Kingston’s transformation into a major sporting hub has taken another step forward, with Tasmanian company Fairbrother Construction appointed to build the Tasmania Devils’ $105 million High Performance Centre at the Twin Ovals.
Work on the 9,000-square-metre centre is set to begin immediately, adding to construction already underway on Oval 3 and plans for a fourth oval within the expanding Kingborough Sports Precinct.
The High Performance Centre will become the headquarters of the Tasmania Football Club and home to its AFL and AFLW programs, ahead of the Devils entering the national competitions in 2028.
The facility will include extensive medical and recovery areas, hot and cold and magnesium plunge pools, infrared saunas, and one of the largest gymnasiums and indoor training areas in the AFL.
Tasmania Football Club CEO Brendon Gale said appointing Fairbrother was a major milestone.
“This is a huge step forward for our Club, our High Performance Centre is an anchor project for our Club,” Mr Gale said.
“This facility is key to accommodating our staff, attracting and retaining talent and providing an elite environment that will set us up to compete in the AFL and AFLW.”
Mr Gale said having a Tasmanian company undertake the project would also create local jobs and apprenticeship opportunities.
The project forms part of a much wider redevelopment of the Kingston sporting precinct, with civil works on Oval 3 beginning in July.
Once completed, Oval 3 will provide a home ground for the Kingborough Tigers, while Kingborough Council is also progressing plans for Oval 4, with construction anticipated to begin next year.
Acting Kingborough Mayor Christian Street said the investment would deliver benefits extending well beyond the Devils.
“While the High Performance Centre will be home to the Tasmania Devils, the wider investment in the precinct will leave a lasting legacy for the Kingborough community,” Cr Street said.
“The Kingborough Sports Precinct is being developed to cater for everyone, from grassroots participants through to elite athletes.”
The Kingborough Knights will continue to play premier cricket matches at the existing cricket oval, which will retain its turf centre wicket, turf practice wickets and pavilion.
Planned Oval 4 will provide an additional turf centre wicket for women’s, junior and lower-grade men’s cricket, while also providing a winter training venue for the Kingborough Tigers.
The Devils development will also include a redevelopment of the existing main training oval at the Twin Ovals, which will be reshaped to the same dimensions as the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
That work is expected to be completed by October 2027, in time for the Devils’ first AFL pre-season.
Cr Street said the expanding precinct would also provide wider economic benefits through increased visitation and opportunities for local suppliers, traders and service industries.
The Tasmanian Government is investing $105 million in the High Performance Centre, with Minister for Sport Nick Duigan saying the project would create local jobs and support Tasmanian businesses.
“This is another important milestone as we count down to the Devils’ entry into the AFL and AFLW in 2028,” Mr Duigan said.
Fairbrother CEO Kurt Arnold said the Tasmanian company was proud to have been selected to deliver the project.
“This is one of the most significant sporting infrastructure projects Tasmania has seen in recent years,” he said.
Completion of the High Performance Centre is expected by mid-2028.
Until the new facilities are ready, the existing Kingborough Cricket and Football Club clubrooms will serve as the home of the Devils’ elite programs.
