Bulldozers have begun digging at Barrambin Victoria Park, following a weekend of protests against the planned construction of the 2032 Olympic stadium.
Premier David Crisafulli smiled for cameras as he symbolically broke ground with a shovel on Monday, against the wishes of Yagarabul Elders and community members concerned about the environmental impact of the vast project.
Protests were continuing Monday morning as heavy machinery moved in.
It also follows a police operation hours earlier which had cleared a cultural ceremony taking place in the park.
Derek Oram Sandy, a leading ambassador for Goori Camp Embassy at Barrambin, said on Monday that around 100 police officers descended on the camp at approximately 1am.
"They had turned up in a very disrespectful manner ... everyone that was at the gathering had traditional ochre on from Barrambin site.
"We were singing and dancing, playing didgeridoo."
Mr Sandy said police announced over megaphone that they were trespassing on GIICA [the state's Olympic planning body] lands.
It follows the forceful clearing of camps in the park by police and Brisbane City Council staff on Friday, and a protest on Sunday which saw dozens attend the culturally significant site.
Aunty Gaja Kerry Charlton, who has been a central figure in the fight against the development, performed a Welcome to Country.
"This action is deeply wounding us and many different First Nations people here, on Yagera Country," she said.
"Across the continent our countrymen and women are with us and sending us messages.
"We're all working together to ... stop this needless destruction of this very ancient, beautiful, special and meaningful site."
Environmental defender Adrian Burragubba paid tribute to the deep meaning of Barrambin as a learning place.
"This is what we do as Aboriginal people. We bring the story, we bring the song and the dance," the Wangan & Jagalingou man said.
"A lot of our people grow up with it from a very young age, and this is where they come and learn ...
"There's a sacred site here, and it's a spring. We're connected to that spring.
He criticised the Queensland police and Brisbane city council for the events of Friday, which resulted in two arrests.
"The conduct of the police and the BCC on Friday was atrocious. It was inhumane.
"We were treated like animals."
He called on the state's Crime and Corruption Commission to investigate the incident.
"We're not protesters, we're protectors. We're not activists, we're advocating for our human rights," he said.
The hopes of the stadium's opponents were dented on Sunday with news the federal environment minister, Murray Watt, had denied two heritage applications relating to the park.
Several other applications are still outstanding, however the minister has no power to halt construction while they are under consideration.
The premier defended the project on Monday.
"We are going to create a world-class green space, bookended by a world-class stadium for a world-class event for a state on the rise," Mr Crisafulli said.
The stadium plans show a 63,000-seat venue to be constructed at a cost of $3.8 billion, and is intended to become the premier sporting and entertainment venue in the city.
