Communities across Australia are calling for historic inner-city Defence sites to be used for affordable housing, schools, and expanded public access, as the federal divestment of 67 military properties, including Victoria Barracks Brisbane, moves forward.
Read: Victoria Barracks on Petrie Terrace Among Defence Sites Earmarked for Divestment
The barracks is among 67 Defence Department properties earmarked for sale nationwide, as part of a divestment plan announced in February 2026 that is expected to generate an estimated $3 billion for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
A Heritage-Listed Site with Maintenance Pressures
Listed on the Commonwealth Heritage Register, the Petrie Terrace site includes 17 heritage-listed buildings, a parade ground, a sandstone boundary wall and a historic tennis court, along with military assets and culturally significant collections.
The Department of Defence has acknowledged that several heritage retaining walls are failing or have already failed due to age and construction methods, and that significant maintenance, remediation and safety works have been carried out across the site’s heritage buildings.
The Army Museum South Queensland currently operates on-site, though with limited public access, offering guided tours on three Wednesdays each month. Under the divestment process, Defence says the museum may relocate to Gallipoli Barracks, approximately eight kilometres away, or remain on-site. ADF personnel and Reserves are scheduled to relocate to Gallipoli Barracks, while Australian Public Service staff will move to CBD office accommodation.
Community Consultation Underway
Defence held a community information session in Brisbane in April 2026, and says the feedback received will help inform transition planning and next steps.
More than 100 submissions have been lodged with a Senate inquiry into the matter, with public hearings scheduled throughout May 2026. Submissions have come from veteran, housing, heritage and community organisations.
Some local MPs and the National Trust of Australia are calling for inner-city barracks sites to remain under Commonwealth ownership. Others have described it as a “once in a generation” opportunity to deliver outcomes that blend heritage preservation and public use.
Affordable housing has emerged as a recurring theme in community feedback across all three barracks sites. In Melbourne, Southbank residents and local MPs have also called for land at the barracks to be used for a school to serve the suburb’s growing family population.
The Federal Position
Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil, who fronted a community forum in Melbourne attended by more than 100 people, said no decision had been made on who the properties would be sold to. He said the Defence Department was engaging with local councils, community organisations and heritage bodies throughout the process.
Mr Khalil said he understood there was a strong emotional connection to sites such as the Victoria Barracks, and that the sale would not result in heritage buildings being demolished. He said the department wanted people to be able to access the sites and engage with their history. He also indicated there could be both commercial and community possibilities for the properties, and that discussions with local councils and stakeholders were continuing.
Read: Revitalisation Prospects Raised for Victoria Barracks in Petrie Terrace
What Comes Next
With the Senate inquiry still in progress and Defence consultations continuing, no final decisions on the future of Victoria Barracks Brisbane have been announced. Community members seeking to stay informed or provide input can register for updates through the Department of Defence website at defence.gov.au.
Published 7-May-2026
