Frew Park Project (former Milton Tennis Centre site)
Brisbane City Council plans to rejuvenate the former Milton Tennis Centre and Milton Bowl site into a 3.5 hectare inner city parkland by 2014.
The site is located between Frew Street and Milton Road, Milton.
Background
The Queensland Lawn Tennis Association once owned the majority of the site. It had 19 hard courts and four grass courts, with seating for 7,000 spectators.
After nearly 100 years of tennis, the Association sold the site in 1999 for urban development.
Milton Bowl, with its popular Alley Bar, opened in 1962 just north of the Milton Tennis Centre site. As a city icon, Milton Bowl was a popular outing for families and groups. Like the Tennis Centre, Milton Bowl was sold for urban development and closed on 17 March 2008.
A number of development applications have been lodged for the site over recent years. These applications were met with strong opposition from local residents who wanted to preserve the space for community enjoyment. Council responded to the concerns of residents by resuming the site for parkland in March 2011.
Your Park, Your Ideas
Many people feel connected with the former Tennis Centre and Milton Bowl site. Council asked the community to share their memories of the site in late 2011. This information was collected to help with the creative design phase of the project. Council also undertook detailed analysis of the site to determine how the parkland could be best developed. A preliminary plan, which showed the broad layout and ground levels, was released in October 2011 to assist the community in providing their ideas for the new park.
Council received many great suggestions in response to the preliminary plan and these were considered in the design of a draft concept plan.
Draft Concept Plan
The Draft Concept Plan opened for public feedback on 31 January 2012 and closed on 24 February 2012. Over 150 responses were received during this period.
The Draft Concept Plan was developed in context with other parks in the area, particularly Milton and Gregory Parks, with the aim of providing a range of facilities for the location. Proposed park features included:
- carpark
- play area
- open space
- pathways
- picnic facilities
- six tennis courts to reflect the site's history
- two storey building to provide public amenities and premises to manage the tennis facility
Council received positive feedback on the key features of the Draft Concept Plan with tennis courts, walking and cycle paths and multi-purpose sports areas being the most popular features. The feedback indicated that the community want a park with large, multi-use and open green space for recreation and sporting activities.
Council has revised the plan to provide a better pedestrian entry from Milton Road. This has split the tennis courts and permitted the multi-use sports area to be located in a more desirable location. Features such as exercise equipment and shade for the playspace will be included in the final detailed design.
A skate facility was requested by a number of people, but Council has determined such a facility is not suitable for this location. Council has commenced investigating the possible upgrade of a nearby skate facility at Neal Macrossan Park, Paddington. People also requested cricket facilities (pitch and nets). Council is currently planning for these facilities to be included in nearby Gregory Park.
Given the positive feedback to the Draft Concept Plan, minimal changes were required to the Plan, meaning that Council has been able to release the Final Concept Plan earlier than planned.
Download the Frew Park Final Concept Plan which includes a description of the key features:
You can download the latest version of Adobe Reader for free.
Park name
The new park will continue to be called Frew Park in honour of Mr Robert Dickson Alison Frew. Mr Frew was the President of the Queensland Lawn Tennis Association from 1910 to 1930 and was the 'driving force' behind the creation of the Milton Tennis Centre. He was also a member of Brisbane's Metropoliton Water Supply and Sewerage Board from 1910 to 1914 and again from 1922 to 1928. Mr Frew made a significant contribution to the Milton community and the City of Brisbane.
Next steps
Council will now start working on detailed design and construction plans. Construction is proposed to start in mid 2013, with completion in late 2014.
Auchenflower Branch Sewer Upgrade Project
Queensland Urban Utilities are currently using the site as a temporary works depot and storage area for the Auchenflower Branch Sewer Upgrade Project. Council will honour this agreement until it concludes in late 2012.
For further information about the Auchenflower Branch Sewer Upgrade Project, contact Queensland Urban Utilities.
More information
You can find out more information about the Frew Park project by:
- dropping in to the Toowong Ward Office
- emailing the project team
- phoning Council on 07 3403 8888
- writing to:
Parks Major Projects
Natural Environment and Sustainability Branch
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001
