For a century and a half, the identity of St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace has been inextricably linked to the rolling hills and green expanses of Victoria Park.
Since 1876, these parklands have served as the literal and metaphorical lungs of the campus, transforming generations of boys into “Terrace Gentlemen” through the shared crucible of school sport.
However, the march toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games has permanently altered this historic landscape.
This profound shift moved from a matter of public policy to a deeply personal reality during a chance meeting with GT Old Boys, former Wallaby Brendan Nasser and former Gregory Terrace Director of Sport Michael Broad.
As we spoke, they mentioned how emotional their afternoon was coaching the U15s for the final time at Victoria Park.
This final practice session occurred just before the park was officially closed on 1 June to prepare for the construction of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Stadium.
This marked the end of a rich, 150-year history between St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace and Victoria Park.
Inspired by their reflections, I decided to research the deep historical connection Gregory Terrace has to Victoria Park.
Historical Timeline & Use
Early Days: Since the school moved to its Gregory Terrace campus in 1876, the adjacent parklands have served as a vital sporting and recreational extension of the campus.
1920 – Building the First Oval: Armed with only shovels and wheelbarrows, Christian Brothers and students spent half-days manually clearing and levelling the land. A school competition to see which class could move the most earth resulted in the creation of Terrace’s very first sporting oval at Victoria Park.
1939 – Facilities Expansion: The college constructed its first two tennis courts in Victoria Park, which were quickly followed by the introduction of dedicated cricket facilities and practice nets.
1950s–1970s – The Fixture Era: Victoria Park hosted competitive weekend fixtures for sports such as rugby, cricket, and soccer. Even after the college established its major sports complex at Tennyson in 1964, competitive fixtures continued at Victoria Park well into the 1970s.
1982 – The Dedicated Access Tunnel: To bypass the increasingly dangerous and busy traffic on Gregory Terrace, the college built a safe pedestrian tunnel underneath the road. It emerged directly into Victoria Park, cementing a daily commute for generations of boys walking between the main campus and the training fields.
2026 – End of an Era: In May 2026, the school held its final Health and Physical Education (HPE) lessons and sports training sessions at the park, concluding 150 years of continuous use.
Daily, Weekly, and Seasonal Activities: Over its long history, the park was heavily utilized for regular routines…
Daily Training: Home to training sessions for rugby union, football (soccer), and cricket nets.
Athletics & Cross Country: The rolling, windy hills of Victoria Park were standard terrain for GPS Cross Country training, inter-house carnivals, and athletics practice.
Conclusion: The handover of Victoria Park to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) on June 1, 2026, initially disrupts the daily operations, transit, and sports programs of neighbouring schools. While the stadium promises to bring the world to Brisbane, it does so by closing a historic chapter of local heritage that shaped the community for 150 years.
