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apollonaut. Built by People Who've Been

Journal / History

History, stadium & river

A stadium by the river.
A walk on its roof.

The story of Optus Stadium, from a golf course on the Burswood Peninsula to the HALO rooftop tour.

Optus Stadium seen from a distance at dusk, the rim of its roof lit turquoise, with the Swan River and the airport beyond
Optus Stadium seen from a distance at dusk, the rim of its roof lit turquoise, with the Swan River and the airport beyond.

Building on the peninsula

In June 2011 the Government of Western Australia announced that a new stadium would be built at Burswood. The golf course on the site closed, construction began in December 2014, and a consortium led by Multiplex built the stadium to designs by Hassell, HKS and Cox.

Cranes above Optus Stadium under construction in 2016, seen across the Swan River
The field, seating tiers and fabric roof inside Optus Stadium on its open day in January 2018

Opening in 2018

The first match, a Twenty20 game between the Perth Scorchers and the England Lions, was played on 11 December 2017, and the stadium opened to the public on 21 January 2018. It has been the home ground of the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle ever since.

A walk around the roof

The fabric roof covers 85 per cent of the seats and rests on cantilevered trusses that give it a halo effect. In February 2021 the HALO rooftop tour opened, taking visitors on a 360-degree walk around the top of the stadium.

The Matagarup Bridge and the Swan River seen from a high walkway at Optus Stadium, with parkland below and the city skyline beyond

Continue exploring

The Matagarup Bridge and the Swan River seen from a high walkway at Optus Stadium, with parkland below and the city skyline beyondWhat to expect on HALOThe walk, the view and the rules.Cranes above Optus Stadium under construction in 2016, seen across the Swan RiverHow the stadium was builtA golf course becomes a stadium.Plan your visit

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