Brisbane Athletes Village

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Brisbane Showgrounds will be transformed to host the main athlete village for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Brisbane Athletes Village will house more than 10,000 athletes and team officials for the Olympics and more than 5,000 for the Paralympics.

The $287.5 million transformation of the Brisbane Showgrounds is part of the Queensland Government’s $3.5 billion investment in athlete villages for the 2032 Games and beyond, and will include:

• Restoration of the heritage-listed John MacDonald and Ernest Baynes grandstands
• New Machinery Hill grandstand
• New Horse Pavilion
• Refurbishment of the heritage-listed horse stables along Gregory Terrace
• New and improved Cattleman’s Bar
• New and improved Stockmen’s Bar and Stockman’s Rest
• Significant accessibility upgrades including new accessible pathways from Brookes Street and O'Connell Terrace down to arena level

The Brisbane Athletes Village project will also deliver apartments spread across six buildings located along Brookes Street, O’Connell Terrace and Alexandria Street. Following the Games, the village will leave a lasting community legacy of around 1,800 new homes at the revitalised Brisbane Showgrounds precinct.

Hutchinson Builders (Hutchies) has been appointed the builder of the new Machinery Hill grandstand, Horse Pavilion and associated accessibility upgrades.

A Lasting Legacy

The Brisbane Athletes Village project will deliver major infrastructure upgrades to the Brisbane Showgrounds, creating a lasting legacy for one of Queensland’s most iconic event precincts.

New and improved facilities, including significant accessibility upgrades, will breathe new life into the Showgrounds while respecting its unique heritage.

Importantly, the upgrades will help secure the future of the Royal Queensland Show at its original home where the first Ekka was held in 1876.

A key part of the redevelopment is significantly improved accessibility. This includes more than 100 additional accessible and disability seating in the Main Arena, along with specialised lift access to the John MacDonald grandstand.

The improvements will also strengthen the Showgrounds’ capacity to host major entertainment, sporting and business events, helping attract more large-scale events to Brisbane and supporting the long-term growth of Queensland’s visitor economy.

Together, these improvements will ensure the Brisbane Showgrounds remains a place where Queenslanders can come together to celebrate, connect and enjoy major events - while ensuring the much-loved Royal Queensland Show continues at its historic home for generations to come.