Long-held vision for Victoria Park Water Jump set to become reality

After close to a decade of planning, the Adelaide Equestrian Festival is excited to progress a new water complex within Victoria Park — a project first championed by former Event Director and Olympic Gold Medallist Gillian Rolton AM.

The Victoria Park Water Jump has long been part of the Festival’s vision for its home within the Adelaide Park Lands and represents an important legacy project for both the Adelaide Equestrian Festival and the sport of eventing in Australia.

Originally initiated by Gillian Rolton AM prior to her passing, the project was subsequently placed on hold following COVID-19 that coincided with a 3-year postponement of the event.

With the Festival firmly re-established, preliminary work on the project recommenced in early 2025 with the City of Adelaide. The Victoria Park Water Jump has been deliberately designed as a natural and sympathetic feature of the Park Lands.

The location utilises an existing cleared area within the naturally undulating topography of the landscape. For the majority of the year, the site presents as a grassed depression, with the complex only holding water during the Festival event period through sophisticated stormwater engineering and water-management. The design does not require the removal of trees or established vegetation and will not be impacted by the new MotoGP circuit.

Adelaide Equestrian Festival Event Director Kirsty Withers said seeing the project move closer to fruition was an emotional milestone.

“This is a project that has been close to a decade in the making, Cross Country is the defining discipline of our event and sport, a second water complex brings Adelaide’s course infrastructure in line with the world’s leading venues - to be realising Gill’s vision ten years on is incredibly special.

“The design has always been about working with the existing landscape. The site is already cleared and naturally depressed, allowing us to create something that presents as part of the grassed Park Lands year round and then transforms into a world-class competition feature during the Festival."

Planning for an exciting 2027 Festival

The Festival is working collaboratively with the South Australian Government and SA Motor Sport Board to ensure the 2027 event, to be held from 15-18 April, continues to be delivered to the world-class standard expected of a 5-star horse trials, while accommodating simultaneous works associated with the new MotoGP circuit.

A new event layout is being developed in response to the changes within Victoria Park, with the Festival looking forward to unveiling a precinct that continues to provide competitors, spectators, partners and traders with the atmosphere and professional presentation Adelaide is known for.

“Our team is no stranger to adapting to disruption and change within the Adelaide Park Lands, with the Festival having successfully operated outside the traditional Victoria Park hub on a number of occasions throughout its history,” Ms Withers said.

Adelaide Equestrian Festival Deputy Chair Karlene Maywald said the Festival’s long-term planning reflected its commitment to remaining one of the world’s leading equestrian events.

“The Adelaide Equestrian Festival is an iconic international event that has been successfully staged in the Adelaide Park Lands for more than 25 years.

“The Victoria Park Water Jump represents an important investment in the Festival’s future. We are pleased to work collaboratively with the City of Adelaide, South Australian Government and SA Motor Sport Board on the opportunities ahead for the Festival.

“Our focus is not simply on navigating the changes required for 2027, but on ensuring the Adelaide Equestrian Festival continues to thrive, evolve and strengthen its international standing for decades to come,” Ms Maywald said.