Barossa Valley venue nears completion ahead of Gather Round debut

The AFL’s newest venue is all but complete ahead of its introduction in April. MATT TURNER takes you inside the Barossa Valley’s new ground ahead of Gather Round.

The AFL’s newest venue will be all but completed this week as it prepares to host Gather Round.

Barossa Park at Lyndoch will be handed from builders to the local council on Friday, six weeks before the ground stages two matches.

North Melbourne will take on Gold Coast on Saturday, April 12 and Richmond will battle Fremantle the next day.

Workers are putting the finishing touches ahead of schedule on the $45m redevelopment, which includes a returfed main oval with a white picket fence, a new secondary ground, a multipurpose building with a 300-seat function space, a viewing platform, change rooms and a capacity of 10,000.

The Barossa venue is almost complete. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

The AFL will install temporary stands, coaches boxes, marquees and a media area next month.

Barossa Council director of infrastructure Ben Clark, who had overseen the project, said fans could expect a modern ground mixed with traditional touches and a community, country feel.

“Up on the viewing pavilion or the main deck enjoying a beverage and looking out at the ranges and some vineyards, you won’t find a better view in the state or I’d argue the world,” Clark told this masthead.

“It’s the quintessential Barossa view.”

Site work started just a few hours after South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas joined AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon at the ground last April to announce it would be hosting Gather Round in 2025.

The cricket club was demolished and the oval redone with a 160m x 130m playing surface.

Only four tennis courts and tennis clubrooms were kept.

Six turf cricket wickets were laid and AFL standard goalposts were erected in October.

Dillon was said to be blown away when he reinspected the oval in November for the announcement of the Gather Round fixture.

The Kangaroos will play the Suns. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Fremantle face Richmond the following day. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“To see it transform has been unreal,” Clark said.

“There’s a few periphery works we’ve got to do.

“But for all intents and purposes, we’re complete.”

The council always intended to upgrade Lyndoch into a multi-sport community venue.

A $20m state government contribution sped up the process, ensured costs did not blow out and helped Lyndoch secure Gather Round.

Mount Barker staged the only regional fixtures across the first two football festivals.

Barossa grounds have hosted pre-season matches but never any games for premiership points.

Mayor Bim Lange was really proud of how the council’s biggest ever project had come together on a strict timeline.

This will be the first time the Barossa hosts an AFL game with premiership points up for grab. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

“Less than 12 months to build a facility to this standard, I think it ticks all records – I don’t think you can build a house in 12 months these days,” Lange said with a laugh.

“All credit to the Premier (Peter Malinauskas) and to the staff, it’s happened like clockwork.

“I’m just over the moon for what it’s going to do for our local community and also the profile that it’s going to bring to the Barossa region.

“And being a great fan of the Crows and AFL, I’m really ecstatic.”

The upgrades also include new netball courts, an athletics track, playground, expanded parking and garden spaces.

Barossa District Football Club will move from Williamstown after Gather Round, hosting its first game at Lyndoch in May.