Alumni and Community

UQ Neighbours

Welcome to campus

UQ has a long history of serving the local community. If you live near a UQ campus, we encourage you to connect and explore all that we have on offer.

With more than 20 sites across Queensland, we have a diverse range of programs and facilities for our UQ Neighbours to enjoy.

Sign up to our UQ Neighbours email update for campus activities in your local community:


UQ Neighbours St Lucia email newsletter  UQ Neighbours Gatton email newsletter

St Lucia

Take advantage of the fantastic facilities, vibrant experiences and green spaces in your local neighbourhood. Whether you’re exploring our collections, participating in sports clubs, enjoying a performance, or simply relaxing in our beautiful grounds, UQ St Lucia is here to welcome you. Join us and experience the unique opportunities that make UQ a valuable part of the local community
Avalon theatre
UQ has revitalised the landmark Avalon Theatre to provide a unique teaching and performance venue.
UQ Lakes and Amphitheatre
The iconic UQ lake and Dr Mary Mahoney AO Amphitheatre precinct is now open for the community to enjoy.
UQ Arts
Connecting people and ideas, artists and audiences – visit a museum or attend a concert on campus.
Community Garden and Playground
A welcoming space that adds sustainable and multi-abilities functionality to the community.
UQ Healthy Living
Stay healthy, active, independent and connected with specialist health services for over 50s.
St Lucia Park Run
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5km community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.
Cycling at UQ
Discover more about cycling facilities, routes and safety while you ride to and around UQ.
UQ Sport facilities
Visit our aquatic centre, athletics centre, fitness centre, outdoor fields and courts and tennis centre.
UQ Sporting clubs
There are 35+ UQ sporting clubs in a huge range of sports and activities, catering for newbies and recreational participants right through to more experienced and elite players.
Campus food and drink and retail
Cafes, restaurants and retail on campus.

Gatton

At UQ Gatton, we provide our local community with unique facilities and services. Benefit from our Vet Clinic and Master Farrier services, ensuring expert care for your animals. Stay active and healthy with our modern gym and swimming pool, or birdwatch in our community gardens.
Boyce Gardens
This magnificent garden, forest and park, covering 6 hectares, was established by leading Toowoomba citizens Leslie and Margaret Boyce.
Gatton Aquatic Centre
Heated year-round, the Gatton 25m pool is the perfect place for a dip!
Gatton Fitness Centre
Air-conditioned weights gym with free weights, squat racks, Olympic-platforms, and a selection of cardio eqipment – treadmills, cross trainers, rowers, bikes and steppers.
UQ Vets – Small Animal Hospital
Expert medical, surgical and diagnostic services for small pets and wildlife.
Advanced farriery
Equine Specialist Hospital's Master farrier is highly skilled in the latest techniques for corrective shoeing.
UQ Gatton Community Garden
We are always looking for new students, staff and community members to volunteer and join the gardens.
Join a research study
Help UQ researchers find solutions to life's challenges. Browse current research studies and find one that interests you.

Events

UQ Brisbane City Building and History Tours

24 January 2026 12:00pm–24 November 2026 1:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join UQ alum Dr Keith Treschman (BSc '71, BEdSt '75, BA '79) on monthly building tours to delve into the history of the 308 Queen Street building and uncover some of the unique and quirky discoveries from the restoration process.
Register

Threads of Identity: Stories of Fashioned Portrait

28 May 2026 6:00pm–8:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
UQ Art Museum and Brisbane Portrait Prize present the stories behind fashionably dressed bodies in portraiture. Costume scholar Dr Madeline Taylor and UQ Gender Studies Convenor Dr Cassandra Byrnes will examine Jon Molvig's 1963 Archibald Prize entry, Joy Roggenkamp, featuring artist and former student Joy Roggenkamp.
Register

Orchestral Visions: Rituals of the Street

31 May 2026 2:00pm–4:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
The University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra (UQSO) invites you to experience Orchestral Visions, a dynamic afternoon of orchestral colour and rhythmic vitality as part of the UQ School of Music’s UQ Arts program.
Register

Between the Angelic and the Agentic: A Curatorial Autobiography by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev

4 June 2026 5:30pm–7:30pm
 
in Alumni and community events
This June, world-renowned curator Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev will be visiting Australia for a series of public lectures, discussions and master classes, sharing insights into her deeply influential work and its positioning of curatorial practice as a form of care and as a vital tool for thinking, listening, and responding to our shared historical moment.
Register

