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Premiers vs Contenders: Broncos and Panthers Clash to Open NRL Season

The champions return to centre stage on Friday night.

The Brisbane Broncos open their premiership defence against the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium, launching the 2026 NRL season with one of the competition’s biggest matchups.

It is the kind of opener that leaves no room for easing into the year. Brisbane begin their title defence against the same opponent they eliminated during last season’s finals run, with Penrith arriving eager to turn the rivalry back in their favour.

Kick-off is 7:00pm AEST (Brisbane time) on Friday, March 6, with gates opening at 5:00pm AEST and the Broncos expected to take the field for warm-ups around 6:30pm AEST.

Familiar Rivals, High Stakes

The Broncos and Panthers have built one of the NRL’s defining matchups in recent seasons.

Last year’s preliminary final at Suncorp saw Brisbane outmuscle Penrith to reach the grand final, a performance built on ruck dominance and disciplined game control. The Panthers will arrive determined to ensure the premiers do not start the new season with another statement result.

Penrith remain one of the competition’s most structured teams, led by halfback Nathan Cleary, whose kicking game and tactical organisation shape almost everything the Panthers do with the ball.

Broncos Team News

Brisbane enter Round 1 with most of the core group that powered last season’s premiership still intact, though the long-term shape of the forward pack has already begun to change.

Middle forward Payne Haas will leave the Brisbane Broncos at the end of the 2026 season after confirming a move to the South Sydney Rabbitohs for 2027. The decision, announced earlier this month, was influenced by family considerations and the opportunity to reunite with coach Wayne Bennett.

Haas remains a central figure in Brisbane’s pack for the season ahead, continuing to partner with captain Patrick Carrigan through the middle as the Broncos begin their title defence.

The hooking role is one of the key selection talking points heading into the opener. Cory Paix was named to start at dummy-half, but experienced recruit Ben Hunt has spent time training in the position during preparations, giving coach Michael Maguire flexibility in how the rotation may unfold during the match.

With Brisbane’s spine led by Reece Walsh, Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam, the Broncos will again rely on strong ruck control and quick service from dummy-half to create space around the Panthers’ defensive line.

New Faces in the Broncos Line-Up

Several additions to the Brisbane roster could feature during the opening rounds.

Outside back Grant Anderson adds defensive reliability and aerial strength to the edge, while young playmaker Tom Duffy provides depth in the halves.

Forward recruit Aublix Tawha also strengthens the middle rotation, giving Brisbane additional size when the bench is deployed.

Those arrivals help offset several departures from the premiership squad, including outside back Selwyn Cobbo, who moved to the Dolphins.

Panthers Line-Up and Threats

Penrith again arrive with a roster built on continuity and discipline.

Cleary remains the controlling influence in the halves, while lock Isaah Yeo anchors the middle with his work rate and link play. The Panthers’ system places heavy emphasis on field position, defensive pressure and forcing opponents into errors.

Against Brisbane’s attacking strike, Penrith will likely aim to slow the ruck and build territorial pressure through their kicking game.

Tactical Battle

The outcome will likely hinge on the middle of the field.

If Carrigan and Haas can generate quick play-the-balls, Brisbane’s attacking spine becomes extremely difficult to contain. Walsh’s speed around broken defensive lines and Reynolds’ kicking game can quickly swing momentum.

Penrith’s approach will likely focus on controlling tempo through Cleary, forcing Brisbane to work out of their own half and limiting the space Walsh and Mam can attack.

A Big Night at Suncorp

Friday night will also introduce a redesigned Broncos gameday experience aimed at amplifying the Suncorp atmosphere throughout the season.

Alex Glenn | Photo Credit: Brisbane Broncos

Australian rock band Spiderbait will perform at half-time, while former Broncos captain Alex Glenn begins his role as the club’s gameday MC.

But the entertainment will ultimately take a back seat once kickoff arrives.

For the defending premiers, the objective is clear: start the new season the same way they finished the last one — setting the standard.

Published 5-March-2026

Paddington Home Has Changed Hands, Breaking Suburb Record

Photo Credit: Ray White New Farm

A Paddington home that became the subject of a protracted legal dispute between neighbours has changed hands for a suburb record of $12.075 million, bringing closure to a five-year saga that involved court injunctions and allegations of unlawful construction.

