Seating, equipment from Browne Park being donated to local rugby league clubs

Rocky’s rugby league ground is already looking different as new details about where the old stands and equipment are going and where local clubs are at in their search for interim grand final venues emerge. DETAILS.

Rockhampton’s Browne Park is set to undergo a $54 million redevelopment.

The official start date for the $54 million redevelopment of Browne Park is yet to be announced but work is already happening behind the scenes at Rockhampton’s traditional home of rugby league.

Equipment is being repurposed and seating dismantled as the countdown begins to the long-awaited project, which was first announced in September 2020.

Hutchinson Builders has been contracted to deliver the Stage 1 redevelopment, which includes replacing the existing Jack Crow Stand with a 3500-seat, three-tier grandstand with a roof.

A concept image of the upgraded Browne Park.

Seating from the Jack Crow stand is among the equipment being donated by the Management of Browne Park to local footy clubs.

Rob Crow from the Management of Browne Park, who is also the QRL Central Region manager, said the items were being taken from the planned demolition area of Browne Park.

“We’re distributing anything that can be moved to the clubs in town,” he said.

“The wooden grandstand that was in front of the broadcast box has gone to Fitzroy/Gracemere, while fencing bordering the field has gone to three clubs.

“We’ve got air-conditioners, TVs, freezers, fridges - you name it, we’re gifting it.”

Rob Crow from the Management of Browne Park in the Jack Crow Stand, which is set to be replaced as part of the $54 million redevelopment.

The inventory list also includes light poles, broadcast and kitchen equipment, cold rooms, massage tables, drink tubs, even toilets from the corporate area.

Crow said QRL and Capras staff, who were based at Browne Park, were also having to relocate.

The QRL has moved to Korte’s Resort, while it is understood the Capras are currently in negotiations for a new office space for their administration staff.

The men’s team is continuing to train at Browne Park, using just the field and one of the dressing sheds until work starts.

The wooden stumps are all that remain of the grandstand that stood in front of the broadcast box.

The Capras have locked in Rockhampton’s Rugby Park as their new home ground for 2024/25, playing their first games of the season there on April 7.

See the photos from the Capras games at Browne Park

Crow said it was exciting to finally see the wheels turning on the redevelopment.

“It was always going to happen, it was just a matter of when,” he said.

“What’s been designed is terrific. When it is done, we are going to have a top-class facility.”

Where Rocky senior, junior leagues will play their finals

The Rockhampton Senior Rugby League is yet to decide where it will stage its finals series with Browne Park out of action.

President Mick Johns said the committee had “a lot of thought to put into that”.

The 2024 season kicked off on April 6, with fixtures being played at the home grounds of participating clubs from Rockhampton and Gladstone.

The 14-week regular season will finish on the weekend of July 27 and 28, before three weeks of finals which were previously played at Browne Park.

Crowds at last year’s Rockhampton Senior Rugby League grand finals at Browne Park.

Johns said that on August 6 last year, a record crowd of just under 4500 patrons turned out for the under-19, reserve grade and senior men’s and women’s deciders.

“Obviously, a lot of discussions have to happen before the venue (for the finals) is decided,” he said.

See the photos from the 2023 senior grand finals

“You don’t realise how much Browne Park was used until you don’t have it.”

Capras’ CEO Peter White had previously said that with up to 72 games and 28 training sessions held at Browne Park each month, it would be the “most used football field in Australia”.

The Rocky Junior League grand finals will be played at Rugby Park this year.

Meanwhile, Rocky Junior League has booked Rugby Park for its grand final day on June 8.

President Michael Fletcher said as in previous years, the competition was run on a home-and-away draw, with semi-finals at club grounds decided leading into those games.

There would be seven games on grand final day - 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 boys and 14 and 17 girls.