“Demolished in early 2023” echoes in my mind. That was the fate of the old St George Stadium. Today, we stand at Barton Park. It officially reopened on May 4, 2024. The park’s redevelopment cost $51.7 million.
Barton Park now stands as Bayside Council’s largest sporting hub. It offers diverse recreational activities. The upgrade provides open space along the Rockdale Wetlands Corridor. Walking and cycle paths connect Arncliffe, Banksia, and Wolli Creek. This gives residents access to sports and environmental education.
Before this transformation, the site had a complex past. It was once a sewerage farm and landfill. From the 1940s to the 1980s, it served as a landfill. It was later capped and used as recreational space. The landfill lacked proper engineering controls. This meant potential environmental risks existed. Strict measures now mitigate contaminated soils.
The new Barton Park features state-of-the-art facilities. There are new FIFA-grade natural turf sporting fields. The Frank Arok Grandstand has 450 seats. Two multi-use courts cater to basketball, futsal, and handball. Four tennis courts are also available. New amenities, improved road access, and parking enhance the experience.
Lighting design at Barton Park balanced functionality with environmental concerns. Consideration was given to local wildlife and nearby residents. The park’s proximity to Sydney Airport was also a factor. All floodlights were designed to reduce upward light spill. This benefits residents, aviation regulations, and wildlife.
The old St George Stadium had its own history. It opened in 1978 with a match between St George and South Melbourne. The 2,500-seat grandstand opened the following year. This increased the stadium’s capacity to 12,000. The structure was deemed unsafe in 2008. It remained closed until its demolition.
St George Stadium hosted many significant matches. These included international club games and Socceroos matches. It was a major venue for NSL finals in Sydney. A crowd of 11,221 attended the 1984 NSL Grand Final second leg. Sydney Olympic played South Melbourne.
St George FC has a deep connection to Barton Park. The club was founded in 1957. They built Barton Park in 1978 as their permanent home. The ground served a unique purpose in Sydney’s football scene. It hosted many premier fixtures. St George FC won their only NSL premiership in 1983 while playing here.
After St George FC left the national set-up in 1991, the venue declined. The club played its final match there in 2016. The recent upgrade has rejuvenated the area. One pitch features the Frank Arok Grandstand. Arok coached St George and the Socceroos.
St George FC returned to Barton Park on May 4th. They planned a big day for the historic occasion. The club aims to develop young players. They want to instill a sense of belonging. Barton Park contributes to a bright future for the club and the wider community.
Global Synthetics provided a solution during construction. A HI VIS geotextile acted as a warning layer. ProFab AS140/Orange geotextile delineates potential hazards. It helps identify buried services during excavation. Over 50,000sqm of ProFab marker layer was used. This separated clean and contaminated soils.
Barton Park stands as a testament to renewal. It combines sporting facilities with environmental awareness. It provides a space for community engagement. From its past as a landfill to its present as a recreational hub, Barton Park has transformed. It offers a vibrant future for all.