Project Profile
Archerfield Wetlands District Park
A Flagship for Urban Renewal
Part of the $100 million Oxley Creek Transformation, Archerfield Wetlands District Park has redefined what’s possible for post-industrial public spaces. Once home to a decommissioned wastewater treatment plant, this 15-hectare site has been transformed into a vibrant district park celebrating ecology, industry and imagination in equal measure.
Details
Location: Bowhill Road, Durack QLD
Opened: September 2024
Project Partners:
- URBIS – Lead Consultant and Landscape Architecture
- Brisbane Sustainability Agency – Project Client
- Third Place Design – Specialist Play Designer
- EPOCA Constructions – Principal Contractor
Project Budget: $22 million
Image Credit: Brisbane Kids
Project Overview
Set within rehabilitated wetlands and riparian corridors, Archerfield Wetlands District Park serves as both a gateway and a gathering space. The site’s industrial legacy hasn’t been erased, but reinterpreted—its materials, forms and stories transformed into a dynamic and immersive play experience.
Towering above the wetlands, the main play structure combines climbing routes, tunnels, bridges and water misting features to create a play experience that’s bold, tactile and unexpected. The result is a sculptural playscape that feels as alive as the wetlands around it.
Design Process
The original integrated play structure design, led by Luke Micali at URBIS, envisioned a multi-level, narrative-driven experience that paid homage to the site’s industrial past. Third Place Design (formerly Playscape Creations) was brought on to help bring this concept to life—tasked with translating the creative vision into a fully resolved, buildable play journey.
Working closely with URBIS, EPOCA Constructions and the broader project team, Third Place led the detailed design and engineering of all interactive play-based elements—ensuring they were spatially, structurally and aesthetically integrated within the overall tower system. Our focus was on creating custom features that layered mist, movement, texture and challenge in ways that supported the story of the site and strengthened the user experience.
From climbing pipes and suspended fog baskets to swings, tunnels and sensory water points, every playable element was engineered for safety and longevity, delivering an immersive adventure that has since become an award-winning landmark.
“The Archerfield Wetlands District Park isn’t just a great place to play, but a space the community can use to celebrate, meet and explore the natural beauty of our own backyard.”
— Councillor Tracy Davis, Chair for Environment, Parks and Sustainability
An Award Winning Playspace
Archerfield Wetlands District Park has been recognised at the 2025 Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) Queensland Awards, highlighting what can be achieved through collaboration, creativity and community vision.
The project was also recognised with an Award of Excellence for Parks and Open Space and a Landscape Architecture Award for Play Spaces at the 2025 AILA QLD Awards. The selection jury highly praised the project for “seamlessly integrating nature-based play, ecological restoration and deep Traditional Owner engagement.
Environmental Legacy and Community Impact
Archerfield Wetlands District Park is a powerful example of design-led regeneration—turning a brownfield site into a thriving community asset. Now a popular destination for families, schools and walking groups, the park blends education, biodiversity and recreation in one layered experience.
By integrating misting and water interaction into a dry adventure format, the space offers an environmentally responsive alternative to traditional waterplay systems. The park itself champions inclusive access and sustainable design; and as part of the broader Oxley Creek Greenway, it stands as a lasting investment in a greener, more connected Brisbane.
The Finished Space
Framed by the surrounding wetlands, the main play structure delivers a bold, sensory-rich experience complete with climbing routes, tunnels, suspended bridges and winding slides. Cooling mist and fog elements bring a sensory quality to the dry adventure format, delivering water-based play without the operational demands of a splashpad.
Repurposed pipework, concrete cogs and elevated hangouts create moments of contrast—dry and wet, solid and soft, mechanical and organic. More than just functional, every element tells a story, inviting users to uncover the site’s industrial past and explore it in a new light through imaginative play.
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