Since Brisbane was announced as the host city of the 2032 Olympic games, a slew of new developments have been planned, including new car-free bridges, a riverfront precinct, and public parks, and a 100-metre-high sky deck.
At first, Woolloongabba was meant to be demolished and rebuilt for the Olympics. However, due to concerns, that plan has now been abolished and the Gabba will undergo a smaller upgrade instead.
The government is looking at upgrading Suncorp Stadium and QSAC, for the former to house the opening and closing ceremonies, and the latter to host the athletics.
As for the Brisbane Arena, the government has accepted a report to change its location to a car park and maintenance depot development site just north of Roma Street Parkland.
New live entertainment venue
Part of the mammoth Queens Wharf development is a brand-new live entertainment venue inside The Star Brisbane, which is set to open in August 2024.
LiveWire will be home to a rotating program of live music performances, comedy shows, and more.
Sky Deck
Akin to Melbourne’s Skydeck and Sydney’s Tower Eye, The new Sky Deck towering above The Star casino will have 360-degree views from its CBD rooftop and glass floor platform.
Sporting three rooftop venues, the 250-metre Sky Deck is undoubtedly one of Brisbane’s most hotly anticipated openings of 2024. Whether it be for a cocktail at golden hour or for a meal overlooking the city and river, there’s set to be something for everyone.
Its upcoming venues include Aloria, a new signature restaurant specialising in dry-aged beef and Queensland seafood, as well as the open-air rooftop bar Cicada Blu with its own lighting installation, and Babblers, a casual all-day eatery for those relaxed days on the rooftop.
Sky Deck is part of the new $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf development, with venue bookings expected to launch in early 2024.
In addition to Sky Deck, which is a key highlight, Queen’s Wharf will also soon be home to four new hotels, the upcoming Neville Bonner Bridge, as well as 50 new bars, cafes, restaurants and retail stores.
A 10-year makeover
According to the Brisbane Olympic Games organising committee president Andrew Liveris, the 2023 games are predicted to bring in more than $17.61 billion in economic and social gain. So it only makes sense to give the city a big glow-up beforehand.
Over the next decade, Brisbane is going to undergo a massive structural makeover, which won’t just be enjoyed for the Olympic games, but by locals into the future.