Stand and deliver – Victorian government approves Caulfield grandstand demolition

The Melbourne Racing Club has been given government approval for a proposal to demolish the Rupert Clarke grandstand as part of a redevelopment for Caulfield.

After months of submissions that also involved Heritage Victoria and Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust approval, the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning gave the proposal the green light on Tuesday.

Planning records show that the MRC lodged a permit requesting government approval for a project that “included the demolition and buildings and works associated with a new grandstand” at Caulfield.

A glass-fronted building, the Rupert Clarke grandstand was opened in 1992.

The MRC has commissioned the architect firm Woods Bagot to design a four-story grand pavilion as part of its masterplan for the racecourse.

A bookmakers’ ring, members’ bars and food hall would be built on the ground floor with restaurants and tiered external seating on the level above.

Level two would include suites, a new committee room and a rooftop deck in what the MRC says will be a “multipurpose” grandstand, providing space for weddings, conferences and concerts.

“We are doing these things to set up a footprint that we think best accommodates everyone in racing,” MRC chairman Matt Cain told a recent members’ information meeting.

“We are certainly confident the new facilities, as most new facilities tend to be, will be an improved offering to what the members currently have and that’s what we’ll be working towards.”

The new grandstand is expected to cost $250 million but The Straight understands seating capacity will be greatly reduced.

“We haven’t finalised the exact number of seating because that is subject to finalisation of planning,” Cain said.

“We are trying to utilise what seems to be the most appropriate use of space for all of our race meetings.

“We are trying to find a balance between what makes sense for outdoor seating and the indoor areas that are available to us.”

The MRC told The Straight earlier this month that members’ feedback had been considered as the grand pavilion concept was developed.

“The club has already sought feedback through surveys and meetings on what members want to see in facilities at Caulfield,” an MRC spokesman said.

“This feedback has been factored into the design of a new ‘grand pavilion’ and we will continue to seek feedback from members.”

But some disgruntled sections of the membership believe more consultation is needed before the bulldozers are brought in.

‘Serious’ debt but MRC’s masterplan can proceed without Sandown sale

A Sandown rezoning application will soon be available for public consultation as the Melbourne Racing Club considers funding options for the next phase of its Caulfield redevelopment.

The StraightWarwick Barr

Work on the new grandstand isn’t expected to start until 2026 at the earliest as the MRC rejected claims it needs to sell Sandown to fund the next stage of its Caulfield development.

The MRC board has dismissed the idea of a partial sale of Sandown, citing advice that it would impact the racecourse’s overall value by up to $300 million.

In his update to members, Cain insisted the club had options to fund the next stage of its masterplan without selling Sandown.

But he told the membership that would mean that the club would have to go into significant debt.

A campaign group called Save Our Sandown is adamant a Sandown sale will finance the project.

The first stage of the Caulfield masterplan has been completed, with the MRC forced to address issues over some upgrades, including riders’ complaints about inadequate space in the jockeys’ room.