Sydney Swans HQ & Community Centre

Cheer, cheer the red and the white! Victory has come earlier for the Sydney Swans with the delivery of their world class Sydney Swans HQ and Community Centre.

Incorporating state-of-the-art high-performance training facilities and administration offices, this centre of excellence spans over 12,000m2 comprising two separate structures over two levels.

Affectionately remembered by Sydneysiders as the Showbag Pavilion, the Royal Hall of Industries (RHI) is majestic, grand and rich in history.

Its large open plan interior has been brought back to life through a refurbishment that is entirely reversible and independent to the existing building fabric to maintain the RHI’s heritage significance.

In addition to the repurpose of the RHI, FDC also constructed a new building to the southern corner of the complex which now provides a home for Hoops Capital (the academy for the Sydney Kings and Sydney Flames) and top-of-the-line swimming pool rehab facilities for the Sydney Swans male and female playing groups. The extension seamlessly blends in with the RHI, maintaining consistency in height, scale, materials, and is mostly concealed by the existing heritage brick walls that surround the complex.

The players facilities include the following:

Male and female amenities and locker rooms
Player’s library, study area and lounge with rooftop terrace
Auditorium
Learning center
Academy training facilities

The high-performance training facilities include the following:

Gymnasium
Multi-purpose indoor training field
Altitude training room

The top-of-the-line medical and rehabilitation facilities include:

20m lap pool, recovery hot and cold plunge pools and sauna facilities
Massage and alternate therapy areas
Offices and workstations for medical and strength and conditioning staff

For administrative needs, the facility includes:

Reception areas, office spaces for club operations (both open plan and individual spaces)
Meeting rooms, breakout spaces and ancillary office areas
Amenities, storage and utility areas
Media studio
Club dining and commercial kitchen

The Sydney Swans are the main occupiers of the new facility which will home 90 staff members, the men’s and women’s teams, and the QBE Sydney Swans Academy. The facility also provides space for community partners including the GO Foundation, Clontarf Foundation, and Lifeblood, as well as subtenants including 98 Gym and Hoops Capital.

Due to COVID interruptions, FDC were able to closely work with the Sydney Swans and AFL to value engineer and stage the project delivery as client funding and fundraising was received.

FDC is honoured to have delivered this iconic project, and new home for the Sydney Swans alongside esteemed project partners:

Photography by Toby Peet