New Sports Hub Masterplan for Albion Rugby Bastion

Placemaking I Phil Bartsch I 14 Aug 24 I The Urban Developer

Scaled-back plans for a sporting and lifestyle hub have been revealed for Albion in Brisbane’s inner-north in the wake of a proposed Olympics multi-sports oasis being scrapped.

The new vision spans Crosby Park, one of the city's most popular sporting precincts and the longstanding home of Brothers Rugby Club.

It has been unveiled following the club inking a new 25-year lease with the Brisbane City Council.

The long-term masterplan includes a new indoor sport and recreation centre, clubhouse, gym, function room, cafe, change rooms and swim school.

Allied health services will be incorporated in the final stage of the development, which is to be built over the next four years.

Previous plans to transform the rugby grounds and the Albion Park Raceway into a 29ha multi-sports precinct to host events—including basketball, volleyball and badminton—for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics were kiboshed after an independent review into the Games venue infrastructure.

Brothers is one of Queensland’s oldest active football clubs and has occupied Crosby Park for 73 years.

“Brothers is well known as one Australia’s most established and successful rugby clubs,” club president Geoff Rodgers said.

“The bottom line is that we must upgrade our amenities—which really haven’t had any major additions since the early 1980s—to keep pace with this heightened community demand.

“As a modern club over 40 per cent of our members are female and we host many participants requiring disability access. Being able to safely cater for all of our participants, while maintaining a safe, open and freely accessible space for the entire community—including embracing environmental protection and sustainability – is now essential.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner added: “Brisbane has grown faster than any other capital city in the country and it's important our community facilities continue to grow with us to create more to see and do in the suburbs.

“I’ve always said I want the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to create a positive legacy for local families now and beyond the Games and that’s exactly what this vision will help achieve.

“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and by investing in grassroots sports we can help make it even better for years to come.”

AUTHOR Phil Bartsch