Victoria Park tomorrow: Where the city comes to celebrate
When the new Brisbane Stadium hosts the Opening Ceremony of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a revitalised Victoria Park Precinct will be broadcast to billions of people in more than 200 countries.
Excitement is building across Queensland as work accelerates on two major new venues in the Victoria Park precinct: Brisbane Stadium and the National Aquatic Centre.
The inclusion of these venues in Victoria Park is just the latest chapter in the ever-evolving history of the precinct which has served as a gathering place for Traditional Custodians, farmland, a quarry, dump, rifle range, affordable housing quarter and military base. Over a series of three articles, we will share snapshots of the park’s past, present and future to highlight its rich and fascinating history, busy present and exciting future.
As you’ll see, Victoria Park has always been a place where Queenslanders have gathered to celebrate, play sport and share stories. Learn more about the future of Victoria Park as a diverse location for sport, entertainment and community events via the Queensland Government’s Victoria Park Precinct Legacy Plan.
Three-part series:
Artist impression render of Victoria Park Precinct.
Victoria Park tomorrow: Where the city comes to celebrate
When the new Brisbane Stadium hosts the Opening Ceremony of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a revitalised Victoria Park Precinct will be broadcast to billions of people in more than 200 countries.
The Stadium, National Aquatic Centre and the park will become a defining image of the city and state for the Games and beyond.
Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President, Andrew Liveris said the unique Queensland design of the stadium and its placement in a park would thrill international audiences and visitors.
“Our team cannot wait to showcase the beauty and the people of Queensland to athletes, visitors and audiences from across the world in 2032,” Mr Liveris said.
“While the Games will be an extraordinary four weeks of sport and human achievement, they are also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to highlight what makes your city and nation unique and what could be more ‘Brisbane’ than walking through a beautiful, natural landscape to a mecca for sport and recreation.
“The Brisbane Stadium, National Aquatic Centre and Precinct Legacy Plan has the potential to deliver a magical experience for Queenslanders and visitors during the Games and beyond, reconnecting this stunning park back to the city and creating a green corridor from South Bank, through Roma Street Parklands to Victoria Park.
“What a wonderful legacy for our city and state.”
GIICA Chairman Stephen Conry AM said Brisbane Stadium would make Victoria Park a key precinct for the city, activated with sport, entertainment and community events, drawing thousands of people to the parklands.
“We looked at numerous build and redevelopment options across multiple locations for Brisbane’s new stadium and no other site offered the benefits to Queenslanders that a new build in Victoria Park did,” Mr Conry said.
“The Stadium will enhance Victoria Park – more people will use it, rather than just a few.
“The GIICA Board is committed to ensuring the infrastructure program is focused on the legacy beyond 2032 and the Victoria Park redevelopment will have a genuinely transformative impact on the re-connection of this stunning, somewhat hidden and isolated park, with the RNA and Roma Street Parklands through to the city.
“Brisbane Stadium will be among the best in the world, and it will host international events and entertainers that will boost our economy and our profile, while bringing joy and excitement to Queenslanders.
“It will position Brisbane and Queensland globally and that’s to be celebrated.”
The new Brisbane Stadium will also be the home ground of AFL’s Brisbane Lions and cricket’s Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls.
Evidence from across Australia has shown that new and redeveloped stadium experiences inject a new enthusiasm into fans, growing game attendance (see 100 Day Review).
Artist impression render of Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park Precinct.
Brisbane Lions young gun Jaspa Fletcher said the new stadium would pump up the city.
“I think having the stadium right in the heart of the city, in walking distance, and with the public transport to get more people into the stadium and really bring the atmosphere and energy with them … it’s going to be really exciting,” Jaspa said.
“Having the best athletes in the world come to Brisbane [for the Games] is going to be super exciting, and it gets everyone out and about and people want to go and watch that. I think that excitement really goes into the whole city as a whole.
“Once again Brisbane will be on the top of the list to visit and experience. The city will be pumping that’s for sure.”
Brisbane Lions AFLW player Ally Anderson said it would be incredible to watch an AFLW game at the new stadium.
“To see the city transform into an AFL city is pretty special,” she said.
“To have this to look forward to and hopefully in ten years AFLW teams are filling stadiums like this and we do have 63,000 fans at a game it will be pretty special.
“Young girls will have that to look forward to and that will be the aspiration for them. It’s so exciting that these facilities will be here and will be here long in the future and we’ll be using them for years to come.”
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This article is part of a three‑part series exploring the past, present and future of Victoria Park. You can also read:
