Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre: Shortlist

The Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre will transform the Geelong waterfront, driving economic, social and cultural growth for the region, as the centrepiece of a larger plan to revitalise Geelong and unlock the potential of the Great Ocean Road visitor economy.

We’re pleased to be on the shortlisted Geelong Live team alongside Capella Capital, Aware Super, Lendlease, Honeywell, MAB, Populous, Hassell, and Freadman White.

A key objective of the project is to enhance Geelong’s position as a UNESCO City of Design through excellence in design and sustainability initiatives across the precinct, including a design outcome that recognises the heritage of the Wadawurrung People, and appropriately celebrates their enduring influence over the site and surrounds.

The Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation has highlighted the traditional use of the site as a gathering place and the opportunity to reflect this as it is again to be a gathering place for all peoples, and will continue to be involved with the project to ensure Indigenous culture is appropriately acknowledged in the precinct.

The precinct is to be delivered as an innovative Public-Private Partnership, bringing together private business groups to design, construct, finance and maintain the new facility and the precinct, harnessing the ingenuity of some of Victoria’s most creative designers, builders and developers whilst establishing a world-class public asset for years to come.

Once complete, the state-of-the-art precinct will be run by the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust and will feature a 1,000-seat event venue, 3,700 square metres of multi-purpose space, a 200-room hotel, and commercial spaces.

Following a comprehensive tender process, involving extensive community and stakeholder consultations, the successful bidder is expected to be announced in mid-2023.