The five-bedroom property at 9 Reading Street, known as ‘Skyline’, was at the heart of a neighbourly disagreement that began in 2021 when construction commenced on the steep 810-square-metre block.

According to court documents, technology entrepreneur Steve Baxter, founder of digital signage company Mandoe Media, initiated legal proceedings against the property owners Anthony and Kylie Preston, along with builder Graya, over concerns regarding retaining walls being built next to his neighbouring $8 million home to support a swimming pool and outdoor entertaining area.

In April 2021, an injunction was filed citing safety concerns and allegations that works were being undertaken unlawfully. The Planning and Environment Court ordered a temporary suspension of construction work on the home.

The Prestons subsequently obtained both an exemption certificate and development approval for operational work from Brisbane City Council by July 2021. However, Mr Baxter raised additional allegations, prolonging the legal proceedings.

The court ultimately determined that continuing the application from July onwards was productive of serious and unjustified trouble and harassment, and had the effect of prolonging the trial. Mr Baxter was ordered to pay costs to the Prestons and Graya from 15 July 2021 through to 9 December 2021.

The Prestons had purchased the original property for $3.15 million in 2018 before demolishing the existing structure and embarking on what became one of the suburb’s most ambitious residential projects.

Designed by Brisbane-based Joe Adsett Architects, the completed home showcases a flat, fully integrated floor plan with a 20-metre frontage and commanding views across Brisbane’s CBD. Joe Adsett Architects is a national award-winning studio known for luxury residential architecture and subscribes to a design philosophy of subtropical modernism.

The property includes two separate living areas, an upstairs balcony, and a pilates studio. Each of the five bedrooms features an ensuite bathroom. External amenities include the heated infinity pool and spa that were central to the original dispute, along with an outdoor kitchen, gazebo, and sunken fire pit.

Ray White agents Matt Lancashire and Josh Brown handled the sale, which surpassed the previous Paddington record of $11.8 million set last year for a 653-square-metre property at 45 Garfield Drive.

The sale demonstrates continued strong demand for premium residential property in Paddington, despite the construction project’s contentious beginnings. The suburb, characterised by its hilly terrain and proximity to the Brisbane CBD, has seen increasing interest from buyers seeking luxury homes with city views.

Published 25-February-2026

Brisbane Broncos 2026 Season Preview: The Champions Reload at Red Hill

Photo Credit: Brisbane Broncos

Defending a premiership isn’t a victory lap. It’s more like taking the first carry of the season straight into three defenders — no space, no sympathy, no excuses.

That’s where the Broncos find themselves in 2026.

At the Clive Berghofer Centre in Red Hill, they’re not the hunters anymore. They’re the standard. The premiers. And every side in the competition has circled them on the draw.

There’s reason for confidence — and reason for caution.

After throwing the kitchen sink at Hull KR in the last 20 minutes last week to go down 30-24 in the World Club Challenge but scoring at a point per minute in those last 20, Madge may feel a bit of deja-vous.

This team has required some revving up in the last year, it does not purr like a well tuned engine, it produces large doses of fumes and spits and then powers down the track and sets a new dragster record.

The big names out are real. Selwyn Cobbo’s strike has gone to the Dolphins. Kobe Hetherington’s work rate now belongs to Manly. Martin Taupau’s experience is no longer there when things get tight. Those aren’t small departures.

The ins matter too. Grant Anderson adds reliability and defensive polish. Tom Duffy gives depth in the halves. Aublix Tawha brings size and aggression through the middle. None are headline-grabbing splashes — but premiership sides aren’t built on headlines. They’re built on balance.

This isn’t a rebuild. But it’s not complacency either.

The Broncos enter 2026 as reigning premiers after that hard-earned grand final win over the Melbourne Storm. That title wasn’t flashy. It was disciplined. It was physical. It was controlled by captain Adam Reynolds when the pressure peaked.

Backing it up will demand even more.

The Spine Still Sets the Standard

As fans, we know this: if the spine fires, Brisbane are dangerous.

Reece Walsh isn’t just electric — he changes defensive structures. Reynolds and Ezra Mam give the side composure and spark in equal measure. When they’re connected, Brisbane can score from anywhere.

Through the middle, Patrick Carrigan remains the defensive heartbeat, while Payne Haas continues to set the benchmark for power and work rate in the engine room. Haas confirmed this week he will join South Sydney ahead of the 2027 season, but for now the focus is firmly on one more campaign in Broncos colours.

