Browne Park – Profile
Browne Park is home to the mighty Central Queensland Comets. The Comets compete in the statewide Intrust Super Queensland Cup. Browne Park is seen as the home of rugby league in Central Queensland and is located between George Street (Bruce Highway) and Murray Street in Rockhampton, Queensland.
In 2004, Browne Park was transformed into arguably Queensland’s best regional rugby league venue. The transformation included moving the field 10 meters towards Albert Street (hill end) to accommodate the redevelopment of the Rockhampton Leagues Club. Along with the new entrance to the ground, new lighting towers and a new irrigation system was installed as part of the redevelopment project.
The lighting at Browne Park has three levels - training, match and professional - with the latter providing in excess of 600 lux on illumination. The towers are in excess of 40 metres tall with 16 bulbs affixed to each tower.
At the end of the 2006 season, construction began on a new grandstand along the George Street side of the field. The undercover George Street Grandstand, now completed, has 614 colourful bucket seats. Being closer to the field makes for a great viewing experience! Browne Park now has a seating capacity of approximately 2,200.
Browne Park is also host to all forms of rugby league. From juniors and primary school sides to the seniors that compete in the domestic Rockhampton competition and the Central Queensland Premier League competition, Browne Park accommodates for all ages and levels. The facility would host, on average, a game a day. Not bad given that rugby league is played for only six months of the year.
Apart from the regular season rugby league games, Browne Park plays host to the Capricorn Cougars Football in the Queensland State League competition. Over the past few years, Browne Park has hosted numerous National Rugby League trials, a Rugby League World Cup match between Scotland and Tonga, as well as the Bundaberg Rum Bush Fund Legends of League Charity Match in early October 2007.
With excellent facilities, Browne Park is sure to find a place among the best regional sporting facilities in Australia.
