The Whitten Oval precinct, home of the Western Bulldogs, has undergone an over $77.7 million redevelopment, delivering upgraded player and spectator facilities, as well as a women’s health and leadership hub.
The Australian Government ($15 million) partnered with the Victorian Government ($46.3 million), the Western Bulldogs ($14.5 million) and the Australian Football League (AFL) ($2 million) to fund the upgrades, which make up Stage 2 of the precinct’s overall redevelopment.
The redevelopment has delivered a new Women’s Health and Leadership Hub (WHLH) and a new Western Bulldogs Community Foundation Centre.
The Whitten Stand now has a 60-plus-seat theatre as well as media production facilities, a boardroom and function room, as well as indoor and outdoor training areas for community foundation and WHLH programs.
Meanwhile, the existing John Gent and Infill stands have had improvements to the main entrance and foyer areas, meeting rooms and program areas, teaching and learning spaces, and restroom amenities.
A new multi-purpose indoor venue enables large-scale community program delivery and events, and hosting grassroots to elite levels of sports training.
The funding has also provided upgraded and improved elite player and spectator facilities to support the Western Bulldogs AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW teams to achieve the vision of Whitten Oval being the premier AFLW match venue.
The project will provide an enhanced fan experience for the 60,000-plus Western Bulldogs members, as well as tens of thousands of additional fans and supporters who attend AFLW and other events at the venue.
Stage 1 of the redevelopment was completed in 2019 and delivered refurbished AFLW changerooms under the John Gent Stand and a brand-new scoreboard at the Geelong Road end.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“The Australian Government has partnered with the Victorian Government and key investors for this upgrade at Whitten Oval, which provides the infrastructure needed to foster high-level men’s and women’s Aussie Rules training and match hosting for years to come.
“This funding has also gone a long way to providing for programs including women’s health and leadership, and benefitting players and fans alike.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Gellibrand Tim Watts:
“The Whitten Oval redevelopment is an important contribution to community and professional sports alike in Melbourne’s West, and will contribute to elevating women’s health and leadership in sport here.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Fraser Daniel Mulino:
“The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation does so much to promote the health and wellbeing of people from all backgrounds across the West and it’s terrific they have a new centre at Whitten Oval.
“The Western Bulldogs are an institution in the West, and this funding has delivered much needed infrastructure upgrades to enable the club to continue being an institution.”
