Barlow Park redevelopment progresses as grandstand demolition approaches

Cairns’ Barlow Park is moving towards demolition of its existing grandstand, with service relocation works underway and refinements to the replacement stand designed to bring spectators closer to the action.

The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority’s latest update confirms the seating bowl has been redesigned to improve viewing angles, while approximately 70 per cent of permanent seating is intended to receive weather protection.

The design also incorporates additional trees, landscaping and shaded areas, responding to the demands of Far North Queensland’s tropical climate.

Cairns Regional Council is undertaking essential service relocations, including power and water infrastructure. Once those works are complete, GIICA expects to begin the next early works stage in late 2026, including grandstand demolition and site preparation.

Main construction is expected to begin from mid-2027.

The redevelopment of Barlow Park will increase permanent seating from approximately 1,700 to as many as 5,000, supported by upgraded player facilities, spectator amenities and improved access.

Temporary seating is planned to lift Games capacity to approximately 20,000 for Olympic football preliminary matches in 2032.

The new western grandstand’s scope includes ticketing and entry facilities, food and beverage outlets, changerooms, recovery and warm-up areas, and function, corporate and flexible multipurpose spaces.

GIICA says community engagement between July and September involved more than 250 people and community groups, with approximately 90 per cent of survey respondents supporting the upgrade.

Feedback highlighted shade, weather protection, seating comfort, sightlines and accessibility. Further design work is addressing accessible viewing areas, amenities, pathways, parking and wayfinding, alongside safer pick-up and drop-off arrangements. The grassy embankments will also be retained.

The existing synthetic athletics track will remain a central part of the venue, preserving Barlow Park’s role as a home for Cairns Athletics and a regional competition facility beyond the Games.

The stadium is also home to the Northern Pride rugby league club and has hosted major rugby league and football events. The upgrade is intended to support those established uses while improving facilities for visiting teams and larger competitions.

As previously reported by Austadiums, Architectus is leading the design team, working with international sports architecture specialist HKS and Cairns-based Indij Design.

Indij Design will work with Traditional Custodians to incorporate local culture and connection to Country into the project.

The redevelopment follows the lighting and video screen upgrades unveiled in 2025, when $10.9 million of improvements brought broadcast-quality lighting and a large replay scoreboard to the ground.

Barlow Park temporarily closed from 21 September for early works. Council has indicated limited athletics and community use is expected to resume in early 2027, with restricted operation during construction subject to the progress of works.