Safety concerns will lead to Pioneer Hall demolition

The once-popular Pioneer Hall, in the heart of Wollongong, is facing the wrecking ball.

Wollongong City Council confirmed this week that demolition of the 1950s-built hall will begin in May and should be complete in August.

A popular venue for dances, concerts and charity events over the decades, Pioneer Hall had fallen into disrepair and hasn’t been used for several years.

Council said the building had been closed since 2020 and the following year was handed back to Council by the Wollongong Pioneer Hall Association.

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, Council has decided to demolish the building and return the site on the eastern side of MacCabe Park back to open parkland.

The hall is close to the Wollongong Cenotaph and a site within MacCabe Park that Council has chosen to construct a 1500-square-metre skate park.

That proposal has drawn concerns from locals who want the park to remain green and accessible to all.

Council is in the process of drawing up tender documents for the design and construction of skate parks in both central Wollongong and Thirroul.

“Once an experienced skate park contractor is engaged, targeted design workshops will be conducted with the local community to develop the draft concept design,” a Council spokesperson said.

“The contractor’s consultation plan, proposed construction methodology, and timetable will form part of the tender responses.”

Council said it regarded the new MacCabe Park skate facility as a regional facility and despite its size it confirmed there would be no trees removed during the construction.

Both the Wollongong city and Thirroul skate parks are programmed to be built in the 2026-27 financial year with work to begin in MacCabe Park first.

Council also plans to develop a long-awaited master plan for MacCabe Park in 2026-27.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Cr Tania Brown said: “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 she looked forward to hearing “creative and exciting ideas” for the park during the master planning process.

The centrally located Neighbourhood Forum 5 group, which has concerns about the impact of the skate park on MacCabe Park, has encouraged Council to bring its master planning process forward to ensure decisions taken are in the best long-term interest of the park and people who use it, now and into the future.