The construction of the $3.37M Stage 2 major redevelopment of the Ewing Park Recreation Precinct is due to be complete in October 2023.
The major redevelopment by the City and Victorian Government builds on from the $1.6M first stage improvements already undertaken at the park and will include the establishment of a multi-purpose community and sporting precinct that will support recreation and participation for people of all ages.
The Ewing Park Recreation Precinct is bordered by Brougham Street, Williamson Street, Harcourt Street and Havlin Street West with strong connections to the popular Bendigo Back Creek Walking and Cycling Trail and City Centre.

Community opening
To celebrate the completion of the redevelopment, the City will be holding a community opening on Saturday October 14 from 9.30am-12pm.
We are looking to facilitate a wide range of free come and try activities to showcase the variety of new outdoor active recreation opportunities available to the community, including:
- District level skate park
- Learn to ride park and play space
- Rebound wall / ½ court basketball
- Bouldering / climbing feature
- Outdoor fitness equipment
- Oval
Features
When complete, the precinct will include:
- District level skate park featuring mini bowl, ledges, quarter pipe, flat bar, eurogap, down rail, hubbas, stairs, shade, seating, drinking fountain.
- Learn to Ride Park and Play Space featuring a roundabout, pedestrian crossings, speed humps, different surfaces to practice on, natural and built play equipment, shade and seating
- Shade shelter
- Cycling trail hub shelter with repair station
- Toilet block with two accessible, unisex cubicles and one ambulatory, unisex cubicle
- Rebound wall
- Picnic/viewing area
- Seating zones
- Bouldering/climbing wall
- Outdoor fitness equipment
- New car parks in Havlin Street West and Harcourt Street
- Parkland areas including walking paths, barbecue facilities, seating and drinking fountains, landscaping and tree planting
- United Cricket Club
- Sandhurst Junior Football Club
- St Therese’s Junior Football Club
Frequently asked questions
This project will deliver a multipurpose community and sporting precinct that will support recreation and participation for all ages and abilities through the diversity of infrastructure provision.
The multi-activity and multi-generational design will cater to a broad cross-section of ages and user groups.
It is expected this will result in great outcomes for a well-used, popular site including increased social contact and social contact with user groups other than your own, meeting, in part, all five goals of the Greater Bendigo Health and Wellbeing Plan for priority groups including: children and young people, older residents, residents with a disability, women, people who are socio-economically disadvantaged and people who are culturally diverse.
The Ewing Park Recreation Precinct, due to its accessibility and proximity to a larger community catchment, will be well utilised by the local area and become a destination park due to the complementary variety of community, sporting and recreational elements it features.
In 2020 the City completed the $1.6M first stage of this project which included:
- Construction of new oval with irrigation system
- Construction of a dual lane, synthetic walking/running track around the perimeter of the oval
- Installation of AFL standard LED training lights
- Installation of picket fence around oval
In 2021 the City of Greater Bendigo received a $2.89M grant from the Victorian Government to undertake the $3.37M second stage of the redevelopment.
Stage 2 works will include construction of:
- District level skate park featuring mini bowl, ledges, quarter pipe, flat bar, eurogap, down rail, hubbas, stairs, shade, seating, drinking fountain
- Learn to Ride Park and Play Space featuring a roundabout, pedestrian crossings, speed humps, different surfaces to practice on, natural and built play equipment, shade and seating
- Shade shelter
- Cycling trail hub shelter with repair station
- Toilet block with two accessible, unisex cubicles
- Rebound wall
- Picnic/viewing area
- Seating zones
- Bouldering/climbing wall
- Outdoor fitness equipment
- New car parks in Havlin Street West and Harcourt Street
- Parkland areas including walking paths, barbecue facilities, seating, drinking fountains, landscaping and tree planting
The project incorporates the Universal Design Principle requirements of Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Design for Everyone Guide and includes:
- A continuous accessible path of travel to link with all facilities within Ewing Park and the Back Creek Trail
- Main accessible shared pathways will be 2.5 meters
- Colour contrasts indicating distinct levels as well as various zones
- Accessible toilet, shelter, picnic, shade, water facilities and seating throughout the site
Environmentally Sustainable Design is reflected in the design through:
- Landscaping and urban greening
- Water Sensitive Urban Design
- Recycled materials where possible
In 2018 the City of Greater Bendigo consulted with the community prior to developing a site plan for Ewing Park.
A draft site plan that expanded on the range of recreation facilities and activities at Ewing park was released to the community in August 2018.
This is a $3.37M project funded by the following:
- $2.89M from the Victorian Government Department of Sport and Recreation Victoria
- $480,000 from the City of Greater Bendigo
An independent Economic Impact Assessment prepared for the project by REMPLAN demonstrates the total economic impacts in Greater Bendigo over the construction phase, including all direct and indirect economic effects, and are anticipated to support up to:
- $6.920 million in increased economic output
- 19 jobs in the local economy over the life of the project
- $2.784 million in value-added economic activity
- 1092 total work hours created for ongoing jobs operating and maintaining facilities
The project will commence in October 2021 and is expected to be completed by June 2023.
The Williamson Street Reserve was officially named Ewing Park on July 22, 1926. The reserve was named after former Bendigo Mayor Mr William Ewing in recognition of his service to the City.
Cr Ewing was elected to the former City of Bendigo in 1920 and served as Mayor in 1925. On May 10, 1928 he resigned as a Darling Ward Councillor. He passed away aged 72, in 1948 at his Williamson Street home.
The Ewing Park skate park will be constructed to replace the McIvor Road Skate Park, therefore, once the new skate park is constructed, the McIvor Road skate park will be removed.
The existing play space at Ewing Park located off Williamson Street will remain available for use until the new play space is available for use in June 2023.
Following extensive community consultation, the Greater Bendigo City Council voted to close a 200 metre section of Havlin Street West (located between Williamson and Mundy Streets) that adjoins Ewing Park at a Council meeting on September 17, 2020.
The closure of this section of Havlin Street West will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians who are accessing Ewing Park and the Back Creek shared path network.
While construction noise is unavoidable, the City’s contractors will endeavour to minimise noise where possible. While construction noise can be inconvenient, construction activities can legally be undertaken on weekdays between 7am and 6pm and on Saturdays between 7am and 1pm.
Members of the public and Ewing Park tenant clubs will still have access to existing facilities such as the pavilion and the sports oval. However, there will be no access to areas under construction.
If you have further questions, please contact Heather Grenon at the City of Greater Bendigo by emailing [email protected] or by phoning 1300 002 642.
Concept video
Contact
If you have any questions about this project, please contact: