The proposal centres on the transformation of the Brisbane Showgrounds precinct into a major residential and mixed-use community after the Games. The athletes’ village is a central piece of the Games legacy, combining event accommodation with long-term residential outcomes in an inner-city location.
As well as housing the Brisbane Athletes Village, an upgrade to the 20,000 seat Main Arena will facilitate the growth of the precinct’s key entertainment and events capability and give the iconic Brisbane Ekka an even brighter future.
The development is part of a broader urban renewal effort, with the showgrounds site earmarked as a key legacy precinct delivering long-term housing supply. Lendlease said Birmingham-based architects Howells, who partnered with Lendlease on the London Olympics, would design the developer’s project on the RNA Showgrounds site, in conjunction with Australian firms Woods Bagot, Cottee Parker, DBI and Plus Studio.
The scale of the project makes it one of the most significant housing pipelines linked to the Games. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the transformation would benefit Queenslanders for decades to come. “The Games are a once in a generation opportunity, and through the 2032 Delivery Plan, we are ensuring that every dollar we spend delivers a lasting legacy for Queenslanders.”
“This is an important step forward for the main athletes’ village which will comprise approximately 1800 apartments to house the world’s best athletes and convert to permanent housing after 2032, delivering a lasting legacy long after the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Lendlease. “Together with new event infrastructure and public spaces, this further strengthens the Brisbane Showground’s role as a vibrant inner-city community and major entertainment destination.”
Jarrod Bleijie, Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning outlined that Crisafulli Government’s decision to move the Village to the showgrounds would help create a vibrant precinct in close proximity to the new Victoria Park Stadium that was promised in the State Election not to be built.