This new facility will be the venue for Archery competition during the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2000 as well as providing a permanent venue for training, sports development and competition for the Archery Society of NSW. (Picture courtesy of Olympic Co-ordination Authority)

The 6.5-hectare site adjoins some of the wetland area in Homebush Bay and was opened in July 1998. Around the site are natural mangrove wetland fringes and two sculptural pole forests made from recycled electricity poles of varying heights. The site contains a 183 x 100-metre archery field and a 100 x 10-metre archery pavilion.

The pavilion is aligned to ensure best shooting positions for athletes and there are nine modules beneath the twisting roof of the pavilion. The roof provides shade and protection for archers and spectators while the nine modules provide administrative offices, coaching, first aid and storage areas, change areas and toilets for athletes as well as canteen facilities and gives natural light and ventilation as well as shelter from the elements.

During the games, the field will be divided into a 52 x 70 competition area and a training and warm up area of 88 x 70 metres adjacent to the competition field. Temporary buildings and a 4,000 seat grandstand with amenities will be added to boost the venue’s facilities for VIPs, spectators and media during competition as well as the addition of a video screen and scoreboard. There are cycleway and pathway links from the site to Homebush Bay as well as parking spaces for bicycles and 80 motor vehicles.

The construction of the site incorporated natural ventilation and light as well as recycled materials. Many transmission towers were removed to improve the outlook from the site.

The Archery Park is part of the millennium parklands, an area surrounding the sporting facilities at Homebush Bay which will be developed in three stages, the first being completed prior to the games.