If Carrigan and Haas win the ruck, Brisbane win momentum. When they don’t, the edges get exposed. That’s the simple truth.

Head coach Michael Maguire deserves credit for embedding defensive discipline in 2025. But year two is always different. The edge comes from within now, not from proving a point.

Early Tests

Billy Walters’ ACL recovery leaves questions around the hooking rotation early. Brendan Piakura’s Round 3 target return helps, but depth will be tested immediately.

And the 30–24 World Club Challenge loss to Hull KR? That wasn’t catastrophic — but it was instructive. Champions can’t afford to drift out of contests. The defensive standard has to be there from Round 1.

Round 1: No Grace Period

The title defence begins March 6 under lights at Suncorp Stadium against the Penrith Panthers.

That’s not easing into a season. That’s diving straight into it.

Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said last year there was no better way to open — and he’s right. This is the stage you want as champions.

“There’s no better way to start 2026 than under lights at Suncorp Stadium, in front of our members and fans,” Donaghy said in a club statement last year.

“No one could forget that energy and atmosphere at home against Penrith in the prelim – it was one of those defining Broncos’ moments. To open the new season against Penrith, at home, that’s the kind of stage we want and will set the tone for 2026,” he added.

Penrith arrive with Nathan Cleary cleared to play. They won’t blink. Neither can Brisbane.

A First Month That Will Tell Us Plenty

Round 1 – Panthers (Suncorp Stadium)
Round 2 – Eels (Suncorp Stadium)
Round 3 – Storm (AAMI Park)
Round 4 – Dolphins (Suncorp Stadium)

Three of the first four at home is an opportunity — but it’s also pressure. If Brisbane start flat, the noise will come quickly.

Projected Round 1 Outlook

Official teams are confirmed during match week, but expect continuity.

Walsh at fullback. Reynolds and Mam steering the attack. Carrigan and Haas setting the tone in the middle. Corey Jensen and Jordan Riki working the edges. Ben Hunt’s versatility stabilising the spine.

The likely bench rotation — Xavier Willison, Ben Talty, Aublix Tawha and Grant Anderson — offers size and adaptability.

It’s a strong 17 on paper.

But paper doesn’t win back-to-back titles.

Red Hill Sets the Tone

At training, intensity looks sharp. Standards appear uncompromising. But this is the NRL. No one cares what you did last year.

The Broncos have the roster. They have the coach. They have the belief.

Now they have to prove they still have the edge.

And fans will back them — loudly — while demanding they earn it again.

Published 24-February-2026

West Brisbane Sports Results Feb 20-22

Sat, February 21, 2026 (Allianz Stadium) – A-League – Men – Round 18
• Sydney FC 1 | Brisbane Roar FC 0

Sun, February 22, 2026 (Spencer Park) – A-League – Women – Round 18
• Brisbane Roar FC 0 | Adelaide United FC 2

Sat, February 21, 2026 (St Georges Park – St George Willawong FC – Field 1) – FQPL1 – Men – Round 1
• St George Willawong 1 | Broadbeach United 5

Fri, February 20, 2026 (Bulimba Memorial Park – Southside Eagles FC – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1
• Southside Eagles 0 | UQFC 0

Fri, February 20, 2026 (Walton Bridge Reserve – The Gap FC – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1
• The Gap FC 0 | Logan Lightning 2

Sat, February 21, 2026 (Goodwin Park – Olympic FC – Field 1) – NPL – Men – Round 1
• Olympic FC 2 | Lions FC 1

Sun, February 22, 2026 (Meakin Park – Field 1) – NPL – Men – Round 1
• Brisbane Roar B 1 | Brisbane City 3

Sat, February 21, 2026 (Heath Park – Eastern Suburbs FC – Field 1) – NPL – Women – Round 3
• Eastern Suburbs 4 | Brisbane City 2

Sat, February 21, 2026 (Goodwin Park – Olympic FC – Field 1) – NPL – Women – Round 3
• Olympic FC 0 | Lions FC 0

Fri, February 20, 2026 (Brisbane Entertainment Centre) – NBL – Men – Round 22
• Brisbane Bullets 77 | Sydney Kings 117

Sat, February 21, 2026 (The Gabba) – One Day Cup 2025-26 – Men – Match 6
• Queensland Bulls 260 | South Australia Men 135

