Ah yes, summertime. Whether you live in the city or the sticks, the beach or the ’burbs, the summer period is traditionally a time for families and friends to come together and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle Australia is famous for. It’s also a time when we, at Fleetwood Urban, tend to feel even prouder than usual – because many of our projects will be helping to make it all happen, by providing inspired play structures, modern public amenities and seamless access infrastructure for communities across Australia.

Here’s just a small selection of Fleetwood projects Australians will be enjoying this summer. If you happen to visit any over the break, enjoy every moment – and please, be sure to let us know what you think.

Sydney:

Bondi Shelters, Bondi Beach

An iconic project at one of Australia’s most iconic outdoor locations. Bondi Beach belongs on everyone’s ‘must visit’ list and, this summer, the experience will be more comfortable than ever thanks to six award-winning beach shelters, linking the urban bustle of Campbell Parade to the movement of the Pacific Ocean. The striking contemporary design was inspired by the flowing form of the waves and clouds that frame the Bondi coastline, 365 days a year.

Wild Play, Centennial Parklands

Just 5km from the Sydney CBD in Centennial Park, WILD PLAY GARDEN is the result of stunning collaboration with design partner, ASPECT Studios. Rather than a defined and highly prescriptive play structures, the vision was of a richly immersive play environment inspired by the local fig trees and parklands – a magical garden where children are encouraged to run, jump, play, learn and discover, as they enjoy the ‘wild side of life’.

Wylde Mountain Bike Trail, Cecil Park

Grab your bike and hit the trails! This project saw us create a series of visually striking bike shelters and wash-down facilities along the popular Wylde Mountain Bike Trail in Western Sydney Parklands. By providing natural rest stops, the public shelters offer welcome respite from the elements and help to connect riders of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Melbourne:

Aurora Entry Park, Wollert

Inspired by the spectacular Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, this is one of Melbourne’s most memorable play structures and entry experiences. The park features an innovative combination of play, shade, solar energy and public art. It’s also illuminated at night, using a custom lighting display that moves through a range of carefully-programmed colours to replicate the Aurora itself!

Waratah Community Park, Mickleham

A vibrant new space on Melbourne’s northern fringe, Waratah Community Park has quickly become a popular outdoor hub for residents and visitors alike. It features separate sections for both junior and senior play, as well as a skatepark for active teens. Fleetwood played a key role in the delivery of the complex and intricate shade shelter which stands proudly as a social, and visual, centrepiece for the park.

Highlands Sustainable Park, Craigieburn

One of Australia’s most uniquely creative play structures, Highlands Sustainable Park was built almost exclusively using recycled materials that would otherwise have ended up in landfill. The social heart of a 1½ hectare public parkland, the hugely imaginative design features carved logs, tree sculptures, timber animals, tunnels, slides, swings and musical instruments to help stir young imaginations, as well as shaded seating areas for parents and an abundance of green spaces.

Brisbane:

Bokarina Beach, Bokarina

Overlooking beautiful Lake Kawana on the Sunshine Coast, Bokarina Beach is a premium new residential community with hectares of sweeping open spaces to explore and enjoy. The expansive local parklands include a new walkway through the local wetlands and a series of contemporary public shelters providing protection from the elements – and the perfect excuse to gather, mingle and socialise.

The Heights, Pimpama

The Heights is a visionary new estate on Queensland’s Gold Coast, inspired by the natural beauty of the surrounding hinterlands. Now complete, and already much loved, Fleetwood was chosen to help activate the local community parklands through a series of bold and architecturally-inspiring public shelters.

Adelaide:

Nature’s Playground Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide

Adelaide Zoo is one of South Australia’s most loved attractions and home to more than 2,500 exotic and native animals. It’s also home to Nature’s Playground – a series of interactive and sensory play structures that connect children of all ages and abilities to nature through safe and unstructured play, and provides a fun break during busy visits to the zoo. Celebrating Earth’s diverse biomes (biological communities) it features a creek to represent aquatic systems, sand pits to demonstrate the hot desert, and rope climbs, aerial walkways and elevated timber pods to reflect the great forest canopies.

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