Facility Spotlight: Squashworld Mirrabooka Australia's largest squash centre

Originally built in 1980, Squashworld Mirrabooka Squash Centre, Western Australia, is now the nation’s largest squash centre. 

The venue hosts, not only 14 glass-back courts with spacious mezzanine and gallery viewing areas, but one of the largest pro racquet shops for those looking for a re-string, new racquet, shoes, accessories, or general advice. 

Kane Fasalo, Co-Owner of Squashworld Mirrabooka, has been involved with the centre for 17 years this coming January. He has witnessed and contributed to the centre’s growth since his arrival in 2005. 

Like most centre’s across the country, they consistently strive to improve their facilities to enhance the experience of the players. Squashworld Mirabooka in the last year has installed new carpets, new LED lights and upgraded the court seating. 

“With the help of the Mirrabooka Squash Club in the last 5 years we have installed a new kitchen, club room ceiling and club seating, built new storage areas and completely overhauled the outside area from an unused vacant lot to levelled grass area, with paved areas including fire pits and extended the patio,” Fasalo said.

Walking through the centre you will notice a unique piece of artwork that isn't found in any other Squash Centres, ‘The Game of Squash chair’. This unique chair took Centre Manager, Tyron Holloway’s two years of collecting broken squash racquets and grips and 15 hours of labour to create.

Holding 14 courts, Squashworld has the space to run a large number of programs throughout the centre from junior all the way to coach development. 

“We have a strong participation base, with junior participation numbers for 4-7 year olds capped at 12 kids, 8-15 year olds averaging 40 kids per session, our Wednesday League in house has 96 players every week, king of the court programs total in excess of 50 players, 10-12 beginner ladies attend a Monday night session and Saturday Social numbers average around 30 each week.  

“We also have various coaches running development programs, group and individual coaching,” he said.

Being based in WA, Fasalo believes in the importance of having a strong relationship with the state club. 

“We have a great relationship with the Club and work really well together in promoting squash, not only in the Centre, but around WA,” Fasalo said.

The relationship is based on great communication as to who is best placed to achieve a goal and working together on a goal when needed,” he said.

Recently (27th September - 2nd October 2022), Squashworld hosted the Australian Junior Squash Championships. This sort of high level competition, Fasalo believes will promote a buzz within Mirrabooka that will encourage more local junior players to participate as well as local clubs 

“I think it’s fantastic not only for the Centre but for all Squash in WA,” Fasalo said.

“We don’t get to host national events very often and being a junior event we have a lot of WA juniors playing.  This will create a buzz that will hopefully encourage more junior players at Mirrabooka but also all the junior clubs in WA which will hopefully flow into more people playing Squash!” 

Following the Australian Junior Championships, Squashworld has a number of upcoming events  from Country week to the 2024 Australian Masters Championships. 

“Country Week is our biggest event of the year averaging well over 200 participants each year and is a fantastic weekend.  We have also hosted the WA Closed Championships for the last 10 or so years, regularly host the State Masters Championships and the Top 8 Shootout starts next month,” Fasalo said. 

“In 2024 we will be hosting the Australian Masters Championships which is an amazing 2 weeks as given our 14 glass back courts we usually are the only venue hosting it so the atmosphere is sensational,” he said. 

Looking back at how far the club has come and what Squashworld have been able to do with the Mirrabooka centre, Fasalo believes that the biggest successes for the club over the years has been the continued in-house growth and the heavy focus on tournaments. All assisting and facilitating the growth of Squash In Western Australia..  

 “We inherited a great Wednesday League in house and strong Club presence in Pennants from the previous owners, the Whooley Family.

“I believe our continued in-house growth and expansion has been a great success in keeping players in the game and encouraging new players to start playing competitively (hoping then moving into pennants),” Fasalo explained. 

“Our focus on tournaments, along with an amazing and ever growing group of Mirrabooka Squash Club Members that support not only our tournaments but all tournaments statewide has played a major role in the health and growth of the Tournament Calendar in WA.  It is my belief that the Tournament scene is the strongest part of Squash in WA at the moment,” he said.