Dunc Gray Velodrome

Designed to be Australia’s premier track cycling facility, the Velodrome is located within The Crest of Bankstown, an area of recreational parkland with existing athletics, hockey and soccer fields, at Bankstown in Sydney’s west.

The NSW State Government’s Olympic Co-ordination Authority (OCA) has developed this world-class facility, a venue for high-performance cycling, with Bankstown City Council. It will be a long-term legacy for the people of western Sydney, expected to attract the world cycling circuit, national and international events, all levels of local cycling competition, the coaching and training of elite athletes, and school and club competition.

Construction on the $41 million Velodrome commenced in May 1998 and was complete in September 1999.

The Velodrome is named after Dunc Gray who won Australia’s first cycling gold medal at Los Angeles in 1932. Dunc Gray was committed to cycling and the Olympic movement and was involved in both the Melbourne Centennial Olympic bid in 1996 and Sydney’s successful bid for the 2000 Games.

Design
The Velodrome’s compact, domed structure is clearly visible along the Hume Highway. The design, by Ryder SJPH Architects, originated from Paul Ryder’s winning entry to the Olympic Velodrome design competition during Sydney’s bid for the 2000 Olympic Games.

The enclosed building covers about 11,000 square metres. The metal decked roof holds glazed central skylights, equipped with light-control louvres to optimise natural lighting and eliminate shadows on the track.

The 250 x 7 metre banked cycling track is made from baltic pine timber. The infield is sunk 1.2 metres below the cycling track’s safety zone. Surrounding the track are 3,150 permanent spectator seats, raked to provide the best possible sightlines. During the Olympics, seating will be expanded to accommodate 5,821 seats. The seats are arranged in amphitheatre style and linked by a public concourse.

The infield can be configured for other sports, such as basketball and badminton, and for uses such as exhibitions, trade shows and banquets. The building also includes race and commentary facilities, athlete’s change rooms and gymnasium, venue and management rooms, amenities and retail services.

Natural lighting is provided by skylights, significantly lowering energy consumption during daylight hours.

Trivia
Track size: 250 metres
Total length of track timber laid end to end: 60 kilometres
Number of nails used in construction: 360,000
Track racing surface: Baltic Pine (Finland)
Surface angles: 42 degrees max (mid bends), 12 degrees min (straights).
Safety Track (duck board) width: 5 metres
Track racing surface width: 7 metres
Seating capacity: 3150

Information courtesy www.gamesinfo.com.au

For general directions (bus schedule noted was during Olympic period only)
Games Info map

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