The Australian Turf Club (ATC) has appointed Brookfield Multiplex as the construction contractor for the $150m world-class redevelopment of Royal Randwick Racecourse.
ATC Chairman, John Cornish, said the Board was thrilled to welcome Brookfield Multiplex to the project team.
“The ATC is delighted to name this global and nationally renowned contractor as an integral partner of our landmark redevelopment,” Mr Cornish said.
“Brookfield Multiplex has impeccable credentials in constructing buildings of quality and magnitude throughout the world and we are confident they will deliver a superior project for us.”
George Kostas, Managing Director of Construction and Development at Brookfield Multiplex was equally excited about the announcement.
“We are delighted to bring our construction expertise to Royal Randwick, we believe that our experience in delivering important sporting and tourism venues such as Federation Square, Stadium Australia, Suncorp Stadium, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and most recently, The Star at Pyrmont will ensure that our work at Randwick will create an international benchmark for excellence.
Our team is on the ground and ready to commence the challenging task of working within a fully operational facility here at Randwick Racecourse”, said Mr Kostas.
Also buoyed by the announcement is the Hon. George Souris, Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, and Minister for the Arts.
“This re-development of Royal Randwick is very exciting and will provide everyone connected with thoroughbred racing – owners, trainers, jockeys and the public – with the very best facilities and will make Randwick the premier racecourse in the nation,” Minister Souris said.
Summary of the redevelopment project
The new Grandstand and Theatre of the Horse complex will set new benchmarks for Australian thoroughbred racing complex’s by utilising the design of one of Australia’s pre-eminent architectural practices, Fitzpatrick + Partners for the base building and Woods Bagot for the fit-out architecture.
The design includes doubling the capacity of the existing Queen Elizabeth II and Paddock Stands whilst providing higher quality indoor and outdoor environments for spectating pleasure.
One of the most unique features is the new Theatre of the Horse parade ring which has been benchmarked against the best courses in the world and will provide viewing of the horses parading as well as the characters of thoroughbred racing including the owners, trainers and jockeys for 4,500 people.
The horses will parade in the Theatre of the Horse before entering a tunnel under the new stand and exiting on to the course proper providing a level of anticipation not seen in Australian thoroughbred racing before.
The new facilities have also been designed to cater for multi use non-race day functions and will include a new 1,000 seat ballroom which will double as large corporate suites on a race day.
In addition, the new facilities will include a new Chairman’s Lounge, corporate suites and boxes, new betting auditorium, members dining facilities, young members bar and high end members’ cocktail lounge.
Site establishment has begun and the new grandstands and theatre of the horse will be operational in time for Sydney Carnival in April 2013.
