In the mid-1930s shipping company Howard Smith Limited acquired a 21-year lease over a newly completed wharf on the Brisbane River; the Story Bridge was under construction on the adjacent site. The company had already diversified into coal mining and steel production and would go on to operate sugar mills, build railway rolling stock, and sell hardware – Howard Smith Limited would play a significant role in Queensland’s unfolding story.
Our conference venue is the recently renovated, historic Howard Smith Wharves, beneath Brisbane’s now iconic Story Bridge.
Our theme, Navigating the Future links the history of the wharf precinct to its present-day revitalisation, and a future as a bustling entertainment and lifestyle riverside destination. In educational terms it is about being aware of what the future holds and positioning a school, a community, and a system to take advantage of favourable winds and avoid rocky coastlines and hidden reefs.
Charting Your Course offers the opportunity for conference attendees to reflect on the current circumstances of their schools, careers, and private lives; and to make plans and take action to arrive at a preferred future.
