It’s played a key role in the northern suburbs since the 1890s, and now feedback is being sought to ensure Bulli Showground meets community needs in future decades.
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Wollongong City Council is working on a long-term plan for the Bulli Showground Precinct.
Council owns the site, and as part of the first phase of this project, community feedback is being collated to inform a needs assessment.
Through this engagement process, council hopes to learn how the community might like to see this site used in the future.
What is learned through this first phase will be used in the second phase – the development of a draft master-plan that will guide the long-term plan for the site.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said he believed the site’s future lent itself to being an events venue.
“The Bulli Showground Precinct is currently used for greyhound racing, farmers’ and craft markets and events like the Illawarra Folk Festival,’’ he said. “And we’re not saying these are off the agenda. We’re just opening up a conversation with the community to see how they would like this site used in the future so we can start planning for the long-term.’’
Council’s manager of property and recreation Peter Coyte said that it was a “really important site in Bulli… So it’s vital that we get the next 20 years right”.
The Bulli Showground Precinct has been used as a space for recreation, social activities and sporting events since the 1890s.
It was a temporary campsite during the Depression, and toured by Queen Elizabeth in 1954.
Greyhound racing has taken place there since 1950, and the Bulli Show Society hosted its first show in 1953.
More than 3000 party-goers are also expected to see in 2019 at Bulli Showground, with a massive New Year's Eve party planned for the site.
Darren Hull, operations manager of Bulli Showground believed the Showground is currently under-estimated.
“You’ve got the greyhounds here every Saturday night, the markets here every Sunday, and the annual events kicking in,” he said.
“But I think it’s probably under-valued in regards to its worth to the community – in tourism, economic value, voluntary value, community spirit.”
The 9.1ha site is generally classified as Community Land, and a smaller portion near the highway is Cultural Significance land.
Council documents note that “the ageing infrastructure on-site requires significant investment to improve the overall condition of facilities”.
The documents also note that the site is subject to flooding, placing constraints on how it can be used.
Grevillea Park lies outside of the study area, as the future RMS extension to Memorial Drive will effectively separate the Showground from Grevillea Park.
For more information, visit council’s ‘Have Your Say‘ website.
The public can also speak to project consultants or an engagement officer at the on-site Community Information Stalls on Saturday, September 15 from 5.30pm-7.30pm and Sunday, September 16 from 9.30am-2pm.
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Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
