Willowdale Sports Precinct
Dharawal and Gandangara Country / Denham Court, NSW
More than a sports precinct – a community hub for residents in a high growth area.
Located in the rapidly densifying area south of Sydney’s new international airport, a new sports precinct meets local needs, with a materiality reflecting the remains of ancient clay ovens traditionally used by local Indigenous people found nearby.
Built for utility, shaped for community
A shared stop between games, walks and everyday life
Soon to be open to the public, the clubroom, kiosk, change rooms and public amenities service the sports precinct, as well as being a visual and physical focus for community activity in a residential suburb.
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“The sports precinct is sited to be visually prominent, and conveniently located to the main sports field, an all-abilities accessible playground, and the secondary training field.”
An undulating red corrugated steel roof evokes ‘settler’ aesthetics of early farm buildings.
The form facing the street emulates the traditional pitched roofs of homes nearby, and then drops down to the low long verandah of a rural shearing shed. With large overhangs it provides much needed shade and wet weather protection for multiple indoor and outdoor activities. Circular skylights in the roof and perforations to the street facade form a ‘beacon’, or welcoming lantern effect, when lit from within at night.
Inspired by nationally significant Indigenous archaeological sites nearby, the concept (in collaboration with artist Lymesmith) features brick walls utilising the multiple colours of ‘patterned earth’ – fire, clay and ash. These patterns pay homage to the Dharawal and Gandangara people, referencing the ground ovens and clay cooking beads they manufactured and traded in the area.
The site sits on their traditional lands with archaeological evidence suggesting inhabitation for the past 10,000 years or more and we acknowledge this history and their custodianship of the land.
Willowdale Sports Precinct Gallery
Plans
| Project info | Details |
|---|---|
| Team | Sam Crawford, Gabrielle Pelletier, Rhys Nicholas, Liam Marosy-Weide, Jarad Grice, Ken Warr, Caitlin Condon |
| Builder | RELD Group + Landscape Solutions |
| Consultants | Landscape Architect & Lead Consultant: ASPECT Studios Accessibility: Morris Golding Access Consulting BCA Consultant: GRS Building Reports Structural & Civil Engineer: Lindsay Dynan Consulting Engineers Ecology Consultant: Eco Logical Australia Hydraulic/Fire/Electrical Engineer: Northrop Consulting Engineers Integrated Art – Lymesmith Irrigation Consultant: Hydroplan PCA: Hackett Certification Quantity Surveyor: MBM |
| Council | Stockland and Campbelltown City Council |
| Photographer | RELD Group |
What we do
Urban & Public
We design public buildings and civic spaces that foster community connection, cultural expression and a sense of belonging. From libraries to public domain projects, our work is shaped by purpose, context and collaboration. These are places designed for people, built to enrich the cities and neighbourhoods they sit within.
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