Victoria Park / Barrambin Draft Master Plan
Brisbane City Council is transforming Victoria Park / Barrambin into an iconic public parkland with something for everyone. The Draft Master Plan represents community feedback from more than 51,000 people who shared their thoughts as part of the Victoria Park Vision.
Community consultation for the Draft Master Plan has now closed. An update for the Draft Master Plan community consultation will be available in 2023. The final Victoria Park / Barrambin Master Plan will be released in 2023 and will showcase how the 64 hectares of inner-city greenspace will be transformed into a uniquely Brisbane destination.
Council is progressing exciting projects in the park alongside the release of the Draft Master Plan to create more to see and do in the park sooner.
Read the Draft Master Plan
Victoria Park / Barrambin will become a natural retreat and urban park for adventure, discovery and reconnection. The Draft Master Plan integrates the community’s feedback with more technical refinements to show key features, spaces and connections for what the park will look like.
Download the:
You can also watch this video via Council's YouTube channel.
Read the video transcript
Read the video transcript
Brisbane City Council is transforming Victoria Park into an iconic natural retreat and urban park for adventure, discovery and reconnection.
The Draft Master Plan builds on your ideas and feedback from the Vision, to transform the 64 hectares of inner-city parkland over the coming years.
The Visitor Centre will welcome visitors and is central to the park’s natural environment, Aboriginal culture and heritage features.
The parkway loop and boardwalks will connect visitors to the revitalised and restored wetlands and waterholes.
While rewilding will increase canopy cover and provide new habitat for wildlife, as well as unique spaces to play and connect with nature.
The Tree House will become an iconic destination with its sweeping views across the city skyline and nearby mountain ranges.
Getting to the park will be easy, with a range of public and active transport options, including new bridges and more than 18 kilometres of paths and trails.
The edible gardens and the Spring Hill Common will provide spaces for the community to gather and create new memories.
Victoria Park is set to become an iconic and uniquely Brisbane destination with something for everyone.
Overview of the Draft Master Plan
Restoring the park’s original waterways will re-establish natural cooling, cleansing and drainage systems that provide habitat for our wildlife. Revegetating parts of the park with native species will ensure Brisbane remains Australia’s most biodiverse capital city and contribute to achieving Council’s goal of increasing Brisbane’s habitat cover.
With more to see and do at the park, people will connect with nature high in the treetops, down in the gullies and out on boardwalks. This natural retreat in the heart of the city will provide something for everyone and become a new setting for our relaxed, outdoor lifestyle.
Design principles and strategies
Your ideas have inspired the design framework, which is formed by three principles and key strategies to guide more detailed planning in the years ahead.
The principles and strategies consider the park’s unique history, the needs of the city and surrounding communities, environmental imperatives and opportunities offered by the site’s natural features and location. How these have shaped the park’s design are detailed in the Draft Master Plan.
Principles
Recognition
Creating a place that honours and celebrates the connections between Country, culture and history across past, present and future generations.
Restoration
Creating transformational connections that weave the park into Brisbane’s city fabric.
Reconnection
Healing the landscape by reinstating and reintroducing the interconnected ecosystems unique to the region.
Strategies
Download the technical maps or framework documents to find out more about the park's key features and design. Alternatively, you can download the full Draft Master Plan document.
Cultural landscape — A natural space that celebrates Country and Brisbane's shared Aboriginal and European heritage.
Artist impression and map
Artist impression and map
Visitor Centre and dancing circle
Download the Cultural landscape strategy technical map (PDF - 649kb)
Room for water — Re-established waterways, wetlands and waterholes will restore natural cooling, cleansing and drainage, as well as habitat for wildlife.
Artist impression and map
Artist impression and map
Connected habitats — Revitalised ecosystems and restored habitats will increase canopy cover and draw wildlife back to the city to enrich our connection with nature.
Artist impression and map
Artist impression and map
Health and recreation — A retreat in the heart of the city with something for everyone that promotes healing, wellness and connection to nature.
Artist impression and map
Artist impression and map
Connections — Making the park easier to get to by supporting public and active transport choices and improving pathways and connections within.
Artist impression and map
Artist impression and map
Unique places and experiences — Creating drawcard destinations and experiences, and expressing Brisbane's distinctive outdoor lifestyle.
Artist impression and map
Artist impression and map
Nature water play gully
Download the Unique places and experiences strategy technical map (PDF - 431kb)
Creative expression — World-class architectural forms and unique public spaces will create opportunities for memories and for people to share their own stories.
