Fankhauser Reserve

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Fankhauser Reserve
Fankhauser Reserve oval.jpg
Fankhauser Reserve
Interactive map of Fankhauser Reserve
AddressCnr Musgrave & Olsen Ave
Southport, Queensland
Coordinates 27°57′20″S153°23′09″E / 27.95552032519687°S 153.38586351237055°E / -27.95552032519687; 153.38586351237055
Capacity8,000 [1]
Record attendanceSporting events:
4,053 (Gold Coast vs Brisbane, 13 March 2011)
Other events:
37,000 (Laneway Festival, 7 February 2026)
Construction
Broke ground1988;38 years ago (1988)
Opened5 April 1989;36 years ago (5 April 1989)
Construction costA$2.7 million
Tenants
Southport Sharks (1987–present)

Fankhauser Reserve (officially known as Wally Fankhauser Sports Reserve) is a multi-sports venue in the Gold Coast suburb of Southport. It is the home of the Southport Sharks, an Australian rules football club that competes in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the QAFL Women's (QAFLW).

History

Southport played its home matches at Owen Park when it joined the Gold Coast Australian Football League (GCAFL) in 1962. [2]

In 1987, the club's board of directors submitted a proposal to the Gold Coast City Council to build a professional Australian rules football ground and licensed club on the 31 acres of land located on the corner of Musgrave Avenue and Olsen Avenue. [2] The submission was approved and the club was granted a 50-year lease on the site. [2]

Construction of the $2.7 million development began in 1988. [2] During the construction, Southport requested that Gold Coast City Council extend its lease at Owen Park until 30 December 1989 because a "major sponsor [was] no longer interested in the project", although no lease extension eventuated. [3] The spent the $800,000 it had in its bank account as part of the construction. [2]

Fankhauser Reserve was completed in February 1989 and officially opened by Southport president Alan Mackenzie on 5 April 1989. [2] The ground was named after Wally Fankhauser, the club's then-vice-president, who donated $2.2 million towards the facility. [4] [5] The first match at the ground was played on 1 May 1989, with the Sharks defeating Mayne by 59 points. [6]

The Gold Coast Suns played six matches at Fankhauser Reserve during the 2010 VFL season. [7] Gold Coast also played regular home matches at the ground while competing in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) between 2011 and 2019. [8] Several pre-season Australian Football League (AFL) matches were held at the ground, including one during the 2011 NAB Challenge in front of a record crowd of 4,053 people. [9]

Fankhauser Reserve was scheduled to host an AFL Women's (AFLW) match between Gold Coast and Adelaide during round 7 of the 2020 season, before it was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [10]

In addition to Australian rules football, Fankhauser Reserve has also hosted soccer matches. [11] A pre-season friendly between Brisbane Roar FC and Melbourne Victory FC was played at the ground on 19 August 2015. [12] The Laneway music festival was held at the ground on 7 February 2026, attracting a crowd of 37,000 people for the ten-hour event. [13]

References

  1. ↑ "Fankhauser Reserve". Austadiums. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1988". Southport Sharks. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "Council Meeting". City of Gold Coast. 6 May 1988. p. 141. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  4. ↑ "2023 Queensland Football Hall of Fame – Wally Fankhauser". AFL Queensland. 21 August 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  5. ↑ "Council Meeting". City of Gold Coast. 3 November 1989. p. 86. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "1989". Southport Sharks. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "GCFC Breaks Through For First Victory!". Gold Coast Suns. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  8. ↑ Heaton, Bryce (10 June 2017). "Our NEAFL side overcome the Gold Coast Suns". Brisbane Lions. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  9. ↑ Whiting, Michael (13 March 2011). "First blood to Lions". AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  10. ↑ "2020 AFLW fixture revealed: Tigers, Blues to kick off season under lights". Fox Sports. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "Victory locks in pre-season training camp". A-Leagues. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  12. ↑ "Former Roar player surprise Victory hero". Brisbane Roar FC. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Laneway Festival: A Landmark Moment for the Southport Sharks". Southport Sharks. February 2026. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
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