Sport has always held a special significance in the life of the University through the performance of its sporting clubs, teams and student-athletes, and in the vast array of sporting programs and facilities that provide students and staff with an outstanding campus experience.
It is time for the Sports Precinct to get a much-needed upgrade in 2026. This will make it a safer, more welcoming, and inclusive space and improve the overall experience for everyone in the community.
- Improving safety and longevity: Several key sports grounds and courts will be resurfaced and re-marked to improve safety, durability, and usability across the precinct. This includes University Oval, multi-use fields and courts, athletics track, and jump and throw facilities.
- Enabling accessibility and flexibility: Enhancements like upgraded drainage, lighting, fencing, and shaded areas will support safer, year-round access for a broader range of users and sports.
- Establishing a stronger community and inclusivity focus: The upgrades are designed to create more inclusive, welcoming spaces that promote community connection, gender equity, and improved experiences for athletes, coaches, and spectators alike
These essential upgrades will ensure the University’s sports community will enjoy our sporting facilities for many more years to come.
Scope of Works
The University confirmed the scope of the Sport Precinct Refurbishment in September 2024, with the following facilities to be resurfaced and re-marked, improving usability, longevity and safety:
- University Oval Resurfacing: The Oval will be resurfaced with upgraded sub-surface soil, regrading, and drainage, delivering a safer, more durable playing surface and improved year-round performance. New netting, fencing, and gated access will also be installed around the Oval.
- Athletics Track Upgrade: The athletics track will be upgraded to meet competition standards and fitted with new fencing and gated entries to improve safety and access.
- Multi-Use Synthetic Field: The synthetic playing field within the athletics track will be resurfaced and re-purposed for greater multi-sport use, with added fencing and netting to maximise functionality, flexibility, and safety for all users.
- Jump Facilities Refreshed: Long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault areas will be resurfaced with new line-marking and landing zones, improving safety and usability.
- Refurbished Multi-Purpose Courts: Basketball, pickleball, and netball courts will be resurfaced and re-marked, improving safety and playability for a wide range of uses.
- Improved Lighting: Modern lighting will be installed at the oval, athletics track, and tennis courts, extending facility usage into the evening while improving safety and visibility.
The Nona Lee Sports Centre and the Beurepaire Centre are not included in this project, and will remain open as usual throughout the refurbishment.
Project Update - 27 August 2025
The Sports Precinct Refurbishment is currently in Stage 3, Design Development.
Information Sessions are currently being held with affiliated sporting clubs, staff, and other key stakeholders to share the designs. These sessions have been well-received, and the designs will be shared publicly at the completion of this stage.
As part of the University Investment Process, capital funding to enable construction will be determined in December 2026. If capital funding is obtained, construction is expected to proceed in Q1 2026, with anticipated completion in Q4 2026 (program construction dates are indicative and subject to change).
More information on sporting club and program relocation is located further down this page.
News Archive
Following the University's recent review of all capital projects, we are pleased to confirm that funding for the progression to detailed design for the Sports Precinct Refurbishment project has been approved. The project will now progress from Stage 2 (Concept/Schematic Design) to Stage 3 (Detailed Design Development)
The Detailed Design Development phase will involve stakeholder workshops with the project consultants. MU Sport will notify and invite stakeholders of workshop opportunities once advised by the University project team. To proceed to Stage 4, the University is still required to undertake a process to commit funding for the construction of the project.
While we are yet to be advised of any construction commencement change from October 2025, it appears likely that this will be delayed until 2026. As was agreed at the Sport precinct stakeholder meeting (July 2024), to minimise disruption MU Sport and clubs, preference is that construction commences between seasons.
We re-iterate that the construction (subject to funding approval) will only commence after a decanting plan is developed and all clubs have a relocation option.
Concept designs for a refurbished Sports Precinct have been completed, and we await University confirmation in December for funding to commence to detailed design.
Approval to progress to detailed design will trigger workshops for sporting clubs and other key stakeholders with project consultants to provide further feedback. Melbourne University Sport will advise when these stakeholder workshops will be scheduled.
The timeline for project commencement remains as October 2025, with completion in September 2026.
More information, including a dedicated landing page of works, will be developed soon.
The University has committed to exploring upgrades of the outdoor facilities in the Sports Precinct.
Scoping works commenced earlier this year with the Athletics Track, Hockey Field, University Oval, Sports Lighting and associated Public Realm improvements all in discussions to be upgraded.
A final project plan is to be released before the end of the year, with works expected to cost in excess of $18m. The upgrades will be the first major capital investment within the Sports Precinct since the upgrade of the Ernie Cropley Pavilion in 2012.
Relocation for Sporting Clubs and Programs
The University and Melbourne University Sport are committed to working closely with affiliated sporting clubs and programs to ensure a smooth transition and to provide support in relocating activities during the construction period.
Ken Barton (Sport Precinct Refurbishment Project Lead) is the main contact point to discuss relocation of activities for this project and can be contacted via email to ken.barton@unimelb.edu.au