I don’t know about you, but there is nothing like spending hours and hours watching the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics over recent weeks, to make me even more excited about the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, which is now only eight years away.

Until the success of the recent games in Paris, most of us Aussies probably hadn’t given our next home-based Olympics much thought – apart from some squabbles in the media about where a new stadium is going to eventually be constructed. 

But make no mistake – current political posturing aside – the 2032 Brisbane Olympics is set to be a game-changer for the Sunshine State capital and the wider Southeast Queensland region like never before.

Not only will it have its glistening moment on the global stage, but the plethora of new and upgraded infrastructure will transform its economy, its liveability, and its skyline for future generations.

Of course, property markets across the region have been some of the strongest performers over the past two years, with that strength on track to continue in the lead-up to the 2032 Games.

Infrastructure boom

There is no question that Brisbane and Southeast Queensland is about to experience another major infrastructure boom as it prepares for the 2032 Olympics with a number of upgraded and new venues set to be constructed.

The 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games currently includes 37 proposed venues, set to host 50 different sports.

According to Games Organisers, new and upgraded facilities will be purpose-designed to ensure they meet local community needs first and foremost, before being converted into competition mode for the big event.

In Brisbane, there will be 22 venues for 29 sport disciplines, including the opening ceremony, with several new venues required; on the Gold Coast, six venues will host some 14 sports disciplines; four venues on the Sunshine Coast that will host nine different sports; and one venue each in Townsville and Cairns to host football preliminaries and finals.

Three proposed newly-constructed villages will be the home away from home for Olympic and Paralympic athletes – where they’ll train, rest, recover and celebrate during the Games.

Additional Satellite Olympic Villages will be created to support Olympic Sports taking place in co-host destinations, including the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Townsville and Cairns.

The villages will be designed to provide long-lasting accommodation benefits to their surrounding communities, which will bring much-needed housing supply to the region.

In the heart of the action of Brisbane City, the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Athlete Village will house athletes and team officials as well as training facilities and will be located in Northshore Hamilton. There will also be athlete villages located in Robina on the Gold Coast and in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.

Infrastructure upgrades, particularly in and around the planned athlete villages. Here’s a detailed look at where new property is expected to be constructed:

Northshore Hamilton is located along the Brisbane River, northeast of the CBD.

It will be the main Olympic and Paralympic Athlete Village, housing athletes, team officials, and offering training facilities. It’s part of a large urban renewal project, with residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments planned. Post-Games, the village will be transformed into a riverside community with apartments, parks, retail outlets, and entertainment hubs.

The key focus areas here are

• High-density residential apartments.
• Mixed-use precincts with retail and dining spaces.
• Open public spaces, parks, and walking trails along the Brisbane River.

This area is expected to become a desirable residential and commercial hub, capitalizing on its proximity to the river and the Brisbane CBD.

Robina is a major commercial and residential area on the Gold Coast, approximately 80 kilometers from Brisbane. This location will serve as a secondary athlete village, supporting events held on the coast, and offering accommodation and training facilities for athletes.

Its development focus is

• Expansion of residential areas, with an emphasis on modern apartments and townhouses.
• New community amenities, including training grounds, public spaces, and sports facilities.
• Upgrades to transport infrastructure, linking Robina to the major venues in Brisbane and the broader Gold Coast.

The village will then be repurposed into residential housing, with some areas turned into affordable housing and student accommodation.

Maroochydore is a coastal city at the center of the Sunshine Coast, about 100 kilometers north of Brisbane. Serving as the Sunshine Coast’s athlete village, the Maroochydore precinct will house athletes competing in regional events.

Property development here will focus on:

• High-rise apartments and townhouses, catering to both permanent residents and tourists.
• New infrastructure around public transport, particularly connecting Maroochydore to key venues.
• Investment in green spaces, recreational facilities, and urban centres.

After the games the village will be integrated into the broader Maroochydore City Centre development, adding residential and commercial capacity to the area.

The construction of these athlete villages in Northshore Hamilton, Robina, and Maroochydore is expected to drive substantial growth in the property markets. These areas will attract investors due to improved infrastructure, long-term urban renewal plans, and increased demand for both residential and commercial spaces.

With the transformation of these regions, the property markets in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast are expected to experience a significant boom in the lead-up to and following the 2032 Olympics.

Market on the move

The Brisbane and surrounds’ property markets have already experienced solid price growth over the past few years, but there is plenty more where that came from.

And it is not just the capital city that has potential in the years ahead, parts of the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay in the north as well as Toowoomba in the west all offer excellent property investment fundamentals now and into the future.

And it will be the homebuyers and investors who make their moves soon that stand the best change of winning property gold by the time the 2032 Brisbane Olympics officially begin in just eight years’ time.