Eagle Farm to become home to ‘Brisbane’s best beer garden’
A stunning beer garden with heritage-listed grounds will be built at one of racing’s iconic grandstands at Ascot. SEE THE PLANS
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Brisbane’s “best beer garden’’ could emerge from underneath the historic St Leger grandstand at Eagle Farm racecourse under the latest development at the precinct.
Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) has submitted a development application for an eye-catching microbrewery, beer garden and restaurants which would trade seven days a week.
The proposal is the latest development in the $1.2 billion masterplan for the area.
In August last year, developer Mirvac announced it would build two medium-rise unit towers, with 256 luxury apartments, to be called Ascot Green.
“The existing St Leger stand will be retrofitted to establish ‘Brisbane’s best beer garden’, a new microbrewery set within the heritage gardens of the St Leger precinct,’’ planners Urbis said.
“Other retail tenancies and associated landscaping works are provided to enhance this underutilised portion of the site and provide new opportunities for a seven-day a week activation.
Most of the work will take place in the “undercroft’’ at the southern end of the grandstand, currently being used as a Mirvac sales office, commercial kitchen, and storage.
Demolition works were needed to remove the partitioning walls and provide modern mechanical servicing.
There will also be shade awnings, designed so the heritage facade is not damaged.
The dining space will be split between indoor and outdoor, subtropical landscaped areas.
Some existing outbuildings and decking between the Tote Building and the St Leger Stand
will be removed to create space for more landscaping, as well as minor demolition to the ticket office.
There would also be a new deck extension and entry.
While the racecourse is listed on the state Heritage Register, in 2018 the club applied to lift the listing in some areas and replace it with an overall precinct heritage overlay.
The racecourse is also separately listed by Brisbane City Council.
BRC argued the Eagle Farm buildings were of different ages and significance and not all had heritage value.
The delisting involved four lots on the southeast section of the race track near the Gallopers Sports Club and also fronting Nudgee Rd.
That area is now the site of the Racecourse Village which includes a full-line Woolworths, specialty shops and restaurants.
Designed by KP Architects and Lat27, the proposal does not include gaming facilities but is instead aimed at entertainment options for surrounding suburbs, particularly on non-racing days.
“Additional tenancies and rectification to the existing landscaping will breathe new life into this underutilised portion of the site,’’ Urbis said.
“There is a pronounced lack of local entertainment facilities located within the Ascot, Hendra, Clayfield and Hamilton area.
“Residents are proud of where they live. However, there is a lack of diversity in entertainment and leisure activities located within the locality.’’
More details on Council’s online development application portal developmenti. Search for application A005947005
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