The Oval at Subi East
The Oval is the first stage to be delivered for DevelopmentWA’s wider Subi East Redevelopment.
UDLA, in partnership with OCULUS, provided the landscape architectural and urban design services from concept design through to detailed design, documentation and construction services for this urban reinvention project.
The project has transformed the former Subiaco Oval into a series of community-focused public open spaces, including a reimagined oval with community sports facilities, a new playground, a parkour course, and an extensive Noongar Six Seasons Bidi that meanders through the site. It also features refurbished heritage gates, repurposed stadium elements, and an open-air museum that celebrates the oval's role as the historic home of WA football.
Led by the Subi East Elder Group and Karrda, the Bidi Trail is an interpretive element that flows throughout the wider Subi East redevelopment project. It connects the numerous public realm community spaces within the precinct to provide an immersive experience for visitors to learn about Noongar knowledge, culture and history.
The entire public realm has been designed to repurpose a variety of recycled materials from the stadium and surrounding landscape. Salvaged materials incorporated into various elements and spaces on site include whole bricks for use in retaining walls, crushed bricks and concrete for use in rammed earth elements and roadbase, stadium seat timbers and roof beams.
In total, more than about 50,000 tonnes has been recycled and available to be reused on site and elsewhere.
Seating timbers from the former Subiaco Oval Stadium have been retained and reused in their new context.
Beams from the former Subiaco Oval Stadium in their previous context
As part of the redevelopment, the former Subiaco Oval Stadium roof beams have been salvaged and fully reimagined. Weighing in at 3.7 tonne each, the beams have been re-engineered, restored and powdercoated to begin their new life as the supports for a large shade structure over the youth targeted zone that will anchor the northern edge of the oval.
Led by the Subi East Elder Group and Karrda, a Bidi has been configured to weave through the site and connect the numerous public realm community spaces within the precinct. Representing the six seasons through seasonal landscaping and six artworks by artists Rubeun Yorkshire (Birak), David Jones (Bunuru), Lea Taylor (Djeran), Kam Bin Salleh (Makaru), Dellas Bennell (Djilba), Jarni McGuire (Kambarang), the Bidi provides an immersive experience for visitors to learn about Noongar knowledge and culture.
A series of rammed earth sculptural elements have been positioned along the Bidi, the materials of which include salvaged bricks and concrete from the stadium, combined with earth from the 14 different language groups in the Noongar Nation.
Site-specific story layers, developed in collaboration with Studio Field, Knowledge Holders and representative groups, are communicated throughout the landscape.
The oval is flanked by the Sandover Medal walk – a reinterpretation of the Sandover Medallist pavers that previously were located outside Subiaco Oval.
Recessed wording in the rammed earth walls convey quotes from the site’s previous life as an AFL stadium.
By centering the Bidi to ensure it permeates and grounds the entire site, whilst retaining and honouring state heritage-listed buildings, such as the Subiaco Oval Gates, Godfrey House and the Old Outpatients Building, Subi East’s public realm and retained built forms embed heritage into the present, creating an immersive experience that pays homage to the past while shaping the present and future.
UDLA’s involvement in the project continues, with the realisation of the next stages in the masterplan, including the Princess Margaret Hospital 1909 Precinct.
Awards:
2022 UDIA WA Excellence Awards, recognising the success of the innovative Aboriginal Development Manager (ADM) program
2024 Parks and Leisure Australia (WA) Park of the Year Award Winner
Details:
Client: Development WA
Aboriginal Country: Whadjuk Country
Location: Subiaco WA
Dates: 2019 - 2024
Landscape Architects, Architects: UDLA x OCULUS
Aboriginal Development Manager: Karrda
Contractors: RJ Vincent (Contractor Stage 1A), Landscape Elements (Contractor Stage 1B)
Collaborators: Stantec (Civil Engineer), Acor (Structural Engineer), PJ Wright (Hydraulic Engineer), 3E (Electrical Engineer) Greco (Change Room Electrical Engineer), Bridge 42 (Project Manager), Apparatus (Public Art Consultant), Studio Field (Heritage Interpretation), Pinion (Irrigation)
Artists of Six Season Bidi Trail: Rubeun Yorkshire (Birak), David Jones (Bunuru), Lea Taylor (Djeran), Kam Bin Salleh (Makaru), Dellas Bennell (Djilba), Jarni McGuire (Kambarang)
Artwork Technical Consultant: Big Spoon Art Studio
Photography: Yvonne Doherty
