Located approximately 60km southwest of Sydney, Oran Park has been synonymous with speedway racing since 1962. However, as housing developments began to encircle the raceway in the early 2000s, a new wave of suburban residents, living on streets named after motor racing icons, sought diverse entertainment options. The newly constructed Oran Park Hotel has risen to meet this demand, replacing the roar of racing engines with the pulse of live music and ambient soundscapes.
Developed by Momento Hospitality and designed by Sydney-based Archebiosis Architects in collaboration with Greenfields Development Company, the Oran Park Hotel is now the largest pub entertainment venue in Australia. With a construction cost nearing AU$60 million, the venue spans three levels and features seven bars, attracting a growing membership from the Macarthur region. The complex offers a variety of dining options, including an all-day dining bistro, a sports bar, Papi’s pizzeria, an Asia-inspired rooftop bar, and a bottle shop. Additionally, the 7,500m² precinct includes a grand ballroom, two boutique cinemas, an indoor play area, and a garden atrium.
Innovative AV Design and Integration
Central to the Oran Park Hotel’s appeal is its state-of-the-art audiovisual (AV) system, designed and installed by systems integrator Vestec Electro. The AV infrastructure, which includes a range of QSC products, was implemented under the project management of Mark Versic and Neville Hanna. The system’s backbone is the Q-SYS Core technology, which controls and monitors AV functionality throughout the venue.
According to Australian distributor Technical Audio Group (TAG), their system solutions and engineering (SSE) team played a significant role in the audio design, utilizing EASE modeling to optimize sound distribution. The AVoIP system includes QSC CX-Q Series amplifiers, Core 110f processors, and loudspeakers controlled by Q-SYS touchscreens and interfaces. A centralized subscription server provides zoned music over fiber via the controlled network switch to the processor, with preconfigured audio levels adjusted within the control software.
Seamless Audio Experience
Momento Hospitality’s general manager, Salvatore Bellamo, highlights the benefits of the venue’s IP strategy. “One of our philosophies is to make functionality simpler for operators,” he states. “Here, the ease of audio management is dictated by the capabilities of the IP and Q-SYS. Our operations managers can simply switch between DJ and BGM mode in the bar. At the push of a button, the audio system is instantly adjusted as the DSP configurations are set in the software.”
The Q-SYS Core 110f processor, central to the audio and control processing system, adopts Q-LAN for audio, video, and control connectivity over the IP network. It provides 128×128 network channels along with 8-in/8-out analog channels, extending Q-SYS control to third-party non-networked control devices via GPIO-connected QIO 8×8 expanders. A fireman’s panel automatically cuts in when needed, bypassing the network switch.
Advanced Audio Solutions
For higher sound pressure levels (SPL) and premium foreground sound reinforcement, TAG recommended Martin Audio enclosures and subwoofers. The Sports Bar, equipped with multiple screens displaying major sporting events, features distributed CDD5B 5.25-inch speakers augmented by discreetly located SX110 compact subwoofers. A DJ and live music stage is outfitted with CDD12B 12-inch coaxial enclosures and Blackline X118 18-inch subwoofers, with ambient microphones adjusting levels as needed.
The Bistro, with its terracotta ceiling and terrazzo flooring, is similarly equipped with Martin Audio CDD5B and SX110 enclosures. Vestec Electro engineers managed acoustic reverberation times using Martin Audio’s Display 3 prediction software to focus acoustic energy away from hard surfaces.
Entertainment and Events
The Oran Park Hotel also caters to private viewings, seminars, and events in its two Gold Class boutique cinemas, designed by cinema expert Peter Williams. Each cinema is equipped with QSC audio solutions, including L-C-R SC-2150 dual 15-inch cinema speakers and an SB-2180 dual 18-inch subwoofer. The audio signal is powered by CX-Q multichannel amplifiers, transmitted from a Q-SYS Core Nano DSP connected to a DCIO-H digital HDMI cinema interface. Projection is handled by Barco SP2K-7 Series laser projectors and Dolby CP950 cinema processors.
Adjacent to the cinemas, the Crush Bar offers a movie-inspired setting with Martin Audio CDD5B speakers and an SX110 subwoofer. The venue’s foyers and corridors benefit from natural light and seamless audio from a network of QSC AD-C ceiling speakers.
Grand Ballroom and Beyond
The Grand Ballroom, designed for weddings and formal events, features a Martin Audio front-of-house system with CDD15B 15-inch speakers and SX218 dual 18-inch subwoofers. Custom AV wall plates enhance flexibility for clients wishing to use their own equipment, while Audio-Technica microphones provide comprehensive audio options.
Bellamo concludes, “Q-SYS makes our entire operations so simple for all the staff. We are required to change the channel and volume on over 100 individual displays throughout Oran Park. With Q-SYS, I can instantly change the settings from my tablet over Wi-Fi, and we can also configure settings from our mobile phones.”
The Oran Park Hotel stands as a testament to the evolution of entertainment venues, combining cutting-edge technology with a rich motorsport heritage, offering a unique experience for both locals and visitors alike.
