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Bringing Queenborough into the 21st century

11 November 2024

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Brooke Saward and many other female athletes are sick of having to line up to share the one toilet or having to shower without doors in a Queenborough Oval stuck in a bygone era.

All this is about to change as the much used and loved oval joins the 21st century.

Work has begun on turning Queenborough's brutalist 1960s changeroom and clubrooms into facilities that can accommodate all.

Brooke, 25, calls Queenborough Oval home as a member of the Hutchins School Old Boys Football club women's team, and said the current conditions are not up to modern standards.

"At the moment they're pretty grim," Brooke said.

"There are no doors on the showers, there's only one toilet which we share between a full football team so there is usually a line at halftime to get in there which sucks.

"The club rooms are quite outdated, they're a bit stale, toilets are quite often not working."

The $3.8 million redevelopment, funded by the Tasmanian Government ($2 million) and the City of Hobart ($1.8 million) .

Queenborough Oval redevelopment render

The redevelopment plans include construction of new change rooms with a rooftop viewing terrace; extension to the rear of the existing grandstand to provide new toilet facilities; extension and alterations to the front of the grandstand to include a new ramp, walkway, stairwell, and accessible lift; and internal demolition and alterations to the ground floor of the grandstand to create change rooms, a medical room, bathrooms, and a multipurpose room.

Brooke said the redevelopment was being followed with great anticipation and enthusiasm.

"It's pretty much all everyone's talked about for the back end of last season, so we're all really excited," she said.

Queenborough Oval is the home of the South Hobart Sandy Bay Cricket Club, Hutchins Old Boys Football Club, and Sandy Bay Junior Football Club.

These clubs collectively field 29 teams, showcasing the vibrant sporting culture within our community. Notably, Sandy Bay Junior FC boasts one of the highest representations of female players, with five teams ranging from under-10s to under-18s.

South Hobart-Sandy Bay Cricket Club president Kristian Falconer said the redevelopment would go help with attracting new players and retaining existing ones.

"The number of female participants in cricket is only growing exponentially and the facilities here are in a desperate need and we've heard of an upgrade," Ms Falconer said.

"So being able to have modern facilities will help us attract more players and also just provide decent facilities for our existing players."

Queenborough Oval redevelopment render

The project will be constructed by Macquarie Builders, and be programmed over two stages to limit disruption on patrons and spectators.

Construction of the new team change-rooms will be completed by mid-2025, and the refurbishment of the existing changerooms and construction of new public amenities will be completed by the end of the year.

Follow the redevelopment progress on the project page.

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