Brisbane Is Set to Score a 64-Hectare Inner-City Public Park with a Huge Lake and a Tree House Lookout

Fancy moseying through wetlands, kayaking and canoeing in a lake, riding along rainforest mountain-bike trails, peering out from a tree house lookout and climbing a high ropes course — all on the edge of Brisbane's CBD? In the near future, a trip to Herston is going to involve all of the above. They're all features initially slated and now confirmed for the revamped Victoria Park, with a huge new public park set to replace the current Victoria Park Golf Course.

First announced in mid-2019, the new vision for Victoria Park will completely transform the current space — and Brisbane City Council has just released its final plan for what that'll entail. If some of these inclusions sound familiar, that's because the council has been contemplating them over the past year or so. It first undertook a months-long community consultation process, with more than 5400 people tendering submissions and over 3500 folks showing up to an open day back in September 2019. Then, it announced an overview of the best suggestions in December last year, which it combined with advice from local and international design experts to come up with a new draft proposal that it also asked for feedback on. And now, after all of the above, it's detailing exactly what's in store.

Worth noting first up: while BCC was originally calling the space a 45-hectare park, that has now gone up to 64 hectares. Just how that change has come about hasn't been outlined, but the park is specifically increasing the area dedicated to green space and reducing the room taken up by new buildings.

Also on the agenda: a cultural hub, artwork and trails paying tribute to Australia's Indigenous heritage, plus plenty of shady foliage including revegetated forests and pockets of native bushland. There'll be dining areas and picnic spots, too, and community gardens — or perhaps even a small urban farm or urban orchard. Multipurpose spaces such as a green amphitheatre will be designed to host events year-round as well, including performances and exhibitions.

In addition to the aforementioned Lake Barrambin — where you'll be kayaking and canoeing — the site will feature lagoons and wetlands, a 'nature and water play gully' for kids, restored waterholes for wildlife, and waterside boardwalks to mosey along. And the existing Centenary Pool will be part of the park, if you're keen for a dip.

All of the above will comprise Brisbane's biggest new park in five decades, and one that'll change the face of the inner city. An opening date for the revamped park is yet to be set, though — but community engagement on the final plan is mooted for 2021, and the golf course is expected to shut down mid-year in the same year.

And if you've noticed that mini-golf isn't listed among the huge number of features above, don't worry. While the existing full-size golf course is saying goodbye, Vic Park's current putt-putt and driving range facilities are earmarked to stay.

The revamped Victoria Park doesn't currently have an opening date — but for more information about the project, visit the Brisbane City Council website.