Sat, February 14, 2026 & Sat, February 21, 2026 (2 Day – Wep Harris Oval) – Queensland Premier Cricket – Men 1st Grade – Round 14
• University of Queensland Mens 1st Grade 6-251 | Valley Mens 1st Grade 8-262

Sun, February 22, 2026 (Kerry Emery Oval – One Day) – Queensland Premier Cricket – Women 1st Grade – Round 21
• Sunshine Coast Womens 1st Grade 111 | Valley Womens 1st Grade 9-235

Sat, February 14, 2026 & Sat, February 21, 2026 (2 Day – Trevor Hohns Field) – Queensland Premier Cricket – Men 1st Grade – Round 14
• Sandgate-Redcliffe Mens 1st Grade 6-322 | Western Suburbs Mens 1st Grade 3-324

Brisbane Broncos Players Back $750,000 Fundraiser For Sunshine Coast Girl’s US Cancer Treatment

Photo Credit: GoFundMe

Two Brisbane Broncos players have thrown their support behind a major fundraising campaign to help a six-year-old Sunshine Coast girl access specialist cancer treatment in the United States.

Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam have promoted a GoFundMe appeal for Tessa Perry, who is living with relapsed Stage 4 neuroblastoma.

Diagnosis And Relapse

Tessa, from Palmview on the Sunshine Coast, was first diagnosed in November 2023. She underwent chemotherapy and two bone marrow transplants and was later cleared of the disease before the cancer returned at the end of frontline treatment.

Her family has been advised there are no remaining curative options available in Australia.

Tessa has been receiving treatment at Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Tessa Perry fundraiser — *Photo Credit: GoFundMe*

$750,000 Goal For Overseas Treatment

The family is now seeking access to specialist treatment in the United States, with the fundraising target set at $750,000. Campaign organisers have called for 75,000 people to contribute $10 each to help reach the target. Donations remain open as the family continues to seek the remaining funds required.

Prize Details For Donors

As part of the awareness campaign, donations of $25 or more are eligible for prize draws promoted by the players.

The highest verified single donation received before 6 p.m. AEST on Sunday, March 1, 2026, will receive a signed pair of game-worn boots, six home game tickets for one match this year and an opportunity to meet some of the team on the day.

Additional prizes include a signed match-worn jersey and a separate four-ticket home game experience with an opportunity to meet some of the team. Winners are scheduled to be announced at 6 p.m. AEST on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Brisbane Broncos — *Photo Credit: Nash Dawson/Instagram*

donate now

Recent Community Update

A recent update on the fundraising outlined a Make-A-Wish Australia experience for Tessa in South Brisbane, where her request to see snow was recreated locally due to medical travel restrictions.

Published 22-Feb-2026

Broncos Staffer Abbey Willcox Reaches Olympic Final As Brisbane Teammates Fly The Flag In Milano Cortina

When Abbey Willcox reports for work at the Brisbane Broncos’ Red Hill headquarters, she is usually coordinating NRL game day logistics. This week, she has been coordinating something very different — her Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026.

After a heavy snowstorm postponed Tuesday night’s qualifying rounds, the Women’s Aerials competition unfolded on Wednesday, February 18, under clear skies, and the Australians made their mark.

Danielle Scott soared straight into the final in second place, while Willcox powered through qualification to secure ninth and a place in the 12-skier final. Sidney Stephens finished 15th on debut, and Airleigh Frigo placed 22nd.

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A post shared by Australian Olympic Team (@ausolympicteam)

Flying Into The Final

Willcox landed a Back Full-Double Full in Qualification 1, scoring 88.12 to sit eighth. With only the top six progressing automatically, she returned for Qualification 2, but her first score held — locking in ninth overall and progression to the final.

“It was good to finally get out there and compete at the Olympic Games and I was pretty happy with my first jump,” Willcox said.

“[The conditions] are pretty good, not too much wind, and the sun’s out so you can’t really get a better day.”

Reflecting on reaching the final stage, she added:

“It felt so good to be out there [in an Olympic final] and land my jumps as well. It’s a dream come true.

“As soon as I made the Olympic Team, it was like a weight off my shoulders… I feel really happy and proud of myself.”