Masterclass with Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev

5 June 2026 1:00pm–5:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
This masterclass offers a rare opportunity to be in conversation with Carolyn, developing the ideas from her public lecture, including on curating, AI, and the survival of the loving subject in an intimate setting at UQ's Writers Studio, Michie Building, St Lucia campus.
Register

Against the Protocols of the Civilised Body: Workshop with Access Lab and Library

25 June 2026 9:00am–4:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
In this workshop, Access Lab & Library will guide participants through improvisational, conversational, critical, poetic and disruptive image description and captioning exercises to unravel the ways that artworks can be described and redescribed. It will culminate in a script and staging directions for a live, hybrid publication and performance based on these experiments.
Register

Against the Protocols of the Civilised Body: Performance with Access Lab and Library

27 June 2026 3:00pm–5:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
This one-off live performance with Access Lab & Library shares the creative outcomes of a day-long workshop which brings participants together as a temporary, access focused collective to explore and experiment with the possibilities of inter-sensorial translation.
Register

Naida Haxton Lecture 2026

15 May 2026 5:30pm–7:30pm
 
in Alumni and community events
This annual event is hosted to honour Naida Haxton AM, UQ alum and the first woman to practice as a barrister in Queensland.

Queer Fest 2026

13 May 2026 10:00am–3:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join and meet a diverse selection of local Queer artists showcasing and selling their work—from artwork to accessories—in the Great Court at Queer Fest, with food trucks, chill out zone and live music!

UQ Arts | Music by the Lakes festival

7 May 2026 7:00pm–10 May 2026 5:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
The UQ School of Music proudly presents Music by the Lakes; a vibrant, multi-day celebration of large-scale symphonic works, outdoor performance, chamber conversations and bold new creativity.

Friends of Antiquity Sunday Series: From Scraps of Papyrus to a Thriving Museum – the Value of Antiquities Collections

3 May 2026 2:00pm–4:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join UQ’s Friends of Antiquity for the May Sundar Series lecture, 'From Scraps of Papyrus to a Thriving Museum – the Value of Antiquities Collections, presented by James Donaldson.
Location: Room E302 Forgan Smith Building, St Lucia campus
Cost: $10

UQ Talks: Global Instability and the Impact for Australia

1 April 2026 6:00pm–7:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
International tensions are rising, conflicts are intensifying, and the economic effects are already being felt here at home. Some analysts have speculated that the global order we've relied upon for decades may be entering a period of profound change.
Free online webinar

Friends of Antiquity Ancient History Day

21 March 2026 9:00am–3:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join UQ's Friends of Antiquity and the UQ School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry for the 31st annual Ancient History Day, exploring the theme of 'In the eye of the beholder: the beautiful and monstrous in the Ancient World'.
Location: Abel Smith Lecture Theatre, UQ St Lucia

Kids Character Costume Parade at the Book Fair

28 February 2026 10:30am–2:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
For the first time ever, we’re holding a costume parade for kids at the UQ Alumni Book Fair!
UQ Book Fair author talks

Author Talks at the UQ Alumni Book Fair

28 February 2026 10:00am–3:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join us on campus for free author talks. Catch pop-up author talks or join our writing workshop – perfect for anyone ready to start their own storytelling journey.
Free event
Location: UQ Centre, St Lucia campus

UQ Alumni Book Fair Silent Auction

27 February 2026 12:30pm–28 February 2026 7:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Discover a treasure trove for collectors and book lovers alike at the UQ Alumni Book Fair Silent Auction.

2026 UQ Alumni Book Fair

27 February 2026 9:00am–1 March 2026 5:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Save the date for one of our most loved events! The UQ Alumni Book Fair is an annual fundraiser based at The University of Queensland, organised by volunteers who harness their love of books and generously donate their time.

Learn how you can get involved in reconciliation at UQ

16 February 2026 11:00am–12:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join us in person or online to explore how you can make a difference with Reconciliation at UQ. This is a great chance to connect and learn about small steps you can take to contribute to a more inclusive community. Whether you're new or already active, there’s something for everyone.

