Anzac Oval Alice Springs will be decommissioned on April 1 as it makes way for Indigenous art gallery

It has stood for more than a century, the home of rugby league and union in this Red Centre town, but in a few months time, work will begin to slowly pull it down. See what’s planned.

National Aboriginal Art Gallery precinct in Alice Springs. Anzac Oval and surrounds. Picture: Supplied.

It has stood for a century, the home of rugby league and union in the Red Centre, but in a few months’ time, it will begin to fade from existence as it makes way for a proposed art gallery.

The NT News can reveal Anzac Oval, at Alice Springs, will be formally decommissioned as a sports ground on April 1.

That date will see the start of enabling and early works for the site, with demolition and construction to commence at a later date.

Anzac Oval, the home of rugby league and rugby union in Alice Springs, is set to make way for the Territory government’s flagship $150m National Aboriginal Art Gallery.

The government projects the NAAG will draw an additional 53,000 visitors to Alice Springs per annum.

Concept pictures of the exterior of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs. Picture: Supplied.

A government spokeswoman said exhibitions and curatorial programs, featuring both local and national art, would show at the completed NAAG from early 2025 onwards.

A position for NAAG’s inaugural Director of Curatorial and Engagement will be advertised in the “coming weeks,” while the tender for the first stage of the managing contractor contract is expected to be awarded next month, the spokeswoman said.

The government is yet to finalise the NAAG’s design, with the detailed plans expected to be finalised in “mid-2024”.

Concept pictures of the exterior of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs. Picture: Supplied.

According to a previous government-issued statement, the Anzac Oval site “will be transformed into an open, family-friendly community green space with the gallery as the centrepiece”.

“The gallery’s landscaping will also feature Kwatye (water) Play,” the statement read.

The NAAG will form part of a wider program of works for the Anzac Hill precinct, which includes a new visitor centre and base for Tourism Central Australia at the former Shell depot at the intersection of the Stuart Hwy and Schwarz Cr, and various shaded pathways, lighting and landscaping.

Arts Minister Chansey Paech unveil the concept plans for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery. Photo: Laura Hooper.

To replace the lost sporting infrastructure, the Territory government is developing a community sporting precinct at Kilgariff Estate, off Harris Ave.

The new precinct will incorporate two playing surfaces and supporting infrastructure for use by the two rugby codes, other sports, and the wider community.

“Design concepts are currently being considered with construction expected to be completed by late next year, 2025,” the spokeswoman said.

Headquarters camp from Anzac Hill, Alice Springs Oval - Bombing of Darwin magazine.

Interim facilities for the two codes will be provided at Gillen’s Jim McConville Oval, which is receiving a lighting upgrade jointly funded by the Territory government and Alice Springs Town Council.

Alice Springs Mayor Matt Patterson said the loss of Anzac Park would be felt deeply until the Kilgariff Estate replacement comes online.

“It’s challenging to try and balance all sports in Alice Springs,” he said.

“We know we are an oval short and the loss of Anzac Oval means we will now be two short while we wait for a new facility to be built at Kilgariff.

Draft plan for proposed Kilgariff Community Sporting Precinct. Picture: Northern Territory Government

“It’s a balancing act to make Jim McConville work for all sports.

“Both rugby codes will have priority use at the oval, not exclusive use.

“That means football and cricket will still be able to access the oval, it’s just a matter of balancing that.

“Cricketers will get more games at TIO Traeger Park, which I’m sure they will be happy with.”

According to Alice Springs historian Alex Nelson, Anzac Oval, originally known as the Alice Springs Recreation Reserve, was established by World War I veterans in the 1930s.

It was Alice Springs’ first sports ground, he said.