10 September 2026
The first signs of a new Brisbane Showgrounds are here
Just weeks after the future of the Ekka was secured, builders are onsite and construction has started at the Brisbane Showgrounds.
The demolition of the Machinery Hill grandstand marks the first step in transforming this iconic precinct, kicking off a redevelopment that will see the Main Arena transformed into a revitalised 20,000-seat venue, with a new Machinery Hill grandstand, a new horse pavilion and important accessibility upgrades.
For generations the Brisbane Showgrounds has been where Queenslanders come together, from Ekka traditions and agricultural showcases to concerts, community celebrations and major events. This project will help preserve that legacy while preparing the precinct for the future.
Home to the future Brisbane Athlete Village for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the showgrounds redevelopment forms part of the broader Victoria Park Precinct, a soon-to-be world-class precinct creating new places that will serve Queenslanders long after the Games.
Representatives from Hutchinson Builders and RNA Showgrounds turning sod at Machinery Hill
Hear from Hutchinson Builders Director Jack Hutchinson, as he reflects on how delivering works at Machinery Hill feels like the continuation of a family legacy that began when his great-great-grandfather helped build the Brisbane Showgrounds more than a century ago.
