What next for Brisbane school set to move for Gabba transformation

A heritage-listed Brisbane state primary school will move to make way for the Gabba’s 2032 Games redevelopment. Here’s what happens next.

East Brisbane State School. Picture: Richard Walker

The heritage-listed East Brisbane State School, forced to move to make way for the redevelopment of the Gabba stadium ahead of the Olympic Games, could be relocated to a new site 10 times its current size.

The existing Gabba and surrounds will be demolished and rebuilt into a 50,000-seat stadium as part of a $2.7m revamp.

The Education Department will now begin consultation with parents, teachers and the wider community on the school’s future, with options including:

• Relocating the school to a new 11ha location at the Coorparoo Secondary College site, already owned by the state government and about 1.5km away from its existing site.

• Merging the East Brisbane SS with Coorparoo Secondary College site to become a P-12 school

• Enrolling students at other local schools, with additional infrastructure built at those schools if needed.

The school is set to close at the end of 2025 to move into its new home for the start of the 2026 school year.

It’s understood all students currently enrolled at the school and their siblings will have the flexibility to remain at the school, should its new location be outside of their catchment area.

Education Minister Grace Grace said one of the options included a new site at Coorparoo that was already owned by the state government. Tara Croser.

Education Minister Grace Grace said it was clear with the redevelopment plans that the school could not remain in its current location.

“I always said we would carry out consultation with the school community as soon as we knew more about the impact of the Gabba redevelopment on the school,” Ms Grace said.

“The plans announced today make it clear that the school cannot remain at its current location beyond December 2025, so that consultation will now begin.

“Options include relocating the school to new facilities at the under-utilised 11-hectare Coorparoo Secondary College site, which is a short distance away.”

Ms Grace said the 1.5ha current East Brisbane site was bordered by three major roads, has limited parking and green space and did not have the capacity to expand.

The Minister met with the East Brisbane principal and its senior leadership team on Friday and was set to meet with the school next week.

Carla Proietti, with her kids Solene and Nicholas Krause rallying against The Gabba Olympics stadium plan, which they fear will see their school permanently closed. Photo Steve Pohlner

She said she had met with the school’s P&C three times.

“I am absolutely committed to ensuring every single member of the school community gets to have their say about the future of East Brisbane State School,” she said.

Initial consultation will be open until the end of Term 1 (March 31).