Latest update: March 2026

About the upgrade

We're upgrading the Ferndale Park pavilion in Glen Iris to create a better experience for pavilion users and park visitors, including:

• St Mary’s Salesian Amateur Football Club
• Ashburton United Junior Football Club
• Ashburton Willows Cricket Club
• Hawthorn U3A.

Following our consultation with the community in 2023 and a review of the renewal plans, we decided replacing the building was the best and most cost-effective option. At Boroondara, we’re committed to community health and wellbeing and providing accessible and inclusive spaces for all.

A new building will provide a more accessible, practical and environmentally sustainable facility. It will support the growing recreational and sporting needs of the community and encourage increased female participation in Australian Rules football and cricket.

2025 consultation outcome

Thank you to everyone who had their say on the new design during consultation in October and November 2025.

Read a summary of what we heard including community insights.

We’re excited to be delivering this new community facility, in line with Council’s Development and Funding of Community Pavilions – Sport and Recreation Policy (PDF) and the Boroondara Community Plan 2021–2031.

Design of new building

We’ve carefully considered the feedback we received during the 2023 consultation and asked to hear your thoughts on the new draft design for the building.

The new design includes:

• 4 changerooms with toilets and showers, built into a lower-level extension. These changerooms will accommodate demand and provide better facilities for women and girls
• an accessible public toilet with external access
• important accessibility and safety upgrades, including building lighting
• flexible multi-purpose space
• umpires room with 2 sets of toilets and showers
• sheltered, elevated decking area at the front of the pavilion
• tiered spectator seating
• internal and external storage for clubs and U3A
• first aid room, connected to one of the changerooms, with internal and external access
• sustainability features including a solar PV system and rainwater harvesting tanks
• a new pedestrian and bicycle pathway connecting to the Ferndale Trail, which forms part of the wider Boroondara Greenways network
• carpark lighting upgrade to improve safety for sports clubs and park visitors.

Explore the floor plans

Select the hotspots below to explore the proposed pavilion features:

Building footprint

The proposed new building has a total building footprint of 511 square metres, compared to the existing building footprint of 374 square metres. The increased footprint includes the balcony and stairwell.

Tree removal

We’re proposing to remove the same 2 trees as per the original design, which formed part of the 2023 community consultation. This is due to site constraints and proximity of existing trees.

We plan to plant new native trees as part of the landscape design, to improve shade in the area.

Community consultation

October to November 2025

We asked for feedback on the new pavilion design, which incorporated responses that the community previously shared with us during the 2023 consultation on the original design.

Consultation on the updated design ran for 4 weeks in October and November 2025. There were 72 people who provided feedback with 73% supporting the new design.

We heard from 72 people:

• 70% of people live in Glen Iris
• Most have a strong connection to the pavilion — they play or watch sport at Ferndale Park, attend activities and events, or regularly use the park and walking trail.

People shared their feedback through:

• a survey
• a drop-in session at the pavilion on Tuesday 11 November 2025
• workshops with the groups who regularly use the pavilion, including Ashburton Willows Cricket Club, St Mary’s Salesian Amateur Football Club, Hawthorn U3A and Glen Iris Scouts.

We let the community know about the consultation through:

• Facebook and Instagram posts
• letters to around 3,200 nearby residents
• on‑site signs at the park with a QR code linking to this consultation page
• emails to people subscribed to receive relevant consultation alerts
• promotion through Council’s Fortnightly Feed e‑newsletter.

73% people supported the updated pavilion design. They told us it:

• is a major improvement on the original design
• blends well with the surrounding environment
• avoids impacts on the Scout Hall

Some comments include:

“'The exterior looks great, blends in well with the environment. With the path at the back of the pavilion provides a safe walking path”.

“I like. Very inclusive which is great!”

“'The new modern pavilion looks great and provides great viewing areas for sport and much needed new facilities for the sporting club”.

“The draft design for an entirely new pavilion looks much better than the previous upgrade and avoids imposing problems on the adjacent Scout Hall”.

There was some feedback on:

Removing established trees

A small number of people were concerned about removing established trees.

We design projects to avoid impacting trees wherever possible, but two trees need to be removed due to site constraints. These are the same two trees identified for removal during the original 2023 design and consultation.

We will plant new native trees to replace them and improve shade in the area.

The location

Some people suggested choosing a different location.

The pavilion will stay in its current location because this option has the least environmental and visual impact. It avoids flood issues, protects mature trees and provides easy access from the car park. The design also maintains safe setbacks from the oval.

We will design the building so the southeast viewing platform maintains privacy for nearby homes.

The building size

Some people raised concerns about the size of the new building.

The current pavilion does not meet modern standards or provide the facilities that community groups and sports clubs need. The larger footprint will allow us to deliver:

• compliant changerooms and umpire rooms
• accessible amenities
• more storage
• a first aid room
• improved multipurpose and operational spaces.

These upgrades are necessary to support growing community use, create better facilities for women and girls and ensure the pavilion meets current requirements.

February to March 2023

In February and March 2023, we asked you for feedback on a draft design for the pavilion. We received mixed support from the 172 people who provided feedback:

• 20% of respondents were supportive
• 55% of respondents were not supportive
• 24% of respondents were mixed
• 1% of respondents were neutral.