Fremantle Oval Precinct Redevelopment

Update: Draft Fremantle Oval Precinct Masterplan Open for Final Public Comment

The draft masterplan is now open for final public comment. Following this round of community feedback, City officers will seek adoption of the draft masterplan by council.

How can you share your feedback?

In this final round of public comment, we're asking you to suggest any last tweaks for consideration to the language and structure of the document.

• Review and read through the Draft Masterplan in our documents section of this page.
• Submit your feedback via the Draft Masterplan survey on our MySay page below.

Submission close 6 November, 2024.

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The City, along with its Project Partners the South Fremantle Football Club (SFFC), Fremantle Football Club (FFC) and Western Australian Football Commission (WAFC), is working to prepare a masterplan for the Fremantle Oval precinct.

Fremantle Oval is a historic place with deep connections to the local community and state of Western Australia. For many years now, facilities for the public, players and patrons at the oval have been poor. With the popularity and participation of women’s sport growing, particularly women’s football, works are needed to improve facilities and ensure the future of the oval as a major sporting facility and destination in WA. Redevelopment will provide opportunities for new uses within the precinct that benefit the community, city centre activity and the precinct’s key neighbours: the Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Hospital and Fremantle Markets.

The Fremantle Oval Precinct Masterplan (the Masterplan) is intended to provide a vision for the development of the precinct, establish principles for its ongoing management and operation and assist the City in attracting funding from State and Federal Governments. It builds on previous studies that have been undertaken for the site over the last 10 years.

The redevelopment of the Fremantle Oval Precinct will enable outcomes including:

• A football facility with a capacity of 10,000 – 15,000 patrons (‘Category 4 - Tier 2’ facility)
• An accessible and inclusive community green space in the city centre, capable of hosting events such as ‘High Voltage’
• A visitor experience that is community friendly and encourages a ‘day out’ in Fremantle
• Upgrades and conservation of significant heritage places such as the Victoria Pavilion
• Support for a revitalised Fremantle Hospital and improved visitor experience for Fremantle Prison
• Recognition of Aboriginal people in their contribution to sport at Fremantle Oval and as Traditional Owners of the site
• Support the oval’s current tenants SEDA College and the Stephen Michael Foundation, and attract other education providers
• New, safe pedestrian connections through the precinct
• Development opportunities for new uses that leverage the precinct’s city centre location and complement the precinct’s heritage, sport, health and tourism functions.

City officers aim to:

• Obtain feedback on analysis, alternatives, or decisions.
• Work directly throughout the process to ensure that public concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered.
• Work with you to ensure that your concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed.
• Provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision.

How can the community influence the project?

The City and its project partners are looking for the community’s support in developing the Masterplan. The community’s input will help inform the Masterplan’s vision, its guiding principles, and assist the City in developing partnerships and attracting funding.

The City wants to hear from the community and is asking:

• What is important to you about the oval precinct?
• What are the uses and activities you would like to see there?
• What is important for the City to prioritise and what values need to be balanced as part of the redevelopment?
• What are some of the game-day experiences you would like to see?

To assist in responding to these questions please refer to the Key Development Principles diagram as well as the FAQ on this MySay page.

Aboriginal Engagement

Fremantle Oval is where many Aboriginal footballers began their careers and became legends. Some of the greatest WAFL and VFL/AFL players of all time played at Fremantle Oval and created some of sport’s most inspiring stories. The oval is significant for Aboriginal people who came from around Western Australia and Australia to play for South Fremantle, and the Fremantle Football Club while it was based at the oval. In addition, Fremantle Oval has significant meaning to Aboriginal people as a place within Walyalup boodja.

Specific engagement will be undertaken to connect with Aboriginal people representing Traditional Owners, past and current players, fans and supporters, and invite their stories of the site through a truth-telling process. Further engagement is expected in future stages to help develop opportunities for Aboriginal employment and entrepreneurship through the project’s implementation and build on the sports and education programs currently operating at the oval.