Browne Park
| Location | Wandal, Rockhampton, Queensland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 23°22′36″S 150°30′6″E / 23.37667°S 150.50167°ECoordinates: 23°22′36″S 150°30′6″E / 23.37667°S 150.50167°E |
| Owner | Queensland Government |
| Operator | Rockhampton Leagues Club |
| Capacity | 8000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1889 |
| Opened | 1890 |
| Demolished | Redeveloped 2004 |
| Construction cost | A$18m |
| Tenants | |
|
Central Queensland Capras (1980-1998) Central Comets (Queensland Cup) (1999-present) |
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Browne Park is a rectangular football stadium located in the Rockhampton suburb of Wandal, Queensland, Australia. The stadium has been the home of rugby league football in Central Queensland since the 1980s and today also hosts rugby union and soccer matches. It hosted a match of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
The Central Queensland Comets play all home games at Browne Park in Rockhampton. Browne Park is seen as the home of rugby league in Central Queensland and is located between George Street (Bruce Highway) and Murray Street.
In 2004 Browne Park was transformed into arguably Queensland's best regional rugby league venue. The field was moved just on 10 meters towards the Albert Street (hill end) boundary to accommodate the redevelopment of the Rockhampton Leagues Club. This process saw the introduction of a new irrigation system, new lighting towers and new entrance to the ground.
At the end of the 2006 season, construction began on a new grandstand along the George Street side of the field. The undercover George Street Grandstand, now completed, has 614 colourful bucket seats, and being closer to the field makes for a great viewing experience. Browne Park now has a seating capacity of approximately 5,200.
The lighting at Browne Park has three levels - training, match and professional - with the latter providing in excess of 600 lux on illumination. The towers are in excess of 40m tall with 16 bulbs affixed to each tower.
Browne Park is also host to all forms of rugby league ranging from juniors and primary schools to the seniors that compete in the domestic Rockhampton competition and the Central Queensland Extended League competition. That facility would host at least a game a day on average, which is not bad given that rugby league is played for only 6 months of the year.
Apart from the regular season Rugby League games, Browne Park hosted the Capricorn Cougars Football for the second season in 2007, as well as the Bundaberg Rum Bush Fund Legends of League Charity Match in early October 2007.
Browne Park hosted the 7th Place Playoff of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in November. The test match, in which Tonga thrashed Scotland, attracted a crowd of almost 6,000. With Centenary Celebrations also set for Rockhampton, Browne Park is sure to find a place among the best regional facilities in Australia.
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