Back in Brisbane, her Broncos family has been cheering her on. Members of the NRLW squad, including captain Ali Brigginshaw, along with club figures Matt Gillett, Corey Oates and Sam Thaiday, sent her a video message of support ahead of competition. Thaiday told her they had ridden the club’s highs and lows together last season and were ready to ride the Olympic journey with her too.

The 12-skier final will see the top six advance to a Super Final to contest the medals, keeping Willcox in contention.

Tribute To Team Leader Laura Peel

Australia’s aerials campaign has also been shaped by the absence of team leader Laura Peel, who ruptured her ACL at a training camp on February 3 and withdrew on the eve of competition.

Peel, a four-time Olympian and one of Australia’s leading medal hopes heading into Milano Cortina, remained with the team in Livigno to support her teammates.

Willcox paid tribute by writing “Laura” on her glove with a love heart beneath before competition.

“She’s such a special person in our team and I’m just so sad that she’s not out here with us,” Willcox told Australian media after qualifying ninth.

“There’s not much I can do about her ACL, but just show some support,” she added.

Brisbane Base Behind The Breakthrough

Although born on the NSW Central Coast, Willcox’s Olympic preparation has been firmly Brisbane-based. She trains at the Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Centre at Sleeman Sports Complex — the southern hemisphere’s first year-round ski-jumping facility — practising into a large outdoor pool before transitioning to snow overseas.

Her daily routine reflects the balance she has struck between elite sport and full-time work.

“We practice our jumps into a large outdoor pool for two hours,” she said.

“After that I go to the gym or do some trampoline practice for another two hours.

“Once training is finished, I jump in the car and drive to Red Hill to start work around 12:30pm.”

Her workday often runs until 6pm, sometimes followed by further training.

“Then I do it all again the next day,” she said.

That persistence follows years of setbacks — including a broken leg and missing selection for the 2022 Games — before finally earning her Olympic call-up earlier this month.

“It was 10 years in the making, if not my whole life in the making,” she said.

Stephens And Frigo Complete Their Campaigns

Stephens, called up late following Peel’s injury, performed a Back-Lay-Full (75.11) and Back-Lay-Tuck (73.84) to finish 15th.

“I’m super stoked… I’m just really proud of the effort I did today,” Stephens said.

“It’s a great experience… I think it was really cool to see I could handle that.”

Frigo attempted a Back Full-Full and a Back-Double Full-Full but was unable to cleanly land either jump, scoring 55.75 and 60.27 to place 22nd.

“I’m really proud to be here right now. It wasn’t quite the performance I wanted, but I’m here… and I gave it my all,” Frigo said.

At this stage of the competition, Scott and Willcox advance to the final, while Stephens and Frigo conclude their individual campaigns in qualification — a strong Australian showing built on depth, resilience and team unity under pressure in Italy.

Published 19-February-2026

23-Storey Bloom Residential Tower Proposed for Auchenflower Riverfront

Photo Credit: DA/A006954430

A 23-storey residential tower known as Bloom has been proposed for a riverfront corner in Auchenflower, with an impact assessable development application now lodged.

Bloom Residential Tower Proposed

The proposal relates to land at 355 Coronation Drive and 6 Lang Parade, Auchenflower. It seeks approval for a material change of use for multiple dwellings and to carry out building work, including work assessed within the Flood Overlay.

The application is listed as A006954430 and is currently marked as in progress. As an impact assessable proposal, it is subject to public notification under the assessment process.

Auchenflower development application — Photo Credit: DA/A006954430

Project Details In Auchenflower

Plans describe a 23-storey tower reaching about 83.6 metres on a site of roughly 1,430 square metres at a bend of the Brisbane River. The location fronts Coronation Drive and Lang Parade, sits beside the Bicentennial Bikeway and is within walking distance of the Milton ferry terminal.

The proposal includes 90 apartments, comprising 36 two-bedroom and 54 three-bedroom units. Parking is planned across four basement levels with about 158 resident spaces and 14 visitor spaces, alongside bicycle parking for residents and visitors.

Rooftop communal facilities are proposed, including a 25-metre lap pool, hot and cold spas, barbecue area, private dining room, cinema, sauna, steam room and landscaped seating areas.

residential tower — Photo Credit: DA/A006954430

Design And Public Realm

Project material describes a design approach featuring curved balcony edges, layered façades and planting integrated across the building. Publicly accessible landscaped areas are proposed at ground level, including a corner garden and elements intended to improve cycle connectivity to the Bicentennial Bikeway.

