The future Helensburgh Community Centre and Library

We're thrilled to invite the community to come and view the designs for the new Helensburgh Community Centre and Library!

Sherson Architecture, along with Council’s project team, will showcase the plans and concepts for this innovative and sustainable new facility and answer your questions at a series of upcoming events.

The new facility will be a vibrant, flexible space that supports local activities, learning, performances, fitness, functions and more.

How can I see the latest designs?

There are several opportunities to view the draft concept designs in the coming weeks. You can join us at:

Helensburgh Community Centre and Library Presentation and Information Session
Wednesday 25 February 2026, 6 - 7:30pm
Tradies Helensburgh - 30 Boomerang St, Helensburgh
Be among the first to preview the designs for the new Helensburgh Community Centre and Library at this special community presentation and information session. Sherson Architecture, along with Council’s project team, will showcase the plans and concepts for this innovative and sustainable new facility and answer your questions.
Registrations are essential. Please register your attendance at Eventbrite.

Helensburgh Community Centre and Library Presentation and Information Session
Wednesday 4 March 2026, 12 - 1.15pm
Online session.
Registrations are essential. Please register your attendance at Eventbrite.

Let's Talk Helensburgh
Thursday 12 March 2026, 4 - 6pm at Helensburgh Community Centre
The Future Helensburgh Community Centre and Library project team will be available, along with staff from all areas of Council to chat about current and future projects happening in Stanwell Park, Coalcliff, Otford and surrounds. There isn't a presentation at this event and you don't need to register your attendance. Just drop-in any time between 4 - 6pm.

Let's Talk pop-up: Stanwell Park Playground
Saturday 14 March 2026, 10am - 12pm
With good weather, we'll be near the Stanwell Park Playground beside the beach reserve chatting to community about projects happening in the area, including the future Helensburgh Community Centre and Library. Drop by the Council gazebo to chat with staff any time between 10am - 12pm. The address is 2A Station St, Stanwell Park.

Are you asking for feedback?

We're super excited to be presenting these designs to the community as we know it has been a long time coming. The designs have considered all the feedback we have been collecting from the community since 2017. We're eager to know what community think and that you can picture yourself in the future space.

We're working on some ways that we can capture this feedback from our community that will help us as we progress through this project. To be notified when the opportunity is made available, subscribe for project update via the "Stay Informed' function. We will also be capturing feedback from our community at the listed events.

We'd like to thank everyone who shared their great ideas and vision for this project so far.

Council is working with NSW Public Works who are providing Procurement and Project Management assistance to the project. Following an invitation only tender, local company Sherson Architecture Pty Ltd has been engaged as Principal Design Consultants to complete the design.

The concept designs will be presented to the community once the concept designs are developed, which is likely to be in February 2026.

You can find out more about the project and where it's up to by reading our recent media release - Sustainable vision as new Helensburgh Community Centre and Library takes shape | City of Wollongong

Thank you to everyone who participated in our final check in on your preferred look and feel for the new Helensburgh Community Centre and Library.

We heard what was important for the new Community Centre and Library

• Flexible room for activities such as reading, relaxing, learning, performing, working, playing and exercising
• A welcoming, comforting and accessible space with ample parking
• Better internet and technology
• Plenty of natural light, views of the bush and eco-friendly
• A building that has a distinctive design such as modern, country feel or coastal
• Artwork and history displays

We heard you want these things considered if the budget allows

• Multiple spaces and facilities
• Specific design feature
• Ample parking at the new centre
• Existing library site to be incorporated into the design
• Space for indoor sport
• Landscaping that reflects the surroundings
• Large hall space like Thirroul
• Sustainable and accessible features.

We heard these features of Helensburgh in order of importance to the community

• Helensburgh has beautiful bushland
• Helensburgh is a vibrant country village
• The proximity to the coast
• Passionate sporting community
• Our mining history.

Read the full Engagement Report

Next steps

Your feedback is important and is one factor of the decision-making process for Council. There is a whole range of things that are important in how we make a decision. The graphic below shows some of the factors we consider in our decision making:

Engagement on this project has concluded. You can view updates on this project as construction continues.

We're checking in with the community before starting the design and construction process as it's been a little while.

We talked to the community in 2017 and 2020 to find out what was important in a community centre and library. A summary of community feedback shows what we heard about the look and feel of the centre and what you want to do there.

