Photo: Narelle Spangher
08.03.25
$20 million investment to complete the upgrade of historic Henson Park
The renovation of Sydney’s historic Henson Park has received another landmark funding boost, with Inner West Council committing an additional $5.5 million and the AFL contributing $2 million to allow Stage 2 of the project to be completed.
This investment will ensure new toilets, a canteen, coaches’ boxes and media facilities for the ground, which is fast becoming a hub for women’s football from grassroots to elite and continues to be the home of the mighty Newtown Jets.
These facilities will elevate the game-day experience for players, officials, and fans, and ultimately, help grow women’s football in New South Wales.
With Stage 1 already underway courtesy of funding from the NSW Government ($5m), Federal Government ($2.5m), AFL ($4.5m) and Inner West Council ($500,000), it takes the total investment across both Stages of the project to $20m.
Since 2022 Inner West Council and the AFL have been working to upgrade the iconic Marrickville ground to make it one of the premier AFLW venues in Australia, with Stage 1 – comprising new purpose-built changerooms, gym, community space and an extension of the historic grandstand – set to be complete in August this year ahead of the NAB AFLW Premiership season.
The two-stage renovation is slated for completion ahead of the 2026 community football season.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said:
“We are increasing our investment in the renovation of Henson Park to make sure that the facilities for spectators and fans will be as good as the modern change rooms we are constructing for the players,” Byrne said.
“This $20 million investment will secure Henson Park as the home of the Newtown Jets and as a hub for women’s AFL. The crowds we have been attracting to AFL at Henson have been bigger and they’ll only grow as a result of this investment.”
AFL Executive General Manager of Game Development, Rob Auld, said this investment by the AFL reflected the league’s commitment to grow the game in New South Wales from grassroots to the elite.
“The AFL’s investment into the upgrade of Henson Park reinforces our commitment to grow Australian football in New South Wales and ensures we’re not only providing an elite venue for our AFLW matches, but for community football too,” Auld said.
“This funding is part of the AFL’s commitment to enshrine 10 per cent of the league’s total revenue back into game development as we strive to have football in every home and reach one million participants by 2033.
“It also speaks to our Women and Girls Action Plan which was devised in 2021 as part of our vision to have women and girls equally represented in our game by 2030, and a key component means providing appropriate gender-neutral facilities to support this growth.
“Since Henson Park hosted its first AFLW game in 2022 there has been almost 50,000 fans through the gates, while around 200 local footballers play there each week and utilise the facilities, so this project will benefit the entire community.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Inner West Council, as well as the State and Federal Governments for their investment to make it a premier venue for both players and fans to enjoy.”
Head of AFL NSW/ACT Andrew Varasdi welcomed the new funding from the AFL and Inner West Council.
“This is an historic moment for Australian football in our state with this funding representing the largest AFL investment into community infrastructure in New South Wales,” Varasdi said.
“These staged upgrades will solidify Henson Park as a key venue in the AFLW calendar for both the Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS, benefiting local grassroots football and ensuring the broader community can enjoy premier facilities for years to come.
“I’d like to thank Inner West Council for their continued support as well as the New South Wales and Federal Government who have contributed to the renovation.
“When you combine all the projects in the facilities space with our Play Your Way Voucher initiative, which is another $1.5m investment by the AFL over two years, Australian football is committed to growing the game in New South Wales and making the game accessible for everyone.”
Since 2020 the AFL has invested $23.2m into facilities projects in New South Wales which has directly supported:
• 18 new playing fields
• 47 new match standard lighting projects, up 53.41 per cent
• A 12 per cent boost in all gender changerooms
• An 18 per cent jump in all gender umpire changerooms
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Jordan Mahoney
AFL NSW/ACT Media
0488 111 802
Jordan.Mahoney@afl.com.au
Jonny Browne
Strategic and Corporate Communications Manager
p +61 2 9392 5657