Hidden in the heart of Brisbane City, in an underutilised and unappreciated underpass beneath Roma and Turbot street, a shiny new sports court has emerged. The HL Court is available to all athletically minded denizens – be they workers, students or visitors – to enjoy a spot of outdoor recreation or relaxation.
First of its kind in The City, this multi-use play court comes as the result of a partnership between the Brisbane City Council, Mirvac, Suncorp and M&G Real Estate. The HL Court (Heritage Lane Court for long) makes up an extension of the award-winning Heritage Lanes precinct at 80 Ann Street, owned by Mirvac and M&G Real Estate and head office to Suncorp and KPMG.
Previously a pocket of what Lord Mayor Adrien Shrinner calls “boring concrete” – and what Simon Healy, group general manager for Commercial and Mixed-Use Development at Mirvac describes as “a space that was otherwise somewhat disused and aesthetically unappealing,” – the nook has been transformed into an active haven with a fenced and shaded court suitable for basketball, soccer, handball, pickleball and other activities. It also features bleacher-style seating, a drinking fountain and public art for the community to enjoy from two renowned indigenous Queensland artists Delvene Cockatoo-Collins and Judy Watson.
Judy Watson’s suspended sculpture Freshwater Lens was installed in 2010 as part of Brisbane City Council’s Small Spaces public art program. It references the freshwater lens, a body of fresh water that pools beneath coral atolls and sand islands, such as Queensland’s Heron Island and Stradbroke Island. The fresh water floats atop the salty seawater, its weight pushing out into a lens shape. Judy describes these subterranean bodies of water as “hidden, fragile, precious jewels, sustaining the environment and all life forms.”
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Delvene Cockatoo-Collins’s work An Afternoon Low Tide was inspired by the theme ‘Current and Continuity’ and was designed to compliment Judy’s existing work. An Afternoon Low Tide speaks to freshwater meets saltwater, with bubbles and patterns of water incorporated into the design alongside references to Delvene’s grandmother’s handwriting.
“Brisbane has an incredible outdoor lifestyle and we want to create more spaces to help residents stay active and healthy,” says Mayor Shrinner. “This court will join 14 other courts currently available across the suburbs for residents of all ages to get out and get active.”
In particular the Mayor is committing to supporting the pickleball craze, which is sweeping the nation. “Pickleball in particular is a fast-growing sport that more than 6000 people already play across Brisbane,” he says. “We are committed to delivering another four pickleball locations this financial year to make sport in Brisbane even better.”
The HL Court is open to the public from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm everyday. Private usage can be booked through the free Heritage Lanes app.