Haig Park Community Centre

The Salthouse Community Centre is now open in Haig Park. The centre is helping to activate this key inner-city park and support the growing local community.

We sought community ideas, about this project in 2019 and 2020.They showed interest in converting the former Haig Park depot and wanted a flexible space to host different activities.

Community feedback on the first round of designs for the new centre and surrounding gardens influenced the final designs.

The new centre nestles into the urban forest landscape and provides a shared space for locals and visitors. It features two modest buildings that complement the natural surroundings. One reuses the existing depot structure and the second follows sustainable design practices.

Salvaged bricks from the former depot and wheelchair accessible park furniture were reused in the construction. Timber from a former New Acton wharf and lakeside structure also feature.

Other sustainable features include passive solar design and rain collection and storage for garden irrigation. Light comes from large, double-glazed windows in the day and warm white LED lights at night.

Features include:

• multi-purpose room for larger gatherings
• large community room for creative workshops
• small meeting room
• one ambulant and two accessible and gender-sensitive bathrooms
• kitchenette
• wheelchair-compliant barbecue and picnic tables
• public garden for meeting and relaxing in.

Project benefits

• a new adaptable community space for the inner city
• an accessible and inclusive place to meet
• a sunny public garden with seats and tables
• an enlivened Haig Park
• opportunities for public hire by multiple users
• improved lighting in and around the building and park to improve safety.

Find out more

Northside Community Service manages the centre. To make a booking, contact them on:

• 02 6171 8000
• venue.hire@northside.asn.au.

Community consultation results can be found on the YourSay consultation page.

If you have questions about this project, or wish to find out more about the City Renewal Authority, please contact them on:

• 02 6205 1878
• cityrenewal@act.gov.au
• act.gov.au/cityrenewal