Artist impression and map
Artist impression and map
Partnerships and relationships — Well-located links to neighbours and future partnerships will invite people into the park, adopting its spaces and places as their own.
Artist impression and map
Artist impression and map
Frequently asked questions
Where is Victoria Park / Barrambin?
Where is Victoria Park / Barrambin?
Victoria Park / Barrambin sits across Herston, Kelvin Grove and Spring Hill. The Inner City Bypass (ICB) and railway runs through the southern section of the park.
When did Council decide to convert the area to parkland?
When did Council decide to convert the area to parkland?
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced on 9 June 2019 a proposal to transform the Victoria Park Golf Course into a new 64-hectare inner city parkland to make it more accessible to the Brisbane community.
When did Council release the Victoria Park Vision and Draft Master Plan?
When did Council release the Victoria Park Vision and Draft Master Plan?
The final Victoria Park Vision was released in December 2020 following two extensive rounds of community engagement. More than 35,000 people viewed the draft vision online with more than 2000 submissions, surveys and pieces of feedback. Overall there was 86% community support for the vision for the park.
How is the Master Plan different to the Vision?
How is the Master Plan different to the Vision?
The Master Plan for the park is a more detailed plan for the park’s future. It is based on the final Victoria Park Vision and incorporates the results of community feedback on the Draft Master Plan and detailed technical investigations to refine the way in which we can successfully bring the vision to life.
The final Master Plan for the park will be released in 2023.
Did the community get to have their say on the Master Plan?
Did the community get to have their say on the Master Plan?
Yes, community consultation for the Draft Master Plan was open from 27 September and closed on 30 October 2022.
Is the park heritage listed?
Is the park heritage listed?
Yes, part of Victoria Park / Barrambin is a Queensland Government heritage-listed park and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 December 2007. Part of the park is also listed as a Local Heritage Place under Brisbane City Plan 2014.
Is there a strong connection to Country for local Aboriginal groups?
Is there a strong connection to Country for local Aboriginal groups?
The park is a known place of high significance to the Aboriginal people of greater Brisbane.
Barrambin (meaning ‘windy place’) and Walan / Woolan (meaning ‘bream’) comprised the areas now known as Herston and Bowen Hills. The land was undulating, with hills punctuated by a chain of waterholes and gullies. Barrambin and Walan were meeting and gathering places for groups travelling to and from other parts of South East Queensland, as well as dance and corroboree sites, and hunting and fishing lands for local Aboriginal people of Brisbane.
The area now contained within the park was an extensive Aboriginal camp and is a significant European contact and cultural site. In 2008, Victoria Park was given the dual name of Barrambin following engagement with the local Turrbal group.
Will Council sell off any land or allow high-density living within the park?
Will Council sell off any land or allow high-density living within the park?
Council has no authority or plans to allow high-density living within the park. The land on which Victoria Park / Barrambin sits is mainly owned by the Queensland Government and Council is the trustee of the land under a Deed of Grant In Trust (DOGIT). The primary purpose of the trust is for park and recreation purposes. The land is under Council’s custodianship and under the Land Act the trustee is not authorised to dispose of the trust land.
What planning approvals will be needed for works in the park?
What planning approvals will be needed for works in the park?
As the master plan is finalised a planning pathway will be confirmed and progressed to enable works in the park to be carried out. Some works are already progressing through development approvals in accordance with Brisbane City Plan 2014.
What sporting facilities are currently in the park?
What sporting facilities are currently in the park?
The park is a popular location for organised sport and informal recreation containing many sporting facilities such as cricket nets, tennis courts, bikeways and a swimming pool. Golf is no longer a permitted activity in the park outside of the driving range.
What is happening with the Victoria Park Golf Complex and Golf Course?
What is happening with the Victoria Park Golf Complex and Golf Course?
The golf course is now closed. The driving range, putt-putt mini-golf, function centre and bistro remain open.
Will the park be a venue for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games?
Will the park be a venue for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games?
The park has been named as the temporary venue for the equestrian cross country and BMX freestyle events.
When will works commence?
When will works commence?
The park is open for the community to explore the 64 hectares of open space, rolling green hills and expansive city views. Council is progressing exciting projects to create more to see and do in the park sooner with the installation of park furniture and shelters already underway. The Spring Hill Common and urban pump track will both commence construction in 2023.
How can I keep updated about the project?
How can I keep updated about the project?
You can sign up to receive updates.
More information
For more information about Victoria Park / Barrambin and the Draft Master Plan, you can:
- sign up to receive email updates
- email the project team
- phone Council on 07 3403 8888
- write to:
Brisbane City Council
Victoria Park Project
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001.