Willsmere Park pavilion renewal

The newly upgraded Jack Gervasoni Pavilion at Willsmere Park is now open.

After two rounds of community consultation, we finalised the design for the pavilion upgrade and construction was completed in mid-2025.

Community consultation

In November and December 2022, we asked for feedback on the upgraded pavilion and new pavilion design. 

The initial pavilion design received mixed community support.  While people liked the overall look and feel of the designs, they wanted better visibility of the playground and green open space.

As a result of community feedback on the initial pavilion design, the new pavilion location was relocated to the western side of the existing pavilion, to provide increased visibility of the wider park area. 

In April and May 2023, we asked for feedback on the alternative design of the new pavilion.

There was support for the alternative design, given the alternative location provides a better balance of meeting the needs of the sports clubs and the community.

You can find out what our community told us, how their feedback shaped the final design and view the final design on our Willsmere Park pavilion renewal consultation page.

About the upgrade

Willsmere Park in Kew East is an important community sport and recreational space. The previous pavilion was in poor condition and didn’t meet the needs of the community or sports clubs, including Kew Cricket Club and East Kew Football Club.

The new pavilion provides inclusive amenities, accessible spaces and a welcoming environment for all, delivering on Council’s commitment to create community connection through sport. 

Our aim is to see more women and girls taking up sport and staying active in our community. With improved facilities, we’re removing barriers and creating environments where girls can play, lead and achieve. 

The pavilion forms part of Council’s ongoing pavilion renewal program, creating inclusive, high-quality spaces that build equity and community connection through sport.

Honouring Jack Gervasoni’s legacy

The new pavilion is named in honour of Jack Gervasoni - footballer, educator and civic leader. 

Jack Gervasoni believed in the power of sport to unite and uplift - a belief he carried as a player, teacher, councillor and mayor. His legacy is woven into this amazing new facility, bringing people together and creating possibility and equal opportunity for all. 

As Jack’s daughter, Associate Professor Ann Gervasoni shared at the pavilion opening: ‘When you see the name Jack Gervasoni Pavilion, think of what it means to belong and persevere.’ Let this pavilion continue to be a place where community thrives, where young people grow and belong and where teams compete in the spirit of friendship.”

About the new pavilion Mayor Sophie Torney said: “This new pavilion is more than bricks and mortar - it’s a place where memories will be made, and futures shaped.”

The legacy of Jack Gervasoni lives on in this space, where lifelong participation is celebrated.

To read Ann Gervasoni’s pavilion opening speech in full, visit our library catalogue archives. You’ll need to be a Boroondara libraries member to access the speech. It takes around 2 minutes to join online. Once joined, you’ll get a membership number, allowing you to access the speech immediately.

New pavilion

The fit-for-purpose, single-storey building design provides:

• 2 unisex changerooms and amenities (in addition to the 2 existing ones)
• 2 umpires’ rooms (including one accessible room)
• a first aid room
• storage facilities
• a multipurpose community space/social room
• solar panels.

Located further to the western side of the existing pavilion, this design:

• is shaped around the existing trees to minimise impact on them
• allows free flow of flood waters and won’t cause any significant rise in flood level - it considers existing flood levels, with the Yarra River located at the end of the park
• considers sports field locations
• provides wheelchair accessibility and car parking
• minimises visual impact in the park because the height of the new pavilion closely matches the height of the existing pavilion. The new pavilion is raised by 320 mm as required by Melbourne Water, to accommodate the location’s flood level.

Timeline