Blackwood Football Club Redevelopment

City Collective approached the Blackwood Football Club redevelopment as an opportunity to transform an aging, non-compliant facility into an inclusive, flexible, and future-ready asset for both the club and wider community. Leading the master planning and architectural design, we worked closely with the City of Mitcham and club stakeholders to improve accessibility, increase capacity, and support the growth of women’s football. The design also responds to the site’s natural setting, integrating sensitively with the reserve and enhancing the broader public realm.

A key challenge was balancing increased functionality with environmental sensitivity—minimising impact on significant trees, managing overland flow, and retaining open space. We developed two options: a strategic refurbishment and a full rebuild, each addressing future needs and staged delivery. Design innovations included flexible, gender-inclusive changerooms, an elevated timekeeper’s box for improved visibility, and roof structures designed for solar and water harvesting. Sustainability, accessibility, and community activation underpinned every aspect of the design.