Nyaal Banyul ready to make its mark on global events

FIVE years after starting as a blank sheet of paper, the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is less than a month away from opening its doors.

The $449 million facility on the Geelong waterfront is in its final stages of testing and will host 55 events in its first six months. They are among the 80 events confirmed for the venue over the next two years.

The first event, the sold-out Barwon Health Foundation Gala Ball with 850 attendees, will be held on 3 July – two days after Nyaal Banyul officially opens – followed by the Wathaurong NAIDOC Ball the next evening.

Nyaal Banyul general manager, Rick Aylett, has been involved with the centre since being appointed project director in 2022.

“We were fortunate enough to start with a clean sheet of paper four and a half years ago to design this with those different markets in mind, and what the needs of the market and the PCOs (professional conference organisers) are,” he said.

Aylett said the centre had been designed specifically for Geelong’s market, with flexible spaces capable of accommodating everything from major conferences and gala dinners to concerts and community events.

“It’s right sized for Geelong, but I think now because of the flexibility and the way it’s designed, it allows that user accessibility. So that will then create further business and repeat business down the track as well,” he said.

Its waterfront location overlooking Corio Bay is also expected to be a major drawcard for event organisers and delegates.

“I think we position ourselves as a unique venue within Australia,” Aylett said. “I think it will put Geelong on the map as a global events business destination, and that’s the response that we’ve had so far.

“I think it really sets a new benchmark, particularly within Australia, and I believe within the Asia-Pacific.”

Aylett said it was significant that almost half of the centre’s confirmed events to date would come from interstate, reflecting growing interest in regional destinations among conference organisers.

“The calibre of the events and the impact the events will have is really important, because it brings a whole new audience to Geelong and the region by the types of events and the business events that we have,” he said.

“You get industry leaders coming into Geelong for the first time and seeing Geelong as well. The decision makers, investors, researchers, professors, depending on the type of event, really can have an impact.

“Those business events, they actually tend to stay on. They’ll either come for a few days before the conference, or they’ll stay after the conference, and then they’ll go and explore the region.”

Nyaal Banyul – the flagship project of the Geelong City Deal – has already secured events across sectors including health, education, agribusiness and advanced manufacturing.

But Aylett said the venue’s design meant it was not limited to conferences and corporate events.

“We do ticketed events, we do concerts, we do speaker events, we do meetings, et cetera,” he said. “It is open to all comers.

“In late February next year, we have the Australian Tourism Awards, which has not been able to be held in Geelong before, which is, again, great exposure.”

Aylett said the centre represented a major opportunity to showcase both the venue and the broader region to visitors from across Australia and overseas.

“That’s the legacy that we want to create so that people will be proud of the venue in 10 years’ time – people will be proud of what it’s done and what it’s brought to Geelong, as far as job creation and the economic impact,” he said.