‘Chance’ to ‘GO’ and influence the Ballarat edition Monopoly board

NOMINATIONS for inclusions in the Ballarat edition of Monopoly are flooding in, according to the person who will design it.

Louisa Grundy, of board game company Winning Moves, has been swamped with submissions and suggestions on places, landmarks, attractions and other options since going public with a call for nominations about two weeks ago.

Ms Grundy, a Monopoly board designer, described the response to the call as “overwhelming.”

“People are really passionate; I think Ballarat’s got a really beautiful community based on the conversations I’ve had with people,” she said.

Ms Grundy, from Sydney, spent most of last week in Ballarat meeting and talking to individuals and business owners who had expressed interest in contributing to the game’s development.

She said the development team had done its own research but also wanted suggestions from the public.

“Ballarat is obviously known for the gold rush, it has a very rich history, and we’re Monopoly,” Ms Grundy said.

“Monopoly’s known for money, business, monopolising – the themes kind of line up.

“We also really enjoy sharing local histories and local stories through the game.”

Winning Moves, which has produced Monopoly under licence to Hasbro since 1998, has produced regular regional editions of the game – including a Geelong edition – and versions for each of Australia’s capital cities.

And now it’s Ballarat’s turn.

“We’re thrilled to be creating a version of Monopoly that captures the soul of this incredible city,” Ms Grundy said.

“From its gold rush past to its vibrant modern-day arts scene and local treasures, Ballarat’s legacy means a lot to Australia.”

As well as local places appearing on the board, the ‘Chance’ and ‘Community Chest’ cards will be rewritten to reflect Ballarat history and stories.

Ms Grundy would not reveal if any landmarks, locations or experiences had already been locked in for inclusion, but said “we’ve got a few in mind.”

The Monopoly: Ballarat Edition is scheduled for release in late February or early March next year.

Suggestions can be submitted via email to [email protected].