Sport
2 October, 2025
Serving the boom in local women’s sport
Providing top-shelf change facilities for the growing number of women athletes in the district, the new female amenities block at Victoria Park in Warren, was officially opened last Thursday, September 25.
The $702,500 project was jointly funded through a $500,000 grant from the NSW government’s Female Friendly Community Sport Facilities and Lighting Upgrades Program, and a $202,549 contribution from Warren Shire Council, with state member for Barwon, Roy Butler, doing the honours on the day.
The building includes two change-rooms and public toilets, and is situated on the walkway between Warren hospital and the CBD adjacent to the Victoria Park sporting facilities.
An attractive artistic feature of the new facilities, are door paintings by local indigenous artist, Peter Mackay, with representations of district tribal totems including the eagle, Murray cod, emu, and echidna, as well as a brolga, to represent local waterbird species in the region. Mr Mackay said it took him 127 hours to complete the intricate artwork, which incorporated the local “Wailwan” style, as well as that of his grandmother’s people in South Australia.
The facility was designed by Barnson and constructed by Narromine builder, Nathan O’Neill, who had to overcome some challenges, when underground piping servicing the nearby Warren Multi-purpose Centre, was uncovered.
Warren mayor, Greg Whiteley, congratulated all those involved in the construction, design, and decoration of the new block.
“Peter Mackay and the Wailwan community, should be congratulated for being involved in this,” mayor Whitely said.
“This is the third project that Nathan’s been involved with the Warren Shire Council and that speaks for itself.
“Obviously when you go into these projects, unexpected things can happen, such as, when you want to pour a slab, there’s things underneath it!”
Mayor Whiteley said aim of the project was to increase female participation in sport and was already well-utilised by junior mixed rugby league, netball, and the women’s rugby union.
“It represents our community coming together, male and female, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, all of the community that will use this.”
Mr Butler in his address, welcomed the recent state government focus on female sporting facilities.
“I think we all know that for years, for decades and decades, we’ve built sporting facilities typically focused on men – male change-rooms, male toilets – and that wasn’t very inclusive,” Mr Butler said.
“This building is going to be an asset for a long time to come and, for all those ladies that like getting involved in sport, it’s now that much easier to come and get involved, get outside and run around and have a good time.
“So well done to the council. These things don’t happen by accident,” he concluded.