Merthyr Village sits in the heart of one of Brisbane’s oldest districts. Originally a working farm in 1827, New Farm has been home to many residents including a working site for convicts, a marine base in World War II and a racecourse that operated until 1913, after which the land was acquired by Brisbane City Council and transformed into a community space we now know as New Farm Park.
After the late 1980’s New Farm welcomed a new life into the precinct with a myriad of developments – including Merthyr Village – that acted as a cornerstone in the regeneration of the suburb.
The brainchild of Alf and Diana Sorbello, Merthyr Village was created in stages from the early 1990s until its official opening in the form we known today, in 1997. Now offering over 20 speciality stores and services and a range of professional, personal and community service providers, the Village has become instrumental in helping to transform New Farm into the vivacious suburb is is today.
Says Matthew Sorbello, of the Sorbello family:
“It was once said to me that New Farm Park is the lungs of New Farm, but Merthyr Village is the heart of New Farm. That is something we are very proud of. We are truly a part of our community.”
Merthyr Village will display a range of archival and historical images in an exhibition as part of Brisbane Open House 2024. Take a trip down memory lane when you visit Merthyr Village over the weekend.
New Farm is Brisbane Open House’s ‘Village of Brisbane’ in 2024.
Standing at Adeline Lane looking at 85 Merthyr Road… the old Coles New World that was demolished in 1996, now the site of Merthyr Village’s specialties.