Her Voice in Science: International Day of Women and Girls in Science (sold out)

11 February 2026 2:15pm–4:45pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Presented by UQ and Inspiring Australia Queensland, ‘Her Voice in Science’ will explore how representation and equity create new worlds of opportunity for women and girls in STEM.
The Atrium, Brisbane City
Cost: $22

Friends of Antiquity Adrian Heyworth-Smith Memorial Lecture: Machiavelli and Rome

1 February 2026 2:00pm–4:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join UQ’s Friends of Antiquity for the annual Adrian Heyworth-Smith Memorial Lecture, presented by Professor Richard Devetak, titled ‘Machiavelli and Rome'.
Location: Room E302 Forgan Smith Building, St Lucia campus
Cost: $10

UQ Sport Aquatic Centre Family Fun Day

24 January 2026 10:00am–2:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Come join us for a day of family fun at the UQ Sport Aquatic Centre - there will be activities for everyone to enjoy! Free event.

2025 Gatton Back to College Weekend

5 December 2025 2:30pm–7 December 2025 11:00am
 
in Alumni and community events
The 2025 Gatton Back to College Weekend will be held from Friday 5 December to Sunday 7 December, hosted by the UQ Gatton Past Students' Association.
Credit David de Groot UQ pelicans at the Lakes

Enter our photo competition for a chance to win a $200 Apple digital gift card!

1 December 2025 9:30am–10 December 2025 6:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
We’re inviting our UQ community to share the photos that inspire you. Photos can feature anything from campus to nature, cityscapes and beyond. Submissions will be featured in next month’s edition of Contact.

UQ Big Band performance with Walter Taylor Ward

25 October 2025 3:00pm–5:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Hosted by Walter Taylor Ward’s Councillor Penny Wolff, this free, all-ages event will feature the UQ Big Band in an afternoon of music and family fun.

CoralWatch screening of David Attenborough's Ocean

9 October 2025 6:30pm–8:15pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join us for an inspiring evening featuring David Attenborough’s Ocean, a stunning exploration of the beauty and vulnerability of our marine ecosystems. The screening will be followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion with UQ marine conservation experts, offering insights into the challenges facing our oceans and the innovative research helping to protect them.

Learn a language: spring short courses for beginners

7 October 2025 1:30pm–25 November 2025 2:30pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Unleash your language potential. Dreaming of exploring Sweden, abseiling in Dubai, or dancing flamenco in Spain — all from your living room? Kickstart your 2025 travel goals with our 'spring short courses for beginners'. With 11 languages to choose from, there’s no better time to begin your language journey.

Friends of Antiquity Sunday Series: night vision – what did Greeks and Romans do at night?

5 October 2025 2:00pm–4:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join UQ’s Friends of Antiquity October Sunday Series event, ‘Night vision – what did Greeks and Romans do at night?’, presented by Dr Estelle Strazdins.
Location: Room E302, Forgan Smith Building, UQ St Lucia
Cost: $10

3T event: innovation for the future – experience UQ Gatton

24 September 2025 8:45am–2:30pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join us for an immersive behind-the-scenes experience at UQ Gatton, where agriculture, animal science and innovation come to life on one of Australia’s most unique teaching and research campuses.

Boyce Gardens at Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

21 September 2025 10:00am–2:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Pack a picnic and join a guided tour to discover Boyce Gardens during the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

Carrying the past, creating the future: Aunty Sana Balai in conversation with Jocelyn Flynn

16 September 2025 12:00pm–1:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
The 16th of September marks the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinean Independence. To celebrate this moment please join us in the UQ Collection Study Room for a conversation between the Mittelheuser Great Ocean Scholar Aunty Sana Balai and Acting-Curator Jocelyn Flynn on the significant role Elders hold in passing down knowledge to the next generation.

Friends of Antiquity Sunday Series: all about eels – Romans and other animals

7 September 2025 2:00pm–4:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Join UQ’s Friends of Antiquity September Sunday Series event, ‘all about eels – Romans and other animals’, presented by Dr Kit Morrell.
Location: Room E302, Forgan Smith Building, UQ St Lucia
Cost: $10

SEEN movie screening

5 September 2025 5:00pm–7:00pm
 
in Alumni and community events
Documentary exploring how personal healing transforms parenting and impacts child brain development, featuring real stories and expert insights.

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Contact us

Community Engagement team
neighbours@uq.edu.au
+61 7 3346 3166

The Alumni and Community Engagement Centre is currently open to visitors by appointment. Use the contact details below to arrange a time if you’d like to learn more about UQ Neighbours.

Level 1, JD Story Building (61)
St Lucia campus
(Next to Australia Post)
Monday to Friday
Standard hours are 9am–5pm AEST