AWARDS:
2023 – HERITAGE AWARD, Restoration of a Heritage Place/New Work in a Heritage Overlay, Geelong and Region Branch National Trust of Australia (Victoria)
West Oval is a first-class regional sporting and community facility in North Geelong. A significant redevelopment was undertaken to transform the existing oval to a regional-level facility and improve access for local sport and recreation users.
The two-storey, multi-use club and community pavilion features inclusive home and away changerooms, umpires changerooms, accessible shower and toilet facilities, commercial kitchen, kiosk and bar, a club gym, timekeepers and coaches’ boxes, and much-needed equipment storage space. Additional upgrades include enhanced spectator seating, resurfacing of two existing netball courts and new adjacent informal warm-up area, new scoreboard, landscaping, pavements, and formalised carparking.
As a nod to the historical significance of the site, the southern end of the new pavilion references the adjacent heritage listed Flowers Family Stand pavilion – also refurbished as part of the project – before evolving into a more contemporary form across the length of the building.
Sustainable features include a rainwater harvesting tank, improved thermal efficiency, and a roof mounted solar PV array to offset between 50-70% of the annual energy use of the pavilion, and two electric vehicle charging stations. Existing bluestone from the site was repurposed and used as paving and retaining walls.
West Oval has been identified as the future home of local community football finals. The completion of Stage 2 will provide the City of Geelong with a much-needed 2nd tier venue for AFLW, VFLW and TAC cup games that are not viable at GMHBA Stadium.
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