Willow Sports Field demolition

The Willows Sports Field, previously known as 1300SMILES Stadium, is being demolished so the site can be redeveloped. On 25 January 2022 the Queensland Government announced that a $30 million state-of-the-art multi-purpose police facility will be built on the site.

The field is in Kirwan and is the former home of the North Queensland Cowboys National Rugby League (NRL) Team. The team moved to the state-of-the-art Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville’s CBD at the start of the 2020 season.

The Department of Energy and Public Works (DEPW) is managing the demolition. FK Gardner & Sons Pty Ltd was announced as the lead contractor for the project in August 2022. Work is expected to commence on site in September 2022 and be completed in May 2023, weather and conditions permitting.

Asset repurposing

Stadiums Queensland and the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport have been repurposing any applicable assets from the Willows Sports Field for not-for-profit sporting and active recreation clubs in the Townsville local government area.

An expression of interest program was undertaken in a two-phased approach. Items available included:

• Phase A: Loose and portable assets such as furniture and fittings and minor chattels such as commercial kitchen fixtures
• Phase B: Larger assets, such as modular buildings/small amenity blocks, seating fixtures and cool/freezer rooms.

Expressions of interest for Phase A assets is now closed and Stadiums Queensland has advised organisations of the outcome. Registration for Phase B is now also closed.

Find out more

Email: willowssportsfield@epw.qld.gov.au for more information about the project.

Email: SR_Infrastructure@dtis.qld.gov.au for more information about the asset repurposing program.

Last updated: 

23 August 2022