Belmont Squash Centre Receives $1.6 Million Upgrade Ahead of 2026 World Masters

The Belmont Saints Squash and Sports Centre has unveiled a $1.6 million redevelopment, positioning the facility as the premier hub for the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships.

The upgrade, funded by the Western Australian State Government’s Department of Sport, has effectively saved the 55-year-old centre from demolition, transforming it into a world-class eight-court venue.

Perth will host the championships from 30 August to 6 September 2026, with competition spread across Belmont, Karrinyup Shopping Centre, and Squashworld Mirrabooka. The event marks the sixth time Australia has hosted a World Masters squash tournament, providing a timely platform to showcase the sport’s domestic resurgence.

Noting that the improved facilities have already triggered a shift in player demographics, general manager of Squash WA, Leigh Kaye, said: “There used to be a lot of females way back when, and because of the facilities they didn’t want to shower here,” Kaye said. 

Highlighting the commercial necessity of the “modern look” for first-time participants, events officer at Squash WA, Sebastian Clarke, added: “If you are going to a run-down area, you are put off,” Clarke said. “When the facade is complete, people are going to recognise this as a modern facility for a growing sport.”

Recent data suggests that 40 to 50 per cent of court users over the last six months are new to the sport, indicating a significant growth trend in Western Australia.

The redevelopment focused on high-impact structural and aesthetic improvements designed to drive both elite competition and social participation.

Key upgrades include:

• Court Modernisation: Installation of new floors alongside glass front and back walls.
• Amenity Overhaul: Brand new changing rooms and a “social gallery” designed to encourage post-match engagement.
• The “Facade” Phase: While the interior is complete, current works are focused on a modern exterior facade to transition the building from a “run-down” environment to a recognizable high-performance facility.

Global Context: The 2026 World Masters

Australia remains the most dominant nation in World Squash Masters history with a record 70 medals. The tournament will feature hundreds of athletes aged 35 and above, leveraging the “World Champion” title to draw international media attention and tourism to Perth.

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