No retail component is proposed.

Auchenflower Bloom tower — Photo Credit: DA/A006954430

Site Background And Assessment Status

If approved, the development would replace an existing three-storey unit block and a single-level dwelling.

The application was submitted on 6 February 2026 and remains under assessment. Submissions can be made during the public notification period for impact assessable applications, in line with Council requirements.

A decision will be made once the assessment process is completed.

Published 11-Feb-2026

Red Hill Home Built From Brisbane’s History Sells for $2.32M at Auction

Photo Credit: Place

A Red Hill property steeped in Brisbane history has sold under the hammer for $2.32 million, well above its reserve, after an eight-minute auction that drew four registered bidders on Saturday.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 111 Arthur Terrace sits on a 506-square-metre block and is notable for its use of salvaged materials sourced from some of Brisbane’s most recognisable landmarks. The home incorporates bricks from the Cannon Hill stockyards, cupboards originally from a convent, benchtops made from floor joists salvaged from the Treasury Building, and structural pillars from Brett’s Wharf.

The buyer, a local Brisbane man, had been watching the property for four years — having first taken notice of it during the pandemic. On Saturday, his persistence paid off when he opened bidding at $1.6 million. A series of $100,000 rises followed before the field narrowed to two determined bidders, with the hammer falling in just eight minutes.

Selling agent Alex Rutherford of Place New Farm described the atmosphere as electric, saying the vendors were delighted with the result while the buyer was left in a state of disbelief. She noted that pre-auction offers had fallen well short of the $2 million mark, making the final sale price a significant result for the vendors.

Rutherford attributed the strong outcome to the home’s one-of-a-kind construction, combined with tight stock levels and growing demand in Red Hill. The property had previously sold in 2018 for $1.03 million and had most recently been held by a local investor, who was renting it out at $1,000 per week.

The sale was one of 126 auctions scheduled across south-east Queensland on the day. By Saturday evening, Domain had recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 49 per cent from 82 reported results, with nine properties withdrawn.

Published 9-February-2026

From Fire-Ravaged Property to Dream Home: Paddington Pool That Started It All

Photo Credit: Ray White

Most people walking past a fire-ravaged property would see only what was lost. Melissa and Milan Butina saw something else entirely — a starting point.

Seven years ago, the Brisbane couple were having a morning coffee near Plunkett Street in Paddington when they noticed the property at number 33 was on the market. Curious, and already in the neighbourhood, they ducked in for a look. What they found was not much of a house — a fire had razed whatever had stood there before — but what remained was striking: a pool perched high above the street, sitting atop a garage on an elevated 450-square-metre block with sweeping views in every direction.

It was an unusual proposition, but the Butinas were hooked. The timing of their chance encounter, combined with the property’s distinct bones, made the decision feel almost inevitable.

Rather than removing the pool or working around it, the couple made it the centrepiece of their vision. They engaged Brisbane-based architectural studio Myers Ellyett — known for delivering residential projects that respond closely to site and context — to help them design a home that would grow from the block outward. The result is a three-level, five-bedroom, four-bathroom home built into the hillside, with 180-degree views and a layout designed around connection, flow, and the kind of calm that is easy to appreciate but harder to engineer.

The Butinas were clear about what they wanted from the space: somewhere that felt open without being exposed, entertaining-friendly without sacrificing the feeling of a private retreat. Multiple living zones were created throughout the home to give the family — now including daughter Petra, five, and son Oliver, three — room to gather or spread out as the mood demands. Strong indoor–outdoor flow ties the levels together, with the original pool sitting at the heart of it all.

Over the years, the pool has evolved from an inherited quirk into something the family considers one of the home’s great pleasures. A heater was added to extend its use well beyond Brisbane’s warmer months, meaning it is a genuine year-round feature rather than a seasonal one. For the Butinas, it represents not just a place to cool off, but a focal point for the kind of everyday living that makes a house feel like a home — friends visiting on weekends, the children splashing about, the particular satisfaction of a summer afternoon with nowhere else to be.

Now, after seven years, the family is ready to let someone else enjoy it. The property at 33 Plunkett Street is listed for sale through Ray White Paddington agent Max Hadgelias via an expressions of interest campaign. The Butinas’ reason for moving on is perhaps the most fitting possible: they have loved the process of building this home so much that they are planning to do it all over again on another site.

