The multi-million-dollar redevelopment of Hands Memorial Oval is all but complete. On the back of a deal which will see North Melbourne Football Club bringing an AFL home game to Bunbury every year for the next three years, the State Government has committed another $5.7 million in upgrades to the newly developed precinct. This is on top of the $19.5 million already spent on this impressive community asset.
Published 20 August 2025, updated 21 August 2025
A year-round destination for sport, recreation, and community, with modern facilities and a top-tier spectator experience. Hands Oval has cemented its place as the South West’s premier sporting venue.
Project timeline
- Tender awarded for project
- 17/10/2022
- Development application received
- 26/10/2022
- Construction expected to commence (approximate)
- 12/06/2023
- Demolition began
- 02/08/2023
- Upgrades to the ring-road, new parking, pathways, seating and drainage
- 18/01/2024
- Roof beams installation began
- 15/04/2024
- SWFL Women's Grand Final played on grounds
- 29/09/2024
- SWFL Men's Grand Final played on grounds
- 06/10/2024
- AFL confirms North Melbourne to play three games at Hands Oval over three years
- 13/11/2024
- State Government announced an additional $5.7 million in upgrades to the Hands Oval precinct.
- 13/11/2024
- AFL pre-season game played at Hands Oval
- 01/03/2025
- AFL in-season match North Melbourne vs West Coast Eagles
- 08/06/2025
- Friendly Soccer match Matilda vs Panama
- 05/07/2025
The 700-plus seat stadium is open and includes the South West Football League headquarters, kiosk, player and umpire facilities and changerooms, first aid room and public toilets.
The City has also completed work on the surrounding areas of the oval, including roads, car bays, entrances, and landscaping, along with continuing maintenance of the playing oval.
Nearly 13,000 fans packed Hands Oval in Bunbury for the city’s first AFL premiership match, with half the crowd travelling from outside the South West to witness the historic clash.
In front of 10,272 passionate fans at Bunbury’s Hands Oval, many travelling from outside the South West, to see the Matildas face Panama in their first regional WA match. Despite the loss, the event was a huge success, celebrating community and women’s sport.
Accessibility at Hands Oval
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Discover how Hands Oval in Bunbury is becoming more inclusive for everyone attending major events. This video highlights the venue’s upgraded accessibility features, including ACROD parking, accessible seating, and improved pathways.
Project Updates
Spectators at this year’s South West Football League grand final days were able to watch the top teams battle it out from the highly anticipated and impressive new Hands Oval grandstand.
The City, along with the South West Football League (SWFL) and Perkins Builders, was proud the stadium, changerooms, and kiosk were operational from the day of the women’s grand final on Sunday, 29 September.
Our community were the first to test out the new facilities following the multi-million-dollar redevelopment, before the always popular men’s league grand finals on Sunday, 6 October.
The ground level – which also includes player and umpire facilities, the first aid room, and public toilets – were fully operational for both days. While all of the 700-plus first-floor seating and SWFL offices were available for use.
The City has also been putting the finishing touches on the surrounding areas of the oval, including roads, car bays, entrances, and landscaping, along with continuing maintenance of the playing oval.
The remaining works are expected to be completed by 20 December with an official opening and celebration to be held at the start of the 2025 SWFL season.
A major milestone has been reached with all structural steel work now completed.rnrnThis will allow the installation of roofing to begin.
The fit out of the ground floor is progressing well and work has also started on sand blasting the tilt panel walls. The sand blasted pattern is an abstract reference to the Bunbury basalt boulders at Wyalup Rocky Point.
The roof beams have started going up on Hands Oval’s new stadium as the multi-million-dollar redevelopment forges ahead.
The impressive stadium in South Bunbury is starting to take shape, while the City is also continuing works on the surrounding area including landscaping and paths.
Local Company Perkins Builders has been working hard to deliver this important redevelopment.
The City’s work has included a new asphalt carpark and concrete footpath, new seating and drainage infrastructure.
New turf has been laid in the popular spectator area to the south – perfect timing ahead of the South West Football League season kicking off.
SWFL games will get underway at the oval next weekend, while the new stadium is expected to be complete in time for the 2024 finals series.
The next phase of works has begun at Hands Oval.
This will include upgrades to the ring-road, new parking, pathways, seating and drainage.
Entry via Halsey Street will become dual lane and a new ticket box will be constructed.
Due to these exciting and important works the site has now been fenced off and the Halsey Street entrance made inaccessible to the public.
The 68-year-old infrastructure was recently turned to rubble to make way for the brand-new multi-purpose sports facilities which will include a new 751-seat, two storey stadium to accommodate year-round sport, recreation and community activities catering for participation by both females and males, including people living with disability.
Project Funding
The project is being funded through $6.8 million from the City, $4.4 million through the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, $8 million from Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ WA Recovery Plan funding, $150,000 from South West Football League and $200,000 from the West Australian Football Commission.