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Aurora Stadium’s

Northern Stand

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Aurora Stadium is a world-class sporting and entertainment

venue located in the heart of Launceston in northern

Tasmania. It has been home to a spectacular array of local

and interstate events and artists including, Sir Elton John,

Jimmy Barnes, the Crusty Demons, A-League Soccer, New

Year’s Eve Countdown and Super X. Formerly known as York

Park, Aurora Stadium has cemented its profile as the home

of AFL in Tasmania and is the Hawthorn Football Club’s home

away from home.

Aurora Stadium is the largest sporting facility in Tasmania

and the redevelopment of the new ‘Northern Stand’ will

increase overall seating capacity of the Stadium to 14,000

and total venue capacity to 21,000.

iNtroductioN

The redevelopment project had been planned for some

years, but the need was hastened after a fire destroyed three

of the eight bays of the historic Northern Stand in 2008.

The historic stand and club rooms of the Mowbray Cricket

Club was disassembled and relocated to Invermay Park

Cricket/Football Oval, which is located next to Aurora

Stadium in March 2009.

With its relocation, the historic Northern Stand now includes

facilities for the North Launceston Junior Football Club,

Mowbray Cricket Club, Old Launcestonians Football Club,

and the Northern Tasmania Football Umpires Association,

maximising usage of Invermay Park by local clubs.

the Fire ANd relocAtioN oF the hiStoric StANd

The new Northern Stand at Aurora Stadium has a 2,125 seat

capacity and includes public toilets, corporate and media

facilities, new AFL standard change rooms and new umpires

change rooms. Designed by Philp Lighton Architects the

tiered grandstand is located on the north-western area of

the venue with stunning views consistent with other existing

stands within the Stadium.

Environmentally sustainable design initiatives were an

integral part of the design for the new stand and the project

team investigated energy sources to minimise CO2 gas

emissions, renewable energy and new technologies to

achieve performance, cost and payback benefits.

the New NortherN StANd deSigN

Some of the environmentally sustainable elements included

in the design are:

• Solar energy for heating and cooling

• Water efficient fixtures and harvesting rainwater for

re-use to minimise water usage

• Stormwater run off control, minimising the impact

of the building on surrounding land and improving

public access around and within the facility

• Use of non-toxic materials, reduced construction

waste and use of local products where possible

• Recycling, waste rubbish and litter collection

initiatives

The $9.9 million redevelopment underwent construction from March

2009 until July 2011. Local contractor Innis Tasmania was employed

to construct the new stand with the project employing the equivalent

of 60 full time employees throughout this period of time.

The New Northern Stand, officially opened on Sunday 7 August

2011 has allowed Aurora Stadium to increase seating capacity at

the venue to secure larger national and international events and to

address current and future demand for seating and corporate space

for Hawthorn Football Club AFL matches at the Stadium.

The impressive new stand was funded by the Australian Government

contributing $5.5 million, the Tasmanian Government contributing

$2 million and Launceston City Council $2.4 million as well as

contributions from the Hawthorn Football Club ($300,000) and the

Australian Football League ($200,000).

the New NortherN StANd coNStructioN

York Park, now known as Aurora Stadium, has always been

central to sporting and cultural life in Launceston and the

northern region, but it is only since 1999, that it has firmly

established itself as the home of AFL football in Tasmania.

To see an exceptional, but nonetheless essentially regional

facility, transform to AFL standard and sentiment needs a

number of driving factors to come together. The place has to

have potential, a dream and dreamers, a plan, support and

a dash of good luck.

To read more about the York Park story, click here.

hiStory oF york PArk

For more information:

Aurora Stadium

Invermay Road, Launceston TAS 7250

P/ 03 6323 3383

E/ aurorastadium@launceston.tas.gov.au

W/ www.aurorastadiumlaunceston.com.au

coNtAct uS

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