The 2026 AFL Gather Round Footy Festival brought Elder Park to life, transforming the riverside precinct into a buzzing hub of footy fans, live entertainment, and high-volume event activity. With thousands of attendees moving through the site across multiple days, 1300TempFence was engaged to deliver a comprehensive temporary fencing solution that supported safe crowd movement, clear site separation, compliance, and efficient event operations.

Scope of works

The project involved the large-scale deployment of event-ready infrastructure, including:

• 1,370LM of temporary fencing (54km/h wind-rated)
• 506LM of crowd control barriers

This infrastructure was strategically installed across key areas of the event precinct, including; perimeter boundaries, entry and exit points, queuing zones, restricted access sections, and vendor activation spaces. This helped ensure the entire site operated in a controlled and organised manner throughout the festival.

Key challenges

Delivering for a major AFL event in a public park environment required careful planning, responsive execution and a strong focus on safety. Key challenges included:

• Managing high foot traffic while maintaining safe pedestrian movement
• Meeting strict compliance standards with robust, reliable infrastructure
• Working within tight timeframes for installation and removal
• Protecting the parkland throughout all works

1300TempFence implemented a tailored solution designed specifically for the demands of a busy outdoor event environment. The use of 54km/h rated temporary fencing ensured stability in open-air conditions, while a carefully considered site layout helped optimise crowd flow, maintain clear access routes and preserve emergency pathways.

With strong local stock levels in South Australia and experienced event crews on the ground, the team delivered a fast, efficient installation. The addition of 506LM of crowd control barriers further supported safety in high-density areas, helping to manage queues, guide attendee movement and reduce congestion across key zones.

Outcome

The result was a safe, compliant, and highly functional event space, that supported smooth crowd movement, efficient access points, and well managed site operations across the festival. All works were completed on time without incident, helping contribute to the seamless delivery of another successful AFL Gather Round event.