The Queensland Government has released the draft Legacy Plan for the Victoria Park Precinct, the master planning document that sets out how the inner city site will work after the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Prepared by the global firm Arup, it covers Victoria Park along with the new 63,000 seat Brisbane Stadium, the National Aquatic Centre and the Brisbane Showgrounds, and is open for public consultation from 3 August to 27 September 2026.
Victoria Park reimagined as free public parkland, looking to the city. Artist’s impression from the Victoria Park Precinct Draft Legacy Plan (Arup for the Queensland Government).
Victoria Park Precinct
At the centre of the plan is a commitment that Victoria Park will remain a free public space, open year round, with about two thirds of the park kept as green and public space. The government frames the precinct as the long term legacy of the Games, drawing a comparison with the way South Bank became the enduring public gift of Expo 88.
Just as South Bank defined a city as the gift for Expo 88, Victoria Park will be the legacy of 2032, a place that belongs to Queenslanders once the Games have gone.
Premier David Crisafulli
The draft plan sets out a series of moves for the site. It proposes a public amphitheatre, a community sports hub with an athletics track, an expanded York’s Hollow wetland system, an urban forest and a park loop along the ridgelines, together with forest trails, walkways and new community gateways at the edges.
Two pedestrian bridges would span the Inner City Bypass and the rail corridor to stitch the park back to Spring Hill, Herston, Bowen Hills and beyond, alongside improved walking, cycling and public transport connections throughout.
Victoria Park Precinct
Render of the expanded York’s Hollow wetlands with boardwalks through the forest
The plan’s Legacy Master Plan drawing is the clearest guide to how the pieces fit together. It sets the Brisbane Stadium and the National Aquatic Centre within the park toward the southern, city facing end, with the Brisbane Showgrounds to the north.
Between and around them, the expanded York’s Hollow wetlands and an urban forest thread through the site, a loop along the western ridgelines frames views back to the city, and a network of paths, bridges and community gateways connects the park to the surrounding suburbs and to nearby stations. The plan is drawn in two horizons, labelled before and beyond 2032, showing the Games time layout and the longer term park it is meant to leave behind.
The draft Legacy Master Plan for the precinct, showing the stadium, aquatic centre, showgrounds, wetlands and green links. Plan by Arup for the Queensland Government.
On the venues, the Brisbane Stadium is planned as a 63,000 seat arena that would host the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics, the National Aquatic Centre would stage the swimming, and the Brisbane Showgrounds would provide the Brisbane Athletes Village during the Games before being transformed into housing.
The government says the Legacy Plan has been prepared to sit alongside Brisbane City Council’s Victoria Park / Barrambin Master Plan and the Royal National Association’s own plans for the showgrounds.
Render of a community sports hub and athletics track beside the Brisbane Stadium at dusk
The National Aquatic Centre within the precinct. Artist’s impression from the Victoria Park Precinct Draft Legacy Plan (Arup for the Queensland Government).
High quality open space plays a vital role in creating healthy, inclusive and vibrant cities.
Penny Hall, Project Director, Arup
The proposed 63,000 seat Brisbane Stadium set within the park. Artist’s impression from the Victoria Park Precinct Draft Legacy Plan (Arup for the Queensland Government).
A boardwalk and lookout across the park to the stadium. Artist’s impression from the Victoria Park Precinct Draft Legacy Plan (Arup for the Queensland Government).
Public consultation on the draft plan runs from 3 August to 27 September 2026 and is seeking feedback on public spaces, recreation and activation, parklands and connectivity. As a draft, the plan is a statement of intent rather than a funded commitment, and the government says the feedback will shape the final version.
The precinct during a major event, one of the roles the plan envisages. Artist’s impression from the Victoria Park Precinct Draft Legacy Plan (Arup for the Queensland Government).
During the Games, competitors would be housed on the northern edge of the precinct at the Brisbane Showgrounds, where the Royal National Association’s Main Arena and its surrounds are earmarked to become the Brisbane Athletes Village. The draft plan treats the village as a temporary Games use with a permanent afterlife: once the athletes leave, the accommodation is intended to be transformed into housing, adding a new residential community beside the park and giving the showgrounds a year round role alongside its events calendar.
It is one of the more tangible legacy moves in the plan, turning a few weeks of Games use into lasting inner city homes, although the detail of how many dwellings, what tenure and what mix would come in later stages rather than in this draft.
Artist impression – Showgrounds new main arena and Athletes Village
Project Rundown
ElementDetailProject NameVictoria Park Precinct Legacy Plan (draft)LocationVictoria Park (Barrambin), Herston and Spring Hill, inner BrisbaneProponentQueensland Government (State Development, Infrastructure and Planning)Master PlannerArupPrecinctVictoria Park with the Brisbane Stadium, National Aquatic Centre and Brisbane ShowgroundsGreen SpaceAbout two thirds of Victoria Park kept as free public green space, open year roundKey VenuesBrisbane Stadium (63,000 seats), National Aquatic Centre, Brisbane ShowgroundsKey FeaturesPublic amphitheatre, community sports hub and athletics track, expanded York’s Hollow wetlands, urban forest, ridgelines park loop, forest trails, community gateways, and two pedestrian bridges over the Inner City Bypass and railGames RoleCeremonies and athletics at the stadium, swimming at the aquatic centre, and the Brisbane Athletes Village at the Showgrounds (later transformed into housing)Consultation3 August to 27 September 2026StatusDraft Legacy Plan, open for public consultationSustainabilityGreen Space and Urban Forest: About two thirds of Victoria Park kept green and public, with an urban forest, expanded canopy cover and extensive tree planting across the precinct.
Wetlands and Water: An expanded York’s Hollow wetland system that revives the traditional waterway and supports habitat, stormwater management and water sensitive design.
Biodiversity and Ecology: Wetland and forest systems intended to restore ecological processes and provide habitat and environmental education.
Active Transport: A network prioritising walking and cycling, with two pedestrian bridges over the Inner City Bypass and rail corridor and improved links to public transport.
Buildings and Energy: This feature is not detailed in the draft legacy plan.
Renders and the master plan are drawn from the Victoria Park Precinct Draft Legacy Plan, prepared by Arup for the Queensland Government. Quotes are from the Government’s media statement of 2 August 2026. Images are artist’s impressions and subject to consultation and design development.