2025 SANFL Facility of the Year Winners

3 November 2025

Two significant South Australian football facility developments have been recognised as winners of the 2025 SANFL Football Facility of the Year Awards.

A centrepiece of 2025 AFL Gather Round, The Barossa Council’s Barossa Park development at Lyndoch was announced as winner of the Community Football Facility of the Year Award (over $3.5 million) at the SANFL Community Volunteer Awards Winners event at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

Also, in an exciting development for women’s football, South Adelaide Football Club’s new purpose-built female changerooms were awarded the Community Football Facility of the Year Award (under $3.5m).

SANFL Head of Infrastructure and Government Relations Belinda Marsh said the Facility of the Year Awards celebrated excellence in developing welcoming, accessible, and purpose-built venues across our state.

“Each year, we recognise projects that strengthen our game by supporting inclusive changerooms, quality ovals and lighting, and infrastructure that enhances the experience for players, coaches, umpires, and fans,” Ms Marsh said.

The Barossa Park redevelopment project will be South Australia’s nomination for the prestigious national AFL Ken Gannon Award—recognising the best community football facility across the country, to be announced in early 2026.

Completed in March of this year, the $45.7 million Barossa Park stands as a landmark achievement in regional sport infrastructure, reflecting years of strategic planning, community advocacy, and visionary investment.

Initially conceived as part of The Barossa Council’s long-term multi-generational infrastructure initiative, The Big Project, the redevelopment of Lyndoch Recreation Park into Barossa Park was years in the making, with planning commencing as early as 2015.

The project was dramatically accelerated when the venue was selected to host two 2025 AFL Gather Round matches, prompting a fast-tracked delivery timeline requiring innovative procurement and contract management methodologies.

 Ms Marsh said that as a result of an extraordinary level of collaboration between the State Government, The Barossa Council, Barossa District Football Club, SANFL, AFL and local sporting clubs, the project – which typically would span 3-5 years – was completed in just 11 months.

“Beyond local and regional impact, the venue positions the Barossa to host major events, meeting requirements for events such as AFL Gather Round, as well as providing opportunities for state and national-level football competitions,” she said.

“This not only brings elite football to the community but also generates meaningful economic and tourism benefits for the region.”

In accepting the award, Barossa Mayor Bim Lange said the Council was proud to have created such an incredible community facility through collaboration and investment from the State Government and the community.

“This award is testament to our forward-thinking Council and highlights a shared vision to not only build a landmark multi-use precinct where sport and community come together, but to create a venue that attracts events and brings people to the Barossa,” Mayor Lange said.

“Barossa Park has already proven to be a huge asset for local sporting clubs, including the Barossa District Football and Netball Club completing their first season in their new home, and the cricket, little athletics, tennis, bowls, and pigeon clubs are now actively using the facility.

“We’re calling this a back-to-back win after Tanunda Recreation Park took out the same title last year – a reflection of our ongoing investment and commitment to delivering sport and recreation facilities that enhance community wellbeing.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said Barossa Park was a huge success in its first year and would deliver dividends to the Barossa community for generations to come.

“It is and always was about more than Gather Round. This is an incredibly high quality regional facility, with capacity to bring national and international events to the Barossa, while providing top class facilities for locals across a range of ages from a range of different sports,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“My Government is proud to have invested in partnership with Council to deliver this project which helps bind community and keeps our young people active, engaged and connected, rather than stuck on phones.”

 The South Adelaide Football Club, which created football history this year after winning its fourth SANFLW premiership, completed construction of its new female changerooms, located beneath the iconic Jim Deane Grandstand, in August 2025. 

The project, made possible through the generous support of a grant from the State Government, delivered an inclusive, welcoming and fit-for-purpose change space for all participants in their female football program and represents stage one of the Noarlunga Oval Precinct Masterplan.

The development of dedicated female changerooms, doctor, recovery and treatment areas and education rooms has delivered an appropriate level of amenity for the elite female football pathway in southern Adelaide.

This project also reflected an outstanding partnership with the State Government and establishes a strong foundation for future stages of the Noarlunga Oval Precinct Masterplan.

“The South Adelaide Football Club is genuinely proud to finally provide our outstanding female footballers with their own dedicated changerooms,” South Adelaide Football Club CEO Neill Sharpe said.

“Delivered in conjunction with Walter Brooke, Alliance and Place PM, this project delivers modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that recognise their achievements, support their wellbeing, and reflect the club’s commitment to female football.”