better than a training session. A seated event usually starts with drinks and canapés in the garden, then moves to long tables in the warehouse. A cocktail event uses both spaces, with canapés passed around. Sound and projection are in place: an L-Acoustics system in the warehouse, a column speaker in the garden, one wireless microphone, a projector and a retractable screen for speeches or a launch video.
Weddings and receptions
Couples hold the ceremony and cocktail hour in the garden, then the reception in the warehouse. Ceremonies are only sold together with a reception package, which includes five hours of venue hire and coordination during planning and on the day. Since only one event is booked per day, guests have the site to themselves.
Rooms and capacities
The warehouse covers about 150 square meters, with daylight from large windows, polished concrete floors, grey concrete walls, black paneling and an 11-meter marble bar. It seats 40 to 100 at long tables. The garden, also about 150 square meters, opens straight from the warehouse and hosts ceremonies and arrival drinks. Furniture, table settings, stationery and signage are provided, in neutral tones that work with sparse or rich styling.
Corporate events start from 12 pm between March and December and from 4 pm in February. Weddings start from 1 pm between March and October and from 4 pm between November and February. Events end by 10 pm from Sunday to Thursday and by 11 pm on Friday and Saturday, with 30 minutes for guests to leave. Suppliers can set up from the morning. Hired items leave the same night, and overnight storage can be arranged.
Catering
All food comes from the chefs of Rogue Bistro, the sister restaurant next door, and drinks are served by the in-house team. Outside caterers are not allowed, apart from celebration cakes, take-home favors and gelato carts. Guests do not normally bring their own wine, though corkage can be discussed for special bottles.
Getting there
Newstead lies a few kilometers northeast of the Brisbane central business district, close to the river. Viewings are by appointment only. The website gives no parking or public transport details, so ask the team when you plan guest arrivals.
