The old Pioneer Hall building on the edge of MacCabe Park is scheduled to be demolished in May. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
The long-awaited MacCabe Park upgrade is about to get under way.
Demolition of the vacant Pioneer Hall on the eastern edge of the park is set to begin in May, followed by work to restore the space.
Works are expected to be completed by August and will add a significant amount of green space to the park.
Built in the 1950s, Pioneer Hall has been closed since 2020.
Located on land owned by Wollongong City Council, the facility was handed back to the council in 2021 by the Wollongong Pioneer Hall Association.
A council spokesperson said inspections identified structural, compliance and safety issues that left parts of the building no longer fit for purpose.
Following a Heritage Assessment and Impact Report, the council decided to demolish the hall and return the area to open parkland.
MacCabe Park is the city centre’s premier park, known for its large open area and community events.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said she looked forward to working with the community to continue shaping the park’s future.
“As Wollongong City Centre’s premier park, the council has a long-term plan to transform MacCabe Park into a central, vibrant and contemporary urban park that serves as the city’s ‘green heart’ and expands opportunities for recreation,” Cr Brown said.
“A master plan for MacCabe Park is programmed to commence late in 2026-27 and I look forward to hearing creative and exciting ideas for this important public space.”
Also in the pipeline is a new MacCabe Park skatepark.
Community consultation held last year identified an area in the south‑east of the park as the preferred location.
The new recreation area is planned to be built in the 2026-27 financial year.
