Million dollar upgrade for Petersham Park

Wednesday 23 August 2017

Petersham Park will get a new lease of life with a million dollar upgrade of the facility set to start in September, Administrator of Inner West Council Richard Pearson announced today.

“The major upgrade of this much loved beautiful historic park is great news for thousands of local residents, sporting groups and associations who use the park,” Mr Pearson said.

“The project will see paths upgraded, new lighting installed, new plantings, improvements to park entries and a new playground shade structure.

“Petersham Park is an important recreational space which offers both passive and active recreation resources including the oval, pool, bandstand, children’s playground and informal areas with shade seating and tables.

“The park is used by a number of sporting groups and associations including baseball clubs in the winter and cricket in the summer.

“I am delighted that this great community asset will be given a new lease of life as part of Council’s commitment to ensuring that local residents have access to first class parks and sporting facilities.

“In the 2016/17 financial year, Inner West Council spent almost $12 million on parks and sporting field improvements.”

Mr Pearson said Council had allocated $1 million to carry out upgrade works at Petersham Park which included $316,000 in funding from the Stronger Communities Fund.

He said Council will work closely with sporting groups to minimise disruptions to schedules for park users during the upgrade works.

Petersham Park was first proclaimed in June 1891 and has a very long and proud history.

Sir Donald Bradman made his first grade debut at Petersham Oval when he was just 18 years old. He broke his bat on 98 and went on to score 110 runs.

The pool located in the leafy surrounds of Petersham Park was renamed the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre in 1999.

Fanny Durack who lived the last years of her life in nearby Stanmore was an Olympic swimming legend and a champion of women's rights. At her peak she held every world freestyle record.