Victoria Park will be "closed off" to the public in a matter of weeks. GIICA and Brisbane City Council issued the closure notice on Thursday, clearing the way for Brisbane's $3.8 billion Olympic stadium.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Golf members got six weeks notice. Victoria Park's course shuts permanently in May 2026, and early site preparations begin June 1. Heavy earthworks follow from mid-2026.
Full-scale construction starts early 2027. Contractors have roughly six years to deliver a 63,000-seat stadium before the July 2032 opening ceremony.
At stake is one of Brisbane's inner north's largest green spaces, now set to become the centrepiece of Australia's third Olympic Games, hosting opening and closing ceremonies alongside athletics events.
Design team locked in
COX and Hassell, two of Australia's largest architecture firms, won the design contract alongside Japan's Azusa Sekkei. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier David Crisafulli jointly announced the appointment on January 5, 2026.
"This stadium will be a lasting legacy for Brisbane and Queensland," a joint federal and state government statement said.
Azusa Sekkei has delivered Olympic venues in Japan. COX and Hassell bring decades of work on major Australian stadiums and public buildings. Design contracts for other 2032 Olympic venues were awarded at the same time.
GIICA is making three key decisions on the project. Its closure notice for Victoria Park marks the first visible step toward construction on the ground.
Cost and controversy
Price tag: around $3.8 billion. Earlier estimates ran far lower. CNN reported a $2.3 billion figure when the budget debate first erupted.
"Victoria Park is one of Brisbane's largest and most loved green spaces. Closing it off for a stadium that has already blown its budget is a decision the city will regret for generations," Save Victoria Park campaign representatives said.
Save Victoria Park has fought the project for months, calling for alternative locations and questioning the loss of public parkland. In Brisbane's inner north, the campaign has drawn thousands of supporters.
"Once it's gone, it's gone," a Save Victoria Park spokesperson told reporters. "We've had thousands of Brisbane residents tell us they don't want to lose this park."
Premier Crisafulli backed the site. So did Albanese. Both governments are jointly funding the stadium as part of Brisbane's 2032 Olympic infrastructure package.
"Brisbane is building a world-class stadium that will serve this city for decades," Premier Crisafulli told reporters. "Victoria Park gives us the space and the transport connections to deliver a venue Queenslanders can be proud of."
What happens after the Olympics
Brisbane Lions will move from the Gabba to Victoria Park after the 2032 Games. Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat follow. All three clubs get a 63,000-seat home ground.
For decades, the Gabba served as Brisbane's main AFL and cricket venue. Its future use has not been finalised.
"We want a home ground that matches the ambitions of this club and this city," a Brisbane Lions club statement said.
The timeline is tight. June 1 site preparations, mid-2026 earthworks, early 2027 full construction, and a hard deadline six years out. Fencing and site clearing at Victoria Park will follow within weeks of the golf course closing in May.
TLDR
Victoria Park in Brisbane will be closed off to the public within weeks as early site preparations begin for the $3.8 billion Olympic stadium. The 63,000-seat venue, designed by COX, Hassell, and Azusa Sekkei, will host opening and closing ceremonies at the 2032 Games and replace the Gabba as Brisbane's main sporting ground.
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