Geelong Sports Museum to open in April

GEELONG’S new state-of-the-art sports museum will open to the public in the coming months, with hundreds of sports artefacts to encapsulate the city’s deep-rooted sports history.

Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive officer Gerard Griffin confirmed the Geelong Sports Museum was scheduled to open to the community from early April, as part of Stage 5 of the Kardinia Park redevelopment, barring any late setbacks.

“I think the region is going to be pleasantly surprised by this little treasure we’re building at the moment, which is due to open in early April according to our timeline.

“We’ve got the job of managing it and we’ve recruited a fantastic and experienced museum manager in Jessica Reid.

“We will have a museum which will celebrate the origins of sport in this region, whether it be individuals or sporting organisations that have made an impact, it can be a little bit of everything.

“But it all ties back to the region’s contribution to sport.”

The museum, which makes up part of the Victorian government’s $142 million commitment to the final stage of Kardinia Park’s transformation, will provide a permanent opportunity for the community to recount Geelong’s illustrious sporting history.

Museum artefacts will date back several centuries, ranging from Wathaurong runner Dan Dan Nook’s 1860 medal at the Highland Games to Barwon Heads skier Jakara Anthony’s 2022 Tokyo Olympic Games gold medal.

Mr Griffin said the museum would be a destination for people of all ages, featuring several interactive activities catering to primary and secondary school students, similar to the Australian Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“It’s a museum for everyone, eight to 80.

“We will have a number of interactives in there for you to test your skills, whether it be having a go on the rowing machine, or tying sailing knots, or commentating old football matches.

“Like the modern museum, you have to cater to everyone, and we’ve had that most in our minds during the planning and design of this museum.

“The goal for the museum is to see every Grade 5 and 6 student in the region visit the museum as part of their school curriculum.”

Mr Griffin said all other features in Stage 5 of the redevelopment were on track to be completed before Round 1 of the 2024 AFL season on March 16.

This includes the opening of the Joel Selwood Stand at the northern end of GMHBA Stadium, a new indoor cricket hub between the stadium and the railway line, new changing room facilities, and the completion of the Djilang Plaza next to Moorabool Street.

For more information on the redevelopment, head to kardiniapark.vic.gov.au