Renowned for its old Queenslander homes, Ascot is a leafy suburb in north-east Brisbane. It was originally inhabited by the Turrbal people, who referred to the area as “Yowoggerra”, which translates as “place of corroboree”. In the 1830s, the land was cleared for pastoral use and the Eagle Farm Racecourse was established, with the area named after the prestigious Ascot Racecourse in England.
Things to do in Ascot
One of Ascot’s most impressive properties is Windermere, a heritage-listed villa designed by Richard Gailey in the 1880s. It was built by the suburb’s founder, James Sutherland, and features Queenslander-style verandahs with cast-iron balustrades. The gardens are lushly planted with towering palm trees and bunya pines.
Dominating much of Ascot is the Eagle Farm Racecourse, which was originally established back in 1863. Now heritage-listed, its two-kilometre-long track hosts the Queensland Derby and the Brisbane Cup, as well as family-friendly race days throughout the year. Beautifully restored Victorian and Federation buildings dot the grounds, together with period-inspired timber grandstands from where you can view all of the action.
Need a retail fix? Head to DFO Brisbane, where you'll find discount stores from around 140 different brands. In addition to fashions from Peter Alexander, Tommy Hilfiger and Polo Ralph Lauren, you can pick up shoes from Nike and accessories from Mimco. Adjacent to the outlet mall is Golf Central, which boasts a Toptracer driving range and a miniature golf course.
Getting around Ascot
Ascot is around 15 minutes’ drive from the centre of Brisbane and 10 minutes from Brisbane Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Trains connect to the Ascot and Doomben railway stations while buses also travel throughout the suburb, connecting most of its attractions.