North Bendigo Recreation Reserve redevelopment
The City of Greater Bendigo is preparing to construct a new pavilion at Shadforth Park.
In late 2024 the City unveiled design plans for a new $3.7M pavilion at North Bendigo Recreation Reserve to serve the hundreds of sporting and community participants who regularly use the reserve. The City also updated and amended the 2012 North Bendigo Recreation Reserve Master Plan.
The construction of the new pavilion is part of an ongoing redevelopment of the reserve since the development of the 2012 Master Plan. It is being constructed with $1M from the Australian Government Investing in Our Communities program, $1M from the Victorian Government and $1.7M from the City of Greater Bendigo.
Designed by local architects Y2 Architecture - the sleek new pavilion will be located off Anderson Street and will have three distinct zones comprising social facilities, entrance foyer and changeroom facilities. The exterior of the building will feature artistic interpretations of local fauna, traditional ceremonies and culture by local Djaara artist Drew Berick to enhance visual interest from Anderson Street and create a formal, welcoming entryway to the building.
Frequently asked questions
The new pavilion will feature:
- A social/multipurpose area complete with bar, canteen/kitchen facilities
- Five unisex toilets (including one accessible) with access from multipurpose area
- One unisex, accessible public toilet complete with baby change facilities and shower
- Office/meeting room
- Storage areas
- Four changerooms with two toilets and two showers in each
- Match officials’ room with private ensuites complete with changing spaces, toilet, and shower facilities
- Roof top solar
- Undercover spectator viewing area
- Landscaping and facility car parking including a disability parking bay and connecting paths
Greater Bendigo’s population growth is placing increased demand on existing sporting and community facility provision. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021), the North Bendigo, Long Gully, California Gully and Ironbark area population is currently 13,717 and is projected to grow by around 0.5% p.a. which will result in a population of 15,490 by 2046.
This project will:
- Increase the availability of female friendly facilities and address a significant service gap in the provision of quality and accessible sporting and community facilities for the North Bendigo community
- Improve the overall quality of available public space through landscaping and accessible pathways to support informal recreation
- Increase the community’s opportunities to be active which will contribute to positive health and wellbeing outcomes
- Deliver on key strategic priorities identified by AFL Central Victoria, Cricket Victoria and Football Federation Victoria by constructing new and improved facilities to support participation growth, quality, female friendly and accessible facilities for all, that will contribute to increased social, health and wellbeing outcomes
The $3.7M project is being constructed with $1M from the Australian Government Investing in Our Communities program, $1M from the Victorian Government and $1.7M from the City of Greater Bendigo.
Future stages will include:
- Stage two - New Football/Netball/Cricket Community/Sporting Pavilion (Partially funded - $3M Federal Government election commitment)
- Stage three - Reserve car parking, remaining site landscaping, seating, remaining connected pathways, demolition of redundant building and reinstatement of playground removed in Stage one (Unfunded)
Funding options for future stages are being worked through.
For more information on the Unite the North fundraising campaign contact Andrew Gibbs on 0417 355 616
Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025, with completion anticipated before the end of 2026.
Established in 1887, the North Bendigo Recreation Reserve, bound by Fenton, Anderson and Atkins Streets, features sporting and play infrastructure and green-spaces for both formal and informal recreational activities that support an active and healthy community.
The reserve is located on Crown Land managed by the City of Greater Bendigo and is approximately 51,300m.
It is home to multiple sporting clubs including the North Bendigo Football Netball Club, Bendigo Cricket Club, Golden City Football Club (Soccer), and Swordcraft Clubs.
Outside of organised sport and club-based activities, the reserve is accessed for informal recreation, community use, and private hire. The reserve has high usage as a passive reserve for walking dogs, playground use and non-structured fitness and sport.
The North Bendigo Recreation Reserve Master Plan (2012) was developed in consultation with user groups and community representatives to guide strategic investment and resource allocation.
The master plan was recently amended to reflect works that have already taken place and future planned works.
Amendments to the master plan include:
- A new purpose-built sporting pavilion relocated alongside Shadforth Park
- Future removal of the existing brown brick building
- Relocation of the playspace central to the reserve
Delivering the master plan:
- Provides much needed new and upgraded facilities that meet today’s service standards and expectations for accessibility, player safety and functionality
- Caters for the ongoing growth in organised sport especially for female and junior participation and residents from CALD communities
- Provides sporting and recreational facilities to support more general active recreational use of the reserve by nearby residents and the wider community
- Provides quality facilities for use for the hundreds of current participants connected to existing user groups
- Provides pathways and landscaping to encourage residents to recreate at the reserve
The North Bendigo Recreation Reserve Redevelopment is an identified action within the City of Greater Bendigo Council Plan (Mir Wimbul) 2021-2025, targeting investment in services, facilities and programs to communities most in need.
The existing playspace is currently located where the new pavilion is to be constructed. The playspace will be dismantled and removed prior to construction commencing at the reserve.
A new playspace will be installed at the reserve as part of the future Stage three works.
Nearby playspaces include:
- Prouses Road Playspace (883 metres)
- Casley Street Playspace (912 metres)
- Lake Weeroona Playspace (2.5 kilometres)
The existing soccer pavilion (brown brick) will not be demolished until Stage 3 works are undertaken.
Golden City Football Club
- Male Senior Soccer (2 teams, 30 members)
- Female Senior Soccer (1 team, 10 members)
- Juniors (27 teams, 265 members)
- Total teams and players (30 teams, 305 members)
Bendigo Cricket Club
- Male Senior (3 Teams, 45 players)
- Female Senior (1 Team, 15 players)
- Juniors (2 Teams, 25 players)
- Total teams and players (6 Teams, 85 players)
North Bendigo Football Netball Club
- Male Football Senior (3 teams, 100 members)
- Female Football Senior (1 team, 30 members)
- Male Football Junior (3 teams, 50 members)
- Netball (7 teams, 70 members)
- Total teams and players (14 teams, 260 members)
Bendigo Swordcraft
- 80 male and female members
Golden City Football Club
Patrick Tomlinson (Vice President/Secretary)
0413 713 722
[email protected]
Bendigo Cricket Club
Travis Windridge (Vice President/Treasurer)
0419 110 417
[email protected]