As Brisbane counts down to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, many Queenslanders are reflecting on another landmark event that transformed the city — World Expo '88.
Held over six months in 1988, the international exposition attracted more than 15 million visitors, introducing Brisbane to a global audience and fundamentally reshaping the city's cultural and physical landscape. Today, historians and planners believe the event offers valuable lessons as preparations for the Olympics continue.
Before Expo '88, the area now known as South Bank Parklands was largely an industrial and underutilised riverside precinct. The expo triggered an ambitious urban renewal project that reimagined the site as a public destination focused on recreation, culture and community use.
Stephanie Wyeth, an associate professor at the University of Queensland's School of Architecture, Design and Planning, said the event demonstrated the importance of ensuring major infrastructure projects deliver long-term benefits beyond the event itself.
According to Wyeth, future planning for Olympic venues should prioritise the experiences of residents and provide opportunities for communities to influence how spaces are used after the Games conclude.
One of the most enduring symbols of Expo '88 is the Skyneedle, the 88-metre tower originally positioned on the South Bank riverfront. Intended to be relocated overseas following the exposition, the structure was ultimately saved through the intervention of Queensland hairdressing entrepreneur Stefan Ackerie, who purchased it to ensure it remained in Brisbane.
Today, the Skyneedle still stands in South Brisbane, serving as a reminder of the city's transformation during the late 1980s.
Stefan has argued that Brisbane should preserve key elements created for the 2032 Olympics rather than allowing them to disappear once the event ends.
"Don't let stuff go. It belongs to the city," he said while reflecting on the importance of retaining meaningful landmarks.
Expo '88 also left behind several other physical reminders of the event, including the Nepalese Peace Pagoda at South Bank and the Japanese Garden, which was relocated to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha.
Beyond infrastructure, historians say Expo '88 broadened Brisbane's outlook by exposing residents to international cultures, technologies and ideas at a scale the city had rarely experienced before.
The parallels with the upcoming Olympics are clear.
Like Expo '88, the Brisbane 2032 Games represent an opportunity to strengthen tourism, stimulate investment and showcase Queensland to the world. However, planners are increasingly focused on ensuring these benefits continue long after the closing ceremony.
The challenge lies in balancing short-term excitement with thoughtful, community-focused development.
As Brisbane evolves into a global host city, Expo '88 remains a powerful example of how major events can leave a lasting legacy when designed with future generations in mind.
Nearly four decades later, South Bank has become one of Australia's most beloved urban spaces — evidence that the true success of a world event is measured not only by attendance figures but by the lasting value it creates for the people who call the city home.
With the Olympic countdown underway, many hope Brisbane can once again seize the opportunity to shape a legacy that extends far beyond the spotlight of international attention.
