When Brisbane secured the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games back in 2021, it sparked more than celebrations. It sparked conversations about the future of the city itself. What could Brisbane become? How would it change? And what would those changes mean for the people who call it home?
Five years on, with $7.1 billion allocated to Games-related projects, many of the ideas that once existed only on masterplans are well on the way to becoming reality. Attention is now shifting from the Games themselves to the city Brisbane is becoming – and for people considering a home in Spring Hill, that’s perhaps the more interesting story.
Because while the Games will last only a few weeks, many of the projects now underway across Brisbane are being designed to benefit residents for decades. New sporting facilities, more green spaces, improved public transport and better-connected neighbourhoods will all become part of everyday life long after the world’s attention has moved elsewhere.
The National Aquatic Centre
The recently unveiled design for the new National Aquatic Centre is a perfect example.
Featuring a distinctive wave-shaped roof, the new Centre will sit beside the heritage-listed Centenary Pool. During Brisbane 2032, it will host swimming, diving, artistic swimming, water polo and Paralympic events. Perhaps more impressive is the way the venue has been planned beyond Brisbane 2032.
During the Games, the venue will temporarily expand to accommodate around 25,000 spectators. Afterwards, it will revert to an 8,000-seat aquatic centre designed for elite sport, community swimming and future generations of Queenslanders.
Following the closure of Centenary Pool in August 2026, construction of the new centre is expected to begin shortly after, bringing the project another step closer to reality.
As Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie recently told the ABC:
“This isn’t just a venue for a few weeks in 2032. It’s a lasting investment in Queensland’s future that will support community sport, high-performance athletes and keep us cool for generations to come.”
For future Spring Hill residents, that means one of Australia’s premier aquatic centres will be just moments from home.
A render of the National Aquatic Centre to be built for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the site of Centenary Pool at Spring Hill.
(Supplied: Queensland Government)
Victoria Park evolves
The National Aquatic Centre is just one part of a much bigger transformation taking place around Spring Hill.
Victoria Park is evolving into one of Australia’s largest inner-city parklands, with more open green space, new walking and cycling paths, places to relax, exercise and spend time with family and friends. It will also provide better walking and cycling connections between Spring Hill and the surrounding suburbs.
For residents, these are the kinds of improvements that enhance everyday life. Morning walks become greener and more enjoyable, and spending time outdoors with family and friends becomes part of the natural rhythm of living in Spring Hill.
Better transport connections for Brisbane
Brisbane 2032 is also accelerating investment in the way people move around the city.
Improvements to public transport, together with new walking and cycling connections, will make it easier to travel between Spring Hill, the CBD, the Brisbane Showgrounds, Kelvin Grove and the surrounding suburbs. While visitors will experience those improvements during the Games, residents will continue benefiting from them way into the future.
It’s another reminder that some of the most valuable Olympic legacies won’t be found inside a stadium. They’ll be experienced on the journey to work, during a weekend walk through Victoria Park or a summer afternoon spent lying in the sun at the pool.
The real legacy
Perhaps that’s the real legacy of Brisbane 2032. Lasting investment in the places people will use every day.
For future residents of Oria Spring Hill, that’s an exciting prospect. Alongside a thoughtfully designed home that complements the heritage character and jacaranda-lined streets of Spring Hill, they’re choosing a suburb that continues to evolve through investment in recreation, green space, transport and public infrastructure.
The Olympic flame will eventually be extinguished – that is true. But the benefits for Spring Hill residents will remain. The Games may put Brisbane in the global spotlight, but it’s the people who live in the city who will enjoy its legacy every day afterwards.
Oria is also entering an exciting new chapter. With the scaffolding beginning to come down, the building is starting to reveal the curves and geometric detail that have shaped its vision from the very beginning. It’s a significant milestone, with completion drawing closer and Oria’s distinctive Art Deco-inspired architecture now taking its place on Brisbane’s evolving skyline.
As Brisbane counts down to 2032, it’s becoming increasingly clear that some of the biggest winners won’t just be the athletes – they’ll be the people who choose to call Spring Hill home.
Limited opportunities remain. Art Deco-inspired 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom residences now selling from $1,680,000*.
*Price correct at time of publishing.
To find out more, please contact John Fishbourne on 0417 793 083, email jfishbourne@ashwinproperty.com.au, or visit oriaspringhill.com.au.
About Keylin
Keylin’s vision is to create progressive, high-quality developments that profoundly enhance lives and the surrounding areas. Driven by a desire to shape a sustainable future where elevated design and human values work together to transform the experience of ‘community’ for future generations.
Since 2015, Keylin has successfully delivered more than 15 residential and community projects, which more than 600 families now call home. Working in partnership with leading architects, urban planners and builders, their collaborative approach is founded on the core pillars of performance, honesty, and integrity, ensuring they deliver exceptional outcomes every time.