New sports pavilion for Olympic Park

We’re excited to celebrate the $18.5 million upgrade of Olympic Park in Heidelberg West, with the new pavilion opening in February, years earlier than planned. This final stage of the Olympic Park Masterplan was supported by an $8 million contribution from the Victorian Government.

The new pavilion will continue to be used by local sports clubs, with Olympic Colts Cricket Club in summer and Heidelberg United Football Club in winter, and more community use planned during the day. Olympic Park is an important place in Banyule, with strong links to the 1956 Olympic Games and First Nations culture. Visitors can explore public art, the Spirit Trail, and Barrbunin Beek, a welcoming gathering place celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture.

Images of Olympic Park Pavillion

Free community celebration at Olympic Park

Come along to a fun-filled free community event at Olympic Park, Heidelberg West! Enjoy an evening of family-friendly fun as we celebrate this vibrant new community space.

There’ll be something for everyone, including live music, market stalls, face painting, arts and crafts, sport and games, a sausage sizzle and plenty more. Bring your friends, family and neighbours and enjoy a relaxed evening in the park together.

Friday 27 March, 4.30pm – 7pm
Olympic Park Pavilion, 55 Catalina Street, Heidelberg West

All ages welcome. This is a free event and no bookings are required — just turn up and enjoy!

Background

The project has transformed the precinct, upgrading sporting, recreational and leisure facilities for local residents, clubs and the wider community.

Olympic Park is located in Heidelberg West on the western fringe of the municipality. The park is an established sport and community recreation reserve with a significant history and was once used as a prominent training base for the 1956 Olympic Games.

Olympic Park is now a high profile soccer and cricket venue which also provides a range of other sport, recreation and open space opportunities. The park is also home to Barrbunin Beek, a gathering place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in and around Banyule.

The Olympic Park Master Plan was adopted by Council on 14 March 2017 following extensive community consultation. Originally we planned for this project to be finished beyond 2030, but it’s getting done faster than expected thanks to some great advocacy work between Council and the Heidelberg United Football Club.

Delivery of Olympic Park Master Plan is now complete.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

We hosted community drop-in sessions, conducted a survey and provided opportunities for community members to shape and comment on the master plan before it was adopted in 2017.

There is ongoing consultation with the community and key stakeholders at different stages of the project.

This $18.5M project has been made possible by an $8M contribution from the Victorian Government.

The original masterplan indicated a 10 – 15 year construction plan.

We’ve been able to get these works done faster as Council and the Heidelberg United Football Club’s advocacy work secured $8M in funding support from the Victorian Government. This was a great win for our community and all the users of the park.

Project stages

Completed works

Stage 1 works included:

  • The redevelopment of the main playing pitch (natural turf)
  • Underground infrastructure
  • Reshaping of dirt mounds around the pitch and access paths.

Stage 2 - completed

Stage 2 works included:

  • Synthetic mini-roos pitch/warm up area (including drainage, fencing and lighting).
  • Car parking with Water Sensitive Urban Design elements including bio swales and bio retention basins.
  • Playground with nature place, structured play, shelter, BBQs and picnic furniture.
  • Electrical substation upgrades and main pitch lighting
  • Landscaping and shared paths.
  • 1956 Memorial Olympic Garden

Stage 3 works include:

  • Construction of new car park north of the entrance road to Olympic Park Reserve including water sensitive urban design.
  • A slip lane from Southern Road as an alternate entrance to the area.

Stage 4 works includes:

  • Reconstruction and realignment of the northern cricket pitch (including drainage, lighting, fencing) -complete
  • Reconstruction and realignment of two additional soccer pitches / cricket pitch with wicket between the soccer pitches (including drainage, irrigation, fencing, lighting)- complete
  • Cricket practice nets - complete
  • Acrylic futsal/basketball area (including fencing, lighting) - complete
  • Refurbishment of Barrbunin Beek - complete
  • Landscaping and paths - complete
  • New accessible multi purpose community sports pavilion and pulic toilets (between northern and southern ovals) -complete