Traditional playgrounds can be costly to maintain, quick to deteriorate, and lack inclusivity. WillPlay is one Australian company is rethinking design to deliver lasting, accessible, imaginative play.
When it comes to creating engaging, durable, and imaginative play spaces for primary schools across Australia, few names stand out like WillPlay. With a strong commitment to innovation, Australian manufacturing, and hands-on collaboration with schools, this Bundaberg-born company has spent more than a decade helping school communities reimagine what play can look like.
At the heart of this operation is General Manager Mr Nathan Lee, who has been with the company since its inception 13 years ago. While WillPlay began by designing and manufacturing components for other playground and street furniture manufacturers, a key shift occurred when the team noticed a gap in the market: the need for a more robust, maintenance-friendly, and Australian-made solution.
“A major manufacturer closed down, which left a hole in the market,” Mr Lee says. “Instead of replicating what others were doing, we developed a higher-spec, more sustainable system using aluminium structural posts, stainless steel rails, and recycled plastics.”
The result is playgrounds designed for longevity. Originally offering a 20-year warranty – at the time a significant improvement over the industry standard of 15 years – the company now offers a lifetime structural warranty.
Alongside longevity, maintenance was another area where WillPlay aimed to improve the experience for schools.
“We engineered our systems so parts could be easily replaced and vandalism or wear and tear wouldn’t become an ongoing burden,” Mr Lee says. “Schools don’t always have the budget or staff to deal with extensive maintenance, so it was important to design out that hassle.”
Whether it’s a new build or an upgrade to an existing space, WillPlay tailors each playground to a school’s specific needs. While site visits are standard, especially in metropolitan or suburban areas, the team can also design from satellite imagery and photographs for more remote schools.
“We start by finding out what the school wants to achieve. Is it a like-for-like replacement, or are they creating something entirely new?” Mr Lee says. “One of the first questions we ask is: who is going to use it?”
Age groups, break times, inclusion needs, and even shade availability all factor into the design process. WillPlay regularly consults with principals, school business managers, parents and carers committees, and even state education department project managers depending on who’s driving the project and where the funding originates.
The team also ensures their designs meet accessibility and inclusion standards, catering to students with physical, sensory, or intellectual needs. “It’s not just about play anymore. It’s about purposeful play that builds coordination, imagination, and collaboration,” Mr Lee says.
WillPlay’s equipment isn’t just functional – it’s designed to spark imagination. Custom theming has been one of the company’s standout features, with installations ranging from pirate ships and jungle outposts to rocket ships and farms.
“It’s about creating spaces where children can be pirates, astronauts, or anything they want to be,” Mr Lee says. “When you introduce that kind of imaginative setting, you promote role play and cooperative interaction, which are essential social and cognitive development skills.”
Recognising that not every school has the budget for a fully themed playground, WillPlay has made its core ranges highly customisable. Schools can choose equipment that matches their colours, complements surrounding buildings, or blends into the local environment.
For older students, the company offers the Street-Climber and Urban Warrior ranges – play-meets-fitness installations that support physical education programs and challenge students’ strength, agility, and endurance.
“Schools even use them for benchmarking physical progress such as timing students or measuring how far they can get on the course at the beginning of the year versus later in the year, when they’ve developed physically and emotionally,” Mr Lee says.
WillPlay handles every stage of the playground process, from design and manufacturing, demolition, soft-fall (ground cover) installation, shading, and landscaping. Its team works with schools to manage traffic and access around active construction sites, often aiming to complete installations during school holiday periods.
Installations can take from one to four weeks, depending on complexity. Most systems are manufactured to order, with a typical 10–12 week turnaround from design sign-off to delivery. The company also keeps a small stock of ready-to-go systems for emergency replacements.
The design process includes free consultations, and once the playground is complete, WillPlay issues a Design & Construction Certificate in accordance with Australian Standards. An independent post-installation inspection is usually conducted to ensure compliance and safety.
“We offer a full-circle service, and that means peace of mind for schools. We even have a maintenance coordinator schools can call directly if there’s vandalism or damage,” Mr Lee says.
While timber remains a favoured material in terms of playground aesthetics, it doesn’t stack up in durability, Mr Lee says. WillPlay has designed a smart alternative.
“We’ve seen timber systems ripped out after just five years.”
Instead, the company’s Treehouse range offers the appearance of timber using timber-look aluminium posts and timber-composite recycled plastics – a zero-maintenance option with all the charm and none of the upkeep.
Even the choice of soft-fall surfaces is strategic. While rubber is a popular choice, Mr Lee warns it can take up a school’s entire budget. WillPlay helps schools consider lower-cost alternatives like bark, engineered pine, or sand, all of which can be incorporated into the play experience itself.
“Loose fill can also be a dynamic part of the play – especially sand, where kids can dig or use it in play stations,” he says.
Beyond durability and aesthetics, WillPlay is proudly local and all systems are 100 per cent recyclable at end of life. WillPlay manufactures in Australia utilising ISO-certified processes for quality, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.
“You’re not just buying a playground: you’re supporting local industry, reducing freight emissions, and ensuring full compliance with Australian standards,” Mr Lee says.
While WillPlay already commands a strong position in the market, innovation continues to drive the business. A new product range is slated for release in early 2026, which will include both improvements to legacy products and entirely new systems.
“We’re all about value – value for money, and value for play. We want these playgrounds to last for decades, not just years,” Mr Lee says.
In a time when fundraising fatigue and tight school budgets are common, WillPlay offers a rare combination of creativity, practicality, and reliability. And with its free design service, schools can generate excitement and even unlock new funding opportunities by sharing compelling visuals of what’s to come.
“Once a school has a design they can show off – something tangible – people get excited,” Mr Lee says. “It helps bring the school community on board. The kids get involved, the parents get behind it, and suddenly the support starts to build.”
Visit www.willplay.com.au/contact and enter your details for a free consultation.
