A local firm has brought home the opportunity to design and upgrade part of their neighbourhood in time for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Ballarat-based firm Morton and Co Architects together with Cox Architecture has been chosen to design the Victorian government’s $150-million upgrade to Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium, ahead of the Games.
The firms will lead the project from concept design through to detailed design and construction.
The stadium needs to be ready in time to host the athletics and para athletics events during the 2026 Games.
“The new stadium will host an amazing program of sports and I encourage every Victorian to come and also experience our award-winning attractions and world-class food and wine,” Member for Eureka Michaela Settle said.
It will have a new athletics track and the stadium will be expanded to add 5000 more permanent seats with improvements to its accessibility.
There will also be additional temporary seats installed and a competition-standard track on the playing field.
The upgrades mean the stadium can be used for major events in Ballarat after the Games.
Morton and Co Architects have designed sports facilities before, working on the North Ballarat Football Club Development Project and the Ballarat Grammar School Sports Centre.
More than $3 billion is expected to be added to Victoria’s economy as a result of the 2026 Commonwealth Games with more than 7500 jobs created before, during and after the Games.
Ballarat co-hosting the Games with four other regional hubs means many of those jobs will be in Ballarat according to the Victorian Commonwealth Games legacy minister Harriet Shing.
“The 2026 Games will create jobs in Ballarat, driving economic growth and an enduring legacy of accessible, inclusive and fit-for-purpose housing and community infrastructure,” Shing said.
Other venues in regional Victoria are already seeing the impact of the Games with Geelong rushing to increase its tourism accommodation ahead of 2026.
Meanwhile expressions of interest campaigns have already been launched for contractors to provide civil works and capabilities for the four athletes' villages.