We want to make sure what we've heard to date still rings true to our community in the far northern suburbs.

There are a range of ways you can provide us with your final thoughts and ask questions on the Centre before work starts.

How can I be involved?

You can provide your feedback via the quick poll and/or online survey:

• Take the quick poll to tell us about the look and feel of Helensburgh
• Complete the online survey
• Submit a historical photo or share a story about 53-55 Walker Street
• Collect a paper copy of the survey from Helensburgh Library
• Attend a presentation at the Otford Hall prior to Neighbourhood Forum 1 meeting on Wednesday 9 October 2024
• Come to one of our drop-in information sessions
  • Wednesday 9 October at Otford Hall - drop in any time between 5.30pm-7pm
  • Thursday 17 October at Helensburgh Library - drop in any time between 9.30am - 5pm
  • Saturday 26 October at the Helensburgh Lions Fair, Charles Harper Park - drop in any time between 9am - 3pm
• Children can add their ideas too

If none of those work for you, you can also:

• Email us at engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
• Write to us at Locked Bag 8821, Wollongong DC NSW 2500
• Call us on 4227 7111

Share your feedback by Thursday 31 October 2024.

To find out more and make a submission, visit the project page which is now live.

Feedback closes 30 August 2023.

Following a decision of Council on Monday 18 July, we are seeking approval from NSW Department of Planning & Environment - Crown Lands to place the draft Helensburgh Park Crown Reserves Plan of Management on public exhibition. The Plan of Management proposes that the area known as Helensburgh Park be changed to the following land categories - park, general community use and area of cultural significance. (Helensburgh Park refers to the land area that includes Rex Jackson Park, Charles Harper Park, Helensburgh Pool as well as the tennis courts and cricket grounds).

This change in land category will allow for a new combined Community Centre and Library for Helensburgh to be co-located with the pool. We will continue to provide progress updates including opportunities to provide feedback, via our website and social media channels.

We recently heard from the Helensburgh community about what they wanted in a combined Community Centre and Library. We also heard lots of questions from the community about this project and wanted to share the responses with you. You can now read the Engagement Report in full to find out more.

We're planning a new, integrated Community Centre and Library in the Helensburgh town centre to service current and future needs of residents. This long-term project has been informed by the many conversations we've had with the Helensburgh community about its priorities, heritage, streetscape, town centre, library and community centre.

We're checking in with the community now, to share what we've heard previously about library and community centre needs, and to ask whether this holds true for the combined facility. Did we miss anything? Do you have additional thoughts inspired by this new opportunity? Your feedback will help inform the development of a concept design, which will be created once a location has been confirmed. There'll be more opportunities to join the conversation on this project as it progresses.

Online Info Sessions

Join us online to hear from our project team and to ask questions. All info sessions will now be on-line due to the latest Covid-19 Public Health Order. No in-person sessions are available at this time. Sessions are one hour and need to be booked via the links. Booking will take you to the external Eventbrite website.

Info Sessions Times and Dates

• Thursday 15 July 2021 - Online session between 5 - 6 PM. Register for Thursday session
• Saturday 24 July 2021 - Online Session between 10 - 11AM Register for Saturday Session
• Or you can phone 02 4227 7238.

Share your thoughts

Complete the online survey, email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au(External link) or call us on (02) 4227 7111.

Last day to submit feedback is Monday 9 August 2021.

Thank you to everyone who participated during our engagement period on discussions about the future community centre for Helensburgh. Thank you for telling us what you would like about the look and feel that the future facility should have.

You can read the full engagement report which is now available.

Wollongong City Council has commenced a long term project to construct an improved and modern library and community centre for Helensburgh and surrounding suburbs. In exploring how best to meet the needs of the community, we are considering the option of integrating the community centre and library facility creating an integrated community hub. This is based on feedback from the consultation we did with your community during 2019, regarding the Helensburgh Town Centre Plan.

We would like you to tell us about the look and feel that you think our future facility should have. Please read the FAQs and share your thoughts with us by taking the survey.

This is going to be a long term project and the location of our facility has not yet been finalised. There is an opportunity now to join the conversation on this exciting project and we will seek further community input as it progresses.

Please read the FAQs to the right of your screen and register to have your say.

How to share your thoughts

• Complete the survey
• Email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
• Phone (02) 4227 7111

Submissions close 22 June 2020.