Northern Territory Government to reinstate Anzac Oval as rugby field and revise scale of National Aboriginal Art Gallery

The Northern Territory Government has released a new Masterplan for the ANZAC Oval Precinct – aiming to provide clarity and certainty to the people of Alice Springs.

The Masterplan also outlines the new location to deliver a revised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia (ATSIAGA) and importantly confirmation the ANZAC Oval will be retained for community use.

The ANZAC Oval Masterplan outlines key infrastructure plans including:

• ATSIAGA – this will now be located on Wills Terrace at the current car park site towards Todd Street Mall. The design and scale of the gallery will be revised to a three-storey 4,000sqm building to ensure it fits within the wider Masterplan. This will be delivered to a budget of $149 million.

• ANZAC Oval - the NT Government will reinstate Anzac Oval as a rugby field with restoration works to commence and be complete in time for the rugby season in February 2025.

• Additional car parking – car parking will be built to better service Alice Springs’ important community assets including the Totem Theatre, the 50’s plus community centre, the wider ANZAC Oval area.

NT Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure, Bill Yan, said this ANZAC Oval Masterplan further reflects the Territory Government’s commitment to targeted, sustainable investment and complements the recent Infrastructure Plan announced in Alice Springs recently.

Minister Yan noted “we’re committed to delivering the Anzac Oval precinct but it’s really important to the community we retain ANZAC Oval for its current use. We are doing this and we are saving ANZAC Oval” adding the NT Government will be “returning ANZAC Oval as the home of rugby while also delivering an ATSIAGA to a revised design and scale ensuring it’s delivered to budget while still upholding the prominence of this important showcase venue for First Nations art.”

The precinct redevelopment is expected to be completed in late 2027 and NT Government will be engaging with stakeholders over the coming weeks to inform them of the revised Masterplan.

To learn more about the Masterplan visit dli.nt.gov.au/projects/anzac-oval-precinct-master-plan.