About 800 labourers are expected to be employed on the site near Frankton by the middle of next year.
The $350 million Four Seasons resort village will include internationally branded five-star hotels and four-star accommodation named the Westin Queenstown, the Quadrant and the Intercontinental.
The Westin will have 178-rooms and open in 2009.
The Quadrant will incorporate 200 designer studio and one-bedroom apartments, with restaurants, bars and a boutique cinema opening in 2009.
The two-level Intercontinental will feature 270-degree views and dining, gym, spa and pool options and is set to open in 2010.
The station will also feature a range of visitor and residential accommodation, from luxury penthouse to "affordable" resort staff accommodation.
Restaurants, cafes, indoor heated swimming pools, outdoor hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, Jacuzzis and spas, plus conference and business facilities are proposed.
Melview Developments Ltd Queenstown director of commercial and legal affairs Warwick Goldsmith said Kawarau Falls was a significant project on the world stage.
"Queenstown is a premier international visitor destination and will undoubtedly be so for many years to come. Kawarau Falls Station is increasing the premier visitor accommodation offering."
Melview Developments built the Viaduct Basin complex and the new Westin Hotel in Auckland, the first in New Zealand.
The company built and opened the new Holiday Inn in Wellington.
Other projects include the McArthur Ridge Hotel and golf course in Central Otago, and the Flat Bush town centre in Manakau.
