Victoria Park (Bakkabakkandi) Masterplan
Existing Victoria Park
Brief history of Victoria Park (Bakkabakkandi)
Victoria Park's 72 hectares are part of Adelaide's highly valued and iconic Parklands.
The Adelaide City Council has given Kaurna names to the city's squares and Parklands and Bakkabakkandi translates to "to trot: a term applied to horses."
The South Australian Jockey Club (previously the Adelaide Racing Club) has a long history, going back to 1847, in running horse racing events at Victoria Park and was also responsible for building, in 1880, the existing heritage listed grandstand.
Victoria Park is widely used by the public for sporting, leisure and recreational activities. The park's open, natural setting and generous spaces has made it the ideal venue for leisure and recreational activities, such as cycling and walking and major events.
In 1984, the state government passed the South Australian Motor Sports Act, which assisted Adelaide to host the Formula One Grand Prix and included Victoria Park as part of the racing circuit. The Act supports the car racing tradition to continue at Victoria Park through the Clipsal 500 V8 car race, which is held in March each year and is recognised as the world's greatest touring car event.
Existing view of Victoria Park looking South
Background - 2006 Masterplan Proposal
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In December 2006, the State Government released details of a concept Masterplan for Victoria Park incorporating various site improvements, including a permanent dual purpose grandstand for joint use by the South Australian Motor Sports Board (SAMSB) and the South Australian Jockey Club (SAJC).
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The new permanent grandstand was intended to replace the ageing and worn temporary pit building, which to date has been erected and dismantled over the last 17 years.
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Implementing the 2006 proposal was contingent on the State Government securing a lease over the subject land at Victoria Park from the Adelaide City Council (ACC) and obtaining development approval.
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While development plan consent for the Victoria Park Masterplan proposal was granted by the Development Assessment Commission, the Adelaide City Council resolved in November 2007 not to grant a lease to the State Government.
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In February 2008, the South Australian Jockey Club advised it would not continue its 160 year racing association at Victoria Park.
Current Proposal – Demountable Pavillion
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In November 2007, the Government responded positively and decisively to support the Clipsal 500 motor racing event by approving $20 million to replace the existing ageing pit building, provide spectator improvements and other related infrastructure.
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Specifically, the $20 million will be used to:
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procure a new demountable pit building to provide improved team, officials and media facilities, double storey corporate facilities and upgraded race control and community facilities;
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re-surface the existing track at Victoria Park;
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upgrade relevant motor sport infrastructure, including kerbing, power and telecommunication services and television conduit and other related infrastructure; and
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provide shade cover to eight temporary grandstands used for the event.
Clipsal 500 Motor Racing Event
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The Clipsal 500 Adelaide (Clipsal 500) is recognised as the world’s greatest touring car event and has become one of Adelaide’s most popular and successful events.
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In 2005, the Government entered into a new contract with the owners of the Australian touring car series, Australian VEight Supercars Pty Ltd, to stage the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide up to and including 2015. The expectation is that this arrangement will continue beyond this period.
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The South Australian Motor Sport Board (SAMSB) is charged with the responsibility of continuing to improve the returns to South Australia from the staging of the Clipsal 500 event.
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The Clipsal 500’s popularity and economic benefits are significant and a record crowd of over 291,000 attended the event in 2008. In its ten year history, the Clipsal 500 race has contributed in excess of $200M to the South Australian economy.
Details of Proposed Works
The proposed scope of works includes:
Artist's impression of new demountable pit pavillion
New Demountable Pit Pavilion
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The new pit pavilion will replace the existing ageing pit building, which was designed in 1989 and built in 1990 for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. At approximately 200 metres long, up to 22.5 metres wide and up to three levels in height, it was the largest fully demountable building in the world. The building no longer complies with relevant motor sport standards and is in need of significant repair.
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The new pit pavilion will be sited in the same location and will utilise the existing 220m long concrete slab.
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The new pit pavilion will also be a three storey structure. The ground floor will provide the garages plus support facilities for the racing teams; the first floor and second floor will be used principally for hospitality, administration, race control and media.
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The footprint of the new pavilion is approximately 21 metres wide and 200 metres long. The dimensions are similar to the existing temporary pit building.
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The upper two floors have open decks and verandahs that will be used as viewing platforms. These elements are not only functional by providing outdoor sun protected areas, they also create architectural interest and breaks up the mass of the building.
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The ground floor will house 30 garages and support areas.
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The new demountable pavilion will be able to accommodate approximately 3,000 people.
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The new pit pavilion will take approximately five months to construct, utilize for the event and then to dismantle it.
Artist's impression of new demountable pit pavillion
Car Racing Track, Site and Building Services
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Improvements to the racing track includes re-surfacing of bitumen over the track area sitting within Victoria Park, new kerbing and concrete barriers where required and other miscellaneous track infrastructure. The current track was first laid in 1984.
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Site and building service improvements include upgrades to water and sewer connections, new electrical conduit and cable runs, cable trays throughout the pit building, fire services and new air-conditioning throughout.
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The site works will entail the introduction of a new portable water supply to the site to ensure water delivery is unaffected by low pressure during the event. Additional electrical reticulation is also required to reinforce the existing high and low voltage supplies around the site.
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The building will contain the required fire protection services, facilities to integrate with exterior toilet and catering units, background lighting and power as well as an air based conditioning system to maintain the internal environment.
Shade Structures
Artist's impression of new shade structure
Project contact