For any buyer, the property comes with something that cannot be replicated from scratch — a story, a setting, and a pool with a view that once stopped two people dead in their tracks on a Sunday morning coffee run.

Published 9-February-2026

Victoria Barracks on Petrie Terrace Among Defence Sites Earmarked for Divestment

One of Paddington’s most significant landmarks is set to change hands after more than a century and a half of military service, as the Commonwealth moves to sell Victoria Barracks on Petrie Terrace as part of a sweeping national property divestment.

Read: Revitalisation Prospects Raised for Victoria Barracks in Petrie Terrace

The historic site, located just one kilometre from Brisbane’s CBD, is among more than 60 Defence properties across Australia earmarked for divestment following a multi-year audit of the department’s 3 million hectare estate. The nationwide sell-off is expected to raise approximately $3 billion, with Victoria Barracks sites in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne alone accounting for $1.3 billion of that total.

Victoria Barracks on Petrie Terrace — Photo credit: Defence Australia

Defence Minister Richard Marles released the audit findings on 4 February, agreeing to recommendations to divest surplus and costly properties that serve no strategic military value. The decision will see Australian Defence Force personnel including Reserves relocated to Gallipoli Barracks, 8km away, whilst Australian Public Service personnel will move to office accommodation in the Brisbane CBD.

For local residents, the announcement revives long-standing conversations about the future of this largely inaccessible heritage precinct, positioned strategically between Roma Street station and Suncorp Stadium.

The Australian Institute of Architects has welcomed the sale but emphasised the critical need for rigorous design governance to protect the site’s heritage and cultural significance. Caroline Stalker, Queensland Chapter President, described it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver genuine public benefit.

Stalker said in a statement that the sale creates a rare chance to give something back to the public realm, calling for transparent processes, strong cultural and heritage safeguards, and design-led planning that prioritises streets, parks, culture and community uses alongside any housing or commercial components.

Victoria Barracks Brisbane is listed on the Commonwealth Heritage Register and includes 17 heritage-listed buildings, a parade ground, sandstone boundary walls, and a historic tennis court. The site also houses the Army Museum of South East Queensland, which currently offers limited public access through guided tours on three Wednesdays each month from 9:30am to 12:15pm.

The future of the museum remains uncertain, with Defence indicating it may relocate to Gallipoli Barracks or potentially remain on site depending on negotiations with future owners.

Any redevelopment will be subject to strict protections under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, which requires the Commonwealth to preserve the heritage values of listed properties. The Department of Defence has committed to exploring options including adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, retention of facades, partnerships with heritage organisations, and archival recording.

National President of the Australian Institute of Architects, Adam Haddow, has called for the establishment of a Federal Architect position to provide consistent design leadership across Commonwealth property transitions of this scale. Haddow said that when the Commonwealth reshapes city-defining precincts, it must do so with the same rigour expected of any major public project.

The sale process will be managed by the Department of Finance, though officials acknowledge some properties may take years to sell given the complexity of heritage requirements and potential remediation needs. The Commonwealth expects to save approximately $100 million annually in maintenance costs for ageing and underutilised facilities across the portfolio.

Net proceeds of about $1.8 billion after relocation costs and expenses will be reinvested in Defence capabilities.

A Landmark With Deep Roots

Victoria Barracks has been an integral part of Brisbane’s landscape for more than 160 years. The site predominantly provides office space to support capability management, service delivery and museum functions, and has accommodated various Defence operations throughout its long history.

The barracks experienced significant use during both World Wars, playing important administrative and logistical roles. In recent years, the Commonwealth has undertaken significant maintenance and remediation works across the heritage buildings, including a full roof and drainage system replacement, remediation of rising and lateral damp, mortar joint repairs, timber restoration, repainting, fire safety upgrades, and replacement of electrical infrastructure. Several heritage retaining walls have required attention due to age and construction methods.

Read: A Trip Down Memory Lane at the Petrie Terrace Heritage Trail

What Happens Next

The sale timeline remains unclear, though the complexity of heritage obligations and the scale of the divestment program suggest the process could extend over several years. For Paddington residents who have long glimpsed the historic buildings from Petrie Terrace, the next chapter of Victoria Barracks presents both opportunity and uncertainty about how this landmark piece of the suburb’s heritage will be integrated into the community’s future.

Published 6-February-2026