Vertigo is Australia’s first vertical restaurant offering a unique dining and adrenaline experience 17 metres above the ground. Making Vertigo accessible to wheelchair users is the first stage of Access Vertigo – an initiative to make the experience more broadly accessible to many abilities.
Since the initial launch of Vertigo in October 2023, the team sought to make the experience accessible to wheelchair users and those with more complex mobility needs. A specialised team, including CEO of Sporting Wheelies and inclusion advocate Dane Cross, along with Occupational Therapist and wheelchair user Tim Lachlan, was assembled to conceptualise and construct a lightweight wheelchair tailored for elevating individuals for high-altitude adventures such as Vertigo.
Late last year four prototypes were completed, made from aircraft-grade aluminium, and were tested earlier this year by a team in the United States.
Access Vertigo Accessibility Advisor, Dane Cross said it is a testament to what can be achieved when cutting-edge design is combined with a strong commitment to inclusivity.
“Sporting Wheelies’ input into the project enabled us to impart our insight and lived experience of disability to open up a new realm of adventure dining for the community, including those with mobility impairments. It's a proud moment for us to see Access Vertigo not just redefine the parameters of accessible tourism, but also ensure that the excitement and joy of dining in the sky are shared by all,” Cross said.
Kate Gould CEO and Artistic Director of Brisbane Powerhouse said Vertigo’s creator John Sharpe had a vision for the experience to be the same for people with mobility issues and those without”.
“Achieving that vision has been a greater challenge than anticipated, requiring prototyping new wheelchair designs, and lifting techniques. To see wheelchairs finally raised up the wall of Brisbane Powerhouse is exhilarating,” said Gould.
Access Vertigo has been developed to accommodate various types of disabilities for those who use a wheelchair, such as spinal cord injuries, amputees, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, scoliosis, spina bifida, and stroke. A comprehensive outline of who can take part in an accessible sitting at Vertigo can be found on the Vertigo website.
Queensland Tourism Minister Michael Healy MP said Vertigo would take accessible tourism to a whole new level.
“Through the Year of Accessible Tourism grant program, the Queensland Government has helped industry to deliver more accessible tourism experiences,” Mr Healy said.
“Vertigo is a great example of a bold tourism initiative that will capture the interest of international and interstate visitors with diverse access needs.”
“This unforgettable culinary adventure will enable even more people to enjoy our great Queensland lifestyle from a different perspective,” Mr Healy said.
Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Patricia O’Callaghan welcomed the announcement. “Our tourism industry continues to innovate and provide unique experiences for travellers and to see Vertigo open up access so even more people can enjoy it is a wonderful milestone for what is a truly novel experience.”
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Wheelchair sittings are limited to one wheelchair user per sitting and can be booked by contacting info@vertigobrisbane.com.au directly.
Vertigo’s three-course dinner menu with matched wine and Sunday brunch menu can be adapted to cater for most dietary requirements and costs $250 per person.
For more information and bookings, visit www.vertigobrisbane.com.au/access-vertigo.
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