Construction commences on Ballymore National Rugby Training Centre

Construction works the $30 million Ballymore National Rugby Training Centre and new McLean Stand has commenced this week.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk officially broke ground on the National Rugby Training Centre (NRTC), which will be a 2032 Olympic venue, with construction during the next 14 months being undertaken by Buildcorp.

The NRTC is the first stage of a sweeping revamp of the famous Herston site, which will include swimming and sport climbing facilities to help build the next generation of Olympic athletes in multiple sports.

The NRTC will be the new national headquarters for women’s rugby and the national Wallaroos team, as well as a new training base for the Queensland Reds mens and women’s Super Rugby teams.

The integrated 3010-capacity integrated grandstand replaces the old McLean Stand and gives Ballymore the ability to be a new home for women’s rectangular sports. The new stand will keep the McLean name, honouring one of the most famous families in Queensland rugby.

The facility will include a 700 metre² elite gym, aquatic recovery centre, a 75-seat auditorium and a 120-person capacity function room and player’s lounge. The NRTC has been designed to easily move between a high-performance centre and the centrepiece of a 15,000-capacity stadium, with meeting rooms that convert into game-day suites.

Commenting on the project, Premier Palaszczuk stated “the rebirth of Ballymore has begun, and this high-performance centre will be an elite training centre as well as a community sporting hub.

“The training fields and premium facilities make a revitalised Ballymore an attractive destination for visiting teams leading into events like the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup.”

Queensland Rugby Union Chief Executive, David Hanham said the masterplan sets rugby in Queensland up for a sustainable future, adding “we see Ballymore as the centre of Brisbane’s Silicon Valley of sport and wellbeing - a place where Olympians can train and compete in a world-class facility.

“With the growth of women’s and men’s elite sport and community sport, Ballymore can provide a cost-effective and central venue option for Brisbane, as well as continuing to be the home of our Hospital Cup finals and community game.”

Buildcorp are the lead contractor of the NRTC project, which is managed by RPS and designed by leading Queensland architects Blight Rayner.

Ballymore Masterplan

• National Rugby Training Centre

• Home of the Queensland Reds and Wallaroos

• 700 metre² gym and hydrotherapy centre

• 3010-capacity integrated grandstand

• 75-seat auditorium

• 120-person capacity function room

• 25m swim school

• 10,000 metre² Centre of Excellence for Sport Climbing

• 20m high outdoor walls for speed and lead climbing

• Boulder climbing area

• Public parkland/viewing area

• Three new allied health/sports medicine buildings

• 5000 metre² approved

• Revitalised public parks and BBQ areas

The $30 million project is jointly funded by the Federal and Queensland Governments and the Queensland Rugby Union.

Images: (Top, from left) David Hanham, Aleena Greenhalgh, Annastacia Pałaszczuk, Shannon Parry and Liam Wright at Ballymore (credit: QRU/Brendan Hertel) and the masterplan for the site (below).