Brisbane’s Development Future: How the 2032 Olympics Will Shape Commercial Property Growth

The countdown is on for Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games—and the impact on the city’s development future is already being felt. Beyond the sporting events, the Olympics are acting as a catalyst for major infrastructure upgrades, urban renewal, and commercial property growth across Greater Brisbane.

In 2025, savvy investors, developers, and businesses are already positioning themselves to take advantage of the long-term opportunities this once-in-a-generation event is creating.

Why the Olympics will reshape Brisbane’s commercial property market

Hosting the Olympics isn’t just about the two weeks of competition. It’s about the permanent changes to a city’s infrastructure, accessibility, global profile, and economic momentum.

For Brisbane, the key commercial property drivers linked to the Olympics include:

• Massive infrastructure investment: Transport, venues, road upgrades, and precinct revitalisations are already underway or planned.

• Global exposure: Brisbane’s profile as a business and tourism destination will skyrocket, attracting national and international attention.

• Population growth: Migration to South East Queensland is expected to accelerate as new jobs and opportunities are created.

• Commercial precinct upgrades: Urban renewal projects will create new office, retail, and mixed-use developments across key hubs.

• Logistics and industrial demand: Construction, freight, and supply chain businesses will expand to meet pre- and post-Olympics demand.

Brisbane’s commercial property market is about to move into a new phase—where location, access, and future-proofing will drive value like never before.

Key infrastructure projects reshaping Brisbane ahead of 2032

The Olympics are accelerating projects that might have taken decades to complete otherwise. These upgrades will unlock commercial property value across Greater Brisbane.

• Cross River Rail: A new underground rail line linking Woolloongabba to the CBD, improving public transport capacity and unlocking new development corridors.

• Brisbane Metro: High-frequency electric buses linking key inner-city and suburban hubs, improving connectivity and boosting commercial accessibility.

• Gabba Stadium redevelopment: Major rebuild of the stadium, driving urban renewal and commercial uplift in Woolloongabba and East Brisbane.

• International Broadcast Centre at Roma Street: Creating new CBD fringe commercial development opportunities.

• Brisbane Live Entertainment Arena: A new $2 billion entertainment precinct above Roma Street Station, injecting life into the CBD’s western fringe.

• Brisbane Airport upgrades: Expansion of passenger terminals, freight capacity, and supporting infrastructure.

• Green Bridges program: Connecting key suburbs via pedestrian and cycle bridges, improving local access to the CBD and fringe precincts.

Each project is driving secondary commercial development activity across surrounding suburbs—new offices, hotels, retail centres, industrial warehouses, and lifestyle hubs.

Suburbs and precincts set for major commercial property growth

The Olympics are not just a CBD event. Development and commercial growth will ripple across Greater Brisbane.

Key commercial hotspots include:

• Woolloongabba: Ground zero for Olympics activity. Expect explosive growth in office, retail, hospitality, and residential mixed-use projects.

• South Brisbane and West End: Benefiting from proximity to South Bank cultural precinct, Cross River Rail, and Olympics visitor traffic.

• Roma Street: Major uplift in office, hotel, retail and entertainment spaces linked to Brisbane Live and the new transit hub.

• Albion: Redevelopment around the Albion Park Raceway precinct, opening new opportunities for commercial mixed-use projects.

• Northshore Hamilton: Hosting the Athlete’s Village. Long-term plans for this area include waterfront commercial, retail, and urban residential developments.

• Brisbane Airport Precinct: Logistics, freight, and service industries expanding alongside airport upgrades to handle Olympics-related and future demand.

• Ipswich, Logan and Redlands: Secondary hubs absorbing industrial, manufacturing, and warehousing overflow linked to Games infrastructure delivery.

Smart investors and developers are already looking beyond the CBD, targeting these high-growth corridors for medium- to long-term positioning.

Commercial property types set to benefit most

Not every asset class will benefit equally. Some sectors are positioned perfectly for pre- and post-Olympic demand shifts.

• Industrial property: Logistics hubs, manufacturing centres, and trade service warehouses will be critical during the decade of construction leading up to the Games—and beyond.

• Office space: Demand for new, sustainable, flexible office formats will rise, especially in fringe locations close to transport upgrades.

• Retail centres: Neighbourhood retail anchored by lifestyle and service tenants will grow as suburban density increases.

• Hotel and serviced accommodation: Boosted by tourism pre-, during, and post-Olympics, creating strong demand for well-located hospitality assets.

• Mixed-use developments: Projects combining residential, retail, and commercial components will dominate urban renewal precincts.

Aligning property offerings with these growth drivers will be critical to achieving strong returns.

Key trends shaping Brisbane’s commercial property future through to 2032

Several long-term trends are emerging as Brisbane gears up for the Olympics, reshaping how commercial property is marketed, developed, and valued.

• Sustainability and green credentials: Olympics-linked developments are heavily focused on sustainability, pushing demand for Green Star, NABERS-rated, and energy-efficient buildings.

• Flexibility in use: Mixed-use zoning flexibility and modular development designs will become essential to meet shifting tenant needs over the next decade.

• Transport-oriented development (TOD): Proximity to new metro and rail stations will be a huge value driver across all asset classes.

• Increased demand for warehousing and distribution: Brisbane’s strategic location as the gateway to northern Australia will enhance its role in national supply chains.

• Urban lifestyle integration: Walkability, access to lifestyle amenity, and work-live-play environments will dominate commercial design thinking.

Future-proofed assets positioned around these trends will be the biggest winners over the next 10 years.

How we help market commercial property in Brisbane

Launching and positioning commercial property in Brisbane during this growth phase requires polish, precision, and a deep understanding of what buyers and tenants are prioritising.

• Aerial 3D renders showing developments in the context of transport, stadiums, and infrastructure projects

• Precinct branding aligning your property with Brisbane’s 2032 vision and sustainability focus

• Interactive digital brochures showcasing investment potential, access advantages, and catchment growth

• National and international digital marketing campaigns targeting developers, funds, and owner-occupiers looking to enter the Brisbane market

We help properties stand out in a competitive, fast-moving market—building momentum from day one.

Let’s talk about marketing commercial property in Brisbane

If you’re planning to sell, lease, or launch commercial property in Brisbane over the next few years, now is the time to plan and prepare. With the Olympics acting as a powerful catalyst for development, early positioning will be critical to maximising exposure and value.