Woolloongabba Olympic Precinct Plans Rethink: What’s Next for Brisbane’s Former Games Epicentre?

In a dramatic shift from earlier planning, Woolloongabba is no longer the headline act in Brisbane’s Olympic narrative. Originally slated to be the centrepiece of the 2032 Games with a $2.7 billion stadium redevelopment of The Gabba, government policy has pivoted — and the Woolloongabba precinct is now facing a major rethink.

But while the stadium upgrade may be shelved, Woolloongabba’s potential hasn’t disappeared. In fact, for commercial property developers and investors, the revised plans could unlock more flexible, market-responsive opportunities — without the constraints of a mega-event overlay.

With infrastructure already under construction, high-density zoning in place, and Woolloongabba’s location linking key parts of Brisbane’s inner core, the precinct remains one of the city’s most strategically valuable corridors.

Why the Olympic precinct plans are shifting

Brisbane’s government-led Olympic planning has evolved throughout 2024–2025, with a growing emphasis on legacy infrastructure and cost efficiency. A key casualty of this transition has been the proposed Gabba Stadium redevelopment — once the centrepiece of the Games.

Drivers behind the rethink include:

• Rising construction costs and reduced public support for stadium investment

• Desire to reallocate Olympic funding to broader, legacy-focused infrastructure

• Alternative stadium options, such as Victoria Park, offering more viable delivery timelines

• Shift towards decentralised Games model with multiple smaller venues

This has left Woolloongabba without a major Olympic event anchor — but that doesn’t mean development in the precinct is slowing down. Quite the opposite.

Woolloongabba’s infrastructure is already locked in

While the stadium is no longer going ahead, the surrounding infrastructure rollouts remain fully committed — and these projects continue to transform Woolloongabba into one of Brisbane’s best-connected commercial zones.

• Cross River Rail
  The new Woolloongabba station is nearing completion, providing direct underground access to Albert Street, Roma Street, and Boggo Road

• Brisbane Metro
  Connecting the southside to the CBD and key Olympic precincts, enhancing multimodal transport options

• Woolloongabba Bikeway and pedestrian upgrades
  Active transport infrastructure linking the suburb to Kangaroo Point, South Bank, and The Gabba to the north

• Streetscape upgrades and development incentives
  Brisbane City Council has already rolled out zoning changes, density bonuses, and urban design controls to support high-quality precinct growth

These upgrades were always meant to support long-term urban growth — and they still will, regardless of whether an Olympic event takes place nearby.

What the rethink means for commercial development

Removing the stadium from the equation may actually unlock more commercial flexibility. Without the pressure of a fixed Olympic timeline and security overlay, developers and stakeholders can now shape the precinct with greater responsiveness to market conditions and urban needs.

Key implications:

• Longer development horizon
  Projects are no longer constrained by 2032 delivery windows, allowing for phased commercial and mixed-use rollouts

• Increased opportunity for private-led outcomes
  Without a state-led stadium anchoring the area, the door is open for private developers to define the vision for Woolloongabba’s core sites

• Potential to reimagine The Gabba’s surrounds
  The existing stadium is still a major drawcard — but planning can now focus on supporting precincts rather than building around a mega-venue

• Rebalancing toward residential-commercial mix
  Expect greater interest in shopfront retail, strata office, and health services aligned with growing inner-south density

• Demand for community-first commercial outcomes
  With the spotlight off international events, the focus returns to servicing local businesses, residents, and SME tenants

The rethink isn’t a step back — it’s a pivot. And it’s one that could create stronger, more sustainable commercial outcomes over the next decade.

What makes Woolloongabba attractive to developers right now

Despite the stadium reversal, Woolloongabba still offers some of the strongest fundamentals of any Brisbane inner-city precinct:

• Zoning that supports density and activation
  Precinct-wide mixed-use zoning allows for vertical integration of office, retail, and residential

• Proximity to three major transport nodes
  Including the new underground station, the existing busway, and cycling infrastructure

• Established residential base and ongoing high-rise approvals
  Meaning instant walk-up trade for commercial tenancies, plus rental and resale potential

• Central location near Kangaroo Point, CBD fringe, and South Bank
  Enabling precincts to link up and support broader inner-city activation

• Flexible lot sizes and development-ready sites
  Many legacy holdings now being consolidated or repositioned for uplift

• Infrastructure certainty without overexposure to Olympic dependency
  Which de-risks timelines and staging for developers

Who should be looking at Woolloongabba now?

The most strategic opportunities lie in flexible commercial formats that support mixed-use outcomes and capitalise on foot traffic and station access. The precinct is best suited to:

• Mixed-use developers delivering residential towers with commercial podiums

• Investors in medical, fitness, and professional services spaces

• Hospitality and retail operators serving growing inner-south populations

• Owner-occupiers seeking strata office opportunities close to CBD

• Developers of co-working, build-to-rent, and boutique accommodation formats

• Creative and culture-led projects that can leverage the suburb’s legacy and transport links

This is a precinct that rewards bold but balanced development — and it’s now free from the rigidity of Olympic construction timelines.

Let’s talk about your Woolloongabba opportunity

We work with developers and leasing agents to bring projects to life in the Woolloongabba precinct. Whether you’re repositioning a warehouse site, launching a mixed-use tower, or preparing a project for market, we can help you visualise, brand, and deliver it.
With renders, branding, and rollout that matches your project’s ambition — and the